Customer Reviews

Black Power: Music of a Revolution

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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").

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.

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.

I love this collection. There are so many great songs here and the sound bites are good too. Huey Newton, Malcolm X, H. Rap Brown, and others are all interspersed with the music, which really makes everything flow from song to song. These discs capture a moment in time that shouldn't be forgotten, and this collection is one way to preserve it.

THIS IS AN AMAZING CD, EVERYONE SHOULD BY THIS, BLACK WHITE, WHATEVER THE MUSIC IS JUST INSPIRING AND THE RECCORDINGS ARE GREAT.

GREAT MUSIC!!!!!