Thursday 7 February 2013

Paul Robeson - Two Rare And Historic 10-inch LPs

This Digital Gramophone release comprises twenty tracks taken from two rare and historically important Paul Robeson 10-inch LPs made in 1956 and 1957 respectively.
Robeson's passport was confiscated by the American Authorities in 1949, and not restored until 1958.
The first 10-inch LP, issued by 'Horizon Records' in 1956, comprises eleven tracks where is accompanied by pianist Alan Booth. The numbers include  'The Four Rivers', 'Hassidic Chant', 'Song of the Warsaw Ghetto' and 'Sleep Baby' by Gretchaninov.

Robeson's association with Wales went back to 1939, when he starred in the film 'The Proud Valley'. The second 10-inch LP is a transcription from The Miners' Eisteddfod at Porthcawl on 5th October 1957. Paul Robeson, in New York, sings 'down the line' in a Transatlantic Exchange between himself and the Welsh miners, and the five songs he sings come over loud and clear (again he is accompanied by Alan Booth). The recording opens with a welcoming message from the President of the South Wales Miners, Will Paynter and ends with two songs delivered by the famous Treorchy Male Choir.

Both will be available soon on all major download stores.



2 comments:

  1. I have such a record.
    If interested, I can sell

    ReplyDelete
  2. do you still have this? If so I am interested.

    ReplyDelete