Jobie Reviews Music 66: Joe Glazer Sings Labor Songs (album) by Joe Glazer. Requested by F63.

Joe Glazer Sings Labor Songs is a 1982 folk album by Joe Glazer. It consists of 15 songs, making for a total of 39 minutes of music. The album’s tracks are themed around social justice and the value of a worker’s union. This album was originally recorded live during 1967 (at that point the album was known as AFSCME Sings With Joe Glazer) in Washington, D.C. during a training program for the American Federation of State, Country and Municipal Employees.

Each song on the album holds special significance to labor workers - with tracks like “Hard Times In The Mill” - which is a song about twelve hour work days.* That being said, the lyrics of each track all revolve around worker’s unions, and the like.

Aside from the album’s lyrical themes, the album does great in the musical department as well. With great acoustic tracks littered throughout the album’s 39 minute run time, Joe Glazer delivers a sound which is very relaxing. Joe Glazer’s vocals on this album bring the classic labor poems and songs to life, matching the acoustic sound which accompanies them.

Some of my favorite tracks from this album are “Hold The Fort”, “Which Side Are You On”, and “Solidarity Forever”.

Overall, this album is a nice, relaxing listen. With great vocals and acoustic melodies, Joe Glazer brings these classic labor poems and songs to life. A great listen for sure. *Source: https://folkways-media.si.edu/liner_notes/collector/COLL01918.pdf

Overall rating:

9/10

LINK TO ALBUM:

https://open.spotify.com/album/3GxdHelSbLqIOFQLbUm2n3?si=nREdu9yIRsuUFp7iUSUEAA