This song has a great story.
It started life as an instrumental piece written by Billy Taylor, and was first recorded in 1963 with a 19-piece big band.
A trio version was also recorded, in 1967. Here it is - it has a great piano solo for anyone interested, and was the track used for Barry Norman’s BBC film show for years.
Years later, Dick Dallas helped Taylor add lyrics, and Nina Simone brought it to another level of popularity when she recorded it as a song in 1967. It became synonymous with the US civil rights movement.
It was later covered by John Denver, The Lighthouse Family and was used in a Coca-Cola advert, but none had the impact of Simone’s signature version.