Equal parts time capsule and monster groove collection, Black & Proud: The Soul of the Black Panther Era, Vol. 1 documents the seismic shift of black popular music from the crowd-pleasing, apolitical Motown sound to the defiant, combative funk of the post-Summer of Love era. Highlights like Gil Scott-Heron's "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised," James Brown's "Ghetto Reality," and Curtis Mayfield's "Ghetto Child" still smolder with pride, anger, and genius -- rarely if ever has music freed so many minds and asses at the same time. The set's great failing is the absence of Sly and the Family Stone -- no one was more responsible for the politicizing of soul music than Sly Stone, and regardless of whatever rights issues are to blame, Black & Proud is severely compromised by this omission, offering, at best, an incomplete history of its subject matter. Still, in a modern era where popular music is so often disposable and mindless, these 18 tracks recall an era when records were like messages from the frontlines -- the times may have changed, but the passion and power haven't diminished.
01.Sam Dees - Heritage of the Black Man
02.Last Poets - Panther
03.Sons Of Slum - Right On
04.Staple Singers - Brand New Day
05.George Soule - Get Involved
06.Grady Tate - Be Black
07.Gil Scott-Heron - The Revolution Will Not Be Televised
08.Segments Of Time - Song To The System
09.Derrick Harriott - Message From A Black Man
10.Marvin Gaye - You're The Man
11.S.O.U.L. - Tell It Like It Is
12.Last Poets - Black Wish
13.Ghetto Reality - James Brown
14.Curtis Mayfield - Ghetto Child
15.Darongo - Let My People Go
16.Camille Yarbrough - All Hid
17.Melvin VanPeebles & Sweet Sweetback's Baadass Song - Won't Bleed Me
18.Getto Kitty - Stand Up And Be Counted
19.Miriam & Mbongi Makeba - Do You Remember Malcolm
