VOICES OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT SMITHSONIAN FOLKWAYS

This double-CD reissue documents a central aspect of the cultural environment of the Civil Rights Movement, acknowledging songs as the language that focused people’s energy. These 43 tracks are a series of musical images, of a people in conversation about their determination to be free. Many of the songs were recorded live in mass meetings held in churches, where people from different life experiences, predominantly black, with a few white supporters, came together in a common struggle. These freedom songs draw from spirituals, gospel, rhythm and blues, football chants, blues and calypso forms. The enclosed booklet written by Bernice Johnson Reagon provides rare historic photographs along with the powerful story of African American musical culture and its role in the Civil Rights Movement. “The music of the spirit with the history of the flesh.” — New York Daily News

Freedom Medley: Freedom Chant/Oh Freedom/This Little Light of Mine – Freedom Singers
This Little Light of Mine – Betty Mae Fikes
If You Miss Me from the Back of the Bus – Betty Mae Fikes
Lord, Hold My Hand While I Run This Race – Voices of Civil Rights Movement
Get on Board, Children – Willie Peacock
Calypso Freedom – Willie Peacock
Freedom Now Chant – Voices of Civil Rights Movement
Oh Freedom – Hollis Watkins
Ain’ Scared of Nobody – Amanda B. Perdew/Virginia Davis
Leaning on the Everlasting Arms – Voices of Civil Rights Movement
Sermon – Rev. Lawrence Campbell
We Are Soldiers in the Army – Voices of Civil Rights Movement
Go Tell It on the Mountain – Fannie Lou Hamer
Wade in the Water – Fannie Lou Hamer
Come Bah Yah – Willie Peacock
Walk with Me, Lord – Fannie Lou Hamer
Jesus on the Mainline, Tell Him What You Want – Sam Block
Freedom Train – Sam Block
Don’t You Think It’s About Time That We All Be Free – Mabel Hillary
We’re Marching on to Freedom Land – Carlton Reese
We Shall Overcome – Voices of Civil Rights Movement
We’ll Never Turn Back – SNCC Freedom Singers, Emory Harris
We Shall Not Be Moved – SNCC, Rutha Harris
Certainly, Lord – Core Freedom Singers
Get Your Rights, Jack – Core Freedom Singers
Which Side Are You On? – SNCC Freedom Singers, Cordell Reagon
Woke Up This Morning with My Mind on Freedom – SNCC Freedom Singers, Bernice Johnson
Been in the Storm So Long – Bernice Johnson
Dog, Dog – SNCC Freedom Singers, Cordell Reagon
A & P Song – Integration Grooves
Oh Pritchett, Oh Kelly – SNCC Freedom Singers, Bertha Gober
I Told Jesus – Bertha Gober
99 1/2 Won’t Do – Alabama Christian Movement Choir, Carlton Reese
I’m on My Way – Alabama Christian Movement Choir, Mamie Brown
City Called Heaven – Cleo Kennedy
In the Mississippi River – SNCC Freedom Singers, Marshall Jones
Ain’ Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around – SNCC Freedom Singers, Cordell Reagon
Will the Circle Be Unbroken – Jimmy Collier & The Movement Singers, Diane Smith
Governor Wallace – SNCC Freedom Singers, Charles Neblett
Ballad of Medger Evers – SNCC Freedom Singers, Matthew Jones
Uncle Tom’s Prayer – Cordell Reagon
Oginga Odinga – SNCC Freedom Singers, Matthew Jones
We Shall Overcome – SNCC Freedom Singers