Important Recordings 1934 - 1949

~ Release by Lead Belly (see all versions of this release, 1 available)

Annotation

1 - 4: Recorded at Louisiana State Penitentiary, Angola, LA. probably July 1, 1934
5: Recorded at Wilton, CT. February 1935
6 - 9: Recorded at Louisiana State Penitentiary, Angola, LA. probably July 1, 1934
10 - 13: Recorded at Wilton, CT. February 1935
14, 15: Recorded at Wilton, CT. March 1935
16 - 18: Recorded at Washington, DC. June 22, 1937
19, 20: Recorded at New York City, December 26, 1938

ARC studio sessions
1 - 10: New York City, January 23, 1935
11 - 18: New York City, January 24, 1935
19 - 23: New York City, February 5, 1935
24, 25: New York City, March 25, 1935

1 - 3: New York City, March 25, 1935
4 - 7: New York City, April 1, 1939
8 - 11: New York City, June 15, 1940
12 - 16: New York City, June 15, 1940
17 - 22: New York City, June 17, 1940
23 - 26: New York City, Jul/Aug, 1943

1: New York City, November 1943
2 - 4: New York City, February 17, 1944
5: New York City, April 25, 1944
6: New York City, c. April 1944
7: New York City, c. May 1944
8 - 10: New York City, c. May 1944
11 - 14: Hollywood, October 4, 1944
15 - 17: Hollywood, October 11, 1944
18 - 20: Hollywood, October 27, 1944
21 - 24: New York City, c. June 1946
25: New York City, 1947
26: Austin, Texas, June 15, 1949

On the sleeve Lead Belly is credited with guitar on all tracks, despite none being heard on 1, 10 and 18.

Annotation last modified on 2007-07-22 11:11 UTC.

