Here’s the fantastic cover of the “Rebel Song Book,” compiled by Samuel H. Friedman, Socialist Party Vice Presidential Candidate, 1952 and 1956.   This book contains 87 labor and socialist songs for voice and piano.  You can download free MP3s of three tracks in the songbook at: http://media.lib.ecu.edu/spclcoll/staffpick.cfm?id=16.  According to musician and cultural activist John Pietaro, ” The Rebel Song Book remains an important historic document and stands as a powerful reminder of the breadth of the Socialist Party during its own second stage. It bears a closer examination.” Pietaro has written an in-depth analysis of the collection and it can be read on his website “The Cultural Worker” (http://theculturalworker.blogspot.com/2010/12/brief-study-of-art-and-culture-of.html).

If there’s anyone out there who can tell me who created the cover art, I would appreciate it.  I’ve searched around and haven’t been able to pinpoint the artist.  The “Rebel Song Book,” however, is part of the Tim Davenport Collection (http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/kt6t1nf0hb/).  Perhaps there is a sleuth out there who will solve the mystery for us?  To be continued…