Hail to the Thieves, Volume III: Songs to Take Our Country Back! is a rousing call to action from the likes of Billy Bragg, Anne Feeney, Utah Phillips and folk musicians across the country. This new CD lays out the case against George Bush and his cronies with 20 songs, poems and stories in the best of the traveling, storytelling folk tradition.
Also featured are Chuck Brodsky, Steve Brooks, The DC Labor Chorus, Graham and Barbara Dean, Jon Fromer, the group Girlyman, Evan Greer, Francisco Herrera, Colleen Kattau, John Lilly, Jolie Rickman, and Pat Wynne.
The project is the
third compilation CD by George Mann and Julius Margolin, who contribute
four songs to the album. Mann produced the new CD from more than 60
songs submitted by songwriters from around the country. "I
found a
number of new artists, from among many great singers and songwriters,
with incredibly powerful songs," Mann said. "The songs tackle
current
issues from gay marriage to environmental racism and the disaster of
George Bush's war in Iraq. We're happy to be working with artists who
use their music as a tool to raise awareness and build a sustainable
movement for justice and peace."
The artists are all working activists and represent many regions of the United States. Pittsburgh's Anne Feeney, on the road more than nine months a year, believes "People are so sick of bickering network talking heads that they don't want to think anymore. These songs will inspire thought, conversation and maybe even some spontaneous or concerted hellraising."
Joining them is
British folk legend Billy Bragg, who contributed his "Bush War Blues"
to the album. Celebrated storyteller and songwriter Utah Phillips, who
contributes a new piece entitled "Ship Gonna Sail," is encouraged by
the artistic output in opposition to the Bush
administration. "There never was a time when our people have
created more songs of social protest," Phillips said.
"There never was a time when they were more needed. This CD is
just the
tip of the iceberg."
This is not your typical record production team. Julius turned 90 in August and is a lifetime union and peace activist. George teamed up with Julius in 1999 and they sing and record left-of-center folk and labor songs. They produced the first "Hail to the Thief! Songs for the Bush Years" CD in August 2001 and "Hail to the Thief II: Songs to Send Bush Packing!" in 2004. Based in New York City, they have spent years singing and traveling the country together.
Copies of the CD are available for $15 (includes postage and shipping). International orders please add $3 for postage. Checks or money orders may be sent to:
George Mann, P.O. Box 697, New York, NY 10033. Online purchase: www.cdbaby.com
For more information, to hear audio clips, and to arrange interviews, check out www.georgeandjulius.com or use the contact info at the top of this release.
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