![Barbara Dane Vinyl Re-issue "I'm On My Way"](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/photos/a_large/4a163dab1b20613f8f595d96a9089f26.jpg "Barbara Dane Vinyl Re-issue "I'm On My Way"")
In 1960, I recorded a 45 rpm single for the Trey label, one of those Hollywood start-ups whose proliferating offices were 'in the glove boxes of their cars,' as people in the industry joked. But the two partners, Lester Sill and Lee Hazlewood, were far from pretenders, already very deeply enmeshed in the music industry. In fact, American pop music would have been very different without the two of them.
—Barbara Dane, This Bell Still Rings: My Life of Defiance and Song, Heyday Books (2022)
“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 documentary film 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).
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.
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.”
“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.”
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.
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.”
“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.”
