| features in: Album Chart of 1982 → ● Album Chart of the Decade: 1980s → |
“Pitsa Tse Kgolo” (“The Big Pot”) is the title of the LP, intended as a tribute to team Gallo-Mavuthela and their big melting pot of music. It's sung in the Northern Sotho / Pedi tongue, the 5th most spoken language in South Africa. (They would soon also release a Zulu language album, “Ezesimanje”, in this year.) Recorded late in 1981, ubiquitous producer Marks Mankwane was at the helm, with his latest recruits, The Beggers, featuring himself on guitar (who better?) and Mzwandile David on bass. At this time the Mahotella Queens were: Beatrice Ngcobo, Emily Zwane, Virginia Teffo, Sinah Thibedi, Maggie Khumalo and Caroline Kapentar. There's a lot of quality action on side one, with a strong one-two opening of “Ditaba Tse Monate” (sung/penned by Virginia Teffo) which bounces on that familiar 'Double Dutch' riddim and the too-cool-for-skool “Tate Nswarele”, a laid back beauty. Having the ladies sing their own compositions has long since been a trait on their LPs and such is the case with the latter, co-composed by tenor singer Sinah Thibedi together with male soul vocalist Willie Rasebotsa (although he doesn't actually sing on this album). In keeping with the tongue in which the record is sung, “Lebowa Le Legolo” celebrates the North of the country, closing side one splendidly. The LP was very well received in the intended marketplace, so much so that a Pedi follow-up, “Tsa Lebowa” was delivered before the year was out.
The Jukebox Rebel
28–Aug–2015
| Tracklist |
| A1 | [03:32]  Mahotella Queens - Ditaba Tse Monate (Virginia Teffo) Africana |
| A2 | [03:16]  Mahotella Queens - Tate Nswarele (Sinah Thibedi, Willie Rasebotsa) Africana |
| A3 | [03:16]  Mahotella Queens - Ba Mphuraletse (Virginia Teffo) Africana |
| A4 | [03:39]  Mahotella Queens - O Somela Byalwa (Virginia Teffo) Africana |
| A5 | [02:50] Mahotella Queens - Lebowa Le Legolo (Rupert Bopape, Virginia Teffo) Africana |
| B1 | [03:15] Mahotella Queens - Makako A Monna (Rupert Bopape, Marks Mankwane) Africana |
| B2 | [03:01] Mahotella Queens - Ditshaba Matona (Rupert Bopape, Emily Zwane) Africana |
| B3 | [03:26]  Mahotella Queens - Ekwang Hle (Virginia Teffo) Africana |
| B4 | [03:05]  Mahotella Queens - Dikgupa Marama (Virginia Teffo) Soul |
| B5 | [03:29]  Mahotella Queens - Koko (Virginia Teffo) Soul Ballad |
