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Paul Robeson: The Complete EMI Sessions (rec.1928-1939) | EMI 2155862

Paul Robeson: The Complete EMI Sessions (rec.1928-1939)

New Item

Label: EMI

Cat No: 2155862

Barcode: 5099921558627

Format: CD

Number of Discs: 7

Release Date: 21st July 2008

This product has now been deleted. Information is for reference only.

Contents

Artists

Paul Robeson

Artists

Paul Robeson

About

EMI Classics is proud to announce a release of major historical importance - the complete EMI recordings by the legendary American singer Paul Robeson.

Robeson, one of the towering figures of the 20th century, was active in many fields apart from music. In his youth he was an outstanding athlete and scholar, and he then went on to achieve fame as an actor, singer, recording artist and film star. Later in life he espoused a number of political causes, including the civil rights movement, and despite bitter opposition from the US authorities, he vigorously fought discrimination, not only against black people but also the under-privileged of all races and creeds.

In 1928 Robeson scored a huge personal triumph in London in the Kern-Hammerstein musical Show Boat at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, in which he sang ‘Ol’ Man River’.

From 1928 to 1939 Robeson was based in London and recorded exclusively for EMI’s HMV label.

This 7 CD set of 170 tracks contains all the HMV recordings, as well as the 1928 Columbia recording of ‘Ol’ Man River’ from Show Boat with the Drury Lane chorus and orchestra that was not released until 1976 for contractual reasons. Also included are the two HMV recordings of ‘Ol’ Man River’, the first made in 1930 as a solo with Ray Noble’s Orchestra and the second in 1936 with chorus and orchestra conducted by Clifford Greenwood.

The wide-ranging repertoire includes American plantation songs and spirituals, British folk songs and popular hits of the day, as well as art songs like ‘Plaisir d’amour’ and ‘Songs my mother taught me’. Many of the popular titles like ‘Shortnin’ bread’ and ‘Mighty lak’ a rose’ were among the company’s best sellers at the time.

All tracks have been newly transferred and digitally remastered at Abbey Road Studios from the best available source material in the EMI Archives by the award-winning audio restoration engineer Andrew Walter, using the most advanced technology.

Contents:
CD 1 (63.38)
The 1928 – 1929 Sessions
1. KERN Ol' Man River (Show Boat)
Mississippi Chorus
Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, Orchestra / Herman Fink
Recorded: 15 May 1928

2. JOHNSON Seem lak' to me
Lawrence Brown, piano
Orchestra / Carroll Gibbons
Recorded: 15 June 1928

3. COOK Down de lover's lane
Lawrence Brown, piano
Orchestra / Carroll Gibbons
Recorded: 15 June 1928

4. TRAD. arr. BURLEIGH Scandalize my name
Lawrence Brown, piano
Recorded: 19 June 1928

5. TRAD. arr. BURLEIGH Sinner, please doan' let dis Harves' pass
Lawrence Brown, piano
Recorded: 19 June 1928

6. TRAD. arr. BURLEIGH Weepin' Mary
Lawrence Brown, piano
Recorded: 13 September 1928

7. TRAD. arr. BURLEIGH I want to be ready
Lawrence Brown, piano
Recorded: 13 September 1928

8. TRAD. arr. BURLEIGH My Lord, what a mornin'
Lawrence Brown, piano
Recorded: 13 September 1928

9. TRAD. arr. BURLEIGH De li'l pickaninny's gone to sleep
Lawrence Brown, piano
Recorded: 13 September 1928

10. TRAD. arr. BROWN Git on board li'l children
Lawrence Brown, piano
Recorded: 13 September 1928

11. TRAD. arr. BROWN Dere's no hidin' place
Lawrence Brown, piano
Recorded: 13 September 1928

12. Plantation Songs (part 1)
So early in the morning - Carry me back to old Virginia - Old folks at home - Goodnight ladies

13. Plantation Songs (part 2)
Away down south in Dixie - Poor old Joe - Oh, Susanna - My old Kentucky home
Chorus & Orchestra / Carroll Gibbons
Recorded: 2 October 1928

