Tag Archives: James Phillips

S08E12 – This Time It’s Personal!

Maybe it’s the lockdown, maybe it’s the heatwave in the US and UK, but Brett & Leon – on either sides of the Atlantic – are feeling in a nostalgic mood, so they go back to their roots as long-haired students at Rhodes University in Grahamstown in the late 1980s, to play some records and chat about the times, and the music and musicians they encountered. There’s also a very special shout out to the “old man” that taught Leon how to play a walking baseline and inspired Brett’s first real song. Happy Birthday Barry Sweetman!

This episode features:

  • The Sighs of Monsters
  • Barry Sweetman
  • Larry Strelitz
  • Mini Dial
  • The Leather Omnibus
  • Chris Letcher
  • The Jazzanians
  • Zim Ngqawana
  • Darius Brubeck
  • Johannes Kerkorrel
  • Koos Kombuis
  • Bernoldus Niemand

Check out our 1989 interviews with Zim, and the Voelvry guys…. and of course, the story of the Rhodes University Big Band!

We really appreciate your feedback. We’re always open to suggestions and even requests! If you’re a South African musician living or touring internationally, do let us know about your concerts, album releases or tours – we’d love to give you a punt on the show.

Our email address is yesno@tunemewhat.com But most importantly, if you enjoy the show, tell your friends about Tune Me What?! You can find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TuneMeWhat

S08E03 – Dodging Sjamboks Part 1

In this episode – a part 1 of 2 – Leon & Brett play the artists featured in the excellent article by journalist Derek Davey called “Dodging the sjambok: How musicians got around apartheid’s laws”. The piece is an interesting read, but many may not be familiar with the sound of the artists mentioned. So the TMW team thought it might be a good idea to produce a companion podcast.

This episode features:

  • Dax Butler
  • Molombo
  • Dollar Brand
  • David Marks
  • Zasha
  • Solomon Linda
  • Benny B’Funk & the Sons of Gadaffi Bar-Mitzvah Band
  • James Phillips
  • Juluka
  • Ge Korsten

We really appreciate your feedback. We’re always open to suggestions and even requests! If you’re a South African musician living or touring internationally, do let us know about your concerts, album releases or tours – we’d love to give you a punt on the show.

Our email address is yesno@tunemewhat.com But most importantly, if you enjoy the show, tell your friends about Tune Me What?! You can find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TuneMeWhat

S06E25 – Talking James Phillips Blues

In this special episode, Brett sits down to with Michael Cross – director of the new James Phillips documentary “The Fun’s Not Over” to talk about James Phillips, documentary making, the South African music scene of the 1980s and 1990s and a bit of life, the universe and everything. Between chewing the proverbial cud, they manage to play some great records from James’s discography, featuring his solo work and the many bands he was a part of. The interview is an near-essential companion to Michael’s film for anyone who can’t get enough of Mr Cross’s can insights into his subject matter.

This episode features:

  • James Phillips
  • The Cherry Faced Lurchers
  • Bernoldus Niemand & Die Swartgevaar
  • Corporal Punishment
  • Illegal Gathering
  • The Lurchers
  • Chris Letcher
  • Not The Midnight Mass

The film is available to rent online and buy on DVD. See for more details check out

https://www.facebook.com/The-Funs-Not-Over-The-James-Phillips-Story-1934107700238755/

The excellent soundtrack from which we took most of today’s show is available via Bandcamp:

https://jamesphillipsost.bandcamp.com/

We really appreciate your feedback. We’re always open to suggestions and even requests! If you’re a South African musician living or touring internationally, do let us know about your concerts, album releases or tours – we’d love to give you a punt on the show.

Our email address is yesno@tunemewhat.com But most importantly, if you enjoy the show, tell your friends about Tune Me What?! You can find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TuneMeWhat