Monday, April 11, 2011

Zimbabwe Cha Cha Kings - Vimbiso (1989)

Here is a wonderful album for you, to start off a new week. Zimbabwe Cha Cha Kings were one of the many jit bands that surfaced in the late '80s, at a time when things were infinitely more optimistic in Zimbabwe. Serendipity alone sent the Bhundu Boys to international stardom, while this band and others were next-to-ignored or confined to compilations.

The Cha Cha Kings actually had a live set on BBC radio, for John Peel's show in 1992, but that was not enough to launch global success. They were collected on the excellent Roots Rock Guitar Party - Zimbabwe Frontline Volume 3, which is still available on CD. Yet that song is from a later recording than that offered today. If you enjoy intertwined guitars, nimble bass and sweet singing, look no further!

13 comments:

dial africa said...

Thank you. I love the bhundu Boys; so I'm ery curious about this.

Rhythm Connection said...

My absolute pleasure to introduce you!

moos said...

Hey Rhythm Connection, like your site, as from today you're linked at the Groove, welcome to bloggosphere..,
Moos

Rhythm Connection said...

Thanks, moos. Honored to be on your site.

Anonymous said...

cldn't pass without saying a word.....man u rock ...more zimbo jams ... i now know wer to spend my time ....thx a lot man

Apurva Bahadur said...

Very nice - happy and exciting music. Apurva from Pune, India.

Richie Roads said...

If you were selling that album for $100 I would have paid without a second thought, that's how desperately I've been seeking songs from Zimbabwe Cha Cha Cha Kings. Thanks a million.

Rhythm Connection said...

Very, very happy I can help satisfy your appetite. Thanks for visiting!

Anonymous said...

And I'm very happy to try and satisfy yours in thanks for this great Zim jit. I see moos has already found you, so here's some of the stuff I've been adding in comments to his posts and elsewhere:

Thomas Mapfumo - 2009.05.11 live in KEXP Seattle

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=YKCIIBOK

..............

The Four Brothers live in London in 1989, recorded by the BBC:

http://archivevibes.blogspot.com/2011/05/four-brothers-1989.html

Bhundu Boys live at Glastonbury 1989:

http://archivevibes.blogspot.com/2011/04/bhundu-boys-1989.html

Both of the above lossless FLAC files.

Say thanks to the original uploaders, and to wrldsrv, freedomblues, electricjive, globalgroovers - each .blogspot.com.

Cheers matey, Dave Sez.

Anonymous said...

Just checked out your Zimbabwe posts, and the haul of CDs you brought back are all news to me - but not the groups!

Serious thanks and praise are due, so here's another rare one, from youngmosstongue, who's unfortunately gone private but left us 3 tracks of a Bhundu Boys Peel session below:

21/12/1986 - Bhundu Boys
TX (transmission) - 07/01/1987

Producer - Dale Griffin
Engineer - Mike Engles
Engineer - Fred Kay
Studio - Unknown

TRACKLIST
My Foolish Heart (omitted)
Ndoita Sei?
Jig-A-Jig
Rugare

LINE UP
Kenny Chitsvatsva (Drums)
Davie Mankaba (Bass, Vocals)
Rise Kagona (Guitar, Vocals)
Biggie Tembo (Guitar, Vocals)
Shakie Kangwena (Keyboards, Backing Vocals)
Plus The Potato Five Brass Section-2,3 only

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=IWIEVTZU

Cheers and thanks, Dave Sez.

Anonymous said...

And, before my showering above, Tamuka said...
If you were selling that album for $100 I would have paid without a second thought, that's how desperately I've been seeking songs from Zimbabwe Cha Cha Cha Kings. Thanks a million.

June 4, 2011 11:33 PM

Listening now, and what liquid guitar and bass! Quite as hot as the late lamented Four Brothers .. just my take tho. If you doubt, then follow the time-honoured slogan - "Dave Sez: go get, you won't regret!" Cheers ma dears, and thanks RC (Rick)!

Sterling Cale said...

Thanks for a great post. Hope you'll forgive the plug, but I've posted an (admittedly incomplete) session ZCCCK recorded for BBC Radio One in 1992 on my blog.

http://maggotcaviar.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/zimbabwe-cha-cha-cha-kings-peel-session.html

David said...

Cheesy name this band has, but wow, aren't they good & what an album! That's some great guitar work, and I love the very individual bassist! Going round & round on my ipod...

Thanks too to Sterling for the Peel session link above - off to download those too now.