musicology #319

SongsOf Protest&Freedom#5

(Billy Bragg - Ideology)

LISTEN

Day 5 of the freedom selection is a cut from Singer, Songwriter and performer; Stephen William Bragg featured a couple of times already on the musicologist with his critique on two subjects close to my heart 'Big Pharma' and National Identity.

This one, (another of the subjects close to my heart), is taken from his 1986 set 'Talking With The Taxman About Poetry'.

"When one voice rules the nation,
Just because they're top of the pile,
Doesn't mean their vision is the clearest,

The voices of the people are falling on deaf ears,
Our politicians all become delirious,
They must declare their interests,
But not their company cars,
Is there more to a seat in Parliament,
Than sitting on your arse?

And the best of all this bad bunch,
Is shouting to be heard,
Above the sound of Ideologies clashing,

Outside the patient millions who put them into power,
Expect a little more back for their taxes,
Like schoolbooks, beds in hospitals,
And peace in our bloody times,
All they get is old men grinding axes,

Who've built their private fortunes on things they can rely,
The courts, the secret handshake, the stock exchange and the old school tie,
For God and Queen and Country,
All things they just defy,
Above the sound of Ideologies clashing,

God bless the civil service,
The nation's saving grace,
While we expect democracy,
They're laughing in our face,
And although our cries get louder,
The laugh gets louder still,
Above the sound of Ideologies clashing,
Above the sound of Ideologies,
Above the sound of Ideologies,
Above the sound of Ideologies clashing,

musicology #318

SongsOf Protest&Freedom#4

(Fela Kuti - Colonial Mentality)

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Utilising the universal language to communicate protest is not as easy as it sounds as there are many forces at work that try to silence the minstrel from speaking the truth and for themusicologist no one signifies this more than musicologist and freedom fighter supreme..Fela Anikulapo Kuti who was a constant thorn in the Nigerian, (and other African 'state'), Government's side.

Third time featured on themusicologist for a Cat who certainly walked it like he talked it. Fortunately someone out there has translated and transcribed the lyrics for this 1977 cut otherwise It would be hard for many of us to follow, (although not to understand), and for that I am extremely grateful.

musicology #317

SongsOf Protest&Freedom#3

(The Kinks - Got To Be Free)

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Today's slice of the Freedom pie is from a well known and highly respected English group yet to feature on themusicologist...with a cut from their 1970 LP 'Lola Versus Powerman And The Moneygoround'.

Ray and Dave's career is reported to have began in a pub in North London in 1957 !! but it wasn't until 1963 that the original line up formed and became known, (after a few name changes), as the Kinks.

The line up featured here however is minus original member Pete Quaife.

musicology #316

SongsOfProtest&Freedom#2

(Max Romeo - Blowing In The Wind)

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Generally speaking protest&freedom springs from the well of first hand experience concerning the trials and tribulations in question. Although, I hasten to add, not always as there is also a concept known as empathy whereby others can feel/appreciate the anguish and frustrations? I'll be honest with you up until a few months ago this was a concept that I couldn't accept but then it was explained to me in language I understood and subsequently I felt it.

Today's cut is, for me, an example of this. A tune that many people know, (or at least have heard), that concerns a human's right to freedom. The human beings in question are still judged in many ways by the colour of their skin and not the love in their hearts. It might not be as blatant these days but as with all discrimination it is rife. The point I am making here is that Bob Dylan, (the songwriter and original singer of this cut), was empathising.

It wasn't his personal experience but still he 'felt' it and wanted to do what he could to highlight and make comment on the situation. Sam Cooke loved it and was almost upset that it wasn't written by him.Accordingly 'The Lion' was inspired though and wrote one of THE most passionate 'songs of freedom' 'A Change Is Going To Come' which, if it hadn't already been thrown down on themusicologist would most certainly have been in this theme.

This 1969 version is by Jamaica's own Max Romeo who unfortunately is perhaps best known, (outside of Reggae circles), for the forgettable but, at least in the UK, popular early 'Skinhead' cut 'Wet Dream'. He is MUCH better than that as witnessed by his output over the years.

Listen Tune

musicology #315

SongsOfProtest&Freedom#1

(Woody Guthrie & Cisco Houston - Better World A Comin’)

LISTEN

this weeks selection is a collection of songs that speak the language of protest and freedom. bypassing the rhetoric of the chattering classes to deliver the message as directly as possible to those who have the power to make change….the people.

The ‘establishment’ know this so, as with all modes of communication, do their best to bury such knowledge and even wisdom beneath the mountains of information that are served up 24 - 7 - 365.

