A supergroup that defied racial barriers in their South African homeland,
Juluka's album
Scatterlings was the first introduction to the band for many Americans. Led by lead singer
Johnny Clegg,
Scatterlings featured
Juluka's blend of African and Western rhythms, melodies, and instrumentation.
Clegg delivered his self-penned lyrics in a warm voice singing in both English and Zulu. The title track is a jaunty romp that managed to receive a bit of airplay. The rest of the album ranges from the galloping "Shake My Way" to the martial drumming on "Simple Things" to the pop-tinged "Digging for Some Words."
Scatterlings failed to break the band to a wider audience, but remains a rewarding listen and a solid introduction to this groundbreaking act.