Take My Word for It

Book Playlist

Take My Word for It Playlist

by LeVar Burton

20 tracks

balanced

Nov 6, 2026

The instrumental half moves between intimate reflection, jazz and blues-inflected confidence, and expansive, forward-looking textures, echoing Burton’s journey from private life to landmark roles and a public legacy. The vocal half draws on Black musical traditions, civil-rights-era hope, self-definition, and the joy of storytelling—connecting the memoir’s themes to its cultural context without treating its life story as fiction.

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Track List

20 songs

1

Sleepwalk

Santo & Johnny · Santo & Johnny

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2

Classical Gas

Mason Williams · The Mason Williams Phonographic Record

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3

Waltz For Debby

Bill Evans · New Jazz Conceptions

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4

Moanin'

Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers · Moanin' (Expanded Edition)

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5

Song for My Father

Horace Silver Quintet · Song for My Father

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6

Linus And Lucy

Vince Guaraldi Trio · Charlie Brown Holiday Hits

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7

Concierto de Aranjuez (Adagio) - Mono Version

Miles Davis · Sketches of Spain (Mono Version)

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8

Tamacun

Rodrigo y Gabriela · Rodrigo y Gabriela

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9

A Change Is Gonna Come

Sam Cooke · Ain't That Good News

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10

To Be Young, Gifted and Black - Single Version

Nina Simone · Black Gold (Expanded Edition)

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11

People Get Ready

The Impressions · People Get Ready

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12

The Revolution Will Not Be Televised

Gil Scott-Heron · Pieces of a Man

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13

This Little Light of Mine

Odetta · Odetta Sings Folk Songs

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14

I Can See Clearly Now

Johnny Nash · I Can See Clearly Now (Expanded Edition)

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15

Ain't No Mountain High Enough

Marvin Gaye · United

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16

Respect

Aretha Franklin · I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You

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17

Lovely Day

Bill Withers · Menagerie

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18

Optimistic

Sounds Of Blackness · Evolution Of Gospel

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19

Alabama

John Coltrane · Chasing Trane: The John Coltrane Documentary (Original Soundtrack)

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20

Maple Leaf Rag

Scott Joplin · Joplin: Piano Rags, Vol. 1

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Playlist Settings

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Mood balanced

Genre match

Era any

Length medium

Instrumental request 50%

Environment balanced

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