Barbara Dane I'm On My Way Special Edition

Release Information
Some six decades after its debut, Trey Records (“3Trey”) 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 travelled.”

“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.

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.

“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.”

Limited pressing 400 copies​