Let's talk music, no genre boundaries


This is an offshoot of the jazz thread. I and others found that we could not talk about jazz without discussing other musical genres, as well as the philosophy of music. So, this is a thread in which people can suggest good music of all genres, and spout off your feelings about music itself.

 

audio-b-dog

@mahgister, @frogman, @hilde45 

I will give a more generous interpretation of @hilde45 comment about fascism. Being the stepson of an AFLCIO worker, I used to go to union picnics and sit at Pete  Seager's feet as he sang Woody Guthrie's "This Land Is Your Land." From Seager and Guthrie, Bob Dylan carefully crafted political songs that weren't too pointed. Radiohead came out with an album called "Hail to the Thief." (Not one of their best, I must admit.) So, I think there is at least a lot of songs about injustice. 

To carry this idea further a bit, when I studied poetry with Gary Snyder, he said there is no place in poetry for philosophy and politics. Although, he is known as a great environmental poet, but perhaps that is different. The way to do it, though, is to write in stories, allegories, and images. As the father of modern American Poetry said, Dr. William Carlos Williams from Newark New Jersey, "There are no ideas but in things."

As I have said, I think the heart of music is spiritual, and although I might not be in love with Christian doctrine in Oratorio, I love spirituals that come out of black churches. Secular person that I am, I could participate in that if I could sing. And of course from black churches we have many jazz musicians, and I can't forget Aretha Franklin and my favoirite Roberta Flack. And, hey, although long-winded, I may have changed the subject from classical music.

Here's a spiritual I bet none of you have ever heard. I first heard it in 1970 and immediately went out and bought the record. This was the only good song on the album.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sWkK06LSq4

I am picky about music like spirituals... After Marian Anderson, whom I consider, along with Callas and Scharzkopf and a few others, to be one of the most powerful voices of the century, I discovered Reverend Gary Davis, my favorite spiritual album. Original guitarist, hypnotic voice, powerful expression.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6W9PuLcoZMM&list=RDEMIym3Jmh7U3xruAlIVxfy3g&start_radio=1