Who and what are the establishment?..I’m not saying there is a group whose ‘job’ it is to serve up such mis-information I don’t believe that’s not the nature of such things…ideology provides such a platform so no one person or even group is to blame, making it almost impossible to step outside of. Our times are not much different from previous ones although globalisation can and does, (for now), provide an opportunity to connect and communicate instantly which is relatively new. Obviously this is a two sided coin making it easier to spread the word of freedom as well as slavery but at least there is a choice as to what we spend our time doing, listening to, reading and watching.

only time will tell what opportunity is taken? education or entertainment.

With that in mind hold this cut from one of the fathers and greatest proponents of the protest/freedom song, Woodrow Wilson Guthrie, (named after the former president of the USA), whose relatively short life was FULL of experience and incident…

Mr Authenticity as far as I’m concerned whose musicology has touched my heart and mind from first hearing it a couple of years ago.Since introduction themusicologist is often to be found rocking and a rolling to this Cat.. This cut taken from the 1940’s ‘Asch’ Recording dates features his friend the singer and one time actor, Cisco Houston who along with Jim Longhi persuaded Woody to join the Merchant Marines during W.W II. Being political Woody was against supporting what was considered by some a Capitalist Fraud but rather than be drafted he settled for washing dishes and entertaining the troops.

Anyway….enough of the words and on with the music.

musicology #314

Live&Direct #10

(Curtis Mayfield - Stone Junkie Live)

Penultimate cut of the current theme and then something new on Monday…not sure what it might be but as always I’ll let the music be the shepherd.

Today’s slice of the Live&Direct pie is courtesy of the man whose musicology ‘begat’ themusicologist with my earliest musical memories; brother Curtis Mayfield with a piece from the, what is today well known, set ‘Curtis Live’. Not sure how popular it was in 1971? with it’s militant message and hard hitting social commentary but as is always the case with Authenticity it spoke to me. I was no more than a babe in arms at the time but thanks especially to my Dad who was, (and still is), a BIG Curtis fan, the music and message of Curtis burned into my consciousness and has stayed there ever since. I have read somewhere that the experiences and messages learnt from the so called formative years are the ones that exert the most powerful influence on our character. If so then Curtis was, for me, one of my most valued ‘teachers’ (along with certain members of my family), and for that I am eternally greatful. So without further delay hold this, the second cut from his ‘Live’ set to have featured on themusicologist.

Recorded at New York’s ‘Bitter End’ in 1971 and featuring the combined talents of Craig McMullen, Joseph “Lucky” Scott, ‘Master’ Henry Gibson, Tyrone McCullen and of course Curtis Mayfield.

Don’t know about Elvis but for me ‘Curtis Lives’ and always will.

“Here’s something that I know everybody knows about,
I ain’t gonna point no fingers, I don’t want nobody to point no fingers,
But I, right on yeah…I think it’ll break it down…

Stone junkie, stone, stone junkie,
Stone junkie, stone, stone junkie,
Stone junkie, stone, stone junkie,
Stone junkie, stone, stone junkie,

Times have now arrived in this nation,
There’s now a people with a different relation,
Black and white, yellow, red and blue,
All in the same bag we know it’s true,

They just,
Stone junkies, stone, stone junkies,
Stone junkies, stone, stone junkies,

Don’t let your mind become offended miss Lady,
‘Cause you ain’t no better than our typical Sadie,
You just got money, you can spend out at will,
But when comes aches and pains, you still use the pill,

I don’t mean nothin’,
Stone junkie, stone, stone junkie now,
Stone junkie, stone, stone junkie one mo’,
Stone junkie, stone, stone junkie now,
Stone junkie, stone, stone junkie,

Stone junkie, stone, stone junkie,
Stone junkie, stone, stone junkie yall,
Stone junkie, stone, stone junkie now,
Stone junkie, stone, stone junkie,

I know everybody whose heart is still thumping, (he died)
I know everybody whose heart is still thumping,
Is drinking, shooting, snorting, smoking on something,

I feel like I fell in a hole, you know that hit home everywhere,

Now that might sound funky so I don’t mean to mislead,
So you can retract the thought of you on drugs or on weed
That ain’t my business you know what you do
I’m just singing for the majority of you

Should I say mister,
Stone junkie, stone, stone junkie,
Stone junkie, stone, stone junkie,
Stone junkie, stone, stone junkie,
Stone junkie, stone, stone junkie,

Please give my fellas a great big round of applause…”

musicology #313

Live&Direct #9

(The Jam - Going Underground/Dreams Of Children/That's Entertainment Live)

themusicologist regulars will know that along with Curtis Mayfield this Cat, Paul Weller, has exerted major influence on my thoughts, from first exposure in 1977 as a fresh faced nine year old right up to the present day. 'Words' have meaning as far as I'm concerned and his rank up there with the best I have ever had the pleasure of listening to and learning from.

Today's cut is from his Jam days. A three cut selection recorded live at the Glasgow Apollo in 1982. Taken from the LP 'Dig The New Breed'.

Watch the ride......