Album Description: Songs of the American labor movement over the 20th century for just wages, dignity, and a fair shake. They voiced grievances, affirmed the value of the worker to society, and painted a picture of just world that could, one day, exist. Classic Labor Songs from Smithsonian Folkways is a collage of these voices—champions of the movement, singing songs with a passion and love for their fellow workers that rings just as true today as it did then. Utah Phillips, Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Joe Glazer, the Almanac Singers, and more chronicle the history of the American labor movement in stirring song. 28-page booklet, 27 classic tracks! 77 minutes of music!
Disc 1:
Joe Hill - Paul Robeson
Bread and Roses - Bobbie McGhee
Casey Jones (Union Scab) - Pete Seeger and the Almanac Singers
We Shall Not Be Moved/Roll the Union On – Joe Glazer
Roll the Union On - John Handcox
Cotton Mill Colic - Mike Seeger
The Mill Was Made of Marble - Joe Glazer
Aragon Mill - Peggy Seeger
Talking Union - Almanac Singers
1913 Massacre - Woody Guthrie
The Preacher and the Slave - Utah Phillips
Which Side Are You On? - Florence Reece / Almanac Singers
Hold the Fort - Joe Uehlein
Union Maids - New Harmony Sisterhood Band
Too Old to Work - Joe Glazer
Black Lung - Hazel Dickens
Been Rolling So Long - Larry Penn
VDT Blues - Tom Juravich
Automation - Joe Glazer
I'm Union and I'm Proud - Eddie Starr
I'm a Union Card - Kenny Winfree
Carpal Tunnel - John O'Connor
We Just Come to Work Here, We Don’t Come to Die - Anne Feeney
History The labor movement is part of our history as a country and of those who have struggled. Whatever the origins of the movement were, or said to be, labor songs and the spirit of the working man needs to be respected, studied and taught. Another great CD.
Joe Glazer Sings Again Joe Glazer had done quite a few albums devoted to the "American Labor Movement." He wrote and performed a number of the songs assembled here, and you get a real sense of what he was all about.
Paul Robeson kicks the collection off with a fantastic and truly classic rendering of "Joe Hill."
Maybe unintentionally, though, many of the remaining songs testify to the sad state of the labor movement today. Tunes like "VDT" and "Automation" establish, rather than disestablish, that unions today serve virtually no purpose in the face of comprehensive goverment oversight of workplace practices, antidiscrimination laws ("Too Old To Work") and (as something like a general premise) the more enlightened practices of business leaders.
Unions cannot prevent Enron, Worldcomm or subprime lending...and I'm waiting for some great songs about that.
Are there still greedy, corrupt business leaders? Sure. But some of (even) them "create value" for consumers.
Starbucks is proudly non-union, for example. Does that mean that we should not buy coffee there?
American labor is "flat on its back," in the words of the author of the classic book "Which Side Are You On." The recent GM "Strike" gives evidence of the obsolescence of American labor's social theory. The conditions creating labor's purpose have passed away. Important history, but it's just that: history, not something alive today. All that seems left is bitterness, passive-aggressive claptrap, undifferentiated anger and a sense of collective futility replacing pride.
"Revolution?" "And if you want money for people with minds that hate, all I can tell you is brother you'll have to wait."
Best Labor Songs Collection You would expect that since this collection is a Smithsonian Folkways Recording it would be better than most. And it is! I have listened to many work/labor songs CD's and found that the quality and varation of the songs in this collection much better. And there are not 12 or 16, but 27! Of course, there are a few male and female singers that I always pass up, but, still, just a few. Having been a union shop steward/building representative at my school for many years (and walked several picket lines), I can relate to the messages herein. They are really inspiring--and I don't tire of listening to them, as the previous reviewer seems to say, too. You will love the voices of Paul Robeson, Pete and Mike and Peggy Seeger, Joe Glazer (four tunes), Larry Penn, Eddie Starr, Kenny Winfree, John O'Connor, Anne Freeney. These "artists" are on other collections in the same genre, but those version and their quality do not match this.
Labor songs Mind you, the songs are all over the place. From a pretty dreadful song about Carpal tunnel syndrome and a silly song written "by" the little piece of paper that's your union card, to Paul Robeson's "I dreamed I saw Joe Hill last night." A bunch of songs sung by Joe Glaser, who I don't think I'd heard before (odder than it sounds). And the New Harmony Sisterhood band updating "Union Maid," then switching into a wild klesmer version.
It was the CD in the truck for a hundred mile trip over the weekend. I ended up skipping maybe just those two songs the second, third, and fourth times through. But sighing happily to hear Robeson each time. And the variations on Union Maid.
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