''The Very Best of Ladysmith Black Mambazo – Rain, Rain, Beautiful Rain'' is a 2-disc compilation album by the

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...

isicathamiya Isicathamiya (with the "c" pronounced as a dental click) is a singing style that originated from the South African Zulus. In European understanding, a cappella is also used to describe this form of singing. The word itself does not have a literal ...

group

Ladysmith Black Mambazo Ladysmith Black Mambazo are a South African male choral group singing in the local vocal styles of ''isicathamiya'' and '' mbube''. They became known internationally after singing with Paul Simon on his 1986 album ''Graceland'', and have won m ...

. It was released in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...

in November 2004, to coincide with the group's tour of the UK that month. The album contains many well-known songs by the group, spanning songs mainly from the late 1980s to newly recorded versions (and a few 1970s tracks), such as "Homeless" (composed by Mambazo leader

Joseph Shabalala Joseph Shabalala (28 August 1940 – 11 February 2020), was a South African singer and musician who was the founder and musical director of the choral group Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Early life and career Shabalala was born in the town of ...

and

Paul Simon Paul Frederic Simon (born October 13, 1941) is an American musician, singer, songwriter and actor whose career has spanned six decades. He is one of the most acclaimed songwriters in popular music, both as a solo artist and as half of folk roc ...

), "Nomathemba", and many more.

Track listing

Disc 1 # "Rain Rain Beautiful Rain" # "How Long?" # "Inkanyezi Nezazi (The Star and the Wiseman)" # "Swing Low Sweet Chariot" ''featuring

China Black China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...

'' # "(

Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika" (, ) is a Christian hymn originally composed in 1897 by Enoch Sontonga, a Xhosa people, Xhosa clergyman at a Methodism, Methodist mission school near Johannesburg. The song became a pan-African liberation song and ver ...

)

Shosholoza "Shosholoza" is an Nguni song that was sung by the mixed tribes of gold miners in South Africa. It is a mix of Zulu and Ndebele words, and can have various other South African languages thrown in depending on the singers. It was sung by all-mal ...

" # "Hello My Baby" # "Knockin' On Heaven's Door" ''featuring

Dolly Parton Dolly Rebecca Parton (born January 19, 1946) is an American singer-songwriter, actress, philanthropist, and businesswoman, known primarily for her work in country music. After achieving success as a songwriter for others, Parton made her album d ...

'' # "Music Knows No Boundaries" # "Sisesiqhingini (Everything is So Stupid, Stupid, Stupid)" # "Wenza Ngani (How Did You Do That?)" # "Homeless" # "Halala South Africa (Congratulations South Africa)" # "Isimanga Salomhlaba (The Wonder Of this World)" # "Dlondlobala Njalo (Preserve South Africa's Traditional Culture)" # "Amazing Grace" # "Silent Night" Disc 2 # "Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes" ''featuring

'' # "Mbube (Wimoweh)" # "Qed'usizi" # "New York City" # "Ain't No Sunshine" ''featuring

Des'ree Desirée Annette Weekes (born 30 November 1968), known by her stage name Des'ree (), is an English pop recording artist who rose to popularity during the 1990s. She is best known for her hits "Feel So High", "You Gotta Be", "Life", and " Kissi ...

'' # "Iningi Liyabon Ububende (Many Spoil the Broth)" # "Udidekil' Umhlaba (Lord's Work)" # "Because I Love You" # "Lifikile Ivangeli (The Gospel Has Arrived)" # "Chain Gang" ''featuring

Lou Rawls Louis Allen Rawls (December 1, 1933 – January 6, 2006) was an American record producer, singer, composer and actor. Rawls released more than 60 albums, sold more than 40 million records, and had numerous charting singles, most notably his s ...

'' # "Oh Happy Day" # "Abezizwe (Uniting Nations Together)" # "Isimanga Sikathekwane (The Wonder of the Hammerhead Bird)" ''Remix'' # "Black is Beautiful" # "Halleluya" # "Nomathemba (Mother of Hope)" {{DEFAULTSORT:Very Best Of Ladysmith Black Mambazo 2004 greatest hits albums Ladysmith Black Mambazo albums Wrasse Records compilation albums