The Song of the Month Department is kicking off the new year with a special theme: Remakes! During January, every Song of the Day post will feature the original version of a song plus an interesting remake.
We’ll start with a classic, Old Man River from the musical Showboat by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein. Below is the version you’re probably most familiar with, sung by the person most associated with the song, Paul Robeson, who performed it thousands of times, often giving the lyrics a subtle change to emphasize his passion for social justice. Robeson sang this song from scaffolding erected during the early stages of construction of the Sydney Opera House, which makes him the first person to sing at that architectural wonder.
For a completely different take on Old Man River, check out this version from The Techniques, a Jamaican band that found some success in the 1960s. You can find their reggae-influenced Ol’ Man River on the 1993 CD Run Come Celebrate: Their Greatest Reggae Hits.
Listen to more songs here!
