Various – Sofie’s SOS Tape
Beyond the Willow Tree traces the early recordings of singer, songwriter, and cardiologist Cleveland Francis. During a time when the music industry was very much segregated (“If you were black, you played blues or soul music”), Francis pioneered a sound he refers to as “soulfolk,” blending the message and storytelling of folk music with the stylings of soul and gospel. His self-released debut album Follow Me contains hauntingly beautiful original songs like “The Willow Tree” and “Hot Sun” alongside covers of songs by Lennon-McCartney, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, and Bob Russell. Cleve Francis: “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.”
Recommended – Full Listen
Tags: Acoustic / Blues / Gospel / Political
Tracklist:
Follow Me…
A1 The Willow Tree
Written-By – Cleveland Francis*
A2 Little Green Apples
Written-By – Bob Russel*
A3 Early Morning Rain
Written-By – Gordon Lightfoot
A4 When I’m Sixty-Four
Written-By – Lennon-McCartney
A5 Hot Sun
Written-By – Cleveland Francis*
A6 Hey Jude
Written-By – Lennon-McCartney
B1 Just Think About It For A While
Written-By – Cleveland Francis*
B2 Both Sides Now
Written-By – J. Mitchell*
B3 Rain
Written-By – J. & H. Feliciano*
B4 Time
Written-By – Michael Merchant
B5 Getting Ready For Tomorrow
Written-By – Willie Hutchison*
B6 With God On Our Side
Written-By – Bob Dylan
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
Credits:
Bass – Kenneth Zeigler (tracks: A1-B6)
Lead Guitar – David Gapp (tracks: A1-B6)
Liner Notes – Cleve Francis
Producer – Brenda & Daniel Grubauch (tracks: A1-B6), Cleveland Francis* (tracks: A1-B6), Victor Liguori (tracks: A1-B6)
Reissue Producer, Graphic Design – Matthew Bruce (2)
Remastered By – Michael Graves (2)
