The Promise of a Future

Last updated

The Promise of a Future
Hugh Masekela - The Promise of a Future.jpg
Studio album by
Released1968
Recorded12–14 March 1968
Studio Gold Star Studios, Los Angeles, California
Genre Jazz
Label Uni Records 73028
Producer Stewart Levine
Hugh Masekela chronology
Hugh Masekela Is Alive and Well at the Whisky
(1967)
The Promise of a Future
(1968)
Africa '68
(1968)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [2]

The Promise of a Future is the eighth studio album by South African jazz musician Hugh Masekela released via Uni Records label. [3] It was recorded in March 1968 in Los Angeles, California. [4] [5] 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".

Contents

Reception

A reviewer of Dusty Groove stated: "Classic work from Hugh Masekela – and the album that pushed him over the top! The record features his version of 'Grazin In The Grass', a runaway instrumental hit when it was issued – and a sly little groover that was based upon some earlier South African pop melodies that Hugh copped from his roots. The group's a tight little quintet with Al Abreu on tenor and soprano sax, William Henderson on piano, Chuck Carter on drums, and Henry Franklin on bass." [6] A reviewer of Billboard added: "Fluent in any musical lingo, Masekela and his crowd should sample all the charts before settling down." [7]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Ain't No Mountain High Enough" Nick Ashford, Valerie Simpson 2:00
2."Madonna"Al Abreu3:10
3."No Face, No Name and No Number" Jim Capaldi, Steve Winwood 3:26
4."Almost Seedless"Hugh Masekela3:36
5."Stop" Jerry Ragovoy, Mort Shuman 2:35
6."Grazing in the Grass" Harry Elston, Philemon Hou, Hugh Masekela2:40
7."Vuca" (Wake Up)Hugh Masekela3:40
8."Bajabula Bonke" (The Healing Song) Miriam Makeba 6:25
9."There Are Seeds To Sow" (Guitar – Bruce Langhorne)Hugh Masekela2:25

Personnel

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Hugh Masekela Musical artist

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 Instrumental composed by Philemon Hou

"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).

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References

  1. Davis, Hank. "Hugh Masekela – The Promise of a Future". Allmusic . allmusic.com. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  2. Larkin, Colin (27 May 2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Omnibus Press. p. 1203. ISBN   9780857125958 . Retrieved 26 April 2017.
  3. "Hugh Masekela - Biography". Amoeba Music . amoeba.com. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  4. "Hugh Masekela: The Promise of a Future". Discogs . discogs.com. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  5. "DISCOGRAPHY: 1955-1969". dougpayne.com. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  6. "Hugh Masekela: Promise of a Future". Dusty Groove . dustygroove.com. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  7. "Album Reviews". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 1 June 1968. p. 85. Retrieved 4 November 2019.