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Voices of the Civil Rights Movement: Black American Freedom Songs 1960-1966

Various Artists
Voices of the Civil Rights Movement: Black American Freedom Songs 1960-1966

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

RELATED LESSON PLANS
"South Africa, Free At Last: The Freedom Songs of South Africa and the Civil Rights Movement in America"
"Singing for Justice: Following the Musical Journey of “This Little Light of Mine"

RELATED VIDEOS
We Are Soldiers in the Army

Track Listing

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101
Freedom Medley: Freedom Chant / Oh Freedom / This Little Light of Mine The Freedom Singers 1:57
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102
This Little Light of Mine Betty Fikes 4:17
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103
If You Miss Me from the Back of the Bus Betty Fikes 3:03
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104
Lord Hold My Hand While I Run This Race n/a 2:49
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105
Get on Board Children Willie Peacock 2:10
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106
Calypso Freedom Willie Peacock 6:29
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107
Freedom Now Chant n/a 0:25
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108
Oh Freedom Hollis Watkins 3:08
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109
Ain't Scared of Nobody Amanda Bowens Perdew and Virginia Davis 1:50
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110
Leaning on the Everlasting Arms n/a 1:13
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111
Sermon Lawrence Campbell 6:35
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112
We are Soldiers in the Army n/a 3:24
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113
Go Tell it on the Mountain Fannie Lou Hamer 3:03
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114
Wade in the Water Fannie Lou Hamer 2:32
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115
Come Bah Ya (Kumbaya) Willie Peacock 5:25
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116
Walk with Me Lord Fannie Lou Hamer 1:38
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117
Jesus on the Mainline Sam Block 3:33
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118
Freedom Train Sam Block 4:36
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119
Don't You Think It's About Time That We All Be Free Mabel Hillary 3:30
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120
We're Marching on to Freedom Land Carlton Reese 2:31
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121
We Shall Overcome n/a 3:03
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201
We Will Never Turn Back The Freedom Singers 3:30
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202
We Shall Not Be Moved The Freedom Singers 2:11
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203
Certainly, Lord The CORE Freedom Singers 2:05
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204
Get Your Rights, Jack The CORE Freedom Singers 3:49
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205
Which Side are You On? The Freedom Singers 1:57
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206
Woke Up This Morning with My Mind on Freedom The Freedom Singers 2:31
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207
Been in the Storm So Long Bernice Johnson Reagon 3:54
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208
Dogs The Freedom Singers 2:33
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209
The A&P Song The Integration Grooves 2:28
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210
Oh Prichett, Oh Kelly The Freedom Singers 2:15
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211
I Told Jesus Bertha Gober 3:21
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212
99 1/2 Won't Do The Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights. Choir 2:28
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213
I'm on My Way The Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights. Choir 3:38
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214
City Called Heaven Cleo Kennedy 9:15
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215
In the Mississippi River The Freedom Singers 3:38
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216
I Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me 'Round The Freedom Singers 2:15
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217
Will the Circle Be Unbroken Jimmy Collier and the Movement Singers 3:08
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218
Governor Wallace The Freedom Singers 2:36
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219
Ballad of Medgar Evers The Freedom Singers 4:32
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220
Uncle Tom's Prayer Cordell Reagon 1:09
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221
Oginga Odinga The Freedom Singers 2:50
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222
We Shall Overcome The Freedom Singers 3:20
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Buy CD $22.98
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Album Info

Catalog Number(s)

SFW40084, R 023

Year Released

1997

Year(s) Recorded

1960-1966

Label/Collection

Smithsonian Folkways Recordings

Genre(s)

African American Music; Documentary; Struggle & Protest

Country(s)

United States

Culture Group(s)

African American

Instrument(s)

Vocals; Vocals, group

Language(s)

English

Credit(s)

Bernice Johnson Reagon - Producer, Compiler, Liner Notes
 Lois Mailou Jones - Cover Artwork
 Dave Glasser - Mastering Engineer
 Reynald Searles - 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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