Occupy This Album

Last updated
Occupy This Album
Occupy This Album.jpg
Compilation album by
Various artists
ReleasedMay 15, 2012 (2012-05-15)
Genre Pop rock
Length313:09
Label Music for Occupy
Producer Jason Samel, Shirley Menard, Maegan Hayward, Alex Emanuel

Occupy This Album: 99 Songs for the 99 Percent is a four-disc compilation box set released in May 2012 through the record label Music for Occupy. The album concept, and initial production was initiated by Executive Producer Jason Samel. Jason Samel later recruited Producers Maegan Hayward, Alex Emanuel and Shirley Menard to assist with the project. The set consists of 99 songs inspired by or related to the Occupy movement. Proceeds from the album went "directly towards the needs of sustaining this growing movement." [1]

Contents

Composition

Occupy This Album is a four-disc compilation box set containing 76 songs by various artists; the digital version contains 99 tracks.

Michael Moore contributed vocals on his cover of Bob Dylan's "The Times They Are a-Changin'", produced by Jason Samel and Eric Weinrib, a song he had previously performed in his 1998 film The Big One . Moore, who had been approached to direct a music video for the compilation, is accompanied by Tom Chapin on guitar and harmonica. Approximately two thirds of the way into the track, Moore leads a human microphone chorus with the chant: "We are here to conduct an intervention". [1]

One of the album's standout tracks "We Can't Make It Here" was written and performed by James McMurtry and recorded along with Steve Earle and Joan Baez on vocals. Critically acclaimed, it's been cited among The Nation's "Best Protest Songs Ever"; one of the "25 Best Songs of the 2000s" in Rolling Stone magazine; and declared "a triumph — the anthem of the 99%," by Bob Lefsetz. [2]

Promotion

City Winery in New York City hosted a record release party on May 8, 2012, which included performances by Matt Pless, the initial inspiration for the album. [3] Other performers included Ace Reporter, David Amram, Angels of Vice, Jennie Arnau, Richard Barone, Chroma, Dave Dreiwitz, and Kevin Twigg, the Fear Nuttin Band, Nanci Griffith with Pete and Maura Kennedy, DJ Logic, Jesse Lenat, Los Cintron, George Martinez and The Global Block Collective, Michael Moore with Tom Chapin, Rejectionist Front, Greg Smith and Broken English, and Taj Weekes.[ citation needed ]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Entertainment Weekly B+ [4]
Mother Jones mixed [5]

Critical reception of the album was mixed. In his review for Entertainment Weekly , Kyle Anderson gave the compilation series a B+ rating and wrote, "the spirit of the compilation feels more positive than negative — the best that can be asked of any grassroots revolution". [4] Josh Harkinson of Mother Jones called the album a "mashup of sometimes discordant messages" lacking in "musical cohesion", though he complimented the album's "star power" and felt the best songs were contributed by rappers. [5]

Many reviewers criticized or complimented select tracks. Anderson's favorite songs included Ace Reporter's "propulsive" rendition of "The World Is on Fire" and Deborah Harry's "glitchy" "Safety in Numbers". [4] Harkinson called Michael Moore's version of the Bob Dylan song "The Times They Are a-Changin'" "rotten", but considered Third Eye Blind's "If There Ever Was a Time" a "gem". [5]

Occupy This Album won the Independent Music Awards VOX Populi vote for Best Compilation of 2012.

