Best Of Johnny Clegg & Savuka: In My African Dream CD

This 17-track best of release combines Western and Zulu tribal sounds features Johnny Clegg and Savuka and includes the tracks "Scatterlings Of Africa" and "Take My Heart Away."

A long time crusader for human rights and reform in South Africa, the British-born singer/songwriter and Zulu dancer Johnny Clegg has recorded a large corpus of work that, among other things, has brought international acclaim to South African pop music. This best of collection documents Clegg's albums with his band Savuka, a multiracial group and the successor to his first band Juluka.

Not surprisingly, this album's theme revolves around injustice, the struggle of the South African people to unite as one, and the hope for a better world. "Orphans of the Empire," the opening track, tells the story of slavery and imperialism. "Asimbonanga (Mandela)" is centered on the plight of political prisoners Nelson Mandela, Steven Biko, Victoria Mxgenge and Neil Aggett. The music itself is marked by slick production and uses a barrage of electronic instruments such as keyboards and guitars, as well as drums and African percussion.

Recorded at Plus 4 Studios, Los Angeles, California; Downtown Studios, Johannesburg, South Africa; ICP Studios, Brussels, Belgium.

Johnny Clegg & Savuka: Johhnny Clegg (vocals, guitar, mouth bow, concertina, jaw harp); Keith Hutchinson (flute, saxophone, keyboards, background vocals); Steve Mavuso (keyboards, background vocals); Solly Letwaba (bass, background vocals); Derek De Beer (drums, percussion, background vocals).

Producers: Cedric Samson, Hilton Rosenthal, Bobby Summerfield, Don Was, Johnny Clegg.

Engineers include: Bobby Summerfield, Fernando Perdigao, Phil Delire.

Personnel: Johnny Clegg (vocals, guitar, concertina, mouth bow, background vocals); Keith Hutchinson (flute, saxophone, keyboards, background vocals); Steve Mavuso (keyboards, background vocals); Derek de Beer (drums, percussion, background vocals); Dudu Zulu (percussion); Jabu Mavuso, Solly Letwaba (background vocals).

Additional personnel: Andrew Innes (guitar, mandolin, background vocals); Mark Goldenberg (guitar); Eric Bazillian (mandolin); Eric Rigler (bagpipes); Bobby Summerfield (keyboards, percussion, tambourine, programming); Hilton Rosenthal (keyboards, sequencing, background vocals); Jabu Mavuso, Victor Masondo, John Pierce (bass); Cedric Samson (drums, background vocals); Kenny Aronoff (drums); Mandisa Dlanga (background vocals).

EMI. 2002.