GEORGE PERKINS + THE SILVER STARS Cryin’ in the Streets

I’ve been obsessing over this soul 45 on the Silver Fox label from 1970, the Civil Rights lament “Cryin’ in the Streets” by George Perkins and the Silver Stars. This song just fucking slays me. I have to stop whatever I’m doing when I listen to the thing. George Perkins’ intense falsetto alone is so rad — but so is the stuttery soldier style drumming and the beautifully strummed guitar… This seriously is one of the best Civil Rights anthems ever, up there with “Change Is Gonna Come.”

I first heard it on soul historian Peter Guralnick’s excellent 1992 companion disc to his essential Sweet Soul Music book (CD found here). Greil Marcus says this about the tune in an old Salon column (the song leads off a compilation he reviewed): “George Perkins and the Silver Stars’ 1971 “Crying in the Streets” (is) a purposeful negation of Martha and the Vandellas’ 1964 “Dancing in the Street” and a eulogy for the Civil Rights Movement.” I see somebody marching,” Perkins cries, but he doesn’t; he’s crying in the street because all he sees are ghosts.” And that’s pretty perfect.

—DJ Yeti