Civil Rights Songs
|
Civil Rights Songs
|
|
Please click on
|
Soul Music is recognised as one of the most powerful propaganda weapons of the Civil Rights Movement. These are a few recommended tracks which helped educate people to the injustices which Afro-Americans suffered. 1. Woman of the Ghetto - Marlena Shaw I've never disguised my admiration for this song as in my book it ranks as one of the best soul cuts of all time. Marlena describes the trials and tribulations of trying to raise a family in the ghetto without screaming or histrionics, none the less no one can doubt the sense of injustice she feels. I just wish I could work out the lyric she repeats at the end of each verse. Excellent stuff that leaves me feeling ashamed to be white. 2. A Change is Gonna Come - Solomon Burke To the best of my knowledge Sam Cooke's original of this song is still unavailable on CD. To my eternal shame I have to confess I still haven't heard it. Of the cover versions I have heard I prefer Solomon's more melodic interpretation to Otis Redding's rather raw and raspy interpretation. The thing I like about this song is that no blame is attached to anyone and it is sung entirely without malice. The message encompasses more than just the civil rights struggle, but also other, un-named ills of the world. I must admit Solomon rather spoils it with the hammy rap he chooses to end with. None the less this is a pretty good interpretation of a true soul classic. 3. Is It Because I'm Black - Syl Johnson Syl's ambitions for this world have not materialised, which is probably true for most people but he's more cheesed off about it than most. We never actually find out what his ambitions were, but Syl is convinced the colour of his skin is a major factor. He makes a pretty good job of making us believe it too. What is rather ominous is that he cannot prove anything, he just feels it. The listener can sense his frustration. Excellent slice of moody Southern Soul. 4. I'm Talkin' About Freedom - Syl Johnson Without explicitly stating the freedoms he's missing he still convinces us he has a genuine grievance. Is he in prison? Has he been wrongly incarcerated? Is he oppressed by racial laws or white oppressors? We never find out why or how his freedom has been denied. Whatever the reason he points out that every person and even animal has the right to expect it. Without the word racism ever being used it is the only conclusion which can be reached. Syl is the master of delivering such emotive messages without ever casting blame. 5. Freedom Train - James Carr Not often that a 'message song' finds its way into the Northern circuit, but this slice of southern soul has its aficionado's in the North of England and one has to say not a bad little dancer. The difference between this and other 'freedom' songs is that its entirely optimistic. Instead of whinging about past injustices it looks entirely forward to a brighter future. More than a hint of reference in this song to the 'underground railroad' which was the path of safe houses taking escaping slaves to Canada. 6. For God's Sake give More Power to the People - The Chi Lites A very different cut from their usual syrupy love ballads. I found this song very reminiscent of Sly Stone or the Temptations in their Psychedelic years. All the boys take it in turn to share the lead which gives some vocal variety. Starts off very well but unfortunately it degenerates into a rather repetitive chant of the title line. Entirely complaining about too much wealth and power resting in the hands of a few without explicitly stating that the few are probably white. I didn't like this when I first heard it, but it does grow on you. 7. When Will We Get Paid For The Work We've Done - The Staple Singers Minimal orchestration and crystal clear vocals this is the Staple Singers at their best. Following a resume of the contribution of blacks to American prosperity including cotton picking, fighting wars, building railroads they ask the simple question, "When will we get paid for the work we've done". The probable answer is never. The argument is so logically constructed and the evidence they present so overwhelming that not even the most brilliant politician or lawyer could dispute it. 8. Message from a Black Man - Don Julian This song pulls no punches whatsoever. It is probably the most explicit song about racism I have heard. Nothing couched in vague terms like 'rich and 'poor' or 'powerful' and 'weak' it talks overtly about 'Black and White. The message to us whites comes across loud and clear. "No matter how hard you try you can't stop me now". Very unusual for a soul record is the prevalent use of an organ 9. Why Must I live in Chains - Sam Dees Moody and Atmospheric it begins in a thunderstorm as Sam sings of god's creation. The point being that chains and incarceration were not part of god's plan, they are entirely the invention of man. Its a fair point, and once again one that is hard to argue with. 10. Respect - Aretha Franklin I can't say for sure whether this is a genuine civil rights song or not. To me it is more of a Woman's Lib thing with Aretha demanding respect from her partner. At another level it was taken by many black people as a demand for respect from their white oppressors. I'm not entirely convinced, but I'm sure anyone visiting this site will be familiar with this song anyway. I'll leave you to make up your own minds. 