Songs of Free Men / A Paul Robeson Recital [Original recording remastered]

Joe Utterback (Composer), Lehman Engel (Composer), Ivan Ivanovich Dzerzhinsky (Composer), Felix [1] Mendelssohn (Composer), Marc Blitzstein (Composer), Earl Robinson (Composer), Anonymous (Composer), Isaak Iosifovich Dunayevsky (Composer), Lev Konstantinovich Knipper (Composer), Alexander Grechaninov (Composer), Modest Mussorgsky (Composer), Harry T. (Henry) Burleigh (Composer), Stephen [1] Foster (Composer), American Anonymous (Composer), Avery Robinson (Composer), George H. Clutsam (Composer), Lily Theresa Strickland (Composer), Peter DeRose (Composer), Jerome Kern (Composer), Oley Speaks (Composer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Composer: Joe Utterback, Lehman Engel, Ivan Ivanovich Dzerzhinsky, Felix [1] Mendelssohn, Marc Blitzstein, et al.
• Audio CD (December 9, 1997)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B0000029YJ
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #12,391 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #2 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Voices > Baritones
  • #6 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Vocal Non-Opera > Songs & Lieder > Folk Songs
  • #11 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Languages > English

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Robeson at his best, May 11, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Songs of Free Men / A Paul Robeson Recital (Audio CD)

It's hard to believe that most of these recordings pre-date the advent of magnetic tape: the CD transfer is superlative. The songs and performance are beyond reproach. Notable is the imaginative packaging in miniature 'record album' format, complete with the original cover art by Alex Steinweiss, and a replica of the original Columbia record label applied to the CD.

In response to a previous question: Robeson's performance of Danny Boy (Londonderry Air) can be found on the Vanguard LP entitled "Robeson" (VRS-9037).

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The voice, the sound quality and the interpretation, September 24, 2004

By 

R. Moonilall - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Songs of Free Men / A Paul Robeson Recital (Audio CD)

Put this on your stereo and if it is good enough the depth and richness of Robeson's voice will make your fillings rattle and your chest rumble. The power of his voice is awesome. This CD is superbly recorded with no audible noise at normal listening levels.

14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars some of the greatest songs of the last century, May 4, 2000

By 

T. Bekken (Austmarka Norway) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Songs of Free Men / A Paul Robeson Recital (Audio CD)

In the 1940s, before rabid McCarthyism and racism had taken its toll on him, Robeson made these wonderful recordings of spirituals, classics and pop tunes. Accompanied by the solo piano of the incomparable Lawrence Brown, or by an orchestra, the songs ring out with pride, dignity, skill and unmatched integrity. The shameful treatment that Robeson was subject to from American authorities certainly seem grotesquely absurd to a modern listener. The wonderful version of "The House I Live In" included on this cd should forever kill off any suspicion that Robeson did not love his country deeply. This album ought to be heard by millions of people, world wide. Robeson's voice is nothing less than a glorious high point in 20th century music, and it's hard to think of any recording capturing it to greater advantage.