14. TRAD. arr. BROWN Oh! Rock me, Julie
Lawrence Brown, piano
Recorded: 4 October 1928

15. TRAD. arr. BROWN Oh, didn't it rain
Lawrence Brown, piano
Recorded: 4 October 1928

16. TUNBRIDGE Mammy
Chorus & Orchestra / Carroll Gibbons
Recorded: 15 November 1928

17. TRAD. arr. ROBESON Roll away, clouds
Chorus & Orchestra / Carroll Gibbons
Recorded: 15 November 1928

18. TRAD. arr. ROBESON Sonny Boy (2.43)
Orchestra / Carroll Gibbons
Recorded: 28 January 1929

19. DE SYLVA, BROWN & HENDERSON Little Pal (from the film Say It with Songs)
Orchestra / Ray Noble
Recorded: 30 August 1929

20. SHILKRET The Lonesome Road
Orchestra / Ray Noble
Recorded: 30 August 1929

21. PHILLIPS Just keepin' on
Orchestra / Ray Noble
Recorded: Recorded: 30 August 1929

22. NEVIN Mighty lak' a rose
Orchestra / Ray Noble
Recorded: 2 October 1929

23. DE SYLVA, BROWN & HENDERSON Mammy is gone
Orchestra / Ray Noble
Recorded: 2 October 1929

CD 2 (63.50)
The 1930 – 1931 Sessions

1. TRAD. arr. ROBINSON Hail de crown
Lawrence Brown, piano
Recorded: 27 February 1930

2. COOK Exhortation
Lawrence Brown, piano
Recorded: 27 February 1930

3. TRAD. arr. BURLEIGH I stood on the ribber Jordan - Peter go ring dem bells
Lawrence Brown, piano
Recorded: 27 February 1930

4. TRAD. arr. BURLEIGH Go down, Moses
Lawrence Brown, piano
Recorded: 27 February 1930

5. McHARDY & BRENNAN High water
Orchestra / Ray Noble
Recorded: 11 September 1930

6. FOSTER Old folks at home (Swanee River)
Orchestra / Ray Noble
Recorded: 11 September 1930

7. FOSTER Poor Old Joe
Orchestra / Ray Noble
Recorded: 11 September 1930

8. FOSTER My old Kentucky home
Orchestra / Ray Noble
Recorded: 12 September 1930

9. KERN Ol' Man River (Show Boat)
Orchestra / Ray Noble
Recorded: 12 September 1930

10. WOODS River stay 'way from my door
Orchestra / Ray Noble
Recorded: 12 September 1930

11. CARMICHAEL Rockin' chair
Orchestra / Ray Noble
Recorded: 17 September 1931

12. Medley of Spirituals (7.44)
I'm rolling and sing-a-ho - Hail de crown - Joshua fit de battle ob Jericho - I got a robe - Oh Lord I done - De gospel train - Black sheep - Heav'n bells are ringin’ - I'll hear de trumpet sound - Swing low, sweet chariot - Walk together, children
Jack Hylton and his Orchestra
Recorded: 24 September 1931

13. ROBISON My heart is where the Mohawk flows tonight
Orchestra / Ray Noble
Recorded: 26 September 1931

14. KESTER The folks I used to know
Orchestra / Ray Noble
Recorded: 26 September 1931

15. TRAD. arr. JOHNSON Mary had a baby (Yes, Lord)
Ruthland Clapham, piano
16 December 1931

16. JOHNSON Li’l gal
Ruthland Clapham, piano
Recorded: 16 December 1931

17. TRAD. arr. WHITE & JOHNSON Bear de burden - All God's chillun got wings
Ruthland Clapham, piano
Recorded: 16 December 1931

18. BROWN & HENDERSON That's why darkies were born
Mayfair Orchestra / Ray Noble
Recorded: 18 December 1931

19. MUSE & ROWE When it's sleepy time down south
Mayfair Orchestra / Ray Noble
Recorded: 18 December 1931

20. MARSHALL & HALL Seekin'
Mayfair Orchestra / Ray Noble
Recorded: 18 December 1931

CD 3 (76.09)
The 1932 – 1933 Sessions
1. CAREY Nearer my God to Thee )
Herbert Dawson, organ
Recorded: 19 October 1932

