Piet Botha | Jack Hammer Double Vinyl

Piet Botha | Jack Hammer Double Vinyl
Piet Botha | Jack Hammer Double Vinyl
Piet Botha | Jack Hammer Double Vinyl
Piet Botha | Jack Hammer Double Vinyl

Tracks

Disc One: Piet Botha

  1. Donkermaan [4:28]
  2. Richmondstraat [4:24]
  3. Suitcase Vol Winter [4:22]
  4. Vandat Jy Weg Is [3:59]
  5. Blues Vir Louise [4:42]
  6. Stad Sonder Naam [3:58]
  7. Die Mamba [4:56]
  8. Goeienag Generaal [4:09]
  9. Man Met Kitaar [5:15]
  10. Staan Saam Burgers [3:40]

Disc Two: Jack Hammer

  1. Highway 13 [3:13]
  2. January’s Son (Death Of A Gypsy version) [3:48]
  3. The Pilgrim [6:32]
  4. Welcome To Azania [4:27]
  5. Mr Midnight [3:41]
  6. Mozambique [4:12]
  7. Liberty [3:43]
  8. Fort Lauderdale (Anthology version) [3:41]
  9. Sarajevo [4:47]
  10. The Fisherman [5:02]
Piet Botha | Jack Hammer Double Vinyl

Release Information

2LP: 18th July 2019, Wolmer Records, 199753E
Streaming / Download: 18th July 2023, Wolmer Records
CD: not unreleased on CD

Musicians

Piet Botha: vocals, guitars, keyboards, harmonica

For other musicians, please see the separate album releases.

Comments

Songs were recorded at various studios across the country between 1985 – 2011.

Limited edition double vinyl, uniquely numbered, mixed specially for vinyl by Lanie van der Walt from Wolmer Records.

Review

by Wayne Roux, 2019

Wayne Roux, 2019
Photo by Wayne Roux, 2019

It’s taken me a long time to truly assimilate this release. Ironically enough I know all the music on this compilation, but allow me to explain the importance of this particular release. Piet Botha passed away this year but left us with some of the grittiest, down-to-earth, soul searching music.

The renegade son of a principled and extremely well-liked politician, Piet was one of the most amazingly talented local musicians ever to grace us with his presence, persona and was liked by all. His blues and pure rock in Jack Hammer was the mainstay and result of a life on the road, touring incessantly but always giving a piece of his heart away to fans, friends, roadies and music junkies, and the music sung in English would not be out of place anywhere in the world.

This is a double album with one record dedicated to material by Jack Hammer, and the other to his solo work. His solo work was generally performed in Afrikaans (his native tongue), but was equally rewarding and he regularly delivered the most incredible albums. He was a rocker, a husband, a father, a maverick, a beautiful soul with a powerful gravel-laden voice, a entertainer and the epitome of what humans can achieve when they channel all their creativity into their music.

A belated tribute to our fallen son, not to be forgotten. Wolmer Records, 2019. Limited edition. Sleeves notes judiciously acknowledge all members of both incarnations. Even Billy Bob Thornton.


Discography