< The New Communist Party of Britain | ROCK THE INSTITUTION!
Image of Hammer and Sickle

New Communist Party of Britain

ROCK THE INSTITUTION!


 
Songs of Rock'n'Roll, Revolution, Hard Times and Heroes
 

 
Review by Eric Trevett.
 
 ROCK THE INSTITUTION -- GET IT NOW!
Songs of Rock'n'Roll, Revolution, Hard Times and Heroes

 THIS it a CD for all who have a zest for life.

It evokes memories of past working class struggles and current problems in a way that lifts the spirit.

Musically it covers a variety of styles from rock'n' roll to traditional folk and the musicianship is superb. Some of the tracks, like "Stalin wasn't stallin"' and "Pie in the Sky", swing along, and then in contrast there's "The Peekskill Story" -- as the sleeve notes say, "... even some 50 years on, it still shocks and saddens. Yet it moves and stirs too. Be prepared to listen to this one". The track also features that wonderful human being, Paul Robeson, and tells of the struggle against racism in the United States.

"Blue Scar" -- the moving story of the mining closures -- finishes with a list of mining disasters in Wales. "Jarama Valley" reminds us of the heroism of the International Brigade "Kevin Barry" and "Joe Hill" are movingly recorded while "Downsized" is an upbeat exposure of the employers' hypocrisy as they lay off workers.

The CD finishes up with the two anthems of the labour movement -- the Internationale and the Red Flag.

This is a CD for all seasons. Get one for yourselves and make sure it is included in the presents you give this xmas. It is unique and has an appeal for young and old. This present will provide an enjoyable experience. At £10 this CD is a bargain!

1 Rock The Institution (Tucker) NERVOUS BREAKDOWN
2 Stalin Wasn't Stallin' (Unknown) THE Mig COMBO
3 Pie In The Sky (Hill) THE CLASS OF '58
4 Dying Time (Percy) PERCY
5 Jarama Valley (Trad. Arr. Glazer/Hawes/Lomax) TOM GLAZER, BALDWIN HAWES & BESS LOMAX
6 Marching Through Georgia (Trad. Arr. Mig Combo) THE Mig COMBO
7 Boogie Woogie Country Girl (Pomus/Ashby) ROCKIN' LOUIE
8 The Peekskill Story (Casetta/Hayes/Seeger) THE WEAVERS with HOWARD FAST & PETE SEEGER
9 Blue Scar (Coleman) THE CLASS OF '58
10 Kevin Barry (Trad. Arr. Robinson) EARL ROBINSON
11 Danny Boy (Trad. Arr. Mig Combo) THE Mig COMBO
12 The Party (Potter) LITTLE FRANKIE AND THE TOWN BEATS
13 Joe Hill (Hayes/Robinson) PETE SEEGER with BUTCH HAWES, LEE HAYES, HALLY WOOD, LEE HAYES, LOU KLEINMAN & DOCK REESE
14 Downsized (Thompson) RAY THOMPSON
15 Times Are Getting Hard (Trad. Arr. Class of'.58) THE CLASS OF'58
16 Rock'n'Roll Boogie (Kustmann/Herrman) LITTLE FRANKIE & THE TOWN BEATS
17 Survival (Percy) PERCY
18 Real Gone Lover (Bartholomew/Durand/Robiaux ROCKIN' LOUIE
19 The Internationale (Trad. Arr. Degeyter) THE NEW SINGERS
20 The Red Flag (Trad. Arr. Green) DAVE GREEN
 

SPECIAL READER OFFER

Rock the Institution -- Songs of Rock 'n 'Roll, Revolution, Hard Times and Heroes is available now from: Hammer and Motorsickle Productions, PO Box 28, Penarth, CF64 2ND, South Wales. Price: inside UK; £10, outside; £11 including p&p. Special deal for orders of 25 or more.