2. GOUNOD There is a Green Hill
Herbert Dawson, organ
Recorded: 19 October 1932

3. STRICKLAND Ma Lindy Lou
Orchestra / Ray Noble
Recorded: 20 October 1932

4. CLUTSAM Ma curly headed baby
Orchestra / Ray Noble
Recorded: 20 October 1932

5. TRAD. arr. CLAPHAM Pilgrim's Song
Ruthland Clapham, piano
Recorded: 13 December 1932

6. TRAD. arr. CLAPHAM Roll de ole chariot along
Ruthland Clapham, piano
Recorded: 13 December 1932

7. JOHNSON Since you went away
Ruthland Clapham, piano
Recorded: 13 December 1932

8. COOK Wid de moon, moon, moon
Ruthland Clapham, piano
Recorded: 13 December 1932

9. WASHINGTON, YOUNG & RILEY Got the south in my soul
Orchestra / Ray Noble
Recorded: 15 December 1932

10. CLAPHAM Hush-a-bye lullaby
Orchestra / Ray Noble
Recorded: 15 December 1932

11. KLENNER Round the bend of the road
Orchestra / Ray Noble
Recorded: 3 February 1933

12. PARKER Take me away from the river
Orchestra / Ray Noble
Recorded: 3 February 1933

13. TRAD. arr. BROWN Swing low, sweet chariot
Ruthland Clapham, piano
Recorded: 15 February 1933

14. BOATNER On ma journey
Ruthland Clapham, piano
Recorded: 15 February 1933

15. TRAD. arr. BURLEIGH Bye and bye
Ruthland Clapham, piano
Recorded: 15 February 1933

16. TRAD. arr. BURLEIGH Were you there?
Ruthland Clapham, piano
Recorded: 15 February 1933

17. COOK Swing along
Orchestra / Ray Noble
Recorded: 2 May 1933

18. SISSLE & BLAKE Piccaninny shoes
Orchestra / Ray Noble
Recorded: 2 May 1933

19. WARREN & BERWICK In a narrow street
Orchestra / Ray Noble
Recorded: 2 May 1933

20. PEPPER Carry me back to green pastures
Orchestra / Ray Noble
Recorded: 8 September 1933

21. CARMICHAEL Lazy bones
Orchestra / Ray Noble
Recorded: 8 September 1933

22. BISHOP Blue Prelude
Orchestra / Ray Noble
Recorded: 8 September 1933

23. Paul Robeson Medley (part 1)
Roll de ole chariot - Mary had a baby - Swing low, sweet chariot - Heav'n, heav'n
Orchestra / Ray Noble
Recorded: 20 September 1933

24. Paul Robeson Medley (part 2)
Carry me back to old Virginia - Mighty lak' a rose - Round the bend of the river - River, stay 'way from my door - Ol' Man River
Orchestra / Ray Noble
Recorded: 20 September 1933

CD 4 (76.53)
The 1933 - 1936 Sessions
1. TRAD. arr. GORDON Fat li'l fella wid his mammy's eyes
Orchestra / Ray Noble
Recorded: 20 October 1933

