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ranked it number 159 in their 2018 list of "The 200 Best Albums of the 1980s", calling it a "palpable joy" with "oping rhythms, flickering guitar riffs, and shimmering synth licks back a dazzling array of groaning, ululating, harmonizing voices".
31:
159:
The album was conceived by white South
African expatriates Trevor Herman and Jumbo Vanrenen and released in 1985 on the British-based Earthworks label. The following year it was released in the US by the
188:. The former two are the least traditional-sounding of the styles, while the latter two styles incorporate elements of urban and more rural music. Released prior to the more commercially successful
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The album has been re-released several times and also spawned a succession of later volumes in the
Indestructible Beat series, released by the Earthworks label.
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198:, it was one of the first albums of contemporary South African music to be widely available outside the country.
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gave it an A+ rating, and called it the most important record of the 1980s. It was ranked number 388 in
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calls it "an essential sampler of modern
African styling, a revelation and a joy." Leading critic
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list, and ranked no. 497 in the updated version of the list published in 2020.
597:"'Graceland' tops Voice poll - Simon's album wins Jazz and Pop critics' honor"
195:
144:
377:"Sini Lindile" (We Are Waiting for You) – Nganezlyamfisa No Khambalomvaleliso
180:, but the tracks actually cover four different styles, mbaqanga, mqashiyo,
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531:(1995). "The Indestructible Beat of Soweto: Worldbeat Compilations". In
339:"Awungilobolele" (Can You Pay Lobola for Me) – Udokotela Shange Namajaha
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348:"Indoda Yejazi Elimnyama" (The Man in the Black Coat) – Amaswazi Emvelo
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style, a guitar-based style popular at the time in the townships of
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released in 1985 on the
Earthworks label, featuring musicians from
504:"The Indestructible Beat of Soweto, Vol. 1 – Various Artists"
361:"Sobabamba" (We Will Get Them) – Udokotela Shange Namajaha
374:"Thul'ulalele" (Just Stop and Listen) – Amaswazi Emvelo
147:. In 2020, it was ranked number 497 on Rolling Stone's
680:"Various Artists, 'The Indestructible Beat of Soweto'"
624:"The Indestructible Beat of Soweto (Shanachie, 1986)"
168:. The sleeve notes state that all songs are in the
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345:"Qhude Manikiniki" (Fair Fight) – Umahlathini Nabo
164:label. It features twelve tracks by artists from
289:The album was placed in the top 10 in the annual
380:"Ngicabange Ngaqeda" (I Have Made Up My Mind) –
371:"Qhwahilahle" (Leave Him Alone) – Moses Mchunu
351:"Emthonjeni Womculo" (The Stream of Music) –
342:"Holotelani" (Daughter-In-Law) – Nelcy Sedibe
18:1985 compilation album by various artists
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129:The Indestructible Beat of Soweto Volume One
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650:"Africa 100: The Indestructible Beat"
470:"Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens"
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823:Folk albums by South African artists
595:Harrington, Richard (4 March 1987).
497:
495:
393:"Nansi Imali" (Here Is the Money) –
753:"The 200 Best Albums of the 1980s"
14:
818:Regional music compilation albums
782:The Indestructible Beat of Soweto
724:"500 Greatest Albums of All Time"
698:"500 Greatest Albums of All Time"
382:Mahlathini Nezintombi Zomgqashiyo
353:Mahlathini Nezintombi Zomgqashiyo
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124:The Indestructible Beat of Soweto
24:The Indestructible Beat of Soweto
390:"Joyce No. 2" – Johnson Mkhalali
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751:Pitchfork (10 September 2018).
316:500 Greatest Albums of All Time
149:500 Greatest Albums of All Time
1:
648:Tangari, Joe (4 April 2005).
537:Spin Alternative Record Guide
266:Spin Alternative Record Guide
569:"Christgau's Consumer Guide"
445:Focus: Music of South Africa
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443:Muller, Carol Ann (2008).
447:. Routledge. p. 86.
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813:Folk compilation albums
808:1985 compilation albums
535:; Marks, Craig (eds.).
395:Ladysmith Black Mambazo
141:Ladysmith Black Mambazo
127:, later repackaged as
293:poll in the magazine
543:. pp. 192–194.
210:Professional ratings
789:(list of releases)
660:on 11 February 2010
602:The Washington Post
474:National Geographic
414:Christgau, Robert.
386:Makgona Tsohle Band
357:Makgona Tsohle Band
211:
732:. 31 December 2023
209:
205:Critical reception
574:The Village Voice
565:Christgau, Robert
454:978-0-415-96071-7
420:The Village Voice
296:The Village Voice
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278:The Village Voice
162:Shanachie Records
133:compilation album
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704:. 31 May 2012
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539:. New York:
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529:Hermes, Will
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186:isicathamiya
174:Johannesburg
166:South Africa
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139:, including
137:South Africa
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79:isicathamiya
77:, mqashiyo,
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314:s original
838:Zulu music
802:Categories
664:17 October
633:17 October
608:19 October
513:17 October
484:17 October
425:17 October
401:References
196:Paul Simon
145:Mahlathini
106:Earthworks
757:Pitchfork
736:5 January
321:Pitchfork
191:Graceland
60:1981–1984
708:6 August
508:AllMusic
384:and the
355:and the
301:AllMusic
229:AllMusic
182:maskanda
170:mbaqanga
155:Overview
112:Producer
75:maskanda
71:Mbaqanga
57:Recorded
49:Released
41: by
787:Discogs
580:10 July
131:, is a
116:various
828:Soweto
762:24 May
547:
451:
366:Side B
334:Side A
223:Rating
220:Source
184:, and
178:Durban
85:Length
271:10/10
102:Label
66:Genre
764:2024
738:2024
710:2019
666:2009
635:2009
610:2009
582:2015
545:ISBN
515:2009
486:2009
449:ISBN
427:2009
176:and
143:and
52:1985
785:at
194:by
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494:^
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283:A+
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