Cat. No. DVD 1475: VARIOUS ARTISTS ~ SOUL POWER. MADMAN MMA2796.

COLOUR             RUNNING TIME: 92 MINS.

REVIEW: In 1974, the most celebrated American R&B acts of the time came together with the most renowned musical groups in Africa for a 12-hour, three night long concert held in Kinshasa, Zaire. The dream-child of Hugh Masekela and Stewart Levine, this music festival became a reality when they convinced boxing promoter Don King to combine the event with “The Rumble In The Jungle”, the epic fight between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman, previously chronicled in the Academy Award-winning documentary “When We Were Kings”. Soul Power is a verite documentary about this legendary music festival (dubbed “Zaire ‘74”) and it depicts the experiences and performances of such musical luminaries as James Brown, B.B. King, Bill Withers, Celia Cruz, among a host of others. At the peak of their talents and the height of their careers, these artists were inspired by the return to their African roots, as well as the enthusiasm of the Zairian audience, to give the performance of their lives. The concert has achieved mythological significance as the definitive African-American musical event of the 20th century.

Soul Power is crafted from the extensive outtakes that remained after making “When We Were Kings”, which documented the epic title fight, but relegated the music festival to a small, supporting role. The “outtakes” had remained vaulted for 34 years until the release of this DVD. Some of the artists appearing in this DVD are James Brown and the J.B’s, The Spinners, Miriam Makeba, B.B. King, Bill Withers, Celia Cruz and the Fanis All Stars, Francos, Tabu Ley, Big Black, The Crusaders, Lloyd Price.

PERFORMANCES: Not Listed

DVD     NEW