South Africa's Vinyl Music History

Part 2

First Afrikaans Rock Instrumental Album



Artists: Peanut Butter Conspiracy - Deuntjies Vir Dansdag

First Afrikaans Rock Album



Artists: The Bats - Weltevrede

First Afrikaans Medley Album



Artist: Julia Mann

Album Released In Two Official Languages



Artist: Paul Nel

Rock Song Recorded In Two Official Languages



Artists: Die Bats - Riksha Ry



Artists: The Bats - Rickshaw Riding

First Rugby Song By A Rock Band

First Indigenous Surf Song



Artists: The Bats - Keep your baggies on

First Album Featuring Rock 'n Roll Numbers



Artists: Cherry Wainer & Nico Carstens

Non Breakable 78 RPM Single



Artists: The Peterson Bros Accompanied
By Nico Carstens - Fanagalo

First Stereo Album



Artist: Duffy Ravenscroft - Gallotone Stereo SGALP 1

This recording achieves the distinction of being the first record in stereophonic sound produced and released in South Africa [Anton de Waal: Liner Notes]

First Stereo Instrumental Album



Artist: Dan Hill

First Afrikaans Stereo Album



Artist: Ricardo Bornman

First Stereo Single



Artists: Sounds Of Brass - Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye/ Turn On A Dream

First Soundtrack Extended Play Single

Afrikaans Album By International Artists



Artists: Jim Reeves/ Floyd Cramer/ Chet Atkins

First Vocal Recording Of "Zambesi"



Artists: The Canadians

First SA Composition On UK Charts

Lou Busch's cover version of Zambesi entered the UK charts on 27 Jan 1956 and peaked at no 2

SA Single On UK Charts



Artists: Elias and his Zigzag Jive Flutes - Tom Hark. The single entered the UK charts on 25 April 1956 and peaked at no 2.

First Australian Single Release For 4 Jacks & A Jill



Artists: Four Jacks and a Jill - Master Jack

First UK Single Release For Dickie Loader



Artist: Dickie Loader - Heatwave, 1962

First German Single Release For The Staccatos

SA Composition Recorded By The Shadows



Track: Zambesi [composer: Nico Carstens]

SA Composition Recorded By The Ventures



Track: Grazin' in the grass [composer: Hugh Masekela]

SA Rock Single On London Hit Parade



Artists: The Bats - Listen to my heart. This single peaked at no 11 on the Radio London charts in 1967.

Rock Singles Featuring Hugh Masekela



Artists: Eric Burdon And The Animals - Monterey/
The Byrds - So You Want To Be A Rock And Roll Star

Local Album Produced By Mickie Most



Artist: Jackie Frisco - she was Mickie's sister-in-law and wife of Gene Vincent

Canadian Rock Single Released In South Africa



Producer: Hank Squires

Local And International Artists On Same Single



Artists: Fantastic Baggies [SA Band] on A side/
Fantastic Baggies [US Band] on B side

Private Pressing - Maxi Single



Comment: Only 12 copies of this maxi single were pressed for Norman Patterson a one-time friend of Squires

Bootleg Album Featuring South African Artists

Rare South African 60's Rock Album

Rare South African Rock Single



Artists: Freedom's Children - word Freedom changed to Fleadom due to pressure from 60's SABC Management who apparently refused to give record any airplay unless name was changed. They argued that the word Freedom had a revolutionary connotation! [Billy Forrest: Producer, 2002]

Beatles Banned From Springbok Charts



Paperback writer appeared on the charts for the last time on Friday, 5th August 1966. The single progressed to no 11 before the SABC banned the Beatles from local radio. They took this decision in response to Lennon's remark about "the Beatles being more popular than Jesus".

Back to Part 1

Tertius Louw, November 2003

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South Africa's Rock Legends

South Africa's Rock Lists