Black History Month – a Playlist

A playlist of tunes that inspired and energized and outraged me during this Black History Month just past.

Where possible, I have added links for you to listen to (or in some cases download) the songs – unfortunately, many on YouTube. You should be able to listen to a lot of the songs on this page directly, using the Yahoo media player. I may add additional links as time allows.

You can also access many of these songs through an iTunes mix I created – though iTunes has less than half of the tracks in my playlist.

(And for another take on the same theme, check out “Power to the People – Soul Music in the Black Power Era” on the “Midnight Solstice” radio show – available for streaming and download here.)

Song – Artist – Album (Year) [Links]

Say It Loud (I’m Black And I’m Proud) – James Brown – 20 All Time Greatest Hits! (1968) [listen]
Black Man – Stevie Wonder – Songs In The Key Of Life (1976) [listen]
Mighty Mighty (Spade and Whitey) – The Impressions – The Young Mod’s Forgotten Story (1969) [listen | get]
The Revolution Will Not Be Televised – Gil Scott-Heron – Pieces of a Man (1971) [listen]
The World Is a Ghetto – War – The World is a Ghetto (1972) [listen]
The Ghetto – Donny Hathaway – Everything Is Everything (1970) [listen | get | get]
Children of the Ghetto – Courtney Pine – Blaxploitation 1 (1996) [listen | get]
To Be Young, Gifted and Black – Donny Hathaway – Everything Is Everything (1970) [listen | get | get]
A Change Is Gonna Come – Otis Redding – The Dock Of The Bay (The Definitive Collection) [listen]
People Get Ready – Curtis Mayfield – Curtis/Live! (1971) [listen]
I Don’t Want Nobody to Give Me Nothing (Open Up the Door, I’ll Get It Myself) – James Brown – Star Time 2 (1969) [listen]
Sister Rosa – The Neville Brothers – Yellow Moon (1989) [listen/watch – a great video]
Why (The King of Love is Dead) – Nina Simone – Movin’ On Up, Vol. 1 – Songs from the Civil Rights Struggle [1994] [listen | NPR program]
Abraham, Martin and John – Marvin Gaye – Motown – The Ultimate Hits Collection (1981)
Do You Remember Malcolm? – Miriam & Mbongi Makeba – Black & Proud Vol.1- The Soul Of The Black Panther Era (2002) [listen]
Malcolm X No Sell Out – Keith LeBlanc – Malcolm X No Sell Out (1983) [listen]
Blues for Brother George Jackson – Archie Shepp – Stand up and be counted [2000] (1972) [listen]
The Get Out Of The Ghetto Blues – Gil Scott-Heron – The Revolution Will Not Be Televised (1974) [listen]
When The Revolution Comes – The Last Poets – Stand up and be counted [2000] (1970) [listen | listen]
Chocolate City – Parliament – Parliament’s Greatest Hits [1984] [listen | get]]
No Knock – Gil Scott-Heron – The Revolution Will Not Be Televised (1974) [listen]

Marvin Gaye – What’s Going On (1971)
What’s Going On
What’s Happening Brother
Flyin’ High (In The Friendly Sky)
Save The Children
God Is Love
Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) [listen]
Right On
Wholy Holy
Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)

Brother – Gil Scott-Heron – The Revolution Will Not Be Televised (1974) [listen]
Express Yourself – Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band – Express Yourself
Choice of Colors – The Impressions – The Young Mod’s Forgotten Story (1969) [listen | listen]
Move On Up – Curtis Mayfield – Curtis (1970)
Johannesburg – Gil Scott-Heron – From South Africa To South Carolina (1975) [listen]
Thank You For Talkin’ To Me Africa – Sly & The Family Stone – There’s a Riot Goin’ On (1971) [listen]
A Change Is Gonna Come – Sam Cooke – The Man And His Music [1986]
We Almost Lost Detroit – Gil Scott-Heron – Bridges (1977)
Mississippi Goddam – Nina Simone – Verve Jazz Masters 17 [1994] [listen]
Back to the World – Curtis Mayfield – Back to the World (1973)
Freddie’s Dead – Curtis Mayfield – Superfly : The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (1972)
We the People Who are Darker than Blue – Curtis Mayfield – Curtis/Live! (1971)
Theme from “Shaft” – Isaac Hayes – Shaft (1971)
Message From A Black Man – The Spinners – Change Is Gonna Come: The Voice Of Black America 1963-1973 (1970)
Stare and Stare – Curtis Mayfield – Curtis/Live! (1971)
Respect – Aretha Franklin – I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You (1967)
The Prayer – Ray Scott – Change Is Gonna Come: The Voice Of Black America 1963-1973 (1970) [get | read]
Give the People What They Want – The O’Jays – Survival
I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free – Nina Simone – Stand up and be counted [2000]
(Don’t Worry) If There’s A Hell Below We’re All Gonna Go – Curtis Mayfield – Curtis/Live! (1971)
Night Train (Single) – James Brown – 20 All Time Greatest Hits! (1962)
I Got You (I Feel Good) – James Brown – 20 All Time Greatest Hits! (1965)
Get Up (I Feel Like Being A) Sex Machine (Pt. 1) (Single) – James Brown – 20 All Time Greatest Hits! (1970)
Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag (Pt. 1) – James Brown – 20 All Time Greatest Hits! (1965)
Superbad – James Brown – Star Time 3 Soul Brother No. 1 (1970) [listen]
James Brown – Ghetto Reality – Black & Proud Vol.1- The Soul Of The Black Panther Era [listen]
Keep On Pushing – The Impressions – Keep On Pushing (1969)
Superfly – Curtis Mayfield – Superfly : The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (1972)
Someday We’ll All Be Free – Donny Hathaway – Extension Of A Man (1973) [listen | get]
Winter in America – Gil Scott-Heron – Midnight Band: The First Minute of a New Day (1975)
Brother’s Gonna Work It Out – Willie Hutch – Power To The Motown People: Civil Rights Anthems and Political Soul [2007]
Right On Brothers And Sisters – Jr. Walker & The All Stars – Power To The Motown People: Civil Rights Anthems and Political Soul [2007] [listen]
Oh Lord, Why Lord – Parliament – Change Is Gonna Come: The Voice Of Black America 1963-1973 (1970) [listen]
Don’t Call Me Nigger, Whitey – Sly & The Family Stone – Stand! (1969)
Let’s Get It On – Marvin Gaye – Let’s Get It On (1973)
We’re a Winner – The Impressions – Change Is Gonna Come: The Voice Of Black America 1963-1973 (1967)
Sex Education Ghetto Style – Gil Scott-Heron – The Revolution Will Not Be Televised (1974) [get]
(I Got) So Much Trouble In My Mind – Joe Quartermain & Free Soul – Blaxploitation 2 The Sequel (1973)
Mr. Welfare Man – Curtis Mayfield – Give, Get, Take And Have (1976)
Living For The City – Stevie Wonder – Innervisions (1973)
Let’s Do It Again – The Staple Singers – Let’s Do It Again (1975) [listen | get]
A Change Is Gonna Come – Aretha Franklin – I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You (1967)
People… Hold On – Eddie Kendricks – Movin’ On Up, Vol. 2 (1972) [listen | get]
On Coming From A Broken Home (Part 1) – Gil Scott-Heron – I’m New Here (2010)
Me And The Devil – Gil Scott-Heron – I’m New Here (2010) [watch – great video]
Fear Of A Black Planet – Public Enemy – Fear Of A Black Planet (1990) [listen]
Black Steel In the Hour Of Chaos – Public Enemy – It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back (1988)
Fight the Power – Public Enemy – Do The Right Thing Soundtrack (1989)