Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
I used to hear this song on the oldies station growing up in Chicago in the 80’s. I remember taping it onto cassette off the radio and missing the first 20 seconds or so of it. Didn’t matter though, still listened to it all the time. It wasn’t until I got older that I realized that this song was actually recorded in Chicago and was such a notable anthem for the Civil Rights and black pride movements.
Aside from being such an important song, it’s also such an incredible recording, performance, and arrangement. The drummer on this track is named Billy Griffen. He was in his early 20’s at the time and unfortunately passed away the following year (1968) in an automobile accident. His playing on this is so funky. I love his use of the tambourine on the hi hat. You can tell that it was played that way and not an overdub because the tambourine follows some occasional rhythmic variations on the hi hat and cuts out every time he goes to the ride cymbal. Just an incredible performance all around!
Drums:
1968 Ludwig Downbeat
14x20, 8x12, 14x14
1968 Ludwig Acrolite 5x14
Cymbals:
14” A Zildjian hi Hats 50’s
20” A Zildjian Ride 50’s
I used to hear this song on the oldies station growing up in Chicago in the 80’s. I remember taping it onto cassette off the radio and missing the first 20 seconds or so of it. Didn’t matter though, still listened to it all the time. It wasn’t until I got older that I realized that this song was actually recorded in Chicago and was such a notable anthem for the Civil Rights and black pride movements.
Aside from being such an important song, it’s also such an incredible recording, performance, and arrangement. The drummer on this track is named Billy Griffen. He was in his early 20’s at the time and unfortunately passed away the following year (1968) in an automobile accident. His playing on this is so funky. I love his use of the tambourine on the hi hat. You can tell that it was played that way and not an overdub because the tambourine follows some occasional rhythmic variations on the hi hat and cuts out every time he goes to the ride cymbal. Just an incredible performance all around!
Drums:
1968 Ludwig Downbeat
14x20, 8x12, 14x14
1968 Ludwig Acrolite 5x14
Cymbals:
14” A Zildjian hi Hats 50’s
20” A Zildjian Ride 50’s
