Do you remember when you stopped believing in Father Christmas? And do you remember when you first realised that Springbok Hits records didn’t feature the original artists? Quite remarkably, a series of records comprising session-musician covers of contemporary hits, not only shifted enough copies to make a profit, but actually sold hundreds of thousands of albums over a period of more than fifteen years, and became as much a part of the South African musical landscape as CNA record bars and the Pop Shop television show.
The Springbok Hit Parade series was conceived by Ken Talbot, making its debut in 1970 with the goal of providing South African consumers with affordable and accessible music hits. The series was inspired by the Springbok Radio Top Twenty on Springbok Radio on Friday nights, hosted by David Gresham. Released by MFP (Music For Pleasure), the series was initially produced by Robert Schröder, followed by Gresham, and later by Mike Pilot, who oversaw its final volumes in the 1980s.
It was a sort of coming-of-age thing for many (especially white) South Africans – to buy at least one Springbok Hit Parade LP – preferably from CNA or the OK Bazaars, where often low price special deals were on offer. And the series itself seemed to come of age in a sexist way, moving from animated art work to actual Scope Magazine-like photographs of scantily dressed women (the transition happened in early 1976, on Springbok Hit Parade no 26). The models were always white women: after all, these were Springbok hits, and only white people were allowed to be formally represented by the springbok – whether playing rugby, cricket, or posing on the cover of a Springbok Hit Parade record. However, black musicians could be covered by session musicians on the records, as is seen on this mixtape which includes songs originally performed by Joy, Lionel Petersen, Pacific Express, Letta Mbulu, Margaret Singana, and Steve Kekana.
The only significant change to the branding of this series was in early 1980 when the Springbok Hit Parade records became simply Springbok records, the first to mark this change being Springbok 47.
For many, the relationship with Springbok Hits follows the trajectory of a romance novel: we fell in love with Springbok hits records, thinking they were the real thing (we bought a few or more) and we had wonderful times together, but then alas, we discovered that Springbok Hits had cheated on us, they weren’t what they said they said were. We hated session covers, and we discovered they were exactly what we hated. So we broke up. The break up was sudden and it was nasty. They became a source of embarrassment and regret. Then many, many years later, we rekindled fond memories of them. We reminisce about them with our family and friends, we even begin to romanticise them. We discover that some of the sessions musicians were renowned South African musicians, and they were often good versions of songs. Some of us even hook up with ones we grew up with, giving them a curious listen on a lonely Friday night at home.
For this mixtape we have put together 20 Springbok Hit Parade sessions versions of songs originally released by South African musicians. Was that the mark of success? To feature on a Springbok Hit Parade album? You can decide! In the list of songs below we include the original South African artists, and the Springbok Hit Parade record on which each appeared.
- Ain’t Gonna Stop Til We Get To The Top (Joy, 47)
- Grips Of Emotion (Lesley Rae Dowling, 57)
- Man On The Moon (Ballyhoo, 51)
- Better The Devil You Know (Stingray, 46)
- Nightmare (Peach, 54)
- Tokoloshe Man (John Kongos, 5)
- Blue Water (Julian Laxton Band, 32)
- Buccaneer (Mccully Workshop, 37)
- You’ve Got All Of Me (Clout, 41)
- Charlie (Rabbitt, 29)
- Ek Verlang Na Jou (Sonja Herholdt, 23)
- Bouncy Bouncy Bounce (Lionel Petersen, 25)
- Give A Little Love (Pacific Express, 42)
- I Need Your Love (Letta Mbulu, 9)
- Mama Temba’s Wedding (Maragret Singana, 19)
- Feel So Strong (Hotline & Steve Kekana, 62)
- Vyfster (Lloyd Ross, 63)
- You’re Living Inside My Head (John Ireland, 42)
- Face In The Mirror (Century, 45)
- Paradise Road (Joy, 49)
