New release
Birthright: A Black Roots Music Compendium

Label: Craft Recordings
Formats: 2-CD, Digital
Release date: 17 Febryary 2023

“This collection is the DNA, the blueprint, a sonic chronicle of where we’ve been…and where we are headed.” – Corey Harris

Birthright: A Black Roots Music Compendium

Proudly announcing the release of Birthright: A Black Roots Music Compendium, an expansive overview of American Black roots music. Produced by author, professor, and GRAMMY®-nominated music historian Dr. Ted Olson, along with GRAMMY-winning producer, musician, and author Scott Billington, Birthright offers an introduction to the rich and often nuanced world of Black roots music. Spanning generations and genres, the 40 songs in this brand-new collection showcase a broad range of styles: from gospel and blues to Louisiana Creole, traditional jazz, Gullah music, and more, while the artists range from little-known (but highly influential) musicians to enduring icons like John Lee Hooker, Odetta, The Staple Singers, and Lightnin’ Hopkins.

Set for release February 17th on 2-CD/digital formats, Birthright features a handful of rarities, as well as the previously unreleased “Georgie Buck” by the Carolina Chocolate Drops featuring Joe Thompson. The 2-CD edition includes insightful essays from musicians/scholars Corey Harris and Dom Flemons, as well as an introduction and detailed track notes by Olson. Through word and song, Birthright not only seeks to pay tribute to an essential canon of American music, but also demonstrates the pervasive influence of Black roots music on popular culture – from country to hip-hop.

Birthright: A Black Roots Music Compendium - album cover

Tracklist
1. Preservation Hall Jazz Band – Bourbon Street Parade
2. Corey Harris and Shardé Thomas – Station Blues
3. Mississippi Fred McDowell – 61 Highway
4. Carolina Chocolate Drops, featuring Joe Thompson – Georgie Buck*
5. Ranky Tanky – Ranky Tanky
6. Etta Baker – One Dime Blues
7. Bois Sec Ardoin and Canray Fontenot – Eunice Two Step
8. Lightnin’ Hopkins – Automobile Blues
9. Bennie Richardson – Grizzly Bear
10. The Staple Singers – Motherless Children
11. Brownie McGhee and Sonny Terry – Blues Before Sunrise
12. Dink Roberts – Fox Chase
13. Martin, Bogan, and Armstrong – Sweet Georgia Brown
14. Golden Eagles – Little Liza Jane
15. Clifton Chenier and His Band – Ay-Tete Fee
16. Skip James – Hard Time Killing Floor Blues
17. George Lewis New Orleans Jazz Band – Weary Blues
18. Bessie Jones – Yonder Come Day
19. Joseph Spence – We Will Understand It Better By And By
20. Dirty Dozen Brass Band – Best Of All
21. Cedric Burnside – Step In
22. Amythyst Kiah – Pretty Polly
23. Lonnie Johnson and Elmer Snowden – St. Louis Blues
24. Leyla McCalla – Money Is King
25. Dom Flemons – Polly Put The Kettle On
26. Taj Mahal and Keb’ Mo’ – Diving Duck Blues
27. Boozoo Chavis – Crying Blues
28. Campbell Brothers – Morning Train
29. John Lee Hooker – When I Lay My Burden Down
30. Lesley Riddle – Titanic
31. Professor Longhair – Go To The Mardi Gras
32. Mississippi John Hurt – Candy Man
33. Jesse Fuller – San Francisco Bay Blues
34. Odetta – Special Delivery Blues
35. John Jackson – Step It Up And Go
36. Tuts Washington – Arkansas Blues
37. Rev. Gary Davis – Lo, I Will Be With You Always
38. Inmate named Peter – Ups On The Farm
39. Cephas & Wiggins – John Henry
40. Sweet Honey in the Rock – Study War No More
* previously unreleased

2-CD digipack set

Includes previously unreleased track from Carolina Chocolate Drops, featuring Joe Thompson, “Georgie Buck”

Expansive 48-page booklet features essays from musicians/scholars Dom Flemons and Corey Harris, as well as an introduction and detailed track notes by GRAMMY®-nominated historian and compilation co-producer Ted Olson


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