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AllMusic[1]

Talking Union is a 1941 album by the Almanac Singers: Millard Lampell, Lee Hays and Pete Seeger. It is a collection of union songs and ballads, written by many different labor songwriters over the years. The liner notes include an introduction by Pete Seeger and song explanations by Philip Foner.[2] In 2010 it was selected by the Library of Congress as an addition to the National Recording Registry, which selects recordings annually that are "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".[3]

In 1955 the album was rereleased on Folkways Records as The Original Talking Union & Other Union Songs, expanded with seven songs recorded in 1955 by Pete Seeger and a chorus dubbed "the Song Swappers" that included Erik Darling, later of The Weavers, and Mary Travers, later of Peter, Paul and Mary.

Track listing

Talking Union track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."All I Want"Words: Jim Garland, Tune: traditional3:00
2."Get Thee Behind Me, Satan"Almanac Singers2:36
3."Talking Union"Almanac Singers2:59
4."Union Maid"Words: Woody Guthrie, Tune: Kerry Mills2:12
5."Union Train"Traditional2:20
6."Which Side Are You On"Words: Florence Reece, Tune: traditional2:11
1955 reissue track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Performer(s)Length
1."We Shall Not Be Moved"TraditionalPete Seeger and the Song Swappers2:19
2."Roll the Union On"Words: John Handcox, Tune: traditionalPete Seeger and the Song Swappers2:05
3."Casey Jones (The Union Scab)"Words: Joe Hill, Tune: traditionalPete Seeger and the Song Swappers1:59
4."Miner's Lifeguard"Words: traditional, Tune: Charles Davis TillmanPete Seeger and the Song Swappers3:54
5."Solidarity Forever"Words: Ralph Chaplin, Tune: traditionalPete Seeger and the Song Swappers2:55
6."You've Got to Go Down and Join the Union"Words: Woody Guthrie, Tune: traditionalPete Seeger and the Song Swappers2:43
7."Hold the Fort"Thomas W. "Old Beeswax" TaylorPete Seeger and the Song Swappers2:26
8."Get Thee Behind Me, Satan"Almanac SingersAlmanac Singers2:36
9."Union Maid"Words: Woody Guthrie, Tune: Kerry MillsAlmanac Singers2:12
10."I Don't Want Your Millions, Mister (All I Want)"Words: Jim Garland, Tune: traditionalAlmanac Singers3:00
11."Talking Union"Almanac SingersAlmanac Singers2:59
12."Union Train"TraditionalAlmanac Singers2:20
13."Which Side Are You On"Words: Florence Reece, Tune: traditionalAlmanac Singers2:11

References

  1. ^ Ruhlmann, William. "Almanac Singeres - Talking Union & Other Union Songs". AllMusic. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  2. ^ "Talking Union and Other Union Songs".
  3. ^ "The National Recording Registry 2010". Library of Congress. Retrieved April 10, 2011.
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