Chicago's mighty Salem Travelers were a short-lived and ever-evolving group, known for their melancholic harmonies and hard-hitting lead vocals in the 60s and 70s. These two tracks from 1928 are from their brief time on Checker, a Chess subsidiary. The A-side, "Tell It Like It Is", a haunting truth-seeking song, is full of wah-wah guitars and excellent lead breaks which spice up the upbeat conga rhythm. "Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death" is a little slower, with a Motown-esque backbeat, behind a fist-pounding anthem which taps into their church roots thanks to some excellent vocal interplay. Both are typical of their repertoire of songs which provide social commentary on the world’s problems.
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