2. TRAD. arr. GORDON Shortnin' bread
Orchestra / Ray Noble
Recorded: 20 October 1933

3. CARMICHAEL Snowball
Orchestra / Ray Noble
Recorded: 20 October 1933

4. TRAD. arr. ROBINSON Water boy
Ruthland Clapham, piano
Recorded: 14 December 1933

5. NOLL Doan' you cry, ma honey
Ruthland Clapham, piano
Recorded: 14 December 1933

6. TRAD. arr. BROWN Steal away
Ruthland Clapham, piano
Recorded: 14 December 1933

7. McCARTHY, REDMOND & SIMON Scarecrow
Orchestra / Ray Noble
Recorded: 16 February 1934

8. HILL & DE ROSE Wagon Wheels
Orchestra / Ray Noble
Recorded: 16 February 1934

9. BORETZ & SAMUELS So shy
Orchestra / Ray Noble
Recorded: 16 February 1934

10. MURRAY Piccaninny's Slumber Song
Orchestra / Ray Noble
Recorded: 20 February 1934

11. HANDY St. Louis Blues
Orchestra / Ray Noble
Recorded: 20 February 1934

12. WHITE & TRINKHAUS Mammy's little kinky-headed boy
Orchestra / Ray Noble
Recorded: 20 February 1934

13. WAYNE & HOFFMAN Little man, you've had a busy day
Orchestra / Ray Noble
Recorded: 21 June 1934

14. DAVE & FRANKLIN I ain't lazy, I'm just dreaming
Orchestra / Ray Noble
Recorded: 21 June 1934

15. HOMER The Banjo Song
Orchestra / Ray Noble
Recorded: 21 June 1934

16. Paul Robeson Medley No.2
Lazy bones - Scarecrow - Fat li'l Fella - Wagon Wheels - Deep River
Ma curly-headed baby - Carry me back to green pastures - Old folks at home
Orchestra / Percival Mackey
Recorded: 13 November 1934

17. SPOLIANSKY Love Song (from the film Sanders of the River)
Orchestra / Muir Matheson
Recorded: 15 April 1935

18. SPOLIANSKY Congo Lullaby (from the film Sanders of the River)
Orchestra / Muir Matheson
Recorded: 15 April 1935

19. SPOLIANSKY Canoe Song (from the film Sanders of the River)
Orchestra / Muir Matheson
Recorded: 14 May 1935

21. SPOLIANSKY Killing Song (from the film Sanders of the River)
Orchestra / Muir Matheson
Recorded: 14 May 1935

21. TRAD. arr. TERRY Shenandoah
Lawrence Brown, piano
Recorded: 24 March 1936

22. STRICKLAND Jes' mah song
Lawrence Brown, piano
Recorded: 24 March 1936

23. TRAD. arr. JOHNSON De ole Ark's a-movering
Lawrence Brown, piano
Recorded: 24 March 1936

24. TRAD. arr. BROWN Ezekiel saw de wheel
Lawrence Brown, voice & piano
Recorded: 24 March 1936

25. TRAD. arr. BROWN Joshua fit de battle ob Jericho
Lawrence Brown, voice & piano
Recorded: 24 March 1936

CD 5 (63.39)
The 1936 – 1937 Sessions
1. ALSTYNE Honey (Dat's all)
Orchestra / Clifford Greenwood
Recorded: 26 March 1936

2. SERESS Gloomy Sunday
Orchestra / Clifford Greenwood
Recorded: 26 March 1936

3. KERN Ol' Man River (from the film Show Boat)
Chorus & Orchestra / Clifford Greenwood
Recorded: 18 May 1936

4. KERN I still suits me (from the film Show Boat)
Elisabeth Welch
Orchestra / Clifford Greenwood
Recorded: 18 May 1936

5. ANSELL Sleepy River (from the film Song of Freedom)
Orchestra / Eric Ansell
Recorded: 20 May 1936

6. ANSELL Lonely Road (from the film Song of Freedom)
Orchestra / Eric Ansell
Recorded: 20 May 1936

7. ANSELL Song of Freedom (from the film Song of Freedom)
Male Chorus & Orchestra / Eric Ansell
Recorded: 21 May 1936

8. ANSELL The Black Emperor (from the film Song of Freedom)
Male Chorus & Orchestra / Eric Ansell
Recorded: 21 May 1936

9. GUION Mam'selle Marie (Creole Song)
Lawrence Brown, piano
Recorded: 27 January 1937

10. TRAD. arr. BROWN Dere's no hidin' place
Lawrence Brown, piano
Recorded: 27 January 1937

11. TRAD. arr. SHARP Oh! No John
Lawrence Brown, piano
Recorded: 27 January 1937

12. EDWARD PURCELL arr. COCHRANE Passing by
Lawrence Brown, piano
Recorded: 27 January 1937

13. TRAD. arr. BROWN Hammer Song
Lawrence Brown, voice & piano
Recorded: 27 January 1937

14. TRAD. arr. BROWN Li’l David
Lawrence Brown, voice & piano
Recorded: 27 January 1937

15. CARR & KENNEDY My way (from the film Jericho)
Chorus & Orchestra / Clifford Greenwood
Recorded: 29 April 1937

16. CARR & KENNEDY Golden River (from the film Jericho)
Chorus & Orchestra / Clifford Greenwood
Recorded: 29 April 1937

17. SPOLIANSKY Ho! Ho! (Wagon Song) (from the film King Solomon’s Mines)
Chorus & Orchestra / Eric Ansell
Recorded: 1 May 1937

