Classic Albums: Essential South African Albums

The South African Rock Encyclopedia > Classic Albums > Essential South African Albums

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Essential South African Albums

This list is based on votes from a survey (done in the early 2000s) of various people in the South African Music industry who were asked to name their 10 Essential South African albums.

Key: 
Ranking Title – Artist (No. of Votes) (Year Released)

  1. A Croak and a Grunt in the Night – Rabbitt (9) (1977)
  2. éVoid – éVoid (8) (1983)
  3. Tananas – Tananas (7) (1989)
  4. Astra – Freedoms Children (5) (1970)
  5. One Came Running – No Friends of Harry (5) (1987)
  6. Wie Is Bernoldus Niemand – Bernoldus Niemand (5) (1984)
  7. African Day – Hawk (4) (1971)
  8. Boys Will Be Boys – Rabbitt (4) (1975)
  9. Galactic Vibes – Freedoms Children (4) (1971)
  10. Lesley Rae Dowling – Lesley Rae Dowling (4) (1981)
  11. Live at Jamesons – Cherry Faced Lurchers (4) (1985)
  12. Universal Men – Juluka (4) (1979)
  13. Ag Pleez Deddy – Jeremy Taylor (3) (1997)
  14. Bakgat – David Kramer (3) (1981)
  15. Burning Soul – Flames (3) (1968)
  16. Every Now And Then – Best of – Bright Blue (3) (2001)
  17. Fight It With Your Mind – Asylum Kids (3) (1981)
  18. Fragile – Saron Gas (3) (2000)
  19. In the Arena – Circus (3) (1977)
  20. Into The Night We Slide – Radio Rats (3) (1978)
  21. Johnny Calls The Chemist – Falling Mirror (3) (1986)
  22. Power – Tribe After Tribe (3) (1985)
  23. Sunny Skies – The Lurchers (3) (1994)
  24. The Road Is Much Longer – Roger Lucey (3) (1979)
  25. The Warrior – Ipi N Tombia (3) (1973)
  26. Voëlvry – Various (3) (1988)
  27. A Naartjie In Our Sosatie – Various (2) (1985)
  28. Africa, She Too Can Cry – Hawk (2) (1972)
  29. African Litany – Juluka (2) (1981)
  30. All Comes Round – Just Jinger (2) (1998)
  31. Ballad Of A Working Man – Davey James (2) (1968)
  32. Best Kept Secrets – Dog Detachment (2) (2001)
  33. Born Guilty – Colin Shamley (2) (1980)
  34. Deur Die Donker Vallei – Valiant Swart (2) (1999)
  35. Eet Kreef – Johannes Kerkorrel (2) (1989)
  36. Forces Favourites – Various (2) (1986)
  37. Giving A Little Away – Kenny Henson’s Harambee (2) (1978)
  38. Goema – Genuines (2) (1987)
  39. Have Beans Will Travel – Psycho Reptiles (2) (1988)
  40. Long Pig – Squeal (2) (1995)
  41. Low Riding – Van Der Want/Letcher (2) (1999)
  42. Made In SA – James Phillips (2) (1995)
  43. Madiba Bay – Koos Kombuis (2) (1997)
  44. ‘n Suitcase Vol Winter – Piet Botha (2) (1997)
  45. On Loan for Evolution – Peach (2) (1981)
  46. Poles Apart – Karen Zoid (2) (2001)
  47. Polynation – Electric Petals (2) (1995)
  48. Protskrog – Battery 9 (2) (1995)
  49. Rocking Against The System – Various (2) (2002)
  50. Sand Man Sky – Sugardrive (2) (1997)
  51. Scatterlings – Juluka (2) (1982)
  52. Silence Is Golden – Square Set (2) (1967)
  53. Steady On – MoodPhase 5ive (2) (2000)
  54. Surpass The Powers – Springbok Nude Girls (2) (1999)
  55. The Best Of Robin Auld Vol 1 – Robin Auld (2) (1999)
  56. The Best Of SA Pop Volume 2 – Various (2) (1995)
  57. The Moon Is A Spoon – Sunways (2) (2001)
  58. The Romantic Lure of Possum Worship – Tweak (2) (2001)
  59. Waiting For The Heave – Syd Kitchen (2) (1987)
  60. Zen Boulders – Falling Mirror (2) (1979)

Thanks to everyone who took part in this project.

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