Soul Music - Tumblr Posts
Song of the day
(do you want the history of your favorite folk song? dm me or submit an ask and I'll do a full rundown)
"Joshua" Odetta, 1956
"Joshua fit De Battle Of Jericho" is an encredibly old song created by african enslaved people in America sometime prior to the Civil War. Like many Old Testament songs in black gospel music, it alludes to a longing for freedom and victory against persecution. The song was first recorded in 1922 by Harrod's Jubilee singers,
and in 1925 by Paul Robeson.
the combination of this historic freedom song, the emerging civil rights movement, and the "Queen of Folk" (dubbed by Martin Luther King Jr.) lead to the best possible cover of this song by Odetta.
Song of The Day
"If I Had a Hammer" Aretha Franklin, 1965
"If I Had a Hammer" was first written in 1949 by Lee Hays and Pete Seeger, and featured on the 1950 cover of Sing Out! magazine vol 1 iss. 1. It was written in support of the progressive party. It was first recorded by the Weavers in 1949 and was performed that same year in New York at a dinner for the communist party.
Daily Worker 1949-06-01: Vol 26 Iss 108
This performance of the song and this Newspaper would be used against Pete Seeger in his HUAC Testimony. He was sentenced to a year in prison for 'Contempt of Congress'. Here is an excerpt of the interrogation.
Mr. TAVENNER: My question was whether or not you sang at these functions of the Communist Party. You have answered it inferentially, and if I understand your answer, you are saying you did. Mr. SEEGER: Except for that answer, I decline to answer further. . . . Mr. SCHERER: Do you understand it is the feeling of the Committee that you are in contempt as a result of the position you take? Mr. SEEGER: I can’t say. Mr. SCHERER: I am telling you that that is the position of the Committee. . . . Mr. SEEGER: I decline to discuss, under compulsion, where I have sung, and who has sung my songs, and who else has sung with me, and the people I have known. I love my country very dearly, and I greatly resent this implication that some of the places that I have sung and some of the people that I have known, and some of my opinions, whether they are religious or philosophical, or I might be a vegetarian, make me any less of an American. I will tell you about my songs, but I am not interested in telling you who wrote them, and I will tell you about my songs, and I am not interested in who listened to them. . . .
Unfortunately, Pete Seeger and the rest of the weavers were blacklisted during the Red Scare, meaning that they were not able to publicly perform "If I Had A Hammer", and they were forced to disband in the early 50s.
In the Biography How Can I Keep From Singing, Pete Seeger remarks on this.
"Why was it controversial? In 1949 only ‘Commies' used words like ‘peace' and ‘freedom.'… The message was that we have got tools and we are going to succeed. This is what a lot of spirituals say. We will overcome. I have a hammer. The last verse didn't say ‘But there ain't no hammer, there ain't no bell, there ain't no song, but honey, I got you.' We could have said that! The last verse says ‘I have a hammer, I have a bell, I have a song.' Here it is. ‘It's the hammer of justice, it's the bell of freedom, the song of love."
With few exceptions, the song was dead for 12 years...
Until Peter Paul & Mary covered it in 1962
This song became a top 10 hit song in America! Since then it has been covered over 200 times. It was one of the top 100 songs of 1962 and is still a popular song today. It transcended genre and many many popular artists including Jimmie Rodgers, johnny cash, and the 'Queen of Soul', Aretha Franklin in 1965.
and, as a happy ending, the weavers performed it again in their reunion concert in 1963.
Also, a thing I like about this song is that it seems to be inspired by the John Henry song "This Old Hammer" based on the lyrics and rhythm. The hammer may have killed John Henry, but it can Hammer the way to freedom as well.
diana ross
Southern Avenue
Southern Avenue is a five-piece American blues and soul blues band from the United States. It was founded in 2015 and named after a street in Memphis that leads from the easternmost part of the city limits to "Soulsville", the original home of Stax Records. Rock 103 described them as "the most talked-about band in Memphis". ....
Check out.......
Lawrence - Don't Lose Sight (Acoustic)
Kick ass song...brother & sister duo..they got it like whut!
Two Feet - Love is a Bitch
Sultry sexy seductive mmmmm....
Anthony Hamilton - Charlene (Official HD Video)
Durty south feels....Anthony Hamilton just IS.. ..can I git a witness up in here...! Tell it!
Tell me why you can't control
The feelings you desire
Burning all my bridges
As you set my walls on fire...
Soiled by my lust I feel no shame
No longer forsaken when they call my name
Beautiful angels come to my bed
I am satisfied on their flesh I have fed
No one is faithful I am weak
I go astray
Forgive me for my ways -Me’Shell Ndegeocello
“This that roll myself a J and count my figures sh*t, this that stepping out I’m that n*gga sh*t”
Never age. Never die. Live forever in that one last white-hot moment, when the crowd screamed. When every note was a heartbeat. Burn across the sky. You will never grow old. They will never say you died. That’s the deal. You will be the greatest musician in the world. Live fast. Die young.
Soul Music, Terry Pratchett
sade for vibe magazine (2001)
helen folasade adu
love will lead you there 🫶🏾
Friday. everyday.
with love,
B 🫀
Vintage Blues & Soul Magazine Covers
Stevie Wonder (July 2-14, 1970)
Marvin Gaye (June 2-15, 1972)
Freda Payne (May 11-23, 1973)
Nina Simone (June 4-17, 1974)
Sly Stone & Kathy Silva (July 2-15, 1975)
Aretha Franklin (Jan 27-Feb 9, 1976)
Tina Turner (Jan 31-Feb 13, 1978)
Chaka Khan (Nov 21-Dec 4, 1978)
Sylvester (June 8-15, 1979)
Michael Jackson (Aug 28-Sep 10, 1979)
Ledisi - Perfect Stranger (Official Video) ft. Kenny Lattimore
George Duke - No Rhyme No Reason