Black Power: Music of a Revolution

Various Artists (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 1, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Shout Factory
• Copy Protected
• ASIN: B00020SHGW
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #45,250 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #25 in Music > Miscellaneous > Poetry, Spoken Word & Interviews > Poetry

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Huey Newton—The Black Panther Party Calls For

2. Marvin Gaye—You’re The Man (Part 1)

3. Philadelphia International All Stars—Let’s Clean Up The Ghetto

4. Kathleen Cleaver—Change It

5. Segments Of Time—Song To The System

6. Sons Of Slum—Right On

7. S.O.U.L.—Tell It Like It Is

8. Earth Wind And Fire—Mighty Mighty

9. Les McCann & Eddie Harris—Compared To What

10. The Soul Children—I Don’t Know What This World Is Coming To

See all 19 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Malcolm X—Standing & Fighting

2. The Temptations—Message From A Black Man

3. The Watts Prophets—Part—E, S

4. H. Rap Brown—Violence Is As American As Cherry Pie

5. Gil Scott-Heron—The Revolution Will Not Be Televised

6. The Last Poets—When The Revolution Comes

7. Billy Paul—Am I Black Enough For You

8. Stokely Carmichael—Black Unity*

9. Eddie Kendricks—My People…Hold On

10. William Devaughn—Be Thankful For What You Got

See all 19 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

The late 1960s–early 1970s were a time of great change, musically and spiritually. Some of the greatest music ever written came to life in this era. At the same time, political speakers like Malcolm X, Huey Newton and Stokely Carmichael stepped forward to lead a generation. Two words sum up the movement: Black Power. This two-CD compilation culls the greatest hits of that era, bringing together both politics and the era’s culture as accurately as any history book.

• Includes rare sound bites from Malcolm X, Stokely Carmichael and Huey Newton as well as out-of-print tracks by Sons of Slum, The Philadelphia International All-Stars and Watts Prophets.

• Filled with huge hits that are constantly heard on radio, in film and TV, including Top 20 hits from The Chi-Lites, The O’Jays, James Brown, The Isley Brothers and Nina Simone.

• Features the most outspoken artists of the era, such as Parliament, The Last Poets and Gil Scott-Heron.

• This is the only domestic compilation available highlighting this era and is the first to tie together the political and cultural aspects of the times.

• Liner notes by GRAMMY-nominated writer Gerald Early.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Powerful Collection, June 3, 2004

By 

John L. Hughes, Jr. "hughes_jr" (Nashville, TN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Black Power: Music of a Revolution (Audio CD)

BLACK POWER nicely couples snipets of speeches by such noted black revolutionaries as Huey Newton, Malcolm X and Stokley Carmichael with inspiring message songs by Marvin Gaye ("You're The Man"), James Brown ("Say It Loud"), The Isley Brothers ("Fight The Power") and other noted artists back in the day. Big hits and rare cuts are treated with respect, while the insightful liner notes put this collection in perspective. The only flaws are Curtis Mayfield's live version of "We're A Winner" instead of the original recording by The Impressions and the absence of cuts by Stevie Wonder ("Big Brother", "Livin For The City" or "You Haven't Done Nothing" have potential) and Bill Withers ("Lean On Me").

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good documentary-type cd, September 26, 2005

By 

Andre M. "brnn64" (Mt. Pleasant, SC United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Black Power: Music of a Revolution (Audio CD)

Aside from the absence of narration (aside form the spoke asides I am about to describe), this is a good documentary Cd of music and (snippets of) speeches during the Black Pride era of the 60s and 70s. Archconservatives would still have a fit over the speeches of Malcolm X (Stop Singing and Start Swinging), Stokely Carmichael (We Want Black Power) and few radio stations today would play the now-imprisoned H. Rap Brown's "Violence Is as American as Cherry Pie" ("We built this country, we'll burn it down if it don't do right.") It says something that H. Rap is the only speaker in this compilation that's still alive at this writing. But these clips by people who are seldom discussed today are historically important and do a good job of settign the atmosphere and mood.

Now for the music. Stevie Wonder and Sly Stone's anthems of the period are well known and easily available elsewhere, so I don't mind their omission. The tunes of the Watts prophets, Last Poets, Soul Children, and Sons of the Slum would be a revelation to the current generation as most of the issues discussed are still relevant. The forgotten Hank Ballard's "Blackenized" (about low self-esteem in Black America) is particularly thought provoking as is the Philadelphia All-Stars "Let's Clean Up the Ghetto" (as a child of the 70s who was well tuned into the local soul radio station at the time, I am surprised that I only remember actually hearing this tune once at the time).

It fittingly closes with McFadden and Whitehead's 1979 anthem "Aint No Stoppin Us Now", which aside from Stevie Wonder's "Hotter than July" lp the next year was the last major message song of the era. But as a whole, this is a great history lesson with a beat that you can dance to as well as think.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Unbelievable collection, August 26, 2004

By 

A Rhema Kat "The Original" (Brooklyn, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Black Power: Music of a Revolution (Audio CD)

The title caught my mind and the musical idea of it called to the spirit in me. The soundbites are tight and the lyrics are still powerful. It doesn't matter what your favorite type of music is, these cd's are righteous. Especialy "Compared to What". Simply put I'm loving it. Listening to this and walking down the street is like a soundtrack to the revolution. It puts a whole face to all those soundbites from the 60's and 70's. The revolution will not be televised, Pick this up while you can.