Time Life Entertainment
One could assume from the title of this three CD compilation that it’s deadly serious music, but then one would probably belong to a certain age group not entirely in the know to do so. It’s a collection of songs dating from 1941 to 2008, and is actually a thorough, educational and fun survey of black music. Not everything was intended to be outwardly political, but many songs have taken on cultural resonance over years of appreciation, such as B.B. King’s “Why I Sing the Blues” or Aretha Franklin’s “Respect.” Gems abound: Solomon Burke’s “None of Us Are Free” proclaims the timeless message, “none of us are free if one of us is chained.” Curtis Mayfield’s 1970 track, “We the People Who Are Darker Than Blue” reflects upon black-on-black genocide, while The Ramparts’ 1955 song, “The Death of Emmett Till, Parts 1 & 2” casts a decidedly lighthearted mood on a ghastly episode of American history. This wonderful box set includes comprehensive notes on all of the songs as well as pivotal moments in the movement
-forrest green III
