The Black & White Album: African-American Artists Cover The Beatles

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Air date: 
Fri, 02/26/2021 - 1:30pm to 3:00pm
From the '60s to the 21st Century, Black musicians have vividly interpreted the Beatles' songbook.

In honor of Black History Month, and in memory of James Burke of The Five Stairsteps (who perform the second song of today's show), who died last week, we are rebroadcasting this episode which originally aired last December.

 

Today's program focuses mainly on material from the latter-day masterpieces The Beatles (a.k.a. the White Album) and Abbey Road, drawn largely from three expertly-curated compilations: 2011's Come Together: Black America Sings Lennon-McCartney, its 2016 sequel Let It Be: Black America Sings Lennon, McCartney and Harrison, and 1995's The Soul of Lennon & McCartney, augmenting those collections with newer tracks and even more covers from the period. Featuring contemporary artists like Anderson .Paak and India.Arie alongside a brand-new track from veteran Bettye Lavette, leading off an amazing roster of legendary divas: Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, Lena Horne, and Tina Turner! Not to mention Fats Domino AND Chubby Checker, Wilson Pickett (featuring Duane Allman!), Booker T. & the M.G.s, George Benson, and more.

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Episode Playlist

  • Time
    1:32
    Artist
    Chubby Checker
    Song
    Back in the USSR
    Album
    Come Together: Black America Sings Lennon & McCartney
    Label
  • Time
    1:34
    Artist
    The Five Stairsteps
    Song
    Dear Prudence
    Album
    Let It Be: Black America Sings Lennon, McCartney and Harrison
    Label
  • Time
    1:38
    Artist
    Arthur Conley
    Song
    Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
    Album
    Let It Be: Black America Sings Lennon, McCartney and Harrison
    Label
  • Time
    1:41
    Artist
    Santana & Yo-Yo Ma
    Song
    While My Guitar Gently Weeps (feat. India.Arie)
    Album
    Guitar Heaven: The Greatest Guitar Classics of All Time (Deluxe Version)
    Label
    Arista
  • Time
    1:48
    Artist
    Bettye LaVette
    Song
    Blackbird
    Album
    Blackbirds
    Label
    Verve
  • Time
    1:52
    Artist
    Lena Horne
    Song
    Rocky Raccoon
    Album
    Lena & Gabor
    Label
    Gryphon
  • Time
    1:55
    Artist
    Lowell Fulson
    Song
    Why Don't We Do It In the Road
    Album
    Come Together: Black America Sings Lennon & McCartney
    Label
  • Time
    1:59
    Artist
    Fats Domino
    Song
    Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey
    Album
    Come Together: Black America Sings Lennon & McCartney
    Label
  • Time
    2:02
    Artist
    Kush Mody
    Song
    Sexy Sadie (feat. Anderson Paak)
    Album
    Creature Comforts and a Collection of Songs
    Label
  • Time
    2:06
    Artist
    Ella Fitzgerald
    Song
    Savoy Truffle
    Album
    Let It Be: Black America Sings Lennon, McCartney and Harrison
    Label
  • Time
    2:09
    Artist
    Ramsey Lewis
    Song
    Mother Nature's Son
    Album
    Mother Nature's Son
    Label
    GRP
  • Time
    2:14
    Artist
    Ramsey Lewis
    Song
    Good Night
    Album
    Mother Nature's Son
    Label
    GRP
  • Time
    2:20
    Artist
    Ike & Tina Turner
    Song
    Come Together
    Album
    The Soul of Lennon & McCartney
    Label
  • Time
    2:24
    Artist
    James Govan
    Song
    Something
    Album
    Wanted: The Fame Recordings
    Label
  • Time
    2:27
    Artist
    George Benson
    Song
    Oh! Darling
    Album
    The Other Side of Abbey Road
    Label
    A&M
  • Time
    2:31
    Artist
    Nina Simone
    Song
    Here Comes the Sun
    Album
    Let It Be: Black America Sings Lennon, McCartney and Harrison
    Label
  • Time
    2:35
    Artist
    Booker T. & The M.G.'s
    Song
    Because / You Never Give Me Your Money
    Album
    McLemore Avenue
    Label
  • Time
    2:44
    Artist
    Booker T. & The M.G.'s
    Song
    Golden Slumbers / Carry That Weight / The End / Here Comes the Sun / Come Together (excerpt)
    Album
    McLemore Avenue
    Label
  • Time
    2:51
    Artist
    Wilson Pickett
    Song
    Hey Jude
    Album
    Hey Jude
    Label
  • Time
    2:55
    Artist
    Aretha Franklin
    Song
    Let It Be
    Album
    Let It Be: Black America Sings Lennon, McCartney and Harrison
    Label
  • Time
    2:58
    Artist
    Diana Ross
    Song
    The Long and Winding Road
    Album
    Everything Is Everything (Expanded Edition)
    Label
    Hip-O Select

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