Album: Percy Sledge In South Africa – LP Atlantic ATC 9257 / ZAT 9257 – 1970 (South African Edition)
This album is considered very rare/Álbum considerado raro.
This album is considered very rare/Álbum considerado raro.
(This LP was recorded live in 1970 when Sledge traveled to South Africa, where he played to hysterical sold-out crowds for 17 straight weeks).
Alabama-born Percy Sledge had a somewhat unusual introduction to the music business. Working as an orderly in a local hospital, he was touring with a local band called the Esquires Combo on weekends and working at the hospital during the week. A former patient at the hospital who knew both Sledge and local record producer Quin Ivy introduced them to each other. Ivy was impressed with Sledge's emotional style of singing and signed him to a recording contract. Sledge hit it big with his first record, the classic "When a Man Loves a Woman", released by Atlantic Records, which went on to become a worldwide hit (and, incidentally, the first Atlantic record to go gold). Although Sledge never had another hit as big as "When a Man Loves a Woman," he did manage to place several follow-up records on the charts. He still tours today, and has an especially large following in Europe.
Percy Sledge in South Africa (1970)
Sledge’s success catapulted him onto a world stage. Major concert tours helped spark record sales and bring new audiences to Sledge’s tunes and no-holds-barred vocal delivery. In the summer of 1970 the singer traveled to South Africa to give performances and make a concert film entitled Soul Africa. Many black performers had been officially boycotting the country since 1965 because of its racist policies of apartheid, and at the time Sledge was criticized for traveling and performing there. Controversy marked his stay.
He had been booked to perform only for black crowds at the specific directive of the South African government, but during his first shows, white teenagers in fez hats and black makeup attempted to gain entry. Finally, the authorities allowed Sledge and his management to schedule some performances for white audiences during his tour. In a 1971 interview with Orde Coombs for the New York Times, the singer defended his tour against critics: “I went to entertain all those people who buy my records, the people who keep me in bread.”
The Luxurama Theatre, Cape Town, darkened, there was a momentary hush, then the audience exploded in a deafening roar as Percy Sledge walked on stage. Everyone of the 1300 seats was filled, people were sitting in the aisles and the happy audience screamed and cried, shouted and stamped, clapped and cheered for the King of Soul was here in South Africa at last!Sledge’s success catapulted him onto a world stage. Major concert tours helped spark record sales and bring new audiences to Sledge’s tunes and no-holds-barred vocal delivery. In the summer of 1970 the singer traveled to South Africa to give performances and make a concert film entitled Soul Africa. Many black performers had been officially boycotting the country since 1965 because of its racist policies of apartheid, and at the time Sledge was criticized for traveling and performing there. Controversy marked his stay.
He had been booked to perform only for black crowds at the specific directive of the South African government, but during his first shows, white teenagers in fez hats and black makeup attempted to gain entry. Finally, the authorities allowed Sledge and his management to schedule some performances for white audiences during his tour. In a 1971 interview with Orde Coombs for the New York Times, the singer defended his tour against critics: “I went to entertain all those people who buy my records, the people who keep me in bread.”
‘Don’t leave Percy’ they cried. ‘Stay here in South Africa with us!’
The live-recording of this show, at The Luxurama, Cape Town, has captured many exciting moments with songs like ‘My Special Prayer’ and Percy’s first time singing of a Bee Gees composition ‘I got get a message to you’. The crowd loved the message.And stay he did. For it was on Friday, May 29th 1970 that he opened at the Luxurama Theatre and stayed there for three weeks. One June 22nd he opened at The Three Arts Theatre, Cape Town and played for four weeks to open on July 20th at The Empire Theatre in Johannesburg on July 31st and August 1st, 1970.
Fonte: In Soul Safari.
Faixas/Track List:
My special prayer
Cover me
Heart of a child
Takes time to know her
Warm and tender love
I gotta get a message to you
Silent night
Come softly to me
What am I living for
When a man loves a woman.
My special prayer
Cover me
Heart of a child
Takes time to know her
Warm and tender love
I gotta get a message to you
Silent night
Come softly to me
What am I living for
When a man loves a woman.
Álbum ripado e disponibilizado por Carlos Santos.
Album ripped and provided by Carlos Santos.
Album ripped and provided by Carlos Santos.