Colonial Man Explained

Colonial Man
Type:studio
Artist:Hugh Masekela
Cover:Colonial Man - album cover.jpg
Border:yes
Released:30 January 1976
Recorded:c. 1975–76 in New York and Chicago
Studio:Capricorn Studios (New York), Good Vibrations Studios (New York), The Hit Factory (New York), Regent Sound (New York), Curtom Studios (Chicago)
Genre:Jazz
Label:Casablanca NBLP-7023
Producer:Hugh Masekela
Prev Title:The Boy's Doin' It
Prev Year:1975
Next Title:Melody Maker
Next Year:1976

Colonial Man is the eighteenth studio album by South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela.[1] It was recorded in New York and Chicago and released on LP[2] and eight-track cassette[3] on 30 January 1976 via the Casablanca Records label.[4] [5] The album's title song "Colonial Man", "Vasco Da Gama" and "Cecil Rhodes" express African anti-colonial sentiments.[6] At the time of its release, it was referred to variously by reviewers as a concept album[7] and a protest album.[8]

Reception

A reviewer of Dusty Groove wrote: "A later album from Hugh Masekela – but still plenty darn hip, way more so than most of the other artists on the Casablanca label at the time! Hugh's South African groove is still very firmly in place here – mixed with a slightly warmer LA soul sound, but expanded with loads of great arrangements that get a lot more complicated than before – and which bring in some great keyboard and percussion bits. Sivuca makes a wonderful appearance on 1st and 3rd tracks – using that blend of voice and accordion that sounds so great – and the whole record's got a depth and sense of soul that you'd never guess from silly title and cover!"[9]

Personnel

Re-releases

As of 2018, the album has not been released in its entirety on CD or as digital downloads. Compositions "Colonial Man" and "A Song for Brazil" were re-released on CD in 1998 on Verve Records as part of The Boy's Doin' It. "A Song for Brazil", "Colonial Man" and "Witch Doctor" feature on the 2018 posthumous compilation of original recordings: Masekela '66–'76.[10]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hugh Masekela - Biography. Amoeba Music. amoeba.com. 13 July 2017.
  2. Web site: Masekela* - Colonial Man. Discogs. 1976 . en. 25 August 2018.
  3. Web site: Hugh Masekela - Colonial Man. Discogs. 1976 . en. 25 August 2018.
  4. Web site: Hugh Masekela: Colonial Man. Discogs. 1976 . discogs.com. 17 May 2016.
  5. Web site: DISCOGRAPHY: 1970–1979. dougpayne.com. 13 May 2016.
  6. Web site: Smith. Tymon. Hugh Masekela's still pushing buttons at 76. The Sunday Times. timeslive.co.za. 17 May 2016. 22 November 2015.
  7. News: 4 May 1976, Page 15 - Tucson Daily Citizen at Newspapers.com. Newspapers.com. 25 August 2018. en.
  8. News: 16 May 1976, Page 125 - Green Bay Press-Gazette at Newspapers.com. Newspapers.com. 25 August 2018. en.
  9. Web site: Hugh Masekela: Colonial Man . . 12 July 2018.
  10. Web site: Hugh Masekela - Masekela '66 –'76. Discogs. en. 25 August 2018.