Amazon.com: We Shall Overcome: CDs & Vinyl

Editorial Reviews

The idea for this album came to me over a cup of coffee at a Burlington café. The morning regulars thought I was out of my mind, but the more I thought about it, the more intriguing the idea seemed. Our mayor, Bernie Sanders, had established himself as a no-nonsense problem solver and someone who didn't mince words - but not the sort of person you would imagine making a record. This paradox appealed to me. When I approached Bernie with the idea, he saw it as an opportunity to tell a larger story, a story about the inequities of life in America. Suddenly, the project was more than a novelty. It had purpose. Bernie chose the music: five protest songs from the fifties and early sixties. I hired arranger Don Sidney to update the songs with contemporary rhythms. As word of the project spread among Vermont's music community, artists lined up to volunteer their talents. By the time we began recording in November 1987, I had assembled a who's who of the Vermont music scene: Nancy Beaven, Jon Gailmor, Dick McCormack, and Joanne "Little Joyce" Cooper, just to name a few. Thirty artists in all. When we recorded the title song, We Shall Overcome, the scene was reminiscent of the Michael Jackson 'We Are The World' session. A 21-voice chorus stood on risers in the studio. A five-piece rhythm section included some of the finest players in the area. And Bernie stood at the ready in the vocal booth with his text in hand. Bernie is not a particularly musical person, but he more than made up for it with his delivery and sense of purpose. His presence in the studio electrified everyone, making this into a landmark Vermont recording. - Todd R. Lockwood, October 2014 Oh Freedom 4:25 (Traditional) Fall River Music, Inc. BMI Vocal Solos: Nancy Beaven, Jon Gailmor, Danny Coane The Banks of Marble 5:51 (Les Rice) Stormking Music, Inc. BMI Vocal Solos: Jon Gailmor, Nancy Beaven, Pete R. Smith, Dick McCormack Where Have All the Flowers Gone 5:50 (Peter Seeger) FallRiver Music, Inc. BMI Vocal Solo: Robert Sterzinger This Land Is Your Land 3:07 (Woody Guthrie) TRO-Ludlow Music, Inc. BMI Vocal Solos: Dick McCormack, Nancy Beaven, Jon Gailmor We Shall Overcome 7:23 (Traditional, new words and music adaptation by Zilphia Horton, Frank Hamilton, Guy Carawan, and Peter Seeger) Ludlow Music, Inc. BMI The Band Piano: Andy Shapiro Organ: Tom Berd Electric Guitar: Don Sidney Electric Bass: Mark Ransom Drums: Jeff Salisbury Background Vocals Howard Mitchell, Ginny Peck, Emily Wadhams, David Weaver, Steve Rainville The Chorus Chris Bailey, Nancy Beaven, Marcia Brewster, Dexter Brown, Kathy Carbone, Danny Coane, Joanne 'Little Joyce' Cooper, David Daignault, Frank Egan, Dana Lavigne, Tom Lyon, Howard Mitchell, Joe Moore, Rick Norcross, Michael Oakland, Debbie Patton, Ginny Peck, Pamela Polston, Emily Wadhams, David Weaver, KK Wilder Narrative Written by Bernie Sanders Musical Arrangements by Don Sidney Harmony Vocal Arrangements by Douglas Jaffe Engineered by Chuck Eller and Todd Lockwood Produced by Todd Lockwood and Douglas Jaffe Recorded at White Crow Audio, Burlington, Vermont, November 1987 Digital Mastering by Adam Ayan, Gateway Mastering Special thanks to the many Vermont artists who donated their time and talent to this project. Dedicated to the men and women throughout the world who are involved in the struggle for peace and justice. ©2014 by Todd R. Lockwood Works - All Rights Reserved.

Product details

Is Discontinued By Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No
Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5 x 5.5 x 0.2 inches; 2.4 ounces
Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ CD Baby
Original Release Date ‏ : ‎ 2014
Date First Available ‏ : ‎ February 6, 2015
Label ‏ : ‎ CD Baby
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00QFQO4FU
Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1

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4.7 101 ratings

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MikeE

Transmitting Folk music as it was meant to be.

Reviewed in the United States on October 30, 2015

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As an album of folk songs, this is a 100% top notch product. Sanders has presented these songs in the manner they were intended, as a message.

