Here at BriSco, we usually like to celebrate British and Scottish artists and culture.. But sometimes we have to recognize extraordinary people from other countries too. This week Americans remember the birthday and the achievements of Martin Luther King, with a national holiday on January 17th. It is the most important day in the American calendar. And because MLK spoke so strongly against American aggressive foreign policy, it has also become a public holiday in Hiroshima city, Japan.
The time is right for us to mention and recommend some important songs by American artists, songs that encourage us to reflect upon the words and life of Dr King. Listen to some of these great songs; if you only have time for two, your life is not complete without listening to the Nina Simone and Elizabeth Cotten songs..
You might not feel happier today, but we have to believe that things are going to get better tomorrow…
The King of Love is Dead - Nina Simone,
(recorded live, a few days after the death of King on 4th April, 1968),
Freight Train - Elizabeth Cotten,
Freedom Train - James Carr,
American Tune - Paul Simon,
From a Distance - Nanci Griffith,
Before the Deluge - Jackson Browne,
The Times They are a Changin' - Tracy Chapman,
A Change is Gonna Come - Sam Cooke
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