Tune in this Wednesday February 22nd (6:30pm – 7:45pm) to Greg Vandy’s excellent show on KEXP–The Roadhouse.
Pat Thomas will be talking about his upcoming book, Listen, Whitey! The Sights and Sounds of Black Power 1965-1975 (published by Fantagraphics) and our companion ‘soundtrack’ Listen, Whitey! The Sounds of Black Power 1967-1974 (LITA 081) both out Tuesday February 28th.
We’re very excited to announce today the release of Listen, Whitey! The Sounds of Black Power 1967 – 1974 (LITA 081 – CD | 2xLP | Digital) and the companion book Listen, Whitey! The Sights and Sounds of Black Power 1965 – 1975 (published by Fantagraphics). For the time first ever, Black and White artists share space on a definitive anthology of the Black Power era that explores the era when revolutionaries were seen as pop culture icons: Bobby Seale, Eldridge Cleaver, Angela Davis, Stokely Carmichael – and musicians were seen as revolutionaries; Gil Scott-Heron, The Last Poets, Bob Dylan, John Lennon and others. Listen, Whitey! is a cross-cultural overview that sees Bob Dylan’s out-of-print 1971 single “George Jackson” reissued for the first time along with several selections from Motown’s long forgotten ‘Black Forum’ label – Motown’s early 70’s Black Power militant imprint that has never been documented until now with provocative recordings from SNCC spokesman Stokely Carmichael, outspoken African-American poet Amiri Baraka, and Black Panther Party singer/songwriter Elaine Brown.
Intensive hours of research led to this 16-track anthology that not only brings together Dylan and Lennon on the same compilation for the first time (via John & Yoko’s 1972 song about Angela Davis), but presents the diversity of the Black Power Movement like never before. Despite their common goal of freedom and respect, many of these activists didn’t necessarily speak for or to each other. Eldridge Cleaver was living in exile in Algiers in 1970 when LSD guru Timothy Leary showed up seeking asylum. Weeks later, Leary was placed under ‘house arrest’ by Cleaver and that moment is presented here. The Last Poets quickly splintered into several factions not long after their debut and several recordings capture that tumultuous period. Comedian Dick Gregory was as into mocking the establishment as he was trying to make people laugh and his monologue reflects a time when ‘entertainment’ needed to be political to be relevant. There were regional private press 7 inch singles from the likes of the Shahid Quintet, and the Black Panther’s own band The Lumpen. Gene McDaniels’ Outlaw album has long been a cult favorite, and is represented by a 1970 live version of “Silent Majority.” No Black Power anthology would be complete without Gil Scott-Heron featured on a rare 1970’s solo piano take of “Winter in America.” The international significance of the times is reflected with a live 1969 recording of English folk singer Roy Harper’s “I Hate The White Man.”
Both CD (40-page booklet) and 2xLP (8-page booklet) feature book-deep liner notes by author and compiler Pat Thomas loaded with rare album covers, ephemera and unseen photos (including the cover photo of Huey Newton). CD features a heavy-stock and high UV gloss Digipak, while the 2xLP sports a deluxe old-school Tip-On gatefold jacket. Aces either way you go.
For more info, audio samples and to order Listen, Whitey! The Sounds of Black Power 1967 – 1974 (CD / 2xLP / Digital), click here. You may also pick up the 10″ x 10″, 200-page hardcover book, Listen, Whitey! The Sights and Sounds of Black Power 1965 – 1975 here. We’re also offering exclusive package deals of the book + CD and book + 2xLP, which you can snag here.
Curious to take a peek at Listen, Whitey! The Sounds of Black Power 1967-1974 (LITA 081)? Well, wait no longer. Check out the “What’s Inside?” videos for both the CD and 2xLP versions below. What about the book, you ask? Watch the video preview Fantagraphics put together after the jump. Don’t forget, we’ve got exclusive Book + CD and Book + 2xLP packages here!
