One of South Africa’s biggest independent labels for decades, the Music Team catalogue spanned all genres and markets in the country’s rich and varied industry. When it came to the disco sound popular in the late 80s and early 90s, artists in the stable had access to top studios, musicians and producers with an ear on the latest trends, as well as distribution via a number of Music Team imprints - CTV, Red Label, Spinna, Mambo Music, Solid and others. Run by Maurice Horwitz, Music Team gave talented working musicians a shot at stardom. Those who tasted success would typically release a few albums over as many years before moving on either to other labels or falling off the radar as times changed. 

Compiled here then are six tracks from the Music Team catalogue, originally released in South Africa between 1986 and 1992. Three are by popular male crooners Isaac ‘Cool Cat’ Mofokeng (‘Candy’), Linda Olifant (‘I Won’t Let You Go’) and Jappie Lebona (‘My Love is Yours) and are typical of the label’s take on the ‘bubblegum’ sound of the day, along with a slower groove by female singer Thandi Zulu (aka TZ Junior), ‘Instant Love (Eyami Lendoda)’. Two instrumentals — Mr. Ace’s ‘Ace 1’ and ‘Axe Chop’ by The Hard Workers, a popular studio project by Music Team’s in-house producer Tom Mkhize — meanwhile hint at the imminent rise of house and kwaito. All were forged in the fire of a cruel and volatile political system that was quickly unravelling - but instead of addressing the political realities of the day sought to provide listeners with an escape to a world where love and music were all that mattered.

Compiled with DJs and dancefloors in mind, Afrosynth Records’ Music Team Sampler dusts off some rare and long-forgotten gems and makes them available for a new audience.

A1 Isaac ‘Cool Cat’ Mofokeng - Candy  5:28
A2 Mr. Ace - Ace 1  4:34
A3 Linda - I Won’t Let You Go  5:19 

B1 Jappie Lebona - My Love Is Yours  5:52
B2 The Hard Workers - Axe Chop  2:59 
B3 Thandi - Instant Love (Eyami Lendoda)  5:00

Pre-order

AFS045 VA - Music Team Sampler

(T. Mkhize) Kato Music
From AFS045
© Music Team/CTV 1987
℗ Afrosynth Records 2024

pre-order here: https://www.rushhour.nl/record/vinyl/music-team-sampler

'Candy' - Isaac 'Cool Cat' Mofokeng

(H. Lebona) Roi Music
From AFS045
© Music Team/Spinna 1986
℗ Afrosynth Records 2024

pre-order here: www.rushhour.nl/record/vinyl/music-team-sampler

'My Love Is Yours' - Jappie Lebona

'Ace 1' - Mr. Ace (1992)

http://afrosynth.blogspot.co.za/search/label/The%20Hard%20Workers

Ayoba-Yo

'Axe Chop' - The Hard Workers (1988)

DJ Okapi brings a forgotten era of South African pop music back to life.

djokapi@gmail.com

'Candy' - Isaac 'Cool Cat' Mofokeng

AfroSynth