Tracklist

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▼ CD 1: Leadbelly & the Library of Congress: 1934 - 1938
#TitleRatingLength
1Western Cowboy
recording engineer:
Alan Lomax (US ethnomusicologist) and John A. Lomax
acoustic guitar and lead vocals:
Lead Belly (on 1934-07-01)
recorded at:
Louisiana State Penitentiary in West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana, United States (on 1934-07-01)
3:40
2Blind Lemon Blues
recording engineer:
Alan Lomax (US ethnomusicologist) and John A. Lomax
acoustic guitar and lead vocals:
Lead Belly (on 1934-07-01)
recorded at:
Louisiana State Penitentiary in West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana, United States (on 1934-07-01)
4:19
3Midnight Special
recording engineer:
Alan Lomax (US ethnomusicologist) and John A. Lomax
acoustic guitar and lead vocals:
Lead Belly (on 1934-07-01)
recorded at:
Louisiana State Penitentiary in West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana, United States (on 1934-07-01)
recording of:
Midnight Special (on 1934-07-01)
writer:
[traditional] (special purpose artist)
publisher:
Union Songs AB (publisher)
2:59
4Irene
recording engineer:
Alan Lomax (US ethnomusicologist) and John A. Lomax
acoustic guitar and lead vocals:
Lead Belly (on 1934-07-01)
recorded at:
Louisiana State Penitentiary in West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana, United States (on 1934-07-01)
recording of:
Goodnight Irene (on 1934-07-01)
lyricist and composer:
[traditional] (special purpose artist)
arranger:
Ledbetter and John A. Lomax
publisher:
Lodlow Music, Spencer Music Corp., TRO-Ludlow Music, Inc. and Tyler Music Ltd.
part of:
Roud Folk Song Index (number: 11681)
translated version of:
Godnatt Irene
4:53
5C.C. Rider
acoustic guitar and lead vocals:
Lead Belly (in 1935-02)
cover recording of:
See See Rider Blues (in 1935-02)
lyricist and composer:
[traditional] (special purpose artist)
part of:
Roud Folk Song Index (number: 10056)
4:14
6Governor O.K. Allen
recording engineer:
Alan Lomax (US ethnomusicologist) and John A. Lomax
acoustic guitar and lead vocals:
Lead Belly (on 1934-07-01)
recorded at:
Louisiana State Penitentiary in West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana, United States (on 1934-07-01)
2:45
7Julie Ann Johnson
recording engineer:
Alan Lomax (US ethnomusicologist) and John A. Lomax
acoustic guitar and lead vocals:
Lead Belly (on 1934-07-01)
recorded at:
Louisiana State Penitentiary in West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana, United States (on 1934-07-01)
2:10
8I'm Sorry Mama
recording engineer:
Alan Lomax (US ethnomusicologist) and John A. Lomax
acoustic guitar and lead vocals:
Lead Belly (on 1934-07-01)
recorded at:
Louisiana State Penitentiary in West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana, United States (on 1934-07-01)
3:04
9Take a Whiff on Me
recording engineer:
Alan Lomax (US ethnomusicologist) and John A. Lomax
acoustic guitar and lead vocals:
Lead Belly (on 1934-07-01)
recorded at:
Louisiana State Penitentiary in West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana, United States (on 1934-07-01)
2:09
10Boll Weevil
acoustic guitar and lead vocals:
Lead Belly (in 1935-02)
3:39
11The Titanic
acoustic guitar and lead vocals:
Lead Belly (in 1935-02)
4:46
12Green Corn
acoustic guitar and lead vocals:
Lead Belly (in 1935-02)
2:16
13Po' Howard
acoustic guitar and lead vocals:
Lead Belly (in 1935-02)
3:11
14De Kalb Blues
acoustic guitar and lead vocals:
Lead Belly (in 1935-03)
5:10
15Frankie and Albert
acoustic guitar and lead vocals:
Lead Belly (in 1935-03)
recording of:
Frankie and Johnny (traditional song, version of "Frankie and Albert") (in 1935-03)
publisher:
Carl Sandburg (in 1927)
lyricist and composer:
[traditional] (special purpose artist)
part of:
Roud Folk Song Index (number: 254)
is based on:
You’re My Baby
version of:
Frankie and Albert (traditional song without the lyrics from "You’re My Baby", first published 1904)
4:29
16Queen Mary
acoustic guitar and lead vocals:
Lead Belly (on 1937-06-22)
4:55
17The Hindenburg Disaster, Part 1
acoustic guitar and lead vocals:
Lead Belly (on 1937-06-22)
1:17
18The Hindenburg Disaster, Part 2
acoustic guitar and lead vocals:
Lead Belly (on 1937-06-22)
2:14
19Leaving on the Morning Train Blues
acoustic guitar and lead vocals:
Lead Belly (on 1938-12-26)
9:50
20The Bourgeois Blues
acoustic guitar and lead vocals:
Lead Belly (on 1938-12-26)
recording of:
The Bourgeois Blues (on 1938-12-26)
lyricist and composer:
Lead Belly
arranger:
Alan Lomax (US ethnomusicologist) and John A. Lomax
5:46
▼ CD 2: Leadbelly in the Studio: 1935
#TitleRatingLength
1Roberta, Part 1
recorded in:
New York, New York, United States (on 1935-01-23)
guitar and lead vocals:
Lead Belly (on 1935-01-23)
3:01
2Roberta, Part 2
recorded in:
New York, New York, United States (on 1935-01-23)
guitar and lead vocals:
Lead Belly (on 1935-01-23)
3:04
3Packin' Trunk Blues
recorded in:
New York, New York, United States (on 1935-01-23)
guitar and lead vocals:
Lead Belly (on 1935-01-23)
recording of:
Packing Trunk Blues (on 1935-01-23)
lyricist and composer:
Huddie William Ledbetter
2:56
4C.C. Rider
recorded in:
New York, New York, United States (on 1935-01-23)
guitar and lead vocals:
Lead Belly (on 1935-01-23)
cover recording of:
See See Rider Blues (on 1935-01-23)
lyricist and composer:
[traditional] (special purpose artist)
part of:
Roud Folk Song Index (number: 10056)
3:00
5Becky Deem, She Was a Gamblin' Girl
recorded in:
New York, New York, United States (on 1935-01-23)
guitar and lead vocals:
Lead Belly (on 1935-01-23)
3:06
6Honey, I'm All Out and Down
recorded in:
New York, New York, United States (on 1935-01-23)
guitar and lead vocals:
Lead Belly (on 1935-01-23)
3:14
7Four Day Worry Blues
recorded in:
New York, New York, United States (on 1935-01-23)
guitar and lead vocals:
Lead Belly (on 1935-01-23)
3:08
8You Can't Lose Me, Charlie
recorded in:
New York, New York, United States (on 1935-01-23)
guitar and lead vocals:
Lead Belly (on 1935-01-23)
3:00
9New Black Snake Moan
recorded in:
New York, New York, United States (on 1935-01-23)
guitar and lead vocals:
Lead Belly (on 1935-01-23)
3:12
10Alberta
guitar and lead vocals:
Lead Belly (on 1935-01-23, on 1940-06-15)
recorded at:
Victor Studios (Cherokee (A,B,C,D)) in New York, New York, United States (on 1940-06-15)
recording of:
Alberta (on 1935-01-23)
writer:
Huddie William Ledbetter (in 1935)
recording of:
Alberta (on 1940-06-15)
writer:
Huddie William Ledbetter (in 1935)
43:08
11Baby Don't You Love Me No More
recorded in:
New York, New York, United States (on 1935-01-24)
guitar and lead vocals:
Lead Belly (on 1935-01-24)
2:53
12Ox Drivin' Blues
recorded in:
New York, New York, United States (on 1935-01-24)
guitar and lead vocals:
Lead Belly (on 1935-01-24)
2:55
13Death Letter Blues, Part 1
recorded in:
New York, New York, United States (on 1935-01-24)
guitar and lead vocals:
Lead