Some six decades after its debut, Trey Records (“3 Trey”) and Gregmark Music are reintroducing the rare original recording of Barbara Dane’s iconic “I’m On My Way”. Coinciding with the release are international film festival screenings of The 9 Lives of Barbara Dane, a documentary that traces the remarkable journey of this musical maverick. “I’m On My Way” is powerfully illustrated three times in the film. “Barbara Dane’s story is a masterclass in musical integrity,” says documentary director and editor Maureen Gosling. “She’s someone who never compromised her artistic vision, even when it meant taking the road less traveled.”
This landmark release that gained 1960s popularity and later became a cult classic in the Northern Soul community transcends time with Barbara Dane’s powerful voice and message. Her music is now set to connect with a new generation. For the first time, the raw and souful rendition of “I’m On My Way”, which propelled Barbara into the public eye, is to be officially re-introduced on 7” vinyl and made available for streaming. The original B-side, Go ‘Way from My Window, completes the release, offering a fuller picture of Dane’s musical beginnings.
“I’m On My Way” was an early civil rights anthem, a defining moment in Dane’s legacy of artistry and activism, and is deeply rooted in blues and gospel traditions that have long served as vehicles for social commentary and calls for justice. From her early days to her groundbreaking performances alongside legends such as Lightnin’ Hopkins, Willie Dixon, Earl Hines, and Louis Armstrong, The 9 Lives of Barbara Dane paints a vivid portrait of an artist who charted her own course (produced by Jed Riffe and exec produced by Nina Menéndez, Danny Glover and Jonathan Logan).
As the “godmother” of Greenwich Village’s folk scene, she befriended Bob Dylan, who often joined her uninvited on stage. “An enormous talent hidden inside an endearing young scallywag,” she said of him. Her introduction of Dylan at the 1963 Monterey Folk Festival was recently written into the script for A Complete Unknown, highlighting her lasting impact on American folk and blues.
In Barbara Dane’s own words “The blues were born out of the worst conditions one people can force upon another —out of slavery and exploitation— and were given to the world in the spirit of turning madness into sanity, pain into joy, bondage into freedom, and enmity into unity. This is music for survivors, and this spirit is something to be learned from, shared and spread as far as it will go!” Throughout the 1960s and ‘70s, Dane sang at demonstrations in Washington, at the gates of military bases in Japan and Europe, and in small towns across America, including the Freedom Schools of rural Mississippi.
“In revisiting Barbara’s work, we’re not just preserving history – we’re keeping great music alive,” says Gregmark Music CEO Lonnie Sill. “I’m On My Way” isn’t just a song from the past; it’s a living, breathing piece of art that continues to move and inspire. For those who appreciate music that stands the test of time, it offers a listening experience that’s both a historical journey and a present-day revelation.”
For those seeking a fresh take on this soulful classic, a bonus-enhanced version will be made available, featuring a re-recorded rhythm section revitalising the track while preserving its authentic spirit.
Label: Trey Records / Gregmark Music
Formats: 7” Vinyl, Digital (all major streaming platforms)
Important Dates: Oct 25th, 2024 (“I’m On My Way” - vinyl re-issue available for pre-order) / Feb 2025 (“I’m On My Way” - single release on streaming platforms)
Original Release: 1960
About Barbara Dane
Barbara Dane made her mark in history by involving herself in the civil rights and peace movements of the 1960s. Pete Seeger appointed her to head the People’s Songs Organization’s Detroit chapter, and on a brief stay in California, she studied the music and methods of Malvina Reynolds. In the New York Times, Dane is quoted as saying “If you see your country making horrible mistakes, you have to speak up. You’re colluding with it if you don’t speak up.” Dane’s willingness to record and preserve protest songs, now in the Smithsonian, combined with an illegal trip to Havana, Cuba, earned her the ire of one J. Edgar Hoover. Her copy of her (four-inch thick) FBI dossier is among her treasured possessions. Dane, whose singing was once described by Time magazine as “pure, rich and rare as a 20-carat diamond,” has made an indelible mark on American music and social culture. Combining the people-powered connectivity of folk, the defiance of blues, and the cool of jazz, she cut through commercial artifice while documenting major historic events. Born in Detroit in 1927, her riveting 2022 autobiography This Bell Still Rings recounts, “encouraged by Pete Seeger, she discovered the power of her voice to move people to action. Such artists as Bonnie Raitt, Janis Joplin, Judy Collins, Tracy Chapman, Linda Ronstadt, and Jackson Browne, among countless others, owe Dane a sensibility that is as necessary as it is inspiring. A younger generation of troubadours like Mary Gauthier, Leyla McCalla and Marta Gonzales are part of Dane’s legacy.”
About Gregmark Music
Founded by music industry legends Lester Sill and Lee Hazlewood, Gregmark Music became an indie pop powerhouse in the early ’60s, launching acts like The Paris Sisters and helping shape the career of Phil Spector. In addition to its success as a record label, Gregmark continues to manage key publishing rights, including the iconic blues classic “Stormy Monday” by T-Bone Walker. Dane’s “I’m On My Way” was originally recorded for 3 Trey in 1960, and was produced by Sill and Hazlewood. Today, under the leadership of Lester’s youngest son Lonnie Sill, Gregmark is reviving its storied legacy.Drawing from its diverse catalogue, which includes hits on labels including Gregmark Records, 3 Trey and Jamie Records, Gregmark is reaching new audiences through reissues, re-mastered digital releases, and licensing in new media.