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Every Tone a Testimony

Various Artists
Every Tone a Testimony

This double CD draws upon the collection at the Smithsonian Folkways archive to create a history of African American life and culture in sound—an aural history. Encompassing both the African American oral and literary traditions, these 59 tracks feature an unparalleled assembly of voices in music, oratory, poetry, and prose by historically renowned African American musicians, writers, and activists. The sounds collected here are testimony to the power, creativity, and resilience of Black expressive forms that have received recognition throughout the world. 59 tracks run two hours and 27 minutes. 40-page booklet.

RELATED LESSON PLAN
"The Underground Railroad:A Musical Journey to Follow the Drinking Gourd"

Track Listing

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101
The Struggle Langston Hughes 0:22
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102
Field Call Annie Grace Horn Dodson 1:19
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103
Complaint Call Enoch Brown 0:44
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104
Intro and Knee Bend Lawrence McKiver and Doretha Skipper 2:55
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105
Brother Terrapin, Slow Train to Arkansas Rich Amerson 2:00
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106
Jack and Mary and Three Dogs Janie Hunter 5:55
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107
Buck Dance (excerpt) Joe Tucker and Scott Dunbar 1:22
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108
I'm Goin' Up North Children of East York School 1:26
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109
Pharaoh's Host Got Lost Lawrence McKiver 1:35
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110
Bars Fight Arna Bontemps 1:26
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111
Earl of Dartmouth (excerpt) Dorothy E. Washington 0:52
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112
I Wonder Where My Brother Gone Annie Grace Horn Dodson 1:20
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113
Narrative (excerpt) Dorothy F. Washington 1:03
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114
Speech at Akron Convention Ruby Dee 2:09
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115
Singing Slaves Ossie Davis 1:04
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116
Steal Away to Jesus Kinsey West 1:54
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117
What to the Slave is the Fourth of July? (excerpt) Ossie Davis 2:40
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118
Why Slavery is Still Rampant (excerpt) Ruby Dee 1:49
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119
Free At Last Dock Reed and Vera Hall Ward 1:38
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120
When Malindy Sings Margaret Walker 3:49
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121
There's A Great Camp Meeting Fisk Jubilee Singers 2:05
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122
Atlanta Exposition Address Booker T. Washington 1:17
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123
John Henry Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee 4:07
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124
Banjo Player Arna Bontemps 0:45
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125
Boatman Dance Elizabeth Cotten 1:46
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126
Shine Percy Randolph 1:07
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127
Chopping in the New Ground Inmates of Ramsey or Retrieve State Farms 1:41
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128
Lynching, Our National Crime Ruby Dee 3:47
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129
A Recorded Autobiography W.E.B. DuBois and Moses Asch 2:37
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130
Listen Lord, A Prayer Margaret Walker 2:57
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131
My Heart is Fixed Reverend Gary Davis 2:07
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132
The Titanic Lead Belly 4:08
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133
Heritage Countee Cullen 2:59
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134
Jungle Drums James P. Johnson 2:32
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201
No More Auction Block Paul Robeson 2:13
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202
The Negro Speaks of Rivers Langston Hughes 0:47
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203
If We Must Die Claude McKay 1:02
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204
Ma Rainey Sterling Brown 2:06
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205
Backwater Blues Big Bill Broonzy 2:51
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206
Married Man Blues Billie and De De Pierce 5:15
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207
For My People Margaret Walker 5:45
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208
The Children of the Poor, Sonnet 2 Gwendolyn Brooks 0:51
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209
Body and Soul George "Big Nick" Nicholas, John Miller, and Dave Jackson 3:51  
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210
How He Delivered Me Juanita Johnson and the Gospel Tones 2:43
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211
Long Distance Calls Muddy Waters and Otis Spann 7:00
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212
Cry To Me Solomon Burke, Marc Ribot, and the Realtones 2:16  
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213
Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around The Freedom Singers 2:34
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214
Birmingham 1963 - Keep Moving Martin Luther King, Jr. 3:46
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215
Black Panther Party Platform Bobby Seale 3:02
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216
Interview (excerpt) Angela Davis 1:06
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217
Together to the Tune of Coltrane's "Equinox" (excerpt) Sarah Webster Fabio, Wayne Wallace, and Ronald Fabio 1:42
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218
Nikki-Rosa Nikki Giovanni 1:16
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219
liberation/poem Sonia Sanchez 0:39
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220
Dope Imamu Amiri Baraka 4:49
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221
The Village of Brooklyn, Illinois 62059 (excerpt) Hamiet Bluiett 3:35  
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222
For the Poets Jayne Cortez 3:58
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223
Shotgun Joe The Golden Eagles 5:23  
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224
St. Louis Woman Ishmael Reed 1:26
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225
People Everyday Arrested Development 3:27  
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Buy 2CD Box Set $22.98
Buy 2CD Box Set $22.98

Album Info

Catalog Number

SFW47003

Year(s) Released

2001

Label/Collection

Smithsonian Folkways Recordings

Genre(s)

African American Spoken; American History; Poetry; Prose

Country(s)

United States

Culture Group(s)

African American

Language(s)

English

Credit(s)

Robert Catalotti - Producer
 Robert H. Cataliotti - Compiler, Liner Notes
 Jerry Butler - Cover Artwork
 Pete Reiniger - Mastering Engineer
 Joe Parisi - Designer
Download Liner Notes

*One or more tracks from this album are unavailable for digital download. You may download the available tracks individually below. Please purchase the CD version to receive all tracks.

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