In honor of Black History Month, and in memory of James Burke of The Five Stairsteps (who perform the second song of today's show), who died last week, we are rebroadcasting this episode which originally aired last December.
Today's program focuses mainly on material from the latter-day masterpieces The Beatles (a.k.a. the White Album) and Abbey Road, drawn largely from three expertly-curated compilations: 2011's Come Together: Black America Sings Lennon-McCartney, its 2016 sequel Let It Be: Black America Sings Lennon, McCartney and Harrison, and 1995's The Soul of Lennon & McCartney, augmenting those collections with newer tracks and even more covers from the period. Featuring contemporary artists like Anderson .Paak and India.Arie alongside a brand-new track from veteran Bettye Lavette, leading off an amazing roster of legendary divas: Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, Lena Horne, and Tina Turner! Not to mention Fats Domino AND Chubby Checker, Wilson Pickett (featuring Duane Allman!), Booker T. & the M.G.s, George Benson, and more.
- KBOO