Shadow Man (Audio Cassette) [Import]

Right about the time every western pop star was playing with "world-beat," Johnny Clegg and Savuka made their strongest bid for an American audience with this CD. It took the indecisive sound of "Third World Child" and glossed it up so strikingly that they almost sounded more Southern Californian than South African. Try to imagine Huey Lewis recording "Graceland" instead of Paul Simon. That was how powerful the lead single, "Take My Heart Away," was. But once the mix of Zulu and English lyrics begin hypnotizing you along with the rhythms, it's impossible to not realize that this is an extremely individualistic sound.

The keyboards figured more prominently on "Shadow Man" than before, which added to the danceable nature of the songs. And if you were ever lucky enough to see Johnny and Savuka live, you know how physical the dances are. Johnny and his partner Dudu could step to the front of the stage and exhaust YOU with the energy they exerted in their traditional dances, which had them leaping into the air with an almost superhuman exuberance. Given that the formation of a mixed race band in the highly charged atmosphere of South Africa of the 80's was a dangerous political statement (Clegg was frequently arrested and harassed), seeing these two men on stage move with such power and grace was truly inspiring! (Tragically, Dudu was murdered in 1992.)

I was lucky enough to meet them after a show in Philadelphia when they opened for Tracy Chapman (they signed a poster for me), but never got to see them again live. It doesn't mean I have forgotten this music. "Shadow Man" is a CD that has aged strikingly well.

If you're not familiar with Johnny Clegg, this is a good album to start with.

Clegg is a white South African who grew up under apartheid but who, in defiance of the apartheid laws, hung out with Zulu musicians and absorbed much of the Zulu musical style. He ran afoul of the apartheid laws for leading a band comprised of both white and black musicians.

His music is a unique combination of Western and South African, particularly Zulu, musical elements.

This was the second album Johnny Clegg recorded with his band Savuka. The cover shows a typical segment from Clegg's live show at the time this album was released; Clegg and Dudu, a Zulu member of Clegg's band, would break into very energetic and acrobatic Zulu dance routines. It was great to watch. Sadly, Dudu was murdered in a Zulu township in South Africa in 1992, apparently after being asked to mediate a dispute between others.

I think this was the last Clegg & Savuka album on which Dudu appeared before his death.

If you're not familiar with Johnny Clegg, this is a good album to start with. If you like this one, I'd also recommend the album that preceded it, Third World Child, and the two studio albums that followed: Heat Dust & Dreams and Cruel, Crazy Beautiful World.

All four of these albums are excellent.