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Softness Was Always Ours

Spotify Playlist

This playlist serves as the official soundtrack for Softness Was Always Ours, weaving together music from the 1920s through the 1970s. The 42 tracks echo the moods of joy, resilience, love, and elegance reflected in the exhibit, inviting you to experience its themes through sound as well as image.

Spotify Playlist Citations 

  1. Berlin, Irving. “Blue Skies.” Performed by Josephine Baker. La Conga Blicoti. Columbia, 1927. Spotify, https://open.spotify.com/track/1PbLKnaVbACmaI1txw5eFq?si=c7206a1ac5cf4fa9.
  2. Swanstrom, A. and L. Alter. “Come Up and See Me Sometime.” Performed by Ethel Waters. The Incomparable Ethel Waters. Columbia/Legacy, 1934. Spotify, https://open.spotify.com/track/23furE1azaxq02V6iHZHMt?si=815cc711f70542b3
  3. Bernie, B, P. Baker, and S. Silver. “Pretty Little Baby.” Performed by Josephine Baker. Breezin' Along. Odeon Records, 1927. Spotify, https://open.spotify.com/track/49xl0nB6RjZFHynhdUAdki?si=568ea0d80f514263
  4. Hunter, Alberta. “The Love I Have For You.” Performed by Alberta Hunter. The Love I Have For You/My Castle's Rockin'. Victor, 1940. Spotify, https://open.spotify.com/track/6SgxBsJcgaxLQq1LK6mSp8?si=f867a205234748d3
  5. Dixon, Mort and Ray Henderson. “Bye Bye Blackbird.” Performed by Josephine Baker. Breezin' Along. Odeon Records, 1927. Spotify, https://open.spotify.com/track/1eIjNV92DuwmFbY5nPx0b0?si=22d4a707a3454c98
  6. LaTouche, John, Ted Fetter, and Vernon Duke. “Taking A Chance On Love” Performed by Ethel Waters and Georgie Stoll. Cabin In The Sky. Columbia Records, 1940. Spotify, https://open.spotify.com/track/5nT40YJ7tt9qBZSCa4hrth?si=5c9bce0779344803
  7. Hill, Alexander and Fats Waller. “Keep A Song In Your Soul” Performed by Mamie Smith. Crazy Blues: The Best of Mamie Smith. Columbia/Legacy, 1931. Spotify, https://open.spotify.com/track/0cS0A1fUEUd1EW3FcF8AEI?si=3edfe84140d544e1
  8. Fields, Dorothy and Jimmy McHugh. “Don't Blame Me” Performed by Ethel Waters. Don't Blame Me [Single]. Brunswick, 1933. Spotify, https://open.spotify.com/track/7vBevujPxtjaG9l5gkAjW7?si=72b6769286654a45
  9. Mars, Gerald and Seymour Simons. “All of Me” Performed by Billie Holiday. Lady Day: The Complete Billie Holiday. Columbia Records, 1933. Spotify, https://open.spotify.com/track/1LGqJ3nvxpVXDWpEzq4DJD?si=b407a54b7b964fef
  10. Andre, Fabian, Gus Kahn, and Wilbur Schwandt. “Dream A Little Dream Of Me” Performed by Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, and Sy Oliver's Orchestra. Ella: The Legendary Decca Recordings. Verve Records, 1950. Spotify, https://open.spotify.com/track/0KBvapFwuz8gPKu6Gw23WN?si=cfd4afdf65134299
  11. Kahal, Irving and Sammy Fain. “I'll Be Seeing You” Performed by Billie Holiday. Billie Holiday. Universal Music Group, 1944. Spotify, https://open.spotify.com/track/4smkJW6uzoHxGReZqqwHS5?si=49571044b2e2437e
  12. Gershwin, George and Ira Gershwin. “Someone To Watch Over Me” Performed by Ella Fitzgerald. Ella Sings Gershwin. Verve Records, 1959. Spotify, https://open.spotify.com/track/5RcvlmVx2xtFcp2Ta5pw7X?si=7ca165987d20465e
  13. Piaf, Edith, Marguerite Monnot, and Louiguy. “La Vie en Rose” Performed by Josephine Baker. C'est Vous. Parlophone (France), 1968. Spotify, https://open.spotify.com/track/420baMBm2uWmElakWR1n4m?si=ddb637c6666642aa
