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$5 Working People's
Music Tape
Tape: $5 CD: $10.99
buy the CD & play it yourself!
Hear samples of all of the songs!
Download
a medley of songs from this recording!
Songs:
Workfare Life * We Will Have Dignity (sweatshops) * (If there's sexual harassment, I'm) Calling the Law * Send Me An Ambulance * Office Song * Downsized! * Tous Ensemble * Jobs for All
All songs written by RAY KORONA (BMI). Lyrics are available here: $5 Working People's Music Tape lyrics
The musicians:
RAY KORONA - vocals, guitar; IVICE - dulcimer, vocals; BARRY KORNHAUSER - bass; SHARON ABREU - fiddle, vocals; ELLEN DAVIDSON - vocals; GEOFFREY FAIRWEATHER - piano; BARRY MITTERHOFF - mandolin, mandola; RANDY CRAFTON - drums, percussion; ROBIN BURDULIS - drums, percussion; BERNICE BROOKS - drums; HOPE JOHNSON - vocals; JANICE JOHNSON - vocals; JEROME HARRIS - acoustic-electric bass guitar; HAZEL PILCHER - harmony vocals; MARIE MULARCYZK - harmony vocals; CHIP FABRIZI - drums; KEVIN HAYES - bass
More about the recording:
The Ray Korona Band joined with other outstanding union musicians to create the $5 Working People's Music Tape, featuring eight new songs about work. The songs address current job issues including downsizing, health care rights, workfare, sweatshops and sexual harassment. The cover art is by nationally syndicated labor cartoonist Rick Flores.
Directly connecting music and organizing, the songs take a worker's perspective- some are serious in tone and others use humor and catchy music to make their points. For example, "Send Me An Ambulance" was performed during US Senator Paul Wellstone's speaking tour in support of his health care reform bill and was added to National Public Radio's programming on the issue. These songs seem to entertain, inform and inspire people all at the same time.
The multi-cultural cast of musicians plays in a contemporary folk and folk-rock style making the lyrics accessible to all, but keeping the music interesting. Musicians include band members Barry Kornhauser, Ivice, Ellen Davidson, Sharon Perez-Abreu and Ray, joined by NYC Labor Chorus musical director Geoffrey Fairweather, Jerome Harris, well known for his bass playing with Sonny Rollins, prominent world music percussionist Randy Crafton, Hope Johnson, Janice Johnson, Robin Burdulis and others.
A sampling of comments on this recording:
"The $5 Working People's Music Tape is GREAT!! Definitely music that will get played on my program 'Mostly Folk' on KUNV [Las Vegas]. To hell with downsizing!" David Weide
"A great idea well-conceived, directly connecting political music and organizing." Review, Sounds Celebrating Resistance
"We received the $5 Working People's Music Tape and will be airing all the tracks." Ofer Inbar, WBRS [Watham, MA]
"Priced so even the unemployed could buy one, it shines a harsh spotlight on the work related issues... workfare, downsizing, sexual harassment." Charlie King, International Musician Magazine
Other Info:
Produced by RAY KORONA & BARRY KORNHAUSER; engineered by CHIP FABRIZI, PPI Recording, NYC.
Cover art by RICK FLORES, labor cartoonist, WCP. Typesetting & Design by RUTH INDECK at QUAD RIGHT, NYC.