The Promise of a Future | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 1968 | |||
Recorded | 12–14 March 1968 | |||
Studio | Gold Star (Hollywood, California) | |||
Genre | Jazz | |||
Length | 29:57 | |||
Label | Uni Records 73028 | |||
Producer | Stewart Levine | |||
Hugh Masekela chronology | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [1] |
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [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".
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]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" | Nick Ashford, Valerie Simpson | 2:00 |
2. | "Madonna" | Al Abreu | 3:10 |
3. | "No Face, No Name and No Number" | Jim Capaldi, Steve Winwood | 3:26 |
4. | "Almost Seedless" | Hugh Masekela | 3:36 |
5. | "Stop" | Jerry Ragovoy, Mort Shuman | 2:35 |
6. | "Grazing in the Grass" | Harry Elston, Philemon Hou, Hugh Masekela | 2:40 |
7. | "Vuca" (Wake Up) | Hugh Masekela | 3:40 |
8. | "Bajabula Bonke" (The Healing Song) | Miriam Makeba | 6:25 |
9. | "There Are Seeds To Sow" (Guitar – Bruce Langhorne) | Hugh Masekela | 2:25 |
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 No. 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).
Trumpet Africaine: The New Beat from South Africa is the debut studio record (LP) by South African musician Hugh Masekela. It was recorded in New York City and released in August 1962 via Mercury Records. The album was released whilst Masekela was still in school.
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 a live album by South African jazz trumpeter Hugh Masekela. MGM released the record in June 1966.
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.
Hugh Masekela Is Alive and Well at the Whisky is a 1967 live album by South African jazz musician Hugh Masekela released via Uni Records label. It was recorded live at the night club Whisky a Go Go, Hollywood, California, in 18 to 20 September 1967. The song "Up, Up and Away" was later included in his 2004 album Still Grazing.
The Lasting Impression of Hugh Masekela is a 1968 live album by South African jazz musician Hugh Masekela.
Masekela is the eleventh studio album by South African jazz trumpeter Hugh Masekela released via Uni Records label in 1969.
Reconstruction is the twelfth studio album by South African jazz trumpeter Hugh Masekela released via Chisa Records label in July 1970. The album was re-released on CD in 1994 via MoJazz label.
I Am Not Afraid is the sixteenth studio album by South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela. It was recorded in Los Angeles, California, and released in 1974. Tracks 2 and 7 were also included in Masekela's 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.
Colonial Man is the eighteenth studio album by South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela. It was recorded in New York and Chicago and released on LP and eight-track cassette on 30 January 1976 via the Casablanca Records label. The album's title song "Colonial Man", "Vasco Da Gama" and "Cecil Rhodes" express African anti-colonial sentiments. At the time of its release, it was referred to variously by reviewers as a concept album and a protest album.
Melody Maker is the nineteenth studio album by South African musician Hugh Masekela. It was recorded in Silver Spring, Maryland, and Fairfax, Virginia, and released in 1976 via Casablanca Records label. Songs "Toejam" and "Hi-Life" were re-released on CD in 1998 on Verve Records as part of The Boy's Doin' It album.
You Told Your Mama Not to Worry is the twentieth studio album by South African musician Hugh Masekela. It was recorded in Kumasi, Ghana, and released on 9 November 1977 via Casablanca Records label.
Herb Alpert / Hugh Masekela is collaborative studio album by Herb Alpert and Hugh Masekela. It was recorded in Hollywood, California, and released in 1978 via A&M Records and Horizon Records labels.
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.
Black to the Future is a 1998 studio album by South African jazz trumpeter Hugh Masekela. The album was recorded in Mafikeng, South Africa.
The Chisa Years: 1965–1975 is a compilation album by South African jazz trumpeter Hugh Masekela. The album consists of 14 rare or forgotten tracks recorded by Stewart Levine and Hugh Masekela from 1965 to 1975 when they ran their own Chisa Records label.