Bud Isaac's Skokiaan

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 2 Jun 2022 3:54 am

Here's a different kind of steel tune. Skokiaan was written by Zimbabwean musician August Musarurwa. Skokiaan refers to an illegal self-made alcoholic beverage typically brewed over one day. Within a year of its 1954 release in South Africa, at least 19 cover versions of "Skokiaan" appeared. Here's Bud Issacs version:

https://archive.org/details/78_skokiaan ... CT_EQ.flac

I also dig this steel-less Calypso version:

https://archive.org/details/78_skokiaan ... ia0428822b

Joe Goldmark · Post by **Joe Goldmark** » 2 Jun 2022 11:31 am

Always liked that tune, in fact Jim Campilongo and I cut a copycat version just because we dug it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JARmhq2KUs

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 2 Jun 2022 11:33 am

I had forgotten that one Joe. Well done!

Levi Gemmell · Post by **Levi Gemmell** » 2 Jun 2022 7:42 pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tylkdu4dpA0

Non-pedal, but a great "surfin' steel" rendition recorded here in Auckland, New Zealand in 1965.

Maurice Chan can be seen playing an early Fender 1000 in the photo below, and I imagine that's what he used to record this. He went on to play in a prominent local band called the Sounds Unlimited in 1966.

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 3 Jun 2022 3:58 am

Thanks, Levi. Cool version!

Richard Argus · Post by **Richard Argus** » 3 Jun 2022 2:08 pm

Josh Graves did a great version (Lloyd Green in there as well)