There has been a decline in union representation over the decades across the U.S. Recently labor movements have regained some ground and are in the news nationally once again. This makes Labor Day more important than ever as we celebrate leaders who helped organize and provide for a better standard of living for American workers. We’ll hear music used over the years that’s often been intertwined with the labor movement. Listen for Paul Robeson, Hazel Dickens, the Seattle Labor Chorus, Florence Reese, Joe Glazer and others. Solidarity forever … this week on The Sing Out! Radio Magazine.

LISTEN:

Artist/”Song”/CD/Label

Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer” (excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian
              Folkways
Joel Mabus / “Speed the Plow” / Golden Willow Tree / Fossil
James Carter & the Prisoners / “Po’ Lazarus” / Oh Brother / Lost Highway
Seattle Labor Chorus / “There is Power in the Union” / Songs of Working People / Self-produced
Paul Robeson / “Joe Hill” / Classic Labor Songs” / Smithsonian Folkways
John McCutcheon / “Joe Hill’s Last Will” / Joe Hill’s Last Will / Appalseed

Pete Sutherland / “When My Grandmother Worked at the Mill” / A Clayfoot’s Tale / Epact
John O’Connor / “The Triangle Fire” / We Ain’t Gonna Give it Back / Self-produced
The Byrds / “Deportee” / Ballad of Easy Rider / Columbia
Hazel Dickens / “Coal Tatoo” / Coal Mining Women / Rounder
Joel Mabus / “The Last of June” / Golden Willow Tree / Fossil

Florence Reece-The Almanac Singers / “Which Side Are You On?” / Classic Labor Songs /
              Smithsonian Folkways
Vivian Nesbit & John Dillon / “Stitch and Sew” / Mother Jones in Heaven / Self-produced
Linda Allen / “The Glass Ceiling” / Singing the News / October Rose
Peggy Seeger / “I Want to be an Engineer” / Period Pieces / Tradition

New Lost City Ramblers / “Join the CIO” / Songs frm the Depression / Folkways
Joe Glaser / “Solidarity Forever” / Classic Labor Songs / Smithsonian Folkways
Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer” (excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian
              Folkways