Similar Albums:
- Artist: Ladysmith Black Mambazo
- Rating:
- Release Date: January 24, 2006
- Type: Enhanced CD-ROM
- Genre: World
Review
It was a collaboration with a famous American pop star that broke Ladysmith Black Mambazo as an international act in the mid-'80s, and on Long Walk to Freedom they enact a variation on the theme -- only in this case, the project is under their control and the American guests are an eclectic assortment of rock, folk, and pop musicians, who are also joined by pioneering Afro-European chanteuses Zap Mama and a veritable chorus of South African colleagues including Lucky Dube, Hugh Masakela, Thandiswa, and others. You're getting nervous now, and you're right: this is one of those projects that could easily go either way, and in fact it goes both ways. Natalie Merchant brings absolutely nothing of substance or consequence to "Rain Rain Beautiful Rain," nor does Sarah McLachlan contribute much to the group's rather desultory remake of "Homeless." The new version of "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes" features Melissa Etheridge and Joe McBride, and is underwhelming until the end of the a cappella intro, at which point the band kicks in -- only it's not a band, it's Ladysmith singing all the instrumental parts, and it's electrifying. The Afro-pop summit meeting that is "Shosholoza" works nicely as well. But the album's best tracks are those on which the group sings by itself: "Nomathemba," the opening track, is one of the album's best, and leader Joseph Shabalala's solo "Thula Thula" ends the program on a very strong note. The disc adds a generous program of CD-ROM tracks including music videos for "Raise Your Spirit Higher" (from their previous album) and "Long Walk to Freedom." Imperfect, but recommended. ~ Rick Anderson, All Music GuideTracks
| Track Title | Composers | Performers | Time |
| Nomathemba | Ladysmith Black Mambazo | (4:14) | |
| Hello My Baby (Lyrics) | Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Zap Mama | (4:57) | |
| Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes | Paul Simon, |
Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Melissa Etheridge, Joe McBride | (5:46) |
| Homeless | Sarah McLachlan, Ladysmith Black Mambazo | (4:15) | |
| Rain Rain Beautiful Rain | Natalie Merchant, Ladysmith Black Mambazo | (3:05) | |
| How Long | Ladysmith Black Mambazo | (5:14) | |
| Mbube | Solomon Linda | Taj Mahal, Ladysmith Black Mambazo | (4:02) |
| Amazing Grace/Nearer My God to Thee | Traditional | Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Emmylou Harris | (3:32) |
| Nkosi Sikelel 'IAfrica | Ladysmith Black Mambazo | (2:29) | |
| Inkanyezi Nezazi (Star and the Wiseman) | Ladysmith Black Mambazo | (5:06) | |
| Shosholoza | Traditional | Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Hugh Masekela, Phuzekhemisi, Vusi Mahlasela, Lucky Dube, |
(4:53) |
| Long Walk to Freedom (Halala South Africa) | Ladysmith Black Mambazo | (5:18) | |
| Thula Thula [*] | Ladysmith Black Mambazo | (4:23) | |
| Bonus Material: Videos, Artist Profile [CD-ROM][*] | Ladysmith Black Mambazo |