  14. Mercer, Johnny and Harold Arlen. “It's A Woman's Perogative” Performed by Pearl Bailey. Legalize My Name/It's A Woman's Perogative. Columbia, 1946. Spotify, https://open.spotify.com/track/0LVKqNl5pWqcnQxwvA2PKh?si=a8002959ac3c4b74
  15. Wayne, Dotty and Ray Rasch. “It's A Beautiful Evening” Performed by Dorothy Dandridge. Smooth Operator. Verve Records, 1961. Spotify, https://open.spotify.com/track/1023ftWSwYDMiA9rfOnsRf?si=3b817d44305a4ad5
  16. Child, Desmond, André Hornez, Henri Betti, and Jerry Seelen. “C'est Si Bon” Performed by Eartha Kitt. That Bad Eartha. RCA Victor Records, 1953. Spotify, https://open.spotify.com/track/3U69pCQwveSOn5bl9VAime?si=1ae8ccb7871e400f
  17. Verde, Eduardo, Les Vandyke, and Nino Rota. “La Dolce Vita (The Sweet Life)” Performed by Eartha Kitt. Bad But Beautiful. MGM Records, 1962.  Spotify, https://open.spotify.com/track/2kjOZvDnq73Vf0MBYbepxJ?si=779c5605455c4aa8
  18. Grever, Maria and Stanley Adams. “What A Diff'rence A Day Makes” Performed by Dinah Washington and Belford Hendricks Orchestra. What A Difference A Day Makes. Mercury Records, 1959. Spotify, https://open.spotify.com/track/66iKqUazBbTlAEjcZrpDkD?si=e98734b823ec4eb6
  19. Javits, Joan and Philip Springer. “Santa Baby” Performed by Eartha Kitt. That Bad Eartha. RCA Victor Records, 1953. Spotify, https://open.spotify.com/track/59hKzj0h6ElhQv8rBqvpUz?si=4d74b2570ea54f0b
  20. Loesser, Frank. “What Are You Doing New Year's Eve” Performed by Lena Horne. Merry from Lena. Capitol Records, 1966. Spotify, https://open.spotify.com/track/4duO7k7rZtv0HxppDAiyv5?si=73c34a70f5114dfc
  21. Greenwich, Ellie, Tony Powers, and Phil Spector. “(Today I Met) The Boy I'm Gonna Marry” Performed by Darlene Love. (Today I Met) The Boy I'm Gonna Marry [Single], Philles Records, 1963. Spotify, https://open.spotify.com/track/2Px4PrbPBMeWB1silbjI5H?si=b1aa4b8a629c4d0e
  22. Leonard, Anita, Barbara Belle, Louis Prima, and Stan Rhodes. “A Sunday Kind of Love” Performed by Etta James and Riley Hampton. At Last!, Argo Records, 1960. Spotify, https://open.spotify.com/track/0zGLlXbHlrAyBN1x6sY0rb?si=f48828fd25c546d7
  23. Weill, Kurt and Maxwell Anderson. “September Song” Performed by Sarah Vaughn and Ernie Wilkins. Sarah Vaughn, Mercury Records, 1954. Spotify, https://open.spotify.com/track/3vDxVKTS70JFyqgqcFh6In?si=dd4a1d72c9fd4e45
  24. Warren, Harry and Mack Gordon. “At Last” Performed by Etta James and Riley Hampton. At Last!, Argo Records, 1960. Spotify, https://open.spotify.com/track/4Hhv2vrOTy89HFRcjU3QOx?si=d4eb8da283184afc
  25. Robinson, Smokey. “My Guy” Performed by Mary Wells. Mary Wells Sings My Guy, Motown Records, 1964. Spotify, https://open.spotify.com/track/4591VqUIXysNlmI5NcAIUd?si=f5683c9cb56c4f81
  26. Bacharach, Burt and Hal David. “The Look of Love” Performed by Nina Simone. Silk & Soul, RCA Victor, 1967. Spotify, https://open.spotify.com/track/0EiGzshQIaM98eOXdKTGaD?si=f33013b600f04795
  27. Adler, Richard and Jerry Ross. “Whatever Lola Wants (Lola Gets)” Performed by Sarah Vaughn. Wonderful Sarah, Mercury Records, 1955. Spotify, https://open.spotify.com/track/1opNhHzl7YYxo1szmZOLAA?si=e68af52e7efb416c
  28. Farrés, Osvaldo and Joe Davis. “Quizas, Quizas, Quizas” Performed by Celia Cruz with Rene Hernandez and His Orchestra. Canciones Que Yo Queria Haber Grabado Primero, Seeco Records, 1964. Spotify, https://open.spotify.com/track/7FES7rrRiopj1YLqIUyyGO?si=8c329375f8d94160