For this week’s Free Basin’ Fridays, we’re celebrating the release of Listen, Whitey! The Sounds of Black Power 1967-1974, Pat Thomas’ definitive book and “soundtrack” of the Black Power movement and era. Listen, Whitey! is a cross-cultural overview that sees Bob Dylan’s out of print 1971 single “George Jackson” reissued for the first time along with several selections from Motown’s long forgotten ‘Black Forum’ label – Motown’s early 70’s Black Power militant imprint that has never been documented until now with provocative recordings from SNCC spokesman Stokely Carmichael, outspoken African-American poet Amiri Baraka, Black Panther Party singer/songwriter Elaine Brown and so much more.
So this week we’re giving away a package that includes either the CD and Book OR the 2xLP and Book. The choice is yours. For a look at these gorgeous packages, check out the What’s Inside? videos here and then send us some love in a comment below (include your name and email address) for your chance to win! Winner will be announced next Friday, March 9th at 12PM.
Listen, Whitey! The Sights and Sounds of Black Power 1965-1975 (Published by Fantagraphics – OUT NOW!)
Listen, Whitey! The Sounds of Black Power 1967-1974 (LITA 081 – CD | 2xLP | Digital – OUT NOW!)
Fantagraphics Books and Light In The Attic Records are excited to announce that author, lecturer, and music-man Pat Thomas is hitting the road with Listen Whitey!: The Sights and Sounds of Black Power. Meet the mofo behind the book that pays tribute to the Black Power Movement of the ’60s-’70s. Heading up the West Coast and then across the pond to England, Thomas will be giving talks, signing books, and playing tracks at both bookstores and record shops.
While researching this book project in Oakland, Thomas discovered rare recordings of speeches, interviews, and music by noted activists Huey Newton, Bobby Seale, Elaine Brown, and others that form the framework of this definitive retrospective. Listen, Whitey! chronicles the forgotten history of Motown Records’ Black Power subsidiary label, Black Forum, which released politically charged albums by Stokely Carmichael, Langston Hughes, Bill Cosby, and Ossie Davis, among others. Obscure records produced by African-American sociopolitical organizations of the period are examined, along with the Isley Brothers, Nina Simone, Art Ensemble of Chicago, Watts Prophets, Roland Kirk, Horace Silver, Angela Davis, H. Rap Brown, Stanley Crouch, and many more. Thomas will give a slide and music presentation, and then sign copies of Listen, Whitey! Book/CDs/LPs. The album features rare tracks from African-American activists like Dick Gregory, Eldridge Cleaver, and the Last Poets, with protest music by Bob Dylan, John Lennon and Yoko Ono, Gil Scott-Heron, Roy Harper, and more.
Spread the word and hope to see you out there!
Sunday, April 1st, (TBD)
KPFK (Pacifica Radio) guest DJing with Oliver Wang of Soul-Sides,
90.7 FM Los Angeles – 98.7 FM Santa Barbara
3729 Cahuenga Blvd. West – N. Hollywood, CA 91604
Main: 818.985.2711. Studio: 818.985.5735
Monday, April 2, 12-1PM
University of Southern California
Ronald Tutor Campus Center
Geoffrey Cowan Forum, Room 207
Annenberg School across from Heritage Hall.
