Description
Boyoyo Boys – Back In Town – Vinyl Record
In the late ’60s and early ’70s, the Boyoyo Boys were one of the top groups on the African Township Jive charts, achieving 17 gold records in the short space of four years. Later, a tape of the band was the motivating inspiration for Paul Simon’s Graceland album. This collection of early ’80s recordings presents the group at its best.
Boyoyo Boys’ Back In Town (1987) is a notable album from the pioneering South African mbaqanga band. The Boyoyo Boys were instrumental in popularizing mbaqanga, a form of traditional Zulu music blended with urban sounds like jazz, rock, and funk. Their infectious rhythms and driving guitar work were key to defining the vibrant, energetic sound that spread far beyond South Africa, playing a pivotal role in the global awareness of South African music in the 1980s.
The Boyoyo Boys gained international recognition for their contributions to the development of township jive or kwela, and their music even inspired elements of Paul Simon’s landmark album Graceland. Their track “Gumboots” was the foundation for Simon’s song of the same name on Graceland, linking them to the growing fusion of world music and Western pop during the 1980s.
Back In Town is steeped in the mbaqanga tradition, characterized by its upbeat, rhythmic sound, with lively guitar riffs, bass grooves, and punchy horns. The music is danceable and full of joy, but also layered with complex rhythms and traditional African harmonies.
One of the hallmarks of the Boyoyo Boys’ sound is their jangly, melodic guitar lines, often played in repetitive patterns that drive the rhythm forward. The intricate guitar work is both melodic and percussive, contributing to the infectious energy of the music.
Their sound captures the mix of rural traditions and urban influences, a hallmark of township jive. While rooted in Zulu musical forms, the Boyoyo Boys incorporated modern instruments like electric guitars, drums, and saxophones, creating a vibrant, hybrid sound that reflected life in the townships.
Much of the Boyoyo Boys’ music, including Back In Town, focuses on themes of celebration, community, and resilience. The lively rhythms and upbeat melodies reflect the spirit of joy and perseverance in the face of the hardships experienced in South African townships. The lyrics, sung in various South African languages like Zulu, often tell stories about everyday life, social gatherings, and urban experiences. The music captures both the struggles and the vibrancy of life in South Africa’s townships, providing a window into the cultural and social context of the time.
The electric guitar is central to the Boyoyo Boys’ sound. Their guitar lines are rhythmic and repetitive, anchoring the songs while leaving room for improvisation and interplay with the bass and percussion. The Boyoyo Boys frequently use saxophones and horn sections to punctuate their songs with catchy riffs, adding another layer of melody and rhythm to the music. The bass provides a strong foundation, often playing syncopated lines that lock in with the percussion to drive the groove forward. In typical mbaqanga fashion, the Boyoyo Boys likely feature vocal harmonies that alternate between call-and-response patterns and unified choral singing, creating a communal, celebratory atmosphere.
The Boyoyo Boys were among the leading bands of the mbaqanga and kwela genres, which were popular in the 1960s and 70s in South Africa’s townships. Their music played a vital role in reflecting the lives of black South Africans during apartheid, providing a sense of identity and resistance through joyful music.
The Boyoyo Boys gained international attention in the 1980s when Paul Simon featured their song “Gumboots” on his Graceland album. This brought a spotlight to South African music, and although Back In Town may not have achieved widespread global fame, the Boyoyo Boys’ influence was felt worldwide, particularly in the world music boom of the late 1980s and 90s.
During apartheid, music was one of the few outlets where black South Africans could express themselves freely. The Boyoyo Boys’ music, like much of the mbaqanga genre, symbolized both cultural pride and resistance in the face of oppressive conditions, making their work historically significant.
Boyoyo Boys’ Back In Town (1987) is a vibrant and energetic representation of South African mbaqanga and township jive music. With its upbeat rhythms, intricate guitar work, and celebratory spirit, the album captures the joy and resilience of South Africa’s black communities during a difficult period in the country’s history. The Boyoyo Boys’ contributions to South African music, especially through albums like Back In Town, played a pivotal role in bringing township jive to a global audience and solidifying the band’s place as influential pioneers of the genre.
Brand new, never played and still sealed in the factory plastic seal
Rounder Records 5026 1987
Track Listing
Back In Town
Maraba Start 500
Daveyton Special
Duba Duba
Mapetla
Pulukwani Centre
Brakpan No.2
Dube Station
Archie Special
Vezunyawo
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