Name: Take One
Brand: Hallelujah Chicken Run Band

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

AALP062

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Colour

Black

Colour details

Discogs ID

Format multiplier

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: No

Format detail

Format Music GB

Limited edition

Release date

2020-12-11

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier GB

Proper

Tax rate GB

Standard:20

UPC / Barcode

4260126061415

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Total Cap

1 / Extended format: No / LP / Rough Trade Exclusive: No / Signed copies: No / black

AACD0062

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4260126061408

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1 / CD / Extended format: No / Rough Trade Exclusive: No / Signed copies: No

Artist

Hallelujah Chicken Run Band

Genre GB

African

Label GB

Analog Africa

Analog Africa is a renowned music label that specializes in releasing rare and obscure African music from the 1970s and 1980s. With their series, Analog Africa (2), they have curated an impressive collection of vibrant and soulful sounds that showcase the rich musical heritage of the continent.

Since its inception, Analog Africa has been dedicated to unearthing hidden gems and forgotten masterpieces from across Africa. Their meticulous research and passion for preserving these cultural treasures have earned them a reputation as one of the leading authorities in African music.

With each release in their Analog Africa (2) series, this label takes listeners on a captivating journey through time and space, introducing them to incredible artists and genres that have largely been overlooked by mainstream audiences. From Afrobeat to Highlife, Soukous to Juju, Analog Africa presents a diverse range of musical styles that are sure to captivate any music lover's ears.

The Hallelujah Chicken Run Band is a legendary Zimbabwean music group that emerged in the 1970s. Known for their vibrant fusion of traditional African rhythms with elements of rock and funk, they played a pivotal role in shaping the country's music scene. Led by Thomas Mapfumo, their infectious grooves and socially conscious lyrics resonated with audiences both locally and internationally. With their energetic live performances and critically acclaimed albums, the band continues to be celebrated as pioneers of Zimbabwean music.
Throughout their career, the Hallelujah Chicken Run Band has released numerous hit songs that have become anthems for generations. Their unique sound blends traditional instruments like mbira and marimba with electric guitars and drums, creating a captivating sonic experience. Their music not only entertains but also tells stories of struggle, resilience, and hope – reflecting the realities faced by many during turbulent times in Zimbabwe's history.
Today, the legacy of the Hallelujah Chicken Run Band lives on through their timeless recordings and influence on contemporary artists. Their groundbreaking contributions to Afro-rock continue to inspire musicians around the world. Whether you're a long-time fan or new to their music, exploring the discography of this iconic band is an essential journey into the rich tapestry of Zimbabwean musical heritage.

Check out our latest restocks of vinyl records, CDs, books and merchandise at Rough Trade. Dive into rare finds, classic albums and add something special to your collection.

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In 1972, the country of Rhodesia - as Zimbabwe was then known – was in the middle of a long-simmering struggle for independence from British colonial rule. In the hotels and nightclubs of the capital, bands could make a living playing a mix of Afro-Rock, Cha-Cha-Cha and Congolese Rumba. But as the desire for independence grew stronger, a number of Zimbabwean musicians began to look to their own culture for inspiration.

They began to emulate the staccato sound and looping melodies of the mbira (thumb piano) on their electric guitars, and to replicate the insistent shaker rhythms on the hi-hat; they also started to sing in the Shona language and to add overtly political messages to their lyrics (safe in the knowledge that the predominantly white minority government wouldn't understand them). From this collision of electric instruments and indigenous traditions, a new style of Zimbabwean popular music - later known as Chimurenga, from the Shona word for 'struggle' – was born. And there were few bands more essential to the development of this music than the Hallelujah Chicken Run Band.

The band came into being when a young trumpet player named Daram Karanga offered to assemble a group to entertain the workers at a copper mine in the town of Mhangura. The original line-up – which included legendary singer Thomas Mapfumo, who would bring the sounds of Chimurenga to the world in the early 1980s with his band the Blacks Unlimited, and Joshua Hlomayi, one of the pioneers of mbira-style guitar – started out playing the Rumba and Afro-Rock styles popular in the capital. Although this was a hit with the white owners of the mine, the workers greeted it with indifference. But when they started adding electric arrangements of traditional Shona music to their repertoire, the audience went wild.

With the addition of "Zim" sounds to their arsenal, the HCR Band became unstoppable. Their reputation spread quickly and, in 1974, they were invited to the capital to compete in a national music contest organised by the South-African Teal label. Not only did they win the competition, but they also attracted the attention of famed producer Crispen Matema, who quickly organised their first recording sessions. On their first day at Jameson House studios, they recorded half a dozen songs, including Ngoma Yarira and Murembo, two singles that would alter the course of Zimbabwean popular music.

During the next five years, the band would relocate from their small mining town to the capital city, go through numerous line-up changes and pay a few more visits to the recording studio, without ever losing the raucous urgency that had transformed them from popular entertainers into titans of Zimbabwean culture. Take One collects the HCR Band's biggest hits along with several rare tracks recorded between 1974 and 1979, all painstakingly remastered from original master tapes and vinyl sources; originally released on CD by Analog Africa in 2006, this essential music is now available on LP for the first time since the 1970s.

Take One

Music GB

Discover Take One by Hallelujah Chicken Run Band on Analog Africa. This collection of hits and rare tracks from 1974-1979 is now available on LP and CD.