Grazing in the Grass: The Best of Hugh Masekela | ||||
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Compilation album by | ||||
Released | October 16, 2001 | |||
Genre | Jazz | |||
Length | 1:13:56 | |||
Label | Columbia Records CK 85759 | |||
Producer | Hugh Masekela, Cedric Samson, Mthunzi Namba | |||
Hugh Masekela chronology | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [1] |
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [2] |
The Penguin Guide to Jazz | [3] |
Grazing in the Grass: The Best of Hugh Masekela is a 2001 compilation album by South African jazz trumpeter Hugh Masekela. [4] The album was released via the Columbia label. This is a retrospective collection that includes 14 tracks by Masekela.
Bruce Eder of AllMusic noted: "This release is superb, but also a little confusing -- it is, as its packaging suggests, a magnificent retrospective of a global jazz legend, despite the fact that it must, of necessity, leave some holes in a 14-song selection intended to sum up a 40-year career. What isn't clear until one opens it, however, is that little of what's here -- none of it, in fact -- consists of the original recordings; rather, these are re-recordings done for Columbia in much more recent times. And that's not necessarily bad, as Masekela has lost little of his fire over the ensuing four decades and did get to do these tracks under ideal conditions." [5]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Grazing in the Grass" | Harry Elston, Philemon Hou | 2:55 |
2. | "Vasco da Gama (The Sailor Man)" | Hugh Masekela | 4:23 |
3. | "Khauleza" | Dorothy Masuka | 5:17 |
4. | "Ziph' Inkomo" | Letta Mbulu, Caiphus Semenya | 6:46 |
5. | "Mama" | Trevor Gordon, Hugh Masekela, Cedric Samson | 5:03 |
6. | "Chileshe" | Hugh Masekela | 6:19 |
7. | "Market Place" | Hugh Masekela | 5:55 |
8. | "Don't Go Lose It Baby" | Hugh Masekela | 6:52 |
9. | "Strawberries" | Hugh Masekela | 4:56 |
10. | "Thanayi" | Nomunde Sihawu | 5:25 |
11. | "African Secret Society" | Hugh Masekela | 5:30 |
12. | "Ha Lese (Le Di Khanna)" | Caiphus Semenya | 4:26 |
13. | "Bring Him Back Home (Nelson Mandela)" | Hugh Masekela, Michael Timothy | 4:44 |
14. | "Stimela (Coal Train)" | Hugh Masekela | 5:25 |
Total length: | 1:13:56 |
Hugh Ramapolo Masekela was a South African trumpeter, flugelhornist, cornetist, singer and composer who was described as "the father of South African jazz". Masekela was known for his jazz compositions and for writing well-known anti-apartheid songs such as "Soweto Blues" and "Bring Him Back Home". He also had a number-one US pop hit in 1968 with his version of "Grazing in the Grass".
"Grazing in the Grass" is an instrumental composed by Philemon Hou and first recorded by the South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela. Released in the United States as a single in 1968, it followed United States trumpeter Herb Alpert's vocal performance of "This Guy's in Love with You" to the top spot on the Hot 100 chart, ranking it as the 18th biggest hit of the year. The song also reached #15 Adult Contemporary. Masekela included the song in his albums Grazing in the Grass: The Best of Hugh Masekela (2001), Still Grazing (2004), and Live at the Market Theatre (2006).
Grrr is the second studio album by South African musician Hugh Masekela. It was recorded in New York City and released in 1966 via Mercury Records. Grrr was re-released on LP in 1968 on Wing/Mercury labels as Hugh Masekela and on CD in 2003 on Verve label. On this record, he seamlessly fuses jazz ideas with the rhythmically complex South African music known as Mbaqanga.
The Americanization of Ooga Booga is an album by South African jazz trumpeter Hugh Masekela. The album is a blend of American jazz themes and traditional South African musical influences. It was recorded live in November 1965 at The Village Gate night club in New York City and released in June 1966 via MGM Records label. MGM's president was convinced that Masekela's albums were too African for American tastes, so soon after Masekela moved to Chisa/Blue Thumb labels.
The Emancipation of Hugh Masekela is the fifth studio album by South African jazz trumpeter Hugh Masekela. It was recorded in Los Angeles and released in 1966 via Chisa Records label. On this album he performs mostly his own songs. Tracks "Child of the Earth", "Felicidade", and "Ha Lese Le Di Khanna" were later included in his 2004 album Still Grazing.
Hugh Masekela's Latest is the sixth studio album by South African jazz trumpeter Hugh Masekela. It was released in 1967 via Uni Records label.
The Lasting Impression of Hugh Masekela is a 1968 live album by South African jazz musician Hugh Masekela.
The Promise of a Future is the eighth studio album by South African jazz musician Hugh Masekela released via Uni Records label. It was recorded in March 1968 in Los Angeles, California. The album was re-released on CD in 1993 on One Way label. The Promise of a Future features Masekela's version of a famous instrumental composition "Grazing in the Grass".
Masekela is the eleventh studio album by South African jazz trumpeter Hugh Masekela released via Uni Records label in 1969.
Introducing Hedzoleh Soundz is the fifteenth studio album by South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela. It was recorded in Lagos, Nigeria, and released in 1973. The track "Languta" was later included in his 2004 album Still Grazing.
I Am Not Afraid is the sixteenth studio album by South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela. It was recorded in Los Angeles and released in 1974. Tracks 2 and 7 were also included in the 2004 album Still Grazing.
The Boy's Doin' It is the seventeenth studio album by South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela. It was recorded in New York City and in Lagos, Nigeria, and released in June 1975 via Casablanca Records label. The album was re-released on CD in 1998 on Verve Records with six additional tracks.
Main Event Live is collaborative live album by Herb Alpert and Hugh Masekela. It was recorded in Los Angeles, California and released in 1978 via A&M Records label.
Tomorrow is a 1987 studio album by South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela.
Hope is a 1994 live album by South African jazz trumpeter Hugh Masekela.
Stimela is a 1994 compilation album by South African jazz trumpeter Hugh Masekela. The album was compiled and produced by Masekela's long-time colleague Stewart Levine.
Black to the Future is a 1998 studio album by South African jazz trumpeter Hugh Masekela. The album was recorded in Mafikeng, South Africa.
Time is a 2002 studio album by South African jazz trumpeter, Hugh Masekela. The album was recorded in Johannesburg, South Africa, and released via Sony and Columbia labels.
Still Grazing is a 2004 compilation album by South African jazz trumpeter Hugh Masekela. The album is a retrospective collection of his compositions recorded over the period 1966–1974. The album is the soundtrack to Masekela’s recent autobiography of the same name.
Revival is a studio album by South African jazz trumpeter Hugh Masekela. The album was released on 24 May 2005 via Heads Up International label.