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Cleveland Francis – Beyond The Willow Tree (2xLP)

Original price $65.00 - Original price $65.00
Original price
$65.00
$65.00 - $65.00
Current price $65.00
Condition: Brand New
Ships from: Melbourne
  • Description
  • Release details
  • Tracklist
  • Beyond The Willow Tree is a hauntingly beautiful anthology of folk songs chronicling the experience of a young black man growing up in the segregated south. A balanced mix of covers and originals, Cleveland Francis’ body of work seamlessly blends deep, soulful vocals with the stripped-down acoustic instrumentation of folk. In the late 60’s Francis coined the term “soulfolk”, playing his genre bending music across college campuses and coffee shops while earning a medical degree at William & Mary.

    These songs serve as a missing link between soul and folk music, suppressed by the harsh political landscape of a music industry heavily influenced by racial stereotypes. “If you were black, you played blues or soul music … I wanted to play folk music,” Cleveland professed.

    Included in this double LP set is Cleveland Francis’ entire 1970 self-released album Follow Me, featuring the original artwork and liner notes printed inside the gatefold. The second LP takes you Beyond The Willow Tree with unreleased demos recorded in 1968 along with one 45 only single recorded in 1970.

    “These recordings are a look into my soul through a long and lonely journey to understand feelings of my childhood, poverty, racial segregation, bigotry, war, love and hope. It represents my attempt to express and come to terms with all that I have seen and felt as a Black man growing up in America.” - Cleveland Francis

  • Artist: Cleve Francis
    Label: Forager Records
    Format: LP
    Units: 2
    Country: US
    Genre: Soul & Funk
  • Follow Me...
    A1 The Willow Tree
    A2 Little Green Apples
    A3 Early Morning Rain
    A4 When I'M Sixty-Four
    A5 Hot Sun
    A6 Hey Jude
    B1 Just Think About It For A While
    B2 Both Sides Now
    B3 Rain
    B4 Time
    B5 Getting Ready For Tomorrow
    B6 With God On Our Side
    Beyond The Willow Tree
    C1 What'S Wrong With The World
    C2 Ballad Of Martin Luther King
    C3 Change
    C4 It'S Got To Get Better
    D1 Hot Sun
    D2 Early Morning Rain
    D3 Summertime
    D4 Just Think About It For A While
    D5 The Willow Tree