HI all,

Makin a list of civil rights soul records, so if you know of any please let me know preferably Northern whose lyrics fit under this category. We all know the obvious ones;

Change is gonna come - Sam Cooke etc but what about the more unknown artists such as the tune George Jackson by J.P. Robinson or the northern Black Power by James Coit.

So come on rack your brains all help on this appreciated.

oops!

Edited March 29, 201015 yr by pikeys dog

HI all,

Makin a list of civil rights soul records, so if you know of any please let me know preferably Northern whose lyrics fit under this category. We all know the obvious ones;

Change is gonna come - Sam Cooke etc but what about the more unknown artists such as the tune George Jackson by J.P. Robinson or the northern Black Power by James Coit.

So come on rack your brains all help on this appreciated.

Well just gotta make an amendment to Sam Cooke tune as found out it wasn't written about the struggle but the death of his son and possibly his first wife but I think I can be fairly sure of the other two

HI all,

Makin a list of civil rights soul records, so if you know of any please let me know preferably Northern whose lyrics fit under this category. We all know the obvious ones;

Change is gonna come - Sam Cooke etc but what about the more unknown artists such as the tune George Jackson by J.P. Robinson or the northern Black Power by James Coit.

So come on rack your brains all help on this appreciated.

how about judy freeman hold on?, lyrics about the state of society, drugs etc

THE BRILLIANT CORNERS "THREE LONELY GUYS"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7b_6vkOvzc

Staple Singers - When will we be paid

This Is My Country

The Impressions

(Curtis Mayfield)

(do-do-do)

Some people think we don't have the right

To say it's my country

Before they give in, they'd rather fuss and fight

Than say it's my country

I've paid three hundred years or more

Of slave driving, sweat, and welts on my back

This is my country

(do-do-do)

Too many have died in protecting my pride

For me to go second class

We've survived a hard blow and I want you to know

That you must face us at last

And I know you will give consideration

Shall we perish unjust or live equal as a nation

This is my country

(do-do-do)

And I know you will give consideration

Shall we perish unjust or live equal as a nation

This is my country

(do-do-do)

I'm assuming you're not including Vietnam songs as these two sub-genres do get put together...

Although not really "Northern".

Syl Johnson - Is It Because I'm Black

Impressions - This is My Country

Impressions - Choice Of Color

James Carr - Freedom Train (Also done by Bobby Barnes)

Staple Singers - Long Walk To DC

George Perkins - Cryin' In The Streets - This was on the cusp of 69/70 so might have been released in 1970

Frank Turner - Let Freedom Ring (might also be the same as above for this one too)

These are some 60's off the top of my head.

Edited March 29, 201015 yr by John Reed

How about:

Troy Keyes - If I Had My Way

Lenis Guess - You Can't Destroy A Pure Man

Nina Simone - Young, Gifted & Black

Or for somethiong more "modern"

Glenn Jones - I Am Somebody

I think you could count "A Change Is Gonna Come" really. No matter why it was written, it certainly became a civil rights anthem.

Best,

John.

Kim Weston "Lift every voice and sing" was the Black Power/ Civil rights anthem

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGWsqR6UbGk

as sung by Kim at WattsStax -strangely enough it is also George W Bush's favourite song as well !!

Rob

Well just gotta make an amendment to Sam Cooke tune as found out it wasn't written about the struggle but the death of his son and possibly his first wife but I think I can be fairly sure of the other two

Sam Cooke "A Change Is Gonna Come" was influenced by the death of his son but also influenced by his refused entry to a cinema (or summat like that) and it all got out of hand with police involvement.

There are many Civil Rights related records. One of the killers for me is ----

SYL JOHNSON - IS IT BECAUSE I'M BLACK -

One of the biggest and most well known Civil Rights anthems is Martha & The Vandellas "Dancing In The Street"

Here's a good list of tracks ----

https://www.localdial.com/users/jsyedu133/Soulreview/Significpages/civil.htm

Edited March 29, 201015 yr by Dave Turner

Off the top of my head...

Push on Jesse Jackson - The Pace Setters

Free at last (great day a comin) - James Barnes & The Agents (& Jock Mitchell)

I'm tired, I'm tired, I'm tired - Marva Whitney

The prayer - Ray Scott

Gospel Classics - More Love

Billy Paul - Am I Black Enough For You

Here's one:

Gordon Keith - Look Ahead - Calumet

HI all,

Makin a list of civil rights soul records, so if you know of any please let me know preferably Northern whose lyrics fit under this category. We all know the obvious ones;

Change is gonna come - Sam Cooke etc but what about the more unknown artists such as the tune George Jackson by J.P. Robinson or the northern Black Power by James Coit.

