The Anchors - Black Soul

Ground-breaking afro-rock and jazz with Memphis soul roots on this lost 1972 gem

Black Soul (LAB 4037) from 1972 is the third and last known album by The Anchors, a soul group originally formed in Johannesburg's Alexandra township in 1968. Their first two albums, Soul Upstairs (CYL 1001) from 1969 and Everything (CYL 1008) from 1971, were issued on Teal's City Special label alongside other prominent South African soul groups of the era like The Beaters, The Movers and The Flaming Souls.

On Black Soul, The Anchors undergo a notable shift, moving away from their early Memphis soul influences towards a pioneering African-driven sound. These changes laid the foundations for an emerging afro-fusion scene in the years to come from groups like Batsumi, The Drive and Harari.