3607 Trousdale Pkwy
LOS ANGELES, CA 90089
213.821.3015
www.annenberg.usc.edu
Tuesday, April 3, 2-4PM
Live DJ set from Pat Thomas on Los Angeles-based web radio station Dublab
www.DUBLAB.com
Wednesday, April 4, 7pm
Book Soup
8818 Sunset Blvd.
W. HOLLYWOOD, CA 90069
310.659.3110
www.booksoup.com
Thursday, April 5, 7-8PM
AMOEBA Records, LA
6400 Sunset Blvd.
LOS ANGELES, CA 90028
323.245.6400
www.amoeba.com
Friday, April 6, 12PM – 1AM
KCRW | Listen online at http://www.kcrw.com/
1900 Pico Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90405
Main Office 310-450-5183
Saturday, April 7, TBA
Warbler Records & Goods
131 E De La Guerra St
SANTA BARBARA, CA 93101
805.845.5862
www.warblerrecords.squarespace.com
Sunday, April 8, 5-6PM
“Melting Pot” with host Michael Barnes on KPFK Los Angeles
90.7 FM Los Angeles, 98.7 FM Santa Barbara, worldwide at link below
www.KPFK.org
Sunday, April 8 (regular programming)
KPFK (Pacifica Radio) guest DJing with Oliver Wang of Soul-Sides,
90.7 FM Los Angeles – 98.7 FM Santa Barbara
3729 Cahuenga Blvd. West – N. Hollywood, CA 91604
Main: 818.985.2711. Studio: 818.985.5735
Tuesday, April 10, 7:30PM
The Booksmith
1644 Haight St.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94117
415.863.8688
www.booksmith.com
Wednesday, April 11, 7:30 pm
Pegasus Books 2349 Shattuck Ave.
BERKELEY, CA 94704
510.649.1320
www.pegasusbookstore.com
Thursday, April 12, TBD
KPFA – Berkeley w/ Derk Richardson
Friday, April 13, TBD
KPFA – Berkeley, w/ Ricky Vincent
Friday, April 20, 6:00 – 9:00 pm
Rainier Avenue & Columbia Center
w/ Aaron Dickson lecturing on the Black Panthers
and Kathy Wolf and Leo Mayberry’s video show
Life Enrichment Bookstore 5023 Rainer Ave. S
SEATTLE, WA 98118
206.650.8791
http://www.lebseattle.com/
Sunday, April 22, 7:30 PM
Powell’s City of Books
1005 W Burnside
PORTLAND, OR 97209
503.228.4651
www.powells.com
Wednesday, May 9, TBA
University of Southampton
University Road, SOUTHAMPTON SO17 1BJ
+44 (0)23.8059.5000
www.southampton.ac.uk
Thursday, May 10, TBA
SPONSORED AND PRESENTED BY
THE WIRE MAGAZINE
Cafe OTO
18 – 22 Ashwin St.
Dalston, LONDON E8 3DL
www.cafeoto.co.uk
Friday, May 11, TBA
Rough Trade East “Dray Walk”
Old Truman Brewery
91 Brick Lane, LONDON
E1 6QL
+44 (0)207.392.7788
www.roughtrade.com
Tuesday, May 15, TBA
Durham University
Lecture Room of the Music Department
The University Office
Old Elvet, DURHAM
DH1 3HP
+44 (0)191.334.6305
www.dunelm.org.uk
Pat Thomas at speaking at Book Soup, Los Angeles, CA, April 4, 2012
For the last few months, Listen, Whitey! compiler/author Pat Thomas has been on an epic tour promoting the book and soundtrack hitting book shops, radio stations, record stores, and of course a few bars, and everywhere in between. This week, Pat is in the UK for a string of dates. Full list below…hope to see you there!
Thursday, May 10, 8PM
SPONSORED AND PRESENTED BY
THE WIRE MAGAZINE
Cafe OTO
18 – 22 Ashwin St.
Dalston, LONDON E8 3DL
http://www.cafeoto.co.uk/wire-salon-listen-whitey.shtm
Friday, May 11, 6:30PM
Rough Trade East “Dray Walk”
Old Truman Brewery
91 Brick Lane, LONDON
E1 6QL
+44 (0)207.392.7788
http://www.roughtrade.com/site/news_detail.lasso?story_id=1670
[JUST ADDED] Monday, May 14, 2:00 GMT
BBC London 94.9 | Robert Elms program
Tune in worldwide here http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00rm41v
Tuesday, May 15, 4PM
Durham University
Lecture Room of the Music Department
The University Office
Old Elvet, DURHAM
DH1 3HP
+44 (0)191.334.6305
www.dunelm.org.uk
He’s travelled land, sea, airwaves, and ethernet cables promoting Listen Whitey: The Sights and Sounds of Black Power 1967-1975, and on Wednesday, June 13th, author Pat Thomas returns to Los Angeles for an encore performance of his book reading, slide show, and spinning of Black Power related recordings at Skylight Books. If you missed his appearance at Book Soup back in April then here’s your second chance. After the reading, Pat will be signing copies of the book, CD and LP. See you there!
Pat Thomas / Listen, Whitey!
Wednesday, June 13 | 7:30PM
Skylight Books
1818 N Vermont Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90027
