The recent passing of the gifted songwriter Gene McDaniels, the man behind the powerful song “Compared to What,” prompts us to revisit a landmark recording that significantly influenced the jazz landscape and countless artists on Blue Note Records. For many, including myself, encountering Les McCann and Eddie Harris’s Swiss Movement album was a pivotal moment in discovering and embracing jazz. I distinctly recall finding a copy of Swiss Movement in the early 1990s and being immediately captivated. Let’s delve into their electrifying rendition of McDaniels’s iconic track, “Compared To What,” from that groundbreaking 1969 Swiss Movement LP.
Penned by Gene McDaniels in 1967, “Compared to What” first resonated with audiences through Roberta Flack’s soulful interpretation on her First Take album. Flack’s version offered a compelling groove, characterized by a strong bassline and sharp horn arrangements that underscored the song’s potent message. Interestingly, the Swiss Movement LP itself was presented by Les McCann, as highlighted by a funky introduction that playfully showcased his personality. Fast forward two years to 1969, and McCann and Harris found themselves performing at the nascent Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. This was a period of intense global turmoil. The Civil Rights Movement was reaching a critical point in the United States, the Vietnam War raged on, and amidst a surge of Black Power and Black Consciousness music, “Compared To What” emerged as a raw and unflinching statement of the times.
Examining the lyrics of “Compared To What” reveals the enduring relevance of the issues McDaniels addressed. Remarkably, the concerns articulated in the song, powerfully conveyed through McCann and Harris’s performance (and echoed by numerous artists since), remain strikingly pertinent today. Whether performed by Brian Auger or The Roots with John Legend, the song’s message transcends eras. When the Les McCann Trio and the Eddie Harris Quartet each delivered acclaimed sets at Montreux, their subsequent decision to collaborate onstage became a historic moment. Joined by Benny Bailey on trumpet, Donald Dean on drums, and Leroy Vinnegar on bass, this collective performance, captured on Swiss Movement, indelibly etched itself into jazz history. McDaniels crafted a potent protest song, but this live rendition, punctuated by McCann’s fervent interjections of “GOD DAMN IT!”, solidified its status as an all-time great.
While I have previously explored the individual careers of both Les McCann and Eddie Harris, their collaboration on this record elevates it to something truly exceptional. Swiss Movement is not just one of the best protest songs ever recorded; it’s a message that continues to resonate deeply with the complexities of the contemporary world. We honor the legacy of Gene McDaniels. His words, amplified by Les McCann and Eddie Harris, will undoubtedly continue to inspire and challenge generations to come.
“Compared to What” Lyrics:
I love the lie and lie the love
A-Hangin’ on, with push and shove
Possession is the motivation that is hangin’ up the God-damn nation
Looks like we always end up in a rut (everybody now!)
Tryin’ to make it real — compared to what? C’mon baby!
Slaughterhouse is killin’ hogs
Twisted children killin’ frogs
Poor dumb rednecks rollin’ logs
Tired old lady kissin’ dogs
I hate the human love of that stinking mutt (I can’t use it!)
Try to make it real — compared to what? C’mon baby now!
The President, he’s got his war
Folks don’t know just what it’s for
Nobody gives us rhyme or reason
Have one doubt, they call it treason
We’re chicken-feathers, all without one nut. God damn it!
Tryin’ to make it real — compared to what? (Sock it to me)
Church on Sunday, sleep and nod
Tryin’ to duck the wrath of God
Preacher’s fillin’ us with fright
They all tryin’ to teach us what they think is right
They really got to be some kind of nut (I can’t use it!)
Tryin’ to make it real — compared to what?
Where’s that bee and where’s that honey?
Where’s my God and where’s my money?
Unreal values, crass distortion
Unwed mothers need abortion
Kind of brings to mind ol’ young King Tut (He did it now)
Tryin’ to make it real — compared to what?
Listen to Les McCann and Eddie Harris – Compared To What from the Atlantic Lp Swiss Movement
Les McCann and Eddie Harris – “Compared to What” Live
Roberta Flack “Compared to What”
Keep Diggin’!