So come on rack your brains all help on this appreciated.

Not sure about the criteria of 'preferably Northern' I don't think there will be many and most of those listed so far are not, but my favourite is this one recorded live the day after Martin Luther King's assassination, it is by Nina Simone 'Why ? (the king of Love is Dead) ' a truly moving performance, Mike

Edited March 29, 201015 yr by Mike Lofthouse

GLENN JONES - I AM SOMEBODY - RCA 12INCH -

AL GREEN - KEEP ON PUSHING LOVE -

Ghetto Kitty - Stand Up And Be Counted.

There are some good ones on Tony Rounce's Kent compilation; A Change Is Gonna Come.

Top of your list must surely be "Times a wasting" Fuller Bros. With lyrics like "For this is our country so let us stand up and be proud. Together we'll stand now baby strong as a nation."

Admittedly Deep rather than Northern, but I think Big Maybelle's "Heaven Will Welcome You, Dr King" has to be one of the best Soul records to sum up the struggle.

Nick

I remember a time when the back of the bus was a place set aside for us .... do you get the message "Grey Imprint"

Not really about the civil rights movement more about black power: Towanda - Wear your natural baby

Wrote a short article for Howard's Soul Up North about the changes that swept through the US during the 60's.

It's attached if anyone is interested but I mention Welfare Cheese by Emanuel Laskey as being an example of a song with civil rights connotations

"C'mon Mr President, give me some of that welfare cheese" - tremendous

Mick

Article for Soul Up North - Aug 08.doc

Article for Soul Up North - Aug 08.doc

Not really about the civil rights movement more about black power: Towanda - Wear your natural baby

Whenever this subject raises it's head, I can't believe nobody ever mentions THE MAGIC TONES 'We shall overcome', pure class on a classic Detroit label (MAMS), a fantastic bona-fide Northern Soul record in the style of Curtis Mayfield and The Impressions and a genuine heartfelt demand for Black emancipation.

'We've been standin'on the outside lookin'in!'......

It's the flip to 'I Live the life I love', which makes it a top totch Northern double sider, but I do not know if it's on TONY ROUNCE'S compilation, might well be but I have not seen a copy.

(Oh yeah, once again proof that some of the best records sit in the cheapo boxes)

Edited March 30, 201015 yr by chorleysoul

Whenever this subject raises it's head, I can't believe nobody ever mentions THE MAGIC TONES 'We shall overcome', pure class on a classic Detroit label (MAMS), a fantastic bona-fide Northern Soul record in the style of Curtis Mayfield and The Impressions and a genuine heartfelt demand for Black emancipation.

'We've been standin'on the outside lookin'in!'......

It's the flip to 'I Live the life I love', which makes it a top totch Northern double sider, but I do not know if it's on TONY ROUNCE'S compilation, might well be but I have not seen a copy.

(Oh yeah, once again proof that some of the best records sit in the cheapo boxes)

Beat me to The Magic Tones, Chorley The only other one i can think of that is "Northern" is James Coit, "Black Power"

Windjammers- Poor Sad Child

Curtis Mayfield - Gotta Have Peace

Sunrise Movement - Running Wild

Gil Scot Heron - The Bottle

Gil Scot Heron - Home Is Where The Hatred Is

Antonio Castro - WELFARE

Fantastic Mainstream - Lets Be Friends

Lumpen - Free Bobby Now

Soul Injection - Stay Off The Moon

Early Clover & georgia soul drifters - Freedom

Diane Jenkins - Recycle

Frankie Staton - Bi- Centenial 1976

Great Expectations - Welcome To The world

Bill Withers - Harlem

Gospel Travellers - Ive Got A Mind

Charles Bradley - The Whole World Is Going Up In Flames

ST-4 - Black Skinned Blue Eyed Boy

Sons Of Nature - Disillusion City-Town

Creations - Save The People

Essence - Black Reflections

Little Oscar - The Message

Sheila Wilmer - Look At Your Soul

Leroy Clofer - Mr Big Man

Johnny King - Peace , Love, Not War

Jeffrey Gaither - Struggling Ghetto Woman

cant remember who did - Lets Clean Up The Ghetto?

Edited March 31, 201015 yr by paul-s

Move on up - Curtis Mayfield

Mississippi Goddam - Nina Simone

Lord whats happening to your people - Kenny Smith

So is the sun - World Column Not sure but "we're making progress but so is the sun" sounds like a rallying call to me

These three can be added to the list -

1) Staple Singers- "Why (Am I Treated So Bad)"

2) Liz Lands- "We Shall Overcome"

3) Impressions- "We're A Winner"

Off the top of my head...