  29. Williams, Clarence, J. Tim Brymn, and Dally Small. “I Want A Little Sugar In My Bowl” Performed by Nina Simone. Nina Simone Sings The Blues, RCA Victor, 1967. Spotify, https://open.spotify.com/track/3NcJu9876GBJuNU6vJOrbb?si=d5d1573b86b641b7
  30. Redding, Otis. “Respect” Performed by Aretha Franklin. I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You, Atlantic Records, 1967. Spotify, https://open.spotify.com/track/3XIobZuLDpWea6Ig36ItRw?si=535b1eec9b314094
  31. Bacharach, Burt and Hal David. “I Say A Little Prayer” Performed by Martha Reeves & The Vandellas. Ridin' High, Scepter Records, 1967. Spotify, https://open.spotify.com/track/4hdNtxRuhVgewZuIJRIs7A?si=e2663a5791d643e0
  32. King, Carole, Gerry Goffin, and Jerry Wexler. “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” Performed by Aretha Franklin. Lady Soul, Atlantic Records, 1967. Spotify, https://open.spotify.com/track/29N4xnL6SpjkQiuPaTvQXA?si=ec8637ca822d4f62
  33. Bacharach, Burt and Hal David. “Anyone Who Had A Heart” Performed by Dionne Warwick. Anyone Who Had A Heart [Single], Scepter Records, 1963. Spotify, https://open.spotify.com/track/2BQZvZsA9SRafvWEBSQnri?si=f85cc903d212469b
  34. Wonder, Stevie, Clarence Paul, annd Morris Broadnax. “All I Do Is Think About You” Performed by Tammi Terrell. Come On And See Me: The Complete Solo Collection, Motown Records, 1966. Spotify, https://open.spotify.com/track/41xksxMitE9ToNL33Tlcnn?si=fe1fbac0fdde4ae0
  35. Bacharach, Burt and Hal David. “This Girl's In Love With You” Performed by Dionne Warwick. Promises, Promises, Scepter Records, 1968. Spotify, https://open.spotify.com/track/4FmTzEfNlGfeFfPQND2ezc?si=9f12505a73ef4f8f
  36. Dobbins, Georia, William Garrett, Freddie Gorman, Brian Holland, and Robert Bateman. “Please Mr. Postman” Performed by The Marvelettes. Please Mr. Postman [Single], Motown/Tamla Records, 1961. Spotify, https://open.spotify.com/track/5fNDP3NTdE69szQHUl4fFr?si=4dde5b915b6a4a2a
  37. Masser, Michael and Gerry Goffin. “Theme From Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To?)” Performed by Diana Ross. Diana Ross, Motown/Tamla Records, 1975. Spotify, https://open.spotify.com/track/10VbGCpgC4FtmYSwBLvIDX?si=24de0d4472fc4382
  38. MacColl, Ewan. “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” Performed by Roberta Flack. First Take, Atlantic Records, 1969. Spotify, https://open.spotify.com/track/0SxFyA4FqmEQqZVuAlg8lf?si=b3bf0e29d4df4b25
  39. Jackson, Chuck and Marvin Yancy. “Inseparable” Performed by Natalie Cole. Inseparable, Capitol Records, 1975. Spotify, https://open.spotify.com/track/0lN3CCQxTSg8hxFHKhuL0B?si=712007008f854bb4
  40. Williams, Deniece, Hank Redd, Nathan Watts, and Susaye Greene. “Free” Performed by Deniece Williams. This Is Niecy, Columbia Records, 1976. Spotify, https://open.spotify.com/track/5aPVQqYEEZKREbFRxLiAp5?si=ecffd107af2b4ca4
  41. Ashford, Nickolas and Valerie Simpson. “I'm Every Woman” Performed by Chaka Khan. Chaka, Warner Bros., 1978. Spotify, https://open.spotify.com/track/7Mr6Wt1tLBG8NjuJFk6L4a?si=a280af826b6f45aa
  42. Rodgers, Nile and Bernard Edwards. “We Are Family” Performed by Sister Sledge. We Are Family, Cotillion Records, 1979. Spotify, https://open.spotify.com/track/3R7goTMkZoxxUCU1t06m98?si=de62039b57d74c58
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