Africa by Amanaz
Issued in 1975, this is the articulation of Zambia’s “Zamrock” ethos, covers each major quadrant of the Zamrock whole: it came from the mines; its musicians were anti-colonial freedom fighters, it envelops Zambian folk music traditions. And it rocks.
The album was given two separate mixes and two separate presses: one version is dry, with the vocals and drums mixed loud, the other slathered in reverb, with the vocals and drums disappearing into the mix, and with the guitar solos mixed much louder. Now-Again has presented them both in this anthology. This is a highpoint of the Zamrock scene and this is its definitive reissue.
LP contains the original version of the album: a dry, drums-up mix
2/CD set contains both released versions of the album: a dry, drums-up mix and reverb-drenched fuzz-guitar dominated mix and an extensive booklet containing an essay on the album and detailing the history of the Zamrock scene and this album, with notes from Amanaz’s Isaac Mpofu and Keith Kabwe and rare photos.
Tracklist
| 1. | Amanaz | 2:40 |
| 2. | I Am Very Far | 3:22 |
| 3. | Sunday Morning | 4:59 |
| 4. | Khala My Friend | 3:24 |
| 5. | History of Man | 3:00 |
| 6. | Nsunka Lwendo | 3:11 |
| 7. | Africa | 4:28 |
| 8. | Green Apple | 3:51 |
| 9. | Making The Scene | 3:20 |
| 10. | Easy Street | 3:33 |
| 11. | Big Enough | 3:48 |
| 12. | Kale | 4:43 |
| 13. | Amanaz (Reverb Mix) | 2:39 |
| 14. | I Am Very Far (Reverb Mix) | 3:20 |
| 15. | Sunday Morning (Reverb Mix) | 4:59 |
| 16. | Khala My Friend (Reverb Mix) | 3:22 |
| 17. | History of Man (Reverb Mix) | 2:59 |
| 18. | Nsunka Lwendo (Reverb Mix) | 3:09 |
| 19. | Africa (Reverb Mix) | 4:27 |
| 20. | Green Apple (Reverb Mix) | 3:51 |
| 21. | Making The Scene (Reverb Mix) | 3:20 |
| 22. | Easy Street (Reverb Mix) | 3:32 |
| 23. | Big Enough (Reverb Mix) | 3:48 |
| 24. | Kale (Reverb Mix) | 4:40 |
Credits
Personnel: Isaac Mpofu (Lead Guitar, Lead Vocals), Watson Lungu (Drums, Backing Vocals), Jerry Mausala (Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals), John Kanyepa (Rhythm Guitar, Backing Vocals), Keith Kabwe (Maraccas, Tambourine, Backing Vocals)
Both versions of the album originally released in 1975 on Zambia Music Parlour with the same catalog number and inscribe, ZMPL8. Recorded at Malachite Film Studios, Chingola, Zambia in 1975 by Geoff Kachusha Mulenga and Grayson Phiri.
Produced by Amanaz and Emmanuel Mulemena; directed by Edward Khuzyawo; production arrangements by Billie David Nyati. Licensed courtesy Keith Kabwe and Isaac Mpofu. This compilation produced by Eothen “Egon” Alapatt.
License
All rights reserved.
Amanaz were a five-piece combo from Lusaka who traveled to Chingola (one of Zambia's biggest cities) and recorded an album titled Africa in 1973; almost 40 years after the fact, their sole album has finally made its way to the West.