Compared to What?
I graduated from the University of Connecticut School of Law in June of 1971.
Two years earlier, Jazz musicians Les McCann and Eddie Harris recorded and released an album which included a live recording of ‘Compared to What’ which is a prime example of grievance and protest put to music.
It was a critically acclaimed and successful vocal/instrumental composition that was quite popular at the beginning of the new decade.
“Compared to What” is a protest song, composed and with lyrics by Gene McDaniels.[2] It was recorded by Roberta Flack in February 1969, but became better known following a performance by Les McCann (piano and vocals) and Eddie Harris (tenor saxophone) at the Montreux Jazz Festival in June of that year, which appeared as the opening track on their album Swiss Movement.[2] The album was certified Gold in sales in the United States.[3] The song has been recorded by more than 270 artists, including Ray Charles[4] and Brian Auger.”
——Wikipedia
Perhaps you’ve heard it before:
There’s not too much here that isn’t apt and applicable today, some 50+ years after it’s release…
Am I really that old?
The recent legal events and courtroom occurrences are reminiscent of the concerns and issues I went to law school to address and eradicate…
It seems that I’ve spent a lifetime addressing something that simply won’t be eradicated while I’m still breathing…
‘Never’ is such an ugly word as ‘Compared to What?’
11/23/2021 @ 7:00 pm
’71 also marks the inauguration of E. John’s & B. Taupin’s Your Song. I’m leading up to a compliment, Counselor. Herewith is one more consummate moment within your diligent influential/inspirational public posts. Thank you! You present so well, Ron. Happy that the last (what 50 years?) have served your passion. Tireless dedication to the brotherhood of man. After all is said and done. Faith, Hope and Charity is all I got right now. Heard an NPR statistic yesterday morning: only 2M of 47 million Kenyans have been vaccinated vs. Covid 19.
Personally, this explains the silent staring from that fellow vagabond in Madison, WI Belinda & I got during the Kent State riot. He was clad in a cool shirt logoed with the African continent. Fear itself I wanted to say. Mistake was gettin’ stoned on Jameson.
More, please, Doctor Powell!
Many here among us LISTEN!
11/23/2021 @ 8:02 pm
This is great. Great playing, great singing.
As to the message, yes, you are that old, a lot has changed, and a lot hasn’t. We were headed in the right direction for a while. A country that feels economically secure can liberalize because most of the population feels more confident than threatened. I’ve explained elsewhere what changed during the seventies and threw a lot of gains off course. Now there’s very little confidence and a lot of anger that it’s not there with people looking for a reason and feeling most comfortable with reasons that are facile rather than reasons that actually make sense.
Where change has happened is in the young. I don’t think they’re nearly as patient with racism as their elders. But generalizing is dangerous. Our generations seemed liberal but enough of our generations turned out not to be liberal to bring us to where we are now.