Uptownship is a 1989 studio album by South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela.[1] It was recorded in New York City and Jersey City, and released via Novus Records label. It was his last album in exile before the end of apartheid.

Uptownship
Studio album by
Released1989
RecordedNovember 1988 – July 1989
StudioEvergreen Studios (New York City), Quantum Studios (Jersey City, NJ), Baby Monster Studios (NYC), RCA Studios (NYC)
GenreJazz
Length1:01:26
LabelNovus Records 3070
ProducerHugh Masekela, John Cartwright, Morris Goldberg, Rick Rowe
Hugh Masekela chronology
Tomorrow
(1987)
Uptownship
(1989)
Beatin' Aroun de Bush
(1992)

Reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [3]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music     [2]
The Rolling Stone Jazz & Blues Album Guide     [4]

Richard S. Ginell of AllMusic noted: "The title of this New York City-recorded album suggests a combination of township jive and uptown Gotham soul and energy, but what we get is some of the former and little of the latter. Here, Masekela alternates South African-inflected pop/jazz with lugubrious covers of a couple of U.S. soul tunes ... and a Bob Marley anthem, 'No Woman, No Cry.'"[3]

Track listing

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No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Uptownship"Hugh Masekela6:01
2."If You Don't Know Me by Now"Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff6:25
3."Now or Never"Hugh Masekela4:46
4."Hold On"Joe Cang, Matthew Cang5:33
5."Ooo Baby Baby"Smokey Robinson6:18
6."Egoli"Victor Ndlazilwane5:38
7."No Woman, No Cry"Vincent Ford, Bob Marley5:24
8."Emavungweni"Ndikho Xaba4:31
9."Naledi"John Selolwane4:10
10."Elijah"Hugh Masekela5:28
11."Nomalizo"John Dlamini7:12
Total length:01:01:26

References

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  1. ^ Mojapelo, Max (2008). Beyond Memory: Recording the History, Moments and Memories of South African Music. African Minds. p. 280. ISBN 978-1-920299-28-6. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  2. ^ Larkin, Colin (27 May 2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Omnibus Press. p. 1203. ISBN 9780857125958. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
  3. ^ a b "Hugh Masekela: Uptownship". AllMusic. allmusic.com. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
  4. ^ Swenson, John (1999). The Rolling Stone Jazz & Blues Album Guide. Random House. Retrieved 23 September 2019. Hugh Masekela
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