Track listing

Michael Moore contributed vocals on Bob Dylan's "The Times They Are a-Changin'" Michael Moore 2011 Shankbone 4.JPG
Michael Moore contributed vocals on Bob Dylan's "The Times They Are a-Changin'"
Disc 1
  1. "Something's Got to Give" (Matt Pless [6] ) – 4:18
  2. "Come On, Come On, Come On" (Jackson Browne) – 5:39
  3. "Occupation Freedom" (Global Block Collective, Martinez) – 2:38
  4. "People Have the Power" (Patti Smith) – 5:37
  5. "Love Anthem (Only Love)" (My Pet Dragon) – 4:00
  6. "The Panic Is On" (Loudon Wainwright III) – 2:56
  7. "Occulture" (Cosmonaut) – 4:13
  8. "Save Us" (Rain Phoenix and Papercranes) – 2:49
  9. "Smile (Get Up and Sing)" (Jay Samel) – 6:50
  10. "This Is What America Looks Like" (DJ Logic) – 3:37
  11. "Big Little Wolfs" (Aeroplane Pageant) – 2:56
  12. "Agent 99" (Alex Emanuel) – 3:26
  13. "Safety in Numbers" (Deborah Harry) – 3:58
  14. "Hey, Can I Sleep on Your Futon?" (Richard Barone) – 4:24
  15. "Occupy Wall Street (Here Here Here)" (Black Dragon) – 2:34
  16. "White Gold" (Ladytron) – 5:02
  17. "Greed" (Aldort) – 3:33
  18. "Against the Machine" (Adowa, Weekes) – 3:59
  19. "The Young Idealists" (Cole) – 2:42
  20. "A Peaceful Solution" (Amy Nelson, Willie Nelson) – 3:52
Disc 2
  1. "The Times They Are a-Changin'", performed by Michael Moore (Bob Dylan) – 3:41
  2. "The World Is on Fire" (Ace Reporter) – 3:08
  3. "Latter Days" (Middle Eight) – 3:39
  4. "Turn the Lights On" (Chroma) – 4:36
  5. "Which Side Are You On?" (Ani DiFranco) – 6:05
  6. "Well May the World Go" (Tao Rodriguez-Seeger) – 4:49
  7. "Unified Tribes" (Thievery Corporation) – 3:14
  8. "Robber Barons" (Thee Oh Sees) – 5:16
  9. "Saving Up to Go Bankrupt" (Rimbaud) – 3:40
  10. "Hell No (I'm Not Alright)" (Griffith) – 2:49
  11. "We Stand as One" (Joseph Arthur) – 5:18
  12. "Cash Machine" (Girls Against Boys) – 3:33
  13. "Rebellion Politik" (Junkyard Empire) – 3:32
  14. "Nothing Recedes Like Progress" (Anti-Flag) – 2:07
  15. "Rebel" (Fear Nuttin' Band) – 3:36
  16. "Under the Bridge" (Doe, Sobule) – 2:58
  17. "Take a Stand" (Said) – 5:00
  18. "The Answer" (Unkle) – 4:41
  19. "World Wide Rebel Songs" (Freedom Fighter Orchestra) – 3:02
  20. "If There Ever Was a Time" (Third Eye Blind) – 3:26
Disc 3
  1. "Move on Fast" (Yoko Ono) – 3:41
  2. "If We Live" (Build the Sun) – 3:41
  3. "Fight the Good Fight" (Our Lady Peace) – 3:41
  4. "I Don't Need Money" (Bonnie) – 3:09
  5. "The World Is Turning" (Toots and the Maytals) – 4:13
  6. "A New York Minute" (Nickodemus) – 3:38
  7. "I Ain't No Brian Wilson" (Gentleman Brawlers) – 4:52
  8. "Industrial Park" (Mammals) – 6:00
  9. "Big Fish" (Lost City Rumblers, Yo La Tengo) – 3:21
  10. "Occu-Pie" (Hayward) – 3:31
  11. "Free" (Mystic Bowie) – 5:27
  12. "Oye Mi Voz" (Los Cintron) – 3:49
  13. "Walk On" (Wonderland) – 3:58
  14. "Coney Island Winter" (Jeffreys) – 3:48
  15. "China Basin Digs" (Joel Rafael, Trudell) – 3:21
  16. "Walkin'" (Pimps of Joytime) – 5:38
  17. "River's Gonna Rise" (Warren Haynes) – 7:59
  18. "Rich Man's World" (Immortal Technique) – 4:41
  19. "Staying Out and Calling In" (Danger Field) – 1:28
Disc 4
  1. "We Can't Make It Here" (Joan Baez, Steve Earle, James McMurtry) – 6:03
  2. "We Are" (New Party Systems) – 4:07
  3. "Revolution" (Nova Echo) – 3:00
  4. "Number One" (Born I Music) – 4:33
  5. "Play the Greed" (Williams) – 3:08
  6. "Broke Heart Blues" (Elliott) – 3:57
  7. "What Are Their Names" (David Crosby, Graham Nash) – 1:19
  8. "Make a Stand" (Chambers) – 5:12
  9. "Better Luck Next Time" (Arnau) – 4:06
  10. "All Over the World" (Arlo Guthrie) – 2:54
  11. "We're the 99" (Diamond) – 4:17
  12. "We Are Human" (Mike & Ruthy) – 4:08
  13. "Blessed" (Williams) – 5:49
  14. "Freedom of Speech" (Carter) – 4:28
  15. "Reclaim" (Rejectionist Front) – 3:39
  16. "Occupy (We the 99)" (Jasiri X) – 2:55
  17. "Earth Division" (Mogwai) – 6:01
  18. "Pulse" (OWS Drum Circle; Brendan Hunt) – 3:05
  19. "The Times They Are a-Changin' [Skiffle Version]" (Moore) – 3:21 [hidden track]
Digital Only
  1. Andrew Vladeck – "Chasing the Sun"
  2. Greg Smith and The Broken English – "Livin' Like a Joker"
  3. Aliza Hava – "Rise"
  4. The Occubility Bros. – "Crashed IT, Stashed IT" *
  5. Chris Pierce – "Invisible People"
  6. Amanda Palmer – "Ukulele Anthem" *
  7. Nadirah Shakoor – "Tree of Life"
  8. Hanne Hukkelberg – "On My Wall"
  9. Jason White – "Little Pieces of Plastic"
  10. mfmadness – "Never Be Defeated"
  11. Renegade Creation – "Greedy Life" *
  12. Jesse Lenat – "99%"
  13. The Swedes – "On The Dole"
  14. Bill Mlotok – "Brazilia" *
  15. Marcus Blake – "Don't Taser Me, Bro!"
  16. Angels of Vice – "We Are The 99″
  17. The Layaways – "Silence"
  18. Mother Feather – "Mother Feather" *
  19. Thorin Caristo – "Common Man" *
  20. Machan – "Everyday"
  21. Vannucci (feat. Robert Brentley) – "Crashing Down" *
  22. David Amram – "Time to Occupy" *

