Description
Very much in line with Harry Belafonte’s recordings of this period, and no doubt made with the same lightly subversive civil rights agenda, the album features sparse backing from guitarist Tommy Tedesco ( Top L.A. session musician of the ’50s and ’60s, best known as a Phil Spector collaborator) and Al Bello (on congos, bongos, and drums), as well as Miss Angelou’s surprisingly effective singing voice. Miss Angelou also wrote half the songs on the album. The kitsch masterpiece of a cover features Miss Angelou draped in a slip of a red dress, gyrating next to a fire in the middle of a fake jungle scene. Altogether an unusual sidelight on the work of a great and important literary figure, and let’s not forget, a damn fine record too!
