Little Steven Artists United Against Apartheid: Sun City LP 1985 Miles Davis

Description: Little Steven Artists United Against Apartheid: Sun City LP 1985 Miles Davis Bob Dylan Bruce Springsteen One of the many gathering against apartheid and the South African Government This version contains bonus track “Silver & Gold,” which is not mentioned on the outer or inner sleeve but is listed on the side 2 label. Bono, Keith Richards, Ron Wood Artists United Against Apartheidwas a 1985 protest group founded by activist and performer Steven Van Zandt and record producer Arthur Baker to protest against apartheid in South Africa. The group produced the song "Sun City" and the album Sun City that year, which is considered a notable anti-apartheid song "Sun City" is a 1985 protest song written by Steven Van Zandt, produced by Van Zandt and Arthur Baker and recorded by Artists United Against Apartheid to convey opposition to the South African policy of apartheid. The song declared that all the artists involved would refuse to perform at Sun City, a resort which was located in the bantustan of Bophuthatswana, one of a number of internationally unrecognized states created by the South African government to forcibly relocate its black population.Steven Van Zandt was interested in writing a song about the Sun Cityresort, in the North West Province of South Africa, to make parallels with the plight of Native Americans. Danny Schechter, at the time a journalist with ABC News' 20/20, suggested that the song should be a different kind of "We Are the World", or as Schechter explained, "a song about change not charity, freedom not famine".Schechter suggested that Van Zandt include the names of the artists who had played at Sun City in defiance of the cultural boycott on South Africa imposed for its policy of apartheid. "I was probably still thinking of 20/20's exposé of conservative Africanists 15 years earlier", says Schechter.When Van Zandt was finished writing "Sun City", he, Baker and Schechter spent the next several months searching for artists to participate in recording it. Van Zandt initially declined to invite Bruce Springsteen, not wanting to take advantage of their friendship, but Schechter had no problem asking himself; Springsteen accepted the invitation. Van Zandt also had reservations about inviting jazz giant Miles Davis, whom Schechter also contacted; with minimal persuasion, Davis also accepted. Eventually, Van Zandt, Baker and Schechter gathered a wide array of artists, including DJ Kool Herc, Grandmaster Melle Mel, The Fat Boys, Rubén Blades, Bob Dylan, Herbie Hancock, Ringo Starr and his son Zak Starkey, Lou Reed, Run-DMC, Peter Gabriel, David Ruffin, Eddie Kendricks, Darlene Love, Bobby Womack, Afrika Bambaataa, Kurtis Blow, Jackson Browne and Daryl Hannah (his girlfriend at the time), Bono, George Clinton, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood, Peter Wolf, Bonnie Raitt, Daryl Hall and John Oates, Jimmy Cliff, Big Youth, Michael Monroe, Peter Garrett, Ron Carter, Ray Barretto, Gil Scott-Heron, Kashif, Nona Hendryx, Pete Townshend, Pat Benatar, Clarence Clemons, Stiv Bators, and Joey Ramone. These artists also vowed never to perform at Sun City, because to do so would in their minds seem to be an acceptance of apartheid.Schechter had also taken on the job of documenting the sessions on video and producing a behind-the-scenes documentary, working with 16mm film crews and independent production companies. Oscar-winner Director Jonathan Demmedirected the live-action in NY. Demme directed Lucky Goldberg, Director, Producer and Cinematographer for ThunderVision Media Ltd (1986-1993) and President of Hollywood New York International from 1993 - currently, to do the hand-held cinematography to capture the essence of the world's first innovative live concert in the streets, capturing all the colorful and momentous scenes happening between the artists and the people. Lucky worked with Producer and partner Paul Allen of ThunderVision Media Ltd, based in New York at Kaufman Astoria Studios, which was renovated from the original first Hollywood-style Paramount Studios on the East Coast, in the 1920's, to capture the action. Lucky and Paul introduced a new camera technology to work alongside the 16mm crews, the one-piece camera - Panasonic's ReCam format for extensive handheld coverage of two days of the artists performing in the streets of Manhattan as well as a rendition of "Sun City" in Manhattan's Washington Square Park. Approximately 150 policemen surrounded the entire park on horseback and foot to secure the area for the performance, which included Van Zandt, Bono, Springsteen, the Fat Boys, Mötley Crüe, Afrika Bambaataa, Nona Hendryx and many others. Goldberg and Allen went on to shoot Sun City II in Central Park, capturing the politics and music of the spirit of Little Steven's award-winning "Sun City", including interviews with Peter Gabriel and Bono."When Miles started improvising in the studio...Steven and Arthur Baker, insisted I not approach him with a camera. 'It's Miles, man," Baker said. "He's erratic, idiosyncratic, explosive. Wild. Don't mess with him when he's playing...' I barged into the booth while Davis was setting up, introduced myself and asked if we could videotape him. Through the glass I could see Steve and Arthur, heads in hands, convinced that I had blown it. Miles smiled. 'Bring it on,' he ordered, 'bring it on.' And we did, getting priceless footage in the bargain."In addition to "Sun City," a number of other songs were recorded, making up the album Sun City.

Price: 24.99 USD

Location: Portland, Oregon

End Time: 2024-11-17T03:39:03.000Z

Shipping Cost: 4.63 USD

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Little Steven Artists United Against Apartheid: Sun City LP 1985 Miles Davis

Item Specifics

All returns accepted: ReturnsNotAccepted

Artist: Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Daryl Hall, George Clinton, Keith Richards, Lou Reed, Miles Davis, Peter Gabriel, Pete Townshend, Ringo Starr, Artists United Against Apartheid, Little Steven, Bono, Gil Scott-Heron, Run-DMC, Grandmaster Melle Mel, Ron Wood

Speed: 33 RPM

Record Label: Manhattan Records

Release Title: Sun City

Material: Vinyl

Inlay Condition: Excellent (EX)

Catalog Number: Manhattan Records – ST 53019

Edition: First Pressing

Type: LP

Format: Record

Record Grading: Excellent (EX)

Sleeve Grading: Excellent (EX)

Release Year: 1985