For my listening enjoyment, I would choose older versions of these songs sung by professionals. But if I were explaining to a younger person the influence that folk music had on my generation, I would start with this album. Without preaching, Sander's spoken words are prose rhetoric that mirrors the poetic lyrics sung by the Thirty Vermont Artists. I would tell that young person that these songs have meaning and that Sander's words illuminate that meaning and show the current relevance of these old songs. (After this album, I'd play the youngster some Seeger to show them that the audience was as much a part of folk music as the performers.)

Whether one agrees with Sanders' politics or not, its clear that he understands these old songs and is passing them along to the present in a form that doesn't require the listener to "forgive" the old style of lyrical structure. Applying the contemporary approach of mixing spoken and lyrical words, Sanders has updated the sound of these songs making them more accessible to the folk of today.

This is a wonderful 21st century presentation of some of the most important songs of the 20th century. This album is in the folk tradition of passing on old songs to a new generation.

14 people found this helpful

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Eusebius

Straight from the heart

Reviewed in the United States on May 6, 2015

Verified Purchase

Can Bernie Sanders sing? No, he can't. I wanted to have a chuckle at his expense, but I stayed and listened with deep admiration.

He's real. He hasn't changed in all these years and these songs prove it. He doesn't "sing" (he can't sing) but in the songs he recites what he's feeling and believes - something like Rex Harrison did in My Fair Lady. He talks about the human spirit and why it'll never be extinguished. In "The Banks of Marble" ("Banks of Mawble" in Bernie-talk) he lets us know how people work hard all their lives and end up with little and how others exploit their labor and end up with millions. In "Where Have All the Flowers Gone" he talks about war.

All five songs have backup singers or a chorus and they are really quite good. One featured backup singer sounds like he's imitating Dylan, but he's not bad at all. The musicians are all from Vermont.

I've listened to Bernie Sanders speeches for years and what he says on this recording from 1984 is exactly what he's saying today about justice and equality and getting a fair shake for ordinary people. And he has the same fire in his heart just like the great Eugene Debs or "Fightin' Bob" La Follette. Go Bernie!

96 people found this helpful

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HRD

This is THE message for America, what a great album!

Reviewed in the United States on August 21, 2015

Verified Purchase

We have here an embarras de richesses that encompasses a range of impressive superlatives. The MP3 is only $4.95, for a total of five songs, making this album one of the most astounding bargains on Amazon. Here's why: Historically this album is significant because Sanders is running for president (now in 2015) and this album was published in 1987. Here is actual PROOF that this guy has never deviated from his core message ever; that alone makes this album historically significant. Musically, the album reaches some of the more refined elevations of creativity and brilliance because Sanders is backed up by thirty musically talented Vermont citizens who actually can sing. The album could rank with Adele, Caruso, Bing and Sinatra. Okay, Bernie's spoken voice may not produce the same type of euphonious, mellow tones we associate with those singers but Bernie Sanders' songs are packed with so much meaning (they are old favorites) and delivered with so much sincerity and honesty that the work easily achieves a deeply satisfying edification. My favorite track: This Land is Your Land. Boy is it ever.

27 people found this helpful

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Matt & Bonnie Shapiro

This is great!

Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2019

Verified Purchase

I am so glad I got this! I love it! I wish everyone who is voting in 2020 could hear it. The musicians and chorus are terrific and Bernie's narration of the song's words and his own political beliefs, tho brief, go so well. The blurb is really good, too.

The five songs were chosen by Bernie. His intro to We Shall Overcome is wonderful. He is just so sincere it is so different from anyone else. When the singers sing, you believe them, too. I actually teared up through half of it. A lot of it is danceable!

3 people found this helpful

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Nancy C.

All ages and ethnic groups should hear this message

Reviewed in the United States on July 31, 2015

Verified Purchase

This CD would be great to use in Bernie's Presidential campaign ....Bernie does not sing rather he talks about what these old folk/gospel songs mean with the singers and musicians in a call and response style reminiscent of being in a black church. As he does now, he wrote all the speeches for this CD and his message was the same 28 years ago when he was Mayor of Burlington as it is now. He even mentions war in Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran!!!! For someone like me who was active in the civil rights movement and is just returning to politics now it brings tears to my eyes. Who could ever imagine that we could have another leader as inspiring in 2015 as they were when I was young in the 1960's?

40 people found this helpful

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