18. SPOLIANSKY Climbing up (Mountain Song) (from the film King Solomon’s Mines)
Chorus & Orchestra / Eric Ansell
Recorded: 1 May 1937

19. ANSELL Lazin' (from the film Big Fella)
Orchestra / Eric Ansell
Recorded: 3 May 1937

20. ANSELL I don't know what's wrong
Orchestra / Eric Ansell
Recorded: 3 May 1937

21. ANSELL Roll up, sailorman (from the film Big Fella)
Orchestra / Eric Ansell
Recorded: 3 May 1937

22. ANSELL You didn't oughta do such things (from the film Big Fella)
Orchestra / Eric Ansell
Recorded: 3 May 1937

23. CARR & KENNEDY Deep Desert (from the film Jericho)
Orchestra / Van Phillips
Recorded: 2 July 1937

24. TRAD. arr. BROWN Sometimes I feel like a motherless child
Lawrence Brown, piano
Recorded: 5 July 1937

25. LANGSTON HUGHES Minstrel Man (spoken)
5 July 1937

26. TRAD. arr. PALMGREN The Wanderer
Lawrence Brown piano
Recorded: 5 July 1937

CD 6 (68.23)
The 1937 – 1938 Sessions
1. BROWN Dere's a man goin' round' takin' names
Lawrence Brown, piano
Recorded: 8 October 1937