Push on Jesse Jackson - The Pace Setters

Free at last (great day a comin) - James Barnes & The Agents (& Jock Mitchell)

I'm tired, I'm tired, I'm tired - Marva Whitney

The prayer - Ray Scott

tune

soulsearchers- we the people

lou edwards - talkin bout poor folks

cornerboys- gang war

mainstreeters - its my life

baby huey - hard times

the unemployed - they wont let me

the trinikas - black is beautiful

the soul messengers - junkie baby

dyke and the blazers- black boy

change of pace- bring my buddies back

jimmy bell and the kool klux band - what ya doin brother

9th street exit - never be the man my big brother was

eugene mcdaniels - lovin man

jimmy mayes - social security number

brothers of the ghetto - indestructable black man

the identities-hey brother

oliver christian- frankies got it

Edited March 31, 201015 yr by becchio

edwin starr - time

compared to what-les mccann/mr flood's party/roberta flack etc

manifesto-james lewis & the case of time

vietnam stuff

the pacesetters-My ship is coming in

The hesitations-who will answer

Kev

Clifford Curry "The Natives Are Restless Tonight"

oops duplicate entry

Edited March 31, 201015 yr by Neil P

the half truths - fallin in debt

HI all,

Makin a list of civil rights soul records, so if you know of any please let me know preferably Northern whose lyrics fit under this category. We all know the obvious ones;

Change is gonna come - Sam Cooke etc but what about the more unknown artists such as the tune George Jackson by J.P. Robinson or the northern Black Power by James Coit.

So come on rack your brains all help on this appreciated.

WELL I never expected so many replies but thankyou sooo much, absolutely loads to choose from. Will upload the list once compiled.

cheers

People Thats Why - Chosen Few

This is a bit obvious I know but Dancing in the street - Martha reeves & the Vandellas?

HI all,

Makin a list of civil rights soul records, so if you know of any please let me know preferably Northern whose lyrics fit under this category. We all know the obvious ones;

Change is gonna come - Sam Cooke etc but what about the more unknown artists such as the tune George Jackson by J.P. Robinson or the northern Black Power by James Coit.

So come on rack your brains all help on this appreciated.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Power-Motown-People-Civil-Rights/dp/B000NIIUI8 - there's a few more titles on here

Off the top of my head...

Push on Jesse Jackson - The Pace Setters

Free at last (great day a comin) - James Barnes & The Agents (& Jock Mitchell)

I'm tired, I'm tired, I'm tired - Marva Whitney

The prayer - Ray Scott

Push On Jesse Jackson! Great record.

Ghetto Kitty - Stand Up And Be Counted.

EDWIN STARR; WAR.

""--""----------- .STOP THE WAR.

TEMPS; BALL OV CONFUSION.

LENIS GUESS & THE FAMILY;"YOU CANT DESTROY A PURE MAN"..NORFOLK...CRACKIN RECORD..

JAMES BROWN;"HEY AMERICA"

EMANUEL LASKY;"MORE LOVE".WESTBOUND..B-SIDE.A LETTER FROM VIETNAM.

EDDIE HOLMAN;"I SURREND"....???? HA

Windjammers- Poor Sad Child

Curtis Mayfield - Gotta Have Peace

Sunrise Movement - Running Wild

Gil Scot Heron - The Bottle

Gil Scot Heron - Home Is Where The Hatred Is

Antonio Castro - WELFARE

Fantastic Mainstream - Lets Be Friends

Lumpen - Free Bobby Now

Soul Injection - Stay Off The Moon

Early Clover & georgia soul drifters - Freedom

Diane Jenkins - Recycle

Frankie Staton - Bi- Centenial 1976

Great Expectations - Welcome To The world

Bill Withers - Harlem

Gospel Travellers - Ive Got A Mind

Charles Bradley - The Whole World Is Going Up In Flames

ST-4 - Black Skinned Blue Eyed Boy

Sons Of Nature - Disillusion City-Town

Creations - Save The People

Essence - Black Reflections

Little Oscar - The Message

Sheila Wilmer - Look At Your Soul

Leroy Clofer - Mr Big Man

Johnny King - Peace , Love, Not War

Jeffrey Gaither - Struggling Ghetto Woman

cant remember who did - Lets Clean Up The Ghetto?

PHILLADELPHIA ALLSTARS...CLASS

I'm not sure if it's OK to post YouTube links on here, but here goes:

The Salem Travellers- 'Give me Liberty or give me Death'