Back To Black is a compilation that was made to accompany an exhibition at London’s Whitechapel Gallery, celebrating the history of the Black Arts Movement, and how in the late ‘60s to the mid ‘70s the Black Power movement dominated American politics. In the words of the pamphlet “The Back To Black album features music which has not received widespread recognition, bringing to the fore artists who are lesser known but whose work has not only musical but political and social significance. Very few of the selected tracks have been re-released since the time of their production.” This compilation was compiled by London crate digger Steve Pickton, and he really has pulled out the stops to offer some excellent musical choices, but it’s the spoken word pieces where this album really shines, like David Lampel’s “USA (Union Of South Africa)” which is a full-on “scathing attack on the wrongs against black communities”, this piece really must have been a brutal wake-up call for those that heard it at the time. Equally as impressive are two tracks from an album called ‘Street & Gangland Rhythms – Beats & Improvisations By Six Boys In Trouble’. This album was originally recorded in the late ‘50s by the very forward thinking Folkways label, looking at the blossoming gang culture on the streets of New York. The two tunes are “Passionate chanting that blossomed from street corner bravado into the multi-billion dollar industry that is rap today.” Not only is this a great music compilation, but it’s also a very educational one too. It comes with great packaging, and the pamphlet gives you information on each tune and the reasons for its inclusion, plus a few pages on the history of the Black Arts Movement and the included music’s involvement in it.