🎵 AotW AOTW: Letta Mbulu - LETTA (SP-4688)

[LPJim]

Letta Mbulu
LETTA
A&M SP-4688

Produced by Herb Alpert, Stewart Levine and Cahus Semenya

Reissued on CD as an Asian import

Songs:

• 1. Open Up Your Heart (Caiphus Semenya/Arthur Adams) - 4:04
  2. Buza (There's A Light At The End Of The Tunnel) (Letta Mbulu/Lamont Dozier) - 3:43
  3. I Need You (Caiphus Semenya/Letta Mbulu) - 5:10
  4. Baile Baneso (Caiphus Semenya) - 4:27
  5. I Can Depend On You (Arthur Adams/Letta Mbulu/Caiphus Semenya) - 3:41
  6. Hareje (Caiphus Semenya) - 4:27
  7. Mamani (Caiphus Semenya) - 7:54
  
  Rhythm and Background Vocals Arranged by Caiphus Semenya
  Horns and Strings Arranged and Orchestrated by Paul Riser
  String Contractor: McKinley T. Jackson
  Horns on "Baile Baneso", "I Need You" and "Hareje" Arranged by Caiphus Semenya and Orchestrated by Donald Cooke

Musicians:
Letta Mbulu - Vocals
Arthur Adams - Guitar
Mitch Holder - Guitar
Robert Popwell - Bass
Hotep Cecil Barnard - Electric & Acoustic Piano
James Gadson - Drums
Paulinho Da Costa - Percussion
Lee Ritenour - Guitar (3, 5)
Michael Boddicker - Synthesizer (3, 4, 6)
Caiphus Semenya - Vocal (5)
Trumpets: Steve Madaio, Oscar Brashear, Gary Grant, Charles Findley
Trombones: Lew McCreary, Charles Loper, George Bohanon
Saxes: Jim Horn, Herman Riley, Ernie Watts, Earle Dumler, William Green
French Horns: Henry Sigismonti, David A. Duke, Arthur Maebe, Vincent DeRosa
Background Vocals: "The Waters" - Julia Tillman, Maxine Willard, Luther Waters and Oren Waters, Letta Mbulu and Caiphus Semenya

Ms. Mbulu is singing in the following languages and rhythms:
"Buza" - Xhosa (L), Mbaqanga (R)
"I Need You" - Sesotho (L), Timiti (R)
"Baile Baneso" - Sesotho (L), Mbaqanga (R)
"Hareje" - Sesotho (L), Dikosha (R)
"Mamani" - Seshangane (L), Madiba (R)

Recorded at A&M Recording Studios, Hollywood, California
Recording and Remixing Engineer: Don Hahn
Assistant Engineer: Derek duNann
Mastered at A&M Recording Studios by Bernie Grundman

Art Direction: Roland Young
Design: Phil Shima
Photography: Charles Bush
Background & Apparel Design: Mac James


For biographical information:

http://www.dougpayne.com/lmbio.htm


JB

 

[Mr Bill]

I really enjoyed Letta's two albums for A&M...

This was a period of time where Herb Alpert was producing a number of African and Latin-influenced albums. And he did it years prior to Paul Simon's highly regarded work with African artist Ladysmith Black Mambosa...

My other faves from this period are the solo albums by HA/HM side men Arthur Adams (I Love, Love Love Love My Lady) and Manolo Badrena (Manolo)...

I'd love to hear the tracks from Letta's uncompleted/unreleased third album!

--Mr. Bill

 

[Captain Bacardi]

I added some extra info for the album.

I also enjoyed Letta's albums, although this one wasn't quite up to the quality of her first A&M release. But there's plenty to enjoy here. I really enjoy "Hareje" and "Mamani", and "Baile Baneso" has some hot rhythms and horn parts throughout the track. The only tune I couldn't stand was the disco-ish "I Can Depend On You". I picked up a Japanese CD of this album.



Capt. Bacardi