The Voice of Langston Hughes

by Langston Hughes

Overview

Langston Hughes' greatest hits? Well, sort of. This compilation is derived from the six albums the poet laureate of the Harlem Renaissance recorded for Moe Asche's Folkways label in the '50s and it features Hughes reading from poetry and prose he wrote at the beginning of his career (between 1925 and 1932), including excerpts from his children's book "The Dream Keeper and Other Poems," and the adult "Simple Speaks His Mind." On the tracks "The Story of the Blues" and "I Want to Testify," Hughes' readings are superimposed, respectively, over old blues and gospel records, which turns out to be an effective gambit, but most of the album is the undiluted man himself.

Product Details

Release Date:	01/24/1995
Label:	SMITHSONIAN FOLKWAYS
UPC:	0093074700129

Tracks

1. The Negro Speaks of Rivers
2. I, Too
3. The Weary Blues
4. Homesick Blues
5. The Story of the Blues
6. Night and Morn
7. Breath of a Spiritual
8. Prayer
9. Prayer Meeting
10. Ma Lord
11. I'm Gonna Testify
12. Albert
13. Mother to Son
14. Dreams
15. Youth
16. The Struggle
17. Rhythms of the World
18. Simple-Intro
19. Feet Live Their Own Life
20. Simple Prays a Prayer
21. As I Go

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Langston Hughes   Primary Artist,Speech/Speaker/Speaking Part
Hampton Carlton   Organ
Ellen Courts   Vocals
Rev. Ernest Cook   Vocals
Hugh E. Porter   Piano
Yvonne Cumberbatch   Guitar
Audrey Ryan   Vocals
Florence Strachen   Vocals
Carl McWilliams   Saxophone
Benjamin Snowdon   Tambourine

Technical Credits

Yusef Jones   Producer,Annotation,Production Compilation
Langston Hughes   Poetry,Composer
Moses Asch   Engineer
Anthony Seeger   Production Supervisor
George Cates   Composer
David Glasser   Mastering
Artie Matthews   Composer
Matt Walters   Production Supervisor
Hugh E. Porter   Leader
Faith Berry   Producer,Annotation,Liner Notes,Production Compilation
Greene   Composer