11. Heritage of a Black Man - Sam Dees No doubting at all what a fabulous lyricist Sam Dees is. This is more than a song, it is poetry set to music. To the tune of drums beating like a heartbeat he takes a ghostly trip back in time to describe the scenes of slavery. Horrific and de-humanising he does little to suggest the lives of black people are any better now. A depressing song, but what a masterpiece. 12. Let's Clean Up The Ghetto - The Philadelphia All Stars This is possibly the only 'message' song ever to become a big 'disco' hit. Credit to Gamble and Huff for engineering this one because it was designed to be so with the profits being used for urban renewal programmes. Despite the fact this was produced in 1977 the message that black people are still living in squalid conditions is plain. Like many other message songs however the suggested strategy is not to trust officials but to get mobilised and take responsibility for their own destiny. Not often you find real soul, a meaningful message and commercial success in a disco record but this one hits the spot. Gloria Gaynor eat your heart out, this is the best disco record ever. 13. We the People Who Are Darker Than Blue - Curtis Mayfield This is a call for Black Unity in the face of white oppression. Over generations of mixed race relationships there are various shades and hues of 'Black' people. Mayfield is saying that if freedom is to be achieved they must all stick together and put their differences aside. If they don't and they continue to kill and maim each other then when the day of freedom comes there might not be any of them left to enjoy it. As ever Curtis likes to break his songs by extended funky instrumentals. This one has his traditional bongo player but with an unusual use of the harp. 14. Don't Call Me Nigger Whitey - Sly and the Family Stone Not really a good one for race relations, but at least Sly has got some balance to the story. If the whites are calling blacks, niggers, the niggers are also calling the whites, well 'whitey'. That's just about it really, a manic chant to a funky instrumental. I'm sure it is still seen as a call to arms by many black people. 15. George Jackson - JP Robinson Not a Civil Rights song in the traditional sense, this is a ballad about George Jackson, a black man who went to prison where he died years later after he was convicted of a seven dollar crime. The story of George Jackson is true, and to many black people he is seen as a victim of corrupt white justice. Not explicitly stated, but once again whites are blamed by implication. 16. This is My Country - The Impressions A throwback to the days of Do-wop this is a rather dated sounding cut from the Impressions. It also has an unusual angle in that it is pro-American. The message is to those who do not consider Negroes to be so. After the contribution they've made to the nation they expect whole and equal status with other Americans. Mayfield's right to make the point. 17. Choice of Colours - The Impressions More a call for harmony rather than rebellion. Mayfield asks the question "If you had a choice of colours which one would be right" which is in itself a ludicrous question. How can a colour be right or wrong? In short he is demonstrating that Racism is a ludicrous concept. 18. Get Out Of The Ghetto Blues - Gil Scott Heron I got a mixed message listening to this one. Was he trying to tell ghetto people not to be bribed by trivial concessions from their oppressors? He still recommends that they should try to leave the Ghetto. The Heroine stuff is a diversion which in my opinion he would have been best leaving out. In any event he doesn't portray a good picture of Ghetto life. 19. Abraham, Martin and John - Marvin Gaye Marvin laments the assassinations of Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, John Kennedy and although not mentioned in the title Bobby Kennedy as well. He makes the point they all freed a lot of people, but were all rewarded by dying before their time. A wonderful if rather repetitive tribute. Rather puts people off getting involved. 20. In the Ghetto - Barry White I never really felt this was Elvis' song, it was far too Black. I now have two soul versions of this song, this one by Barry White and also one by Candi Staton. Both are good but I chose this one because Barry is much better known for his lavish love songs and this proves he can handle other material as well. Reasonable picture of what ghetto life is all about.
|
|
Why Not visit the Authors other Website, 'The Alternative Blackpool Website' at http://www.localdial.com/users/jsyedu133/bpool This Site Last Updated 18/05/05
|
the category you wish to choose from the options
below