Monday, December 10, 2007

Sinner Man -- "SOMEONE'S GOTTA SAY SOMETHING"

THE WEAVERS STILL HAVE IT! "The spirit of Lee Hays would want to dedicate this song to the man who brought the bible to the White House"





The Weaver's records and concerts helped popularize many of the songs now considered standards in the folk repertoire, including "On Top of Old Smokey," "Follow the Drinking Gourd," "Kisses Sweeter than Wine," "The Wreck of the John B (aka "Sloop John B")," "Rock Island Line," "The Midnight Special," "Pay Me My Money Down," and "Darling Corey." The Weavers encouraged sing-alongs in their concerts, and Seeger would sometimes shout out the lyrics in advance of each line.

The Weavers eventually came under political pressure because of their history of singing protest songs and folk songs favoring labor unions, as well as for the leftist political beliefs of the individuals in the group. They avoided recording the more controversial songs in their repertoire, and refrained from performing at controversial venues and events. The leftwing press derided them as having sold out their beliefs in exchange for popular success. Despite their caution, however, they were placed under FBI surveillance and blacklisted by parts of the entertainment industry during the McCarthy era, from 1950. Right-wing and anti-Communist groups protested at their performances and harassed promoters. As a result of the blacklisting, the Weavers lost radio airplay and the group's popularity diminished rapidly. Decca terminated their recording contract.

6 comments:

Larry said...

Today they would be arrested for aiding terrorists, given no trial, tortured in a secret prison, scorned, finacially and socially ruined and then be accused of war crimes.

This is Bush's Modern Day America.

earlbo said...

Indeed, BushCo is America's worst nightmare.

Gledwood said...

That bloody stupid McCarthy era... making a mockery of American values by turning them on their head just as George Bush is making an ass of American Law by inventing crap about "illegal combattants"... many of them aren't even prisoners of war they are just people who have been handed to American "officials" by governments in selected usually 3rd world countries!

Sorry about that rant and I don't even know you... just lettin' off steam

have a merry 2008!!

;->...

from
Gledwood
"Vol 2"...

earlbo said...

Gledwood, rant on my good man and thanks for stopping by. Drop by anytime you like.

Larry said...

Happy New Year Earl!

earlbo said...

Happy New Year to you, Larry and to everybody else.