ELITE SWINGSTERS DISCOGRAPHY

The group was formed in April 1956 by Johannes 'Chooks' Tshukudu as a session band for RCA, an imprint of Teal Records in South Africa.  Following on their first release: Inch Mama/Amadoda Etshwaleni RCA 148 which record was in the best-seller class, the sales of RCA 160 Phalafala/Phulaphula all existing figures for a record of this type. This discography shows the early recordings made at Teal. Ultimately, several hundred Elite Swingsters titles were released, first on the RCA label and then later on Teal’s Drum imprint. In addition, there were a large number of ‘underground' recordings made outside of the band’s Teal contract for other record companies which were issued using a wide variety of pseudonyms.

The regular core of the Elite Swingsters' classic line up consisted of the leader and string bass player, Johannes '‘Chooks'’Tshukudu, drummer Louis Molubi, Rex Ntuli on guitar, Jordan Bangazi on trumpet and Paul Rametsi on tenor sax. The two man alto saxophone section changed around more frequently and at various times used the following players: Jury Mpehlo, Chris Songxaka, Tami Madi, Shumi, Peter Mokonotela (from 1961), Albert Ralulimi and Mike Selelo. Other musicians who sometimes formed part of the lineup were Elijah Nkwanyane and Johnny Selelo on trumpet, Blyth Mbitjana on trombone, Chris Columbus on baritone and Dolly Rathebe on vocals.

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Elite Swingsters
Probably:  Johnny Bangazi (tpt) Philip Thami Madi (alto) Paul Ramesti (tenor) Rex Ntuli (gtr) Chhoks Tshukudu (bass & leader) Louis Molubi (drums)

Inch Mama RCA 148
Amadoda Etshwaleni RCA 148

8KBB 60
8KBB 59

8KBB.71

Phalafala (Lebenya Matlotlo) RCA 160
Phulaphula (Lebenya Matlotlo) RCA 160
 

Panga (Sylvia Maloi), RCA 179
Thu Thuka (Lebenya Matlotlo), RCA 179

Phata Baby (R. Msomi) RCA 181 ( with unknown trombone & banjo)

Elite Swingsters with Thoko Thomo

Lo mfana (Jury Mpehlo) RCA 195
Inhliziyo (Jury Mpehlo) RCA 195

The Beat Of Africa (LP)
RCA Teal RCA (31397), recorded c1958, issued 1958
Probably:  Johnny Bangazi (tpt) Philip Thami Madi (alto) Paul Ramesti (tenor) Rex Ntuli (gtr) Chhoks Tshukudu (bass & leader) Louis Molubi (drums)
produced by Lebenya Matlotlo. Many of these were also on issued on 78

RQBB.3269
RQBB.3270

Elite Twist RCA 288
Amies Rock  RCA 288

Madison time (Chooks Tshukudu) RCA 321
Koyana (Chooks Tshukudu) RCA 321

Net Da RCA 323
Kapaku  RCA 323

B60D.0179
B60D.0180

Cool mood (J Tshukudu) DR 1
Kwangalonde (B Thami) DR 1

Italian Sausage Drum Dr.2
Elite Rock  Drum Dr.2

Phalaborwa Drum Dr.3
Page Eleven Drum Dr.3

Shashalaza Drum Dr.21
Siyavuma Drum Dr.21

Selina Special Drum Dr.22
Shongola Drum Dr.22

Emndeni (Paul Rametse) DR 32
Ezibeleni (J Bangazi ) DR32

B60D.0199
B60D.0200

B60D.0211
B60D.0212

B60D.0233
B60D.0234     

Emhlangeni (T Madi) DR 38
Godmother (J Tshukudu) DR 38

B B House Drum Dr.41
Radio Bantu Zulu Drum Dr.41

Bus stop (J Bangazi) DR 42 (+banjo)
Teptep (J Bangazi) DR 42

Mlungisi Drum Dr.47
Ashishi Drum Dr.47

Move Move (C Songxaka) DR 48
Dithabeng (L Molubi) Dr 48

B61D.0033
B61D.0034

B61d.0051
 

Edujwa (T Madi) DR 86
Sethunya (D Rametse) DR 86

Elite Blues (J Tshukudu) DR 90
No Advance (?) Drum Dr.90

Dinokza
Standerton
Oupa

B62D 0337
B62D 0338

B62D.0505
B62D.0506
B62D.0507
B62D.0508

Nomnono (W Manci) Dr 98
Y.M.C.A. (P Rametse) DR 98

Jika Jika Twist (G. Ntutu) Drum, DR 125,
Mabelebele (Jordan Bangazi) Drum, DR 125

Twist Around it (J Tshkudu) DR 146
Mkhwenyana (P Moronoteza) DR 146
Hallo Jerry (J Mtetwa) DR 147
Ekomani Queenstown (J Bangazi) DR 147

Elite Swingsters
Drum Records, 1963

B63D.0569
B63D.0570

B63D.2638
B63D.2639

B64D.3066
B64D.3067
 

B65D.3579
B65D.3580

Tap tap twist (Paul Rametse) DR 152
Drumbeat no. 2 (Paul Rametse) DR 152
Jika jika twist no. 4 (J Lerole) DR 156
Nyahdu (J Bangazi) DR 156
 

Louis special (L Molubi) DR 154
Chabedi (P Mokonotela) DR 154

Park station (A Ralumini) DR 188
Tamela special  (A Ralumini) DR 188

Thabong (J. Bangazi) Drum DR 201
Soweto Twist (Paul Rametsi) Drum DR 201
 

The Silver Meter (Part 1) (Dixon) Dr 230
The Silver Meter (Part 2) (Dixon) Dr 230
 

0QBB.2266
0QBB.2267

RQBB.3182
RQBB.318?

RQBB.3363
RQBB.3364
 

78-RQBB.3899
78-RQBB.3900

Iza Wena (Paul Rametse) RCA 285
Cannon Beat (S.Ntutu) RCA 285

Soweto Special RCA 317
Mathapelo RCA 317

Net Da (Benedict Letoaba) RCA 323
Kabaku (Benedict Letoaba) RCA 323
 

Bama (Paul Rametse) RCA 362
Big Shot (Paul Rametse) RCA 362

New Year Swingsters

1381
13812

Mgewundini Winner (Strike Vilakazi) Ok.094
Sibonda Winner (Strike Vilakazi) Ok.094
 

Treasure Winner Ok.104
Pack 'N Go Winner Ok.104

Finger Prints Winner Ok.110
Self Defence Winner Ok.110

Kippie Moeketsi & the New Year Swingsters

Back To Back By Kippie Moeketsi; Winner Ok.112

Jeppe Station Winner Ok.133
N 5 Winner Ok.133

Thabazimbi Winner Ok.135
Jabulani Winner Ok.135

Birds Haven Winner Ok.138
Zone 1 Meadowlands (Strike Vilakazi) Winner Ok.138

July Handicap Phepheleza Winner Ok.144
Talking Mule Twist Winner Ok.144

Charley's Twistby New Year Swingsters; Charley Masote. Winner Ok.147
Khumalo Winner Ok.147

A Pound of Grapes Fire (Rave 1175)
City Late Kippie Moeketsi & the New Year Swingsters Fire (Rave 1175)*

*issued on 78 on Quality 6783 as Stompin' at the Jig Club (K Moeketsi)

Jazz Messengers
 (an Elite Swingsters session)
Zonk Records