Marlena Shaw "Woman Of The Ghetto" (1969)

From her 1969 album "Spice Of Life"

Marlena Shaw wasn't apolitical before she recorded "Woman of the Ghetto" in 1969. No black woman could afford to sit on the sidelines as the nation sifted the ashes of the most incendiary decade in U.S. race relations since the end of the Civil War. Martin Luther King Jr. met his violent death the previous year and the urban landscapes of New York, L.A., Detroit and Cleveland bore fresh scars from economically ruinous riots. The nascent women's movement was urging suburban housewives to question their social and legal status, and for the first time since the mortal chill of the mid-century red scare, intellectuals and students began voicing loud objections to class privilege. But prior to recording Spice of Life (US, UK), Shaw was probably best known as a versatile jazz singer who performed with The Count Basie Orchestra, an interpreter of lyrically neutral standards.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Marlena
• Shaw
• Woman Of The Ghetto
• Spice
• Life
• Soul
• R&B

[MassiveNyro]

needless to say, but this is the kind of song that just needs to be heard at a very high volume. sorry neighbours.

[NoWayzSafe]

As sampled by Ghostface on GHETTO.

[LaurentBertino]

Between 2:42 and 3:30 the mysterious instrument is probably a kalimba (then with a wah-wah)

[county123]

fucking class

[cigdemzeytin]

I admire the way she is singing this song.

[bestcoast1971]

@TonyIronmanStarks Also Fat Joe K.A.R.

[lascosasqsevan]

Ballantines! :D

[TonyIronmanStarks]

Alter The Chemistry album by Black Moon & Apollo Kids by Ghostface Killah. All 3 versions are lethal!

[watchthis24]

sampled by 9th wonder for Buck shot

[MrGiangli]

apla gamaei.....

[jaseywasey50]

This is a classic, only come across is it on an English TV show No angels in about 2003, loved it ever since!!!

[gmj2012]

Glad to find the original because her vocals were the only thing that made that remix great. Yes the rap was good, but nowhere near as good as her singing, so I had to come find this vocalist. What passion, soul, energy--this is the GREAT music I love rediscovering again years later.