I'm On My Way by Barbara Dane - New Re-Issue

News about a upcoming re-issue from sam@equalsmusic.co.uk

The re-issue of influential jazz/folk/blues singer Barbara Dane's rare original 1960 recording of “I’m on My Way”, produced by Lee Hazlewood and Lester Sill on their label 3 Trey / Gregmark.

Coinciding with the re-issue is a feature film about Barbara’s life that's making waves on the festival circuit, generating renewed interest in her remarkable story.

Barbara's music is intertwined with compelling narratives that link her career to significant historical events, political activism, and other notable jazz and blues luminaries of her time, as well as modern pop culture. “I’m on My Way” has also become a cult classic amongst the Northern Soul Community and the original 7” is very sought after by collectors. 

The most recent coverage of the film and music was on Cerys Matthew’s Blues Hour for BBC Radio 2.

Text from the press release follows...

Press Release

October 16th 2024 – Some six decades after its debut, Trey Records (“3 Trey”) and Gregmark Music are reintroducing the rare original recording of Barbara Dane’s iconic “I’m On My Way”. Coinciding with the release is the October 27 Doc n’ Roll Film
Festival London premiere of The 9 Lives of Barbara Dane, a documentary that traces the remarkable journey of this musical maverick. “I’m On My Way” is powerfully illustrated three times in the film.

“Barbara Dane’s story is a masterclass in musical integrity,” says documentary director and editor Maureen Gosling. “She’s someone who never compromised her artistic vision, even when it meant taking the road less travelled.”

“I’m On My Way” was an early defining moment in Dane’s legacy of artistry and activism, and is deeply rooted in blues and gospel traditions that have long served as vehicles for social commentary and calls for justice. From her early days to her groundbreaking performances alongside legends such as Lightnin’ Hopkins, Willie Dixon, Earl Hines, and Louis Armstrong, The 9 Lives of Barbara Dane paints a vivid portrait of an artist who charted her own course (produced by Jed Riffe and exec produced by Nina Menéndez, Danny Glover and Jonathan Logan).

Adding another dimension to Dane’s legacy is her portrayal in the upcoming film A Complete Unknown starring Timothée Chalamet as Bob Dylan. In this cinematic exploration of a pivotal moment in music history, Sarah King takes on the role of Barbara Dane, further cementing her influence on  he American folk and blues scene of the 1960s.

In Barbara Dane’s own words “The blues were born out of the worst conditions one people can force upon another —out of slavery and exploitation— and were given to the world in the spirit of turning madness into sanity, pain into joy, bondage into freedom, and enmity into unity. This is music for survivors, and this spirit is something to be learned from, shared and spread as far as it will go!” Throughout the 1960s and ‘70s, Dane sang at demonstrations in Washington, at the gates of military bases in Japan and Europe, and in small towns across America, including the Freedom Schools of rural Mississippi.

This landmark release of a song that stirred hearts in the 1960s, transcends time with Dane’s powerful voice and its enduring message. Her story and music are now poised to engage with a new generation of listeners. A raw and soulful rendition of “I’m On My Way”, which catapulted Barbara into the public conscience, is for the first time to be officially re-introduced on 7” vinyl and made available to stream on all major platforms. The original B-side, “Go ‘Way from My Window,” will accompany it offering a fuller picture of Dane’s musical beginnings.

“In revisiting Barbara’s work, we’re not just preserving history – we’re keeping great music alive,” says Gregmark Music CEO Lonnie Sill. “I’m On My Way” isn’t just a song from the past; it’s a living, breathing piece of art that continues to move and inspire. For those who appreciate music that stands the test of time, it offers a listening experience that’s both a historical journey and a present-day revelation.” 

Bob Dylan on Barbara Dane

 “The world needs more people like Barbara, someone who is willing to follow her conscience. She is, if the term must be used, a hero.”

About Barbara Dane

Barbara Dane made her mark in history by involving herself in the civil rights and peace movements of  the 1960s. Pete Seeger appointed her to head the People’s Songs Organization’s Detroit chapter, and on a brief stay in California, she studied the music and methods of Malvina   Reynolds. In the New York Times, Dane is quoted as saying “If you see your country making horrible mistakes, you have to speak up. You’re colluding with it if you don’t speak up.” Dane’s willingness to record and preserve protest songs, now in the Smithsonian, combined with an illegal trip to Havana, Cuba, earned her the ire of one J. Edgar Hoover. Her copy of her (four-inch thick) FBI dossier is among her treasured possessions. Dane,  whose singing was once described by Time magazine as “pure, rich and rare as a 20-carat diamond,” has made an indelible mark on American music and social culture.

Combining the people-powered connectivity of folk, the defiance of blues, and the cool of jazz, she cut through commercial artifice while documenting major historic events. Born in Detroit in 1927, her riveting 2022 autobiography This Bell Still Rings recounts, “encouraged by Pete Seeger, she discovered the power of her voice to move people to action. Such artists as Bonnie Raitt, Janis Joplin, Judy Collins, Tracy Chapman, Linda Ronstadt, and Jackson Browne, among countless others, owe Dane a sensibility that is as necessary as it is inspiring. A younger generation of troubadours like Mary Gauthier, Leyla McCalla and Marta Gonzales are part of Dane’s legacy.”

About Gregmark Music

Founded by music industry legends Lester Sill and Lee Hazlewood, Gregmark Music became an indie pop powerhouse in the early ’60s, launching acts like The Paris Sisters and helping shape the career of Phil Spector. In addition to its success as a record label, Gregmark continues to manage key publishing rights, including the iconic blues classic “Stormy Monday” by T-Bone Walker. Dane’s “I’m On My Way” was originally recorded for 3 Trey in 1960, and was produced by Sill and Hazlewood.

Today, under the leadership of Lester’s youngest son Lonnie Sill, Gregmark is reviving its storied legacy. Drawing from its diverse catalogue, which includes hits on labels including Gregmark Records, 3 Trey and Jamie Records, Gregmark is reaching new audiences through reissues, re-mastered digital releases, and licensing in new media.

https://www.gregmarkmusicinc.com/

For those seeking a fresh take on this soulful classic, a bonus-enhanced version will be made available, featuring a re-recorded rhythm section revitalising the track while preserving its authentic spirit. 

Label: Trey Records / Gregmark Music
Formats: 7” Vinyl, Digital (all major streaming platforms)
Important Dates: October 25th, 2024 (“I’m On My Way” - vinyl re-issue available for pre-order) / November 22nd, 2024 (“I’m On My Way” - single release on streaming platforms)
Original Release: 1960

Film Trailer

https://youtu.be/IJj4j5sfpnc

Vinyl Purchase