Mr. Oscar Brown, Jr.

Listen/Download Oscar Brown, Jr. – Forty Acres and a Mule

Greetings all

The end of the week is here, and so I must remind you that the Funky16Corners Radio Show will once again take to the airwaves this Friday at 9PM on Viva Radio.

If you cannot be there at airtime, you can keep up with the sounds by subscribing to the show as a podcast in iTunes, or by grabbing an MP3 here at the blog.

I thought I’d end the week with something very cool and a bit unusual.

I would assume that the jazzers and the Mods among you might already be familiar with the name, and music of the mighty Oscar Brown, Jr.

Brown was the kind of multi-faceted talent, singer, poet, composer, political activist that you don’t see too much these days.

In a career that lasted from his teens until his death at the age of 78 in 2005, Brown worked as a soul jazz singer, composer of music and lyrics, social activist and teacher.

The tune I bring you today is a fantastic introduction for those of you that don’t know him, and a reminder for those of you that do of how great he was.

’40 Acres and a Mule’, recorded in 1964 (released in 1965 on the LP ‘Mr Oscar Brown Jr Goes to Washington’), is simultaneously swinging, humorous, cutting and incisive.

Brown, who was one of the earliest proponents of putting lyrics to jazz instrumentals (you probably know Nina Simone’s version of his lyrics to ‘Work Song’), also wrote ‘The Snake’, which became a Northern Soul favorite when recorded by Al Wilson.

He was a master whose body of work ought to be much better known.

I hope you dig the tune, and I’ll see you all on Monday.

Keep the faith

Larry

 

 

 

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Also, the brand new Funky16Corners ‘Keep Calm and Stay Funky’ stickers have arrived!

The stickers are 4″ x 3″ and printed on high quality, glossy stock.

They are $2.00 each, with free shipping in the US ($2.00 per order shipping outside of the US).

Click here to go to the ordering page.
Also, make sure that you check out the links below to the Be The Match Foundation and POAC (click on the logos for more info).

 

PS Head over to Iron Leg too.