Track listing adapted from Allmusic. [7]

Personnel

Credits adapted from Allmusic. [7]

See also

Charts

Chart (2012)Peak
position
US Top Current Albums ( Billboard ) [8] 162
US Compilation Albums ( Billboard ) [9] 7

Related Research Articles

<i>One Wish: The Holiday Album</i> 2003 studio album by Whitney Houston

One Wish: The Holiday Album is the sixth studio album by American singer Whitney Houston, released on November 18, 2003 by Arista Records. The album is a Christmas album, and featured the single of her rendition of "One Wish ", which reached the top twenty on Billboard's US Adult Contemporary chart. The album spent six weeks on the Billboard 200 and, as of January 2018, is certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America for sales over 500,000 copies. One Wish also features a duet with Houston's daughter, Bobbi Kristina, on "The Little Drummer Boy". The album also includes "Joy to the World" and "Who Would Imagine a King", both of which first appeared on 1996's The Preacher's Wife: Original Soundtrack Album.

<i>Home for Christmas</i> (Amy Grant album) 1992 studio album by Amy Grant

Home for Christmas is the tenth studio album by Christian music and pop music singer Amy Grant, released on October 6, 1992. It is Grant's second holiday album, the first being 1983's A Christmas Album.

<i>House of Love</i> (Amy Grant album) 1994 studio album by Amy Grant

House of Love is the eleventh studio album by singer-songwriter Amy Grant, released in 1994.

<i>Tracie Spencer</i> (album) 1988 studio album by Tracie Spencer

Tracie Spencer is the eponymous debut album of American singer Tracie Spencer, released in 1988 on Capitol Records.

<i>Common Thread: The Songs of the Eagles</i> 1993 compilation album by various artists

Common Thread: The Songs of the Eagles is a tribute album to American rock band Eagles. It was released in 1993 on Giant Records to raise funds for the Walden Woods Project. The album features covers of various Eagles songs, as performed by country music acts. It was certified 3× Platinum in the United States by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on June 27, 1994, honoring shipments of three million copies in the United States. Several cuts from the album all charted on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts after the album's release, the most successful being Travis Tritt's rendition of "Take It Easy" at number 21. Common Thread won all of its performers a Country Music Association Award for Album of the Year at the 1994 ceremony.

<i>Elton John and Tim Rices Aida</i> 1999 soundtrack album by Various Artists

Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida is a 1999 concept album that contains songs from, but predates the main production of, the 2000 musical Aida.

<i>Dream</i> (Keller Williams album) 2007 studio album by Keller Williams

Dream is the ninth solo album from Keller Williams, released in 2007. With the help of numerous collaborators, Williams explores a wide spectrum of musical genres in each of the songs.

<i>Playlist</i> (Babyface album) 2007 studio album by Babyface

Playlist is the seventh studio album by American singer Babyface. It was released by Mercury Records on September 18, 2007 in the United States. His debut with the then-newly re-launched label, Playlist consists of eight covers of folk and soft rock songs and two original compositions. The album reached the top ten on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. Its lead single, the James Taylor cover "Fire and Rain," became a hit on the US Adult Contemporary chart.

<i>Electric</i> (Jack Ingram album) 2002 studio album by Jack Ingram

Electric is the fifth studio album, released in 2002, by American country music artist Jack Ingram. The only single released was, "One Thing" which failed to chart. In 2003 an EP titled Electric: Extra Volts was released which contained five songs left off this album.

<i>Never Been Gone</i> 2009 studio album by Carly Simon

Never Been Gone is the 23rd studio album by American singer-songwriter Carly Simon, released on October 27, 2009, by Iris Records. The album features acoustic versions of many of Simon's past hits along with two new songs, "No Freedom" and "Songbird".

