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Liberation Music Orchestra

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Work

Liberation Music Orchestra · This was the first album on which bassist Charlie Haden was the leader. The occasion was songs from the Spanish Civil War, three of which he put on the record, old folk songs with new words. In addition there are War Orphans by Ornette Coleman, three pieces by Carla Bley, who did much of the arranging, and two compositions by Haden himself. Song for Ché is dedicated to Che Guevara. Circus '68 '69 is about the 1968 Democratic convention, where delegations sang We Shall Overcome while the convention orchestra drowned them out with You're a Grand Old Flag.

In that piece the group is therefore split into two bands, to re-enact the events on the convention floor. The album is a politically charged piece of jazz for a large ensemble. In Rolling Stone, Lester Bangs praised above all Bley's arrangements. Robert Christgau was less enthusiastic. A sequel did not follow until 1983.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Circus '68 '69 and notice how two bands play at the same time and seem to work against each other, as at the 1968 convention.

Track list

  1. 1The Introduction1:15Apple Music ↗
  2. 2Song of the United Front1:53Apple Music ↗
  3. 3El Quinto Regimiento (The Fifth Regiment)21:01Apple Music ↗
  4. 4The Ending to the First Side2:08Apple Music ↗
  5. 5Song for Ché9:30Apple Music ↗
  6. 6War Orphans6:43Apple Music ↗
  7. 7The Interlude (Drinking Music)1:25Apple Music ↗
  8. 8Circus '68 '696:10Apple Music ↗
  9. 9We Shall Overcome1:19Apple Music ↗

30-second previews via Apple Music. Listen to the whole album on Apple Music ↗

Categories: Albums and songs