You Told Your Mama Not to Worry

You Told Your Mama Not to Worry
Studio album by
Hugh Masekela
Released9 November 1977
StudioAmbassador Records (Kumasi, Ghana)
GenreJazz
LabelCasablanca NBLP-7079
ProducerHugh Masekela, Stanley Todd
Hugh Masekela chronology
Melody Maker
(1976) 		You Told Your Mama Not to Worry
(1977) 		Herb Alpert / Hugh Masekela
(1978)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[1]

You Told Your Mama Not to Worry is the twentieth studio album by South African musician Hugh Masekela.[2] It was recorded in Kumasi, Ghana, and released on 9 November 1977 via Casablanca Records label.[3][4]

Background

The album includes the song "Soweto Blues" performed by Miriam Makeba. The song is about the Soweto uprising against apartheid that occurred in 1976. The songs "You Told Your Mama Not to Worry" and "Mami Wata" were re-released on CD in 1998 on Verve Records as additional part of his previous album The Boy's Doin' It.

Reception

A reviewer for Dusty Groove wrote: "Pure 70s genius from Hugh Masekela – a record that's quite different than his earlier Afro-soul styled albums, but somehow even better! The format here is much more straightly soulful – with larger arrangements and a strong vocal groove on a number of tracks – but Masekela's trumpet is still blasting firmly over the top of the tunes, infusing them with a soaring sense of soul that's really great! Rhythms change up nicely from the early days – getting complicated at times, and matching the seriousness of the message on the best tracks – and titles include 'Black Beauty', 'Makonko', 'You Told Your Mama Not To Worry', 'Hangover', 'Soweto Blues', and 'The Mandingo Man'."[5]

A reviewer for Napster wrote: "Hugh Masekela's 1975 crossover album incorporated American pop and proto-Disco[sic] into his sound. You can also hear Funk influencing the angular, stuttering grooves and the heavily effected horns on the tracks. An excellent document of the ongoing cultural exchange between African and American popular music at the time, it's fun, danceable music as well."[6]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."You Told Your Mama Not to Worry"Hugh Masekela, Letta Mbulu7:18
2."Hangover" (Babalazi, aka "I Haven't Slept")Hugh Masekela, Letta Mbulu, Stanley Todd5:20
3."Soweto Blues"Hugh Masekela, Stanley Todd5:48
4."Black Beauty"Stanley Todd6:17
5."Mami Wata" (aka Mamiwater)Hugh Masekela, Stanley Todd3:36
6."Makonko"adapted by Hugh Masekela4:37
7."The Mandingo Man"Hugh Masekela5:42

Personnel

  • Backing vocals – Julia Waters, Luther Waters, Maxine Waters, Oren Waters
  • Bass guitar – Ernie Baiddoo
  • Co-producer – Rik Pekonnen
  • Coordinator – Nga Machema
  • Drums – Frank Todd
  • Executive producer – Stewart Levine
  • Flugelhorn (uncredited) – Hugh Masekela[citation needed]
  • Guitar – Stanley Todd
  • Illustration – Henry Vizcarra
  • Percussion – Paulinho Da Costa
  • Photography – Ron Slenzak
  • Piano – Hugh Masekela
  • Producer – Hugh Masekela, Stanley Todd
  • Remix – Rik Pekonnen
  • Vocals – Christine Clinton, Elvin Brown, Hugh Masekela, Miriam Makeba, Richard Sirleaf, Stanley Todd

Notes on sleeve

  • Recorded at: Ambassador Records / Kumasi, Ghana
  • Remixed at: Hollywood Sound Studios
  • Mastered at: Allen Zentz Mastering, Hollywood
  • Conceived at: Ringway Hotel, Accra, Ghana

References

  1. ^ Larkin, Colin (27 May 2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Omnibus Press. p. 1203. ISBN 9780857125958. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
  2. ^ "Hugh Masekela - Biography". Amoeba Music. amoeba.com. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  3. ^ "Hugh Masekela: You Told Your Mama Not to Worry". Discogs. discogs.com. 18 August 1977. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  4. ^ "DISCOGRAPHY: 1970-1979". dougpayne.com. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  5. ^ "Hugh Masekela: You Told Your Mama Not To Worry". Dusty Groove. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
  6. ^ "You Told Your Mama Not To Worry Hugh Masekela". Napster. Retrieved 12 July 2018.