<i>Somewhere Down the Road</i> (album) 2010 studio album by Amy Grant

Somewhere Down the Road is the seventeenth studio album by Christian music and pop music singer-songwriter Amy Grant, released in 2010. It is a unique album featuring eight new songs, a new recording of the song "Arms of Love", from her 1982 album Age to Age, and rounded out with three of Grant's previously released story-songs.

<i>Lets Love While We Can</i> 1980 studio album by Andy Williams

Let's Love While We Can is the thirty-seventh studio album by American pop singer Andy Williams, released in the U.K. in 1980 by CBS Records. For this project Williams eschews covering well-known pop hits and standards and relies mostly on original or lesser-known country songs.

Hero is a studio album by Clarence Clemons. Known for his saxophone work with Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, Clemons released this pop album at the height of Springsteen's popularity following the success of Born in the U.S.A. It spawned two hit singles, 1985's "You're a Friend of Mine", a duet with Jackson Browne also featuring Browne's then-girlfriend Daryl Hannah on background vocals, and 1986's "I Wanna Be Your Hero".

<i>Alabama & Friends</i> 2013 album by the American band, Alabama

Alabama & Friends is a tribute album to American country rock group Alabama. It was released on August 27, 2013 via Show Dog-Universal Music. The album includes two new tracks, "That's How I Was Raised" and "All American," performed by Alabama.

<i>BLUESAmericana</i> 2014 studio album by Keb Mo

BLUESAmericana is the twelfth studio album by Keb' Mo'. It was released on April 22, 2014, through the Kind of Blue Music label. It earned a Grammy nomination for Best Americana Album.

<i>Thin Line</i> (album) 2016 studio album by Billy Ray Cyrus

Thin Line is the fourteenth studio album by country singer Billy Ray Cyrus, and his second on own record label Blue Cadillac Music. It was released on September 9, 2016. The album peaked at #49 on the Country Charts.

<i>Tina Moore</i> (album) 1995 studio album by Tina Moore

Tina Moore is the debut album by American R&B singer Tina Moore, originally released in 1995. It includes the singles "Color Me Blue", which reached number 73 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, "All I Can Do", which reached number 48, and "Never Gonna Let You Go", which peaked at number 27.

<i>Spark</i> (Drake White album) 2016 studio album by Drake White

Spark is the debut studio album of American country music singer Drake White. It was released on August 19, 2016 via Dot Records, an imprint of Big Machine Records. The album has produced three singles, "It Feels Good", Livin' the Dream" and "Makin' Me Look Good Again", all of which have reached the Top 40 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart. White co-wrote eleven of the album's twelve tracks. "Makin' Me Look Good Again" won the International Song of the Year award at the 2017 British Country Music Association Awards.

<i>Stop All That Jazz</i> 1974 album by Leon Russell

Stop All That Jazz is an album by singer and songwriter Leon Russell. The album was recorded in 1974 at Leon Russell's House Studio in Tulsa, Oklahoma; Paradise Studios in Tia Juana, Oklahoma; Pete's Place in Nashville, Tennessee; and Shelter The Church Studio, in Tulsa. Stop All That Jazz is Russell's sixth solo album.

<i>The Speed of Now Part 1</i> 2020 studio album by Keith Urban

The Speed of Now Part 1 is the eleventh studio album by New Zealand-born Australian country music singer Keith Urban. The album was released on 18 September 2020 via Hit Red and Capitol Records Nashville.

References

  1. 1 2 Coleman, Miriam (May 7, 2012). "Michael Moore records Bob Dylan song for 'Occupy' album". msnbc.com . NBCUniversal. Archived from the original on May 9, 2012. Retrieved May 16, 2012.
  2. ↑ "James McMurtry Joined by Joan Baez & Steve Earle on 'We Can't Make It Here'" . Retrieved 2017-07-18.
  3. ↑ Lewis, John (April 27, 2012). "Occupy This Album". Baltimore . Baltimore, Maryland: Rosebud Entertainment. Retrieved May 16, 2012.
  4. 1 2 3 Anderson, Kyle (May 9, 2012). "Music Review: Occupy This Album (2012)". Entertainment Weekly . ISSN   1049-0434 . Retrieved May 15, 2012.
  5. 1 2 3 Harkinson, Josh (May 14, 2012). "Occupy This Album: 99 Songs for the 99 Percent". Mother Jones . ISSN   0362-8841 . Retrieved May 16, 2012.
  6. ↑ Thier, Dave. "Occupy This Album: Music Legends Make Record to Support Occupy Wall Street". Forbes. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
  7. 1 2 "Occupy This Album". Allmusic . Rovi Corporation . Retrieved May 15, 2012.
  8. ↑ "Top Current Albums" . Billboard.biz . June 2, 2012. Retrieved October 14, 2018.
  9. ↑ "Compilation Albums" . Billboard.biz. June 2, 2012. Retrieved October 14, 2018.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.