2. TRAD. No more
Lawrence Brown, piano
Recorded: 8 October 1937

3. TRAD. coll. & arr. GILBERT Work all de summer
Lawrence Brown, piano
Recorded: 8 October 1937

4. TRAD. Didn't my Lord deliver Daniel?
Lawrence Brown, piano
Recorded: 8 October 1937

5. GRUBER arr. CRAMPTON Silent night, holy night
Orchestra / Ronnie Munro
Recorded: 18 October 1937

6. TRAD. arr. SOMERVELL All through the night
Orchestra / Ronnie Munro
Recorded: 18 October 1937

7. ELLINGTON, DE LANGE & MILLS Solitude
Orchestra / Ronnie Munro
Recorded: 18 October 1937

8. ELLINGTON, MILLS & BIGARD Mood Indigo
Orchestra / Ronnie Munro
Recorded: 18 October 1937

9. GERSHWIN Summertime (Lullaby) (Porgy and Bess)
Orchestra / Carroll Gibbons
Recorded: 14 January 1938

10. GERSHWIN It take a long pull to get there (Porgy and Bess)
Orchestra / Carroll Gibbons
Recorded: 14 January 1938

11. GERSHWIN It ain't necessarily so (Porgy and Bess)
Orchestra / Carroll Gibbons
Recorded: 21 January 1938

12. GERSHWIN A woman is a sometime thing (Porgy and Bess)
Orchestra / Carroll Gibbons
Recorded: 21 January 1938

13. JACOBS-BOND Just a-wearyin' for you
Orchestra / Walter Goehr
Recorded: 24 March 1938

14. CADMAN At Dawning
Orchestra / Walter Goehr
Recorded: 24 March 1938

15. TRAD. arr. BUCK Song of the Volga boatmen
Orchestra / Walter Goehr
Recorded: 28 March 1938

16. TRAD. arr. KENNEDY-FRASER An Eriskay Love-lilt
Orchestra / Ronnie Munro
Recorded: 13 April 1938

17. KILENYI Encantadora Maria
Orchestra / Ronnie Munro
Recorded: 13 April 1938

18. TRAD. arr. BROWN Goin' to ride up in de chariot
Lawrence Brown, piano
Recorded: 15 September 1938

19. TRAD. Every time I feel de spirit
Lawrence Brown, piano
Recorded: 15 September 1938

20. TRAD. arr. BROWN Lay down late
Lawrence Brown, piano
Recorded: 15 September 1938

21. MUSSORGSKY After the battle
Lawrence Brown, piano
Recorded: 25 October 1938

22. TRAD. David of the white rock
Lawrence Brown, piano
Recorded: 25 October 1938

23. RASBACH Trees
Orchestra / Ronnie Munro
Recorded: 20 November 1938

24. DVOŘÁK Songs my mother taught me, Op.55 No.4
Orchestra / Ronnie Munro
Recorded: 20 November 1938

25. TRAD. arr. GOEHR Loch Lomond
Orchestra / Ronnie Munro
Recorded: 20 November 1938

26. CALCOTT Drink to me only with thine eyes
Orchestra / Ronnie Munro
Recorded: 20 November 1938

CD 7 (64.52)
The 1939 Sessions
1. COOK Down de lovers' lane
Lawrence Brown, piano
Recorded: 9 May 1939, No.3 Studio

2. GRECHANINOV Lullaby (The Moor of Peter the Great) sung in English and Russian
Lawrence Brown, piano
Recorded: 9 May 1939

3. TRAD. arr. ALEXANDROV Night (Russian folk song)
Lawrence Brown, piano
Recorded: 9 May 1939

4. BLAKE - The little black boy (Songs of Innocence) (spoken)
Recorded: 9 May 1939

5. LAYTON Dear old southland
Orchestra / Walter Goehr
Recorded: 26 September 1939

6. PARRY Jerusalem
Orchestra / Walter Goehr
Recorded: 26 September 1939

7. CLARKE The Blind Ploughman
Orchestra / Walter Goehr
Recorded: 26 September 1939

8. NORTON The Cobbler's Song (Chu Chin Chow)
Orchestra / Walter Goehr
Recorded: 26 September 1939

9. MALASHKIN Oh, could I but express in song
Orchestra / Walter Goehr
Recorded: 26 September 1939

10. LIBBIE, DAVIDSON & CARPENTER Love at my heart
Orchestra / Walter Goehr
Recorded: 27 September 1939

11. LAYTON Nothin'
Orchestra / Walter Goehr
Recorded: 27 September 1939

12. NEVIN The Rosary
Orchestra / Walter Goehr
Recorded: 27 September 1939

13. JACOBS-BOND A Perfect Day
Orchestra / Walter Goehr
Recorded: 27 September 1939

14. METCALF Absent
Orchestra / Walter Goehr
Recorded: 27 September 1939

15. TRAD. arr. NEWMARCH Black Eyes
Orchestra / Walter Goehr
Recorded: 27 September 1939

16. DE KOVEN Oh, promise me (Robin Hood)
Harp & Orchestra / Walter Goehr
Recorded: 28 September 1939

17. MARTINI Plaisir d'amour
Harp & Orchestra / Walter Goehr
Recorded: 28 September 1939

18. SPEAKS Sylvia
Harp & Orchestra / Walter Goehr
Recorded: 28 September 1939

19. TRAD. arr. STANFORD She is far from the land
Harp & Orchestra / Walter Goehr
Recorded: 28 September 1939

20. ADAMS Thora
Chorus, Harp & Orchestra / Walter Goehr
28 September 1939

21 QUILTER Now sleeps the crimson petal
Lawrence Brown, piano
Recorded: 29 September 1939

22. IRELAND Sea Fever
Lawrence Brown, piano
Recorded: 29 September 1939

23. WILLIAMS Ebenezer (from the film The Proud Valley)
Lawrence Brown, piano
Recorded: 29 September 1939

24. TRAD. Land of my fathers (from the film The Proud Valley)
Lawrence Brown, piano
Recorded: 29 September 1939)

The following two sides were transcribed from the soundtrack of the film The Proud Valley

25. TRAD. arr. IRVING Deep River
Orchestra / Ernest Irving
Recorded probably August 1939

26. MENDELSSOHN Lord God of Abraham - Baal chorus (rehearsal scene) (Elijah)
Chorus & Orchestra / Ernest Irving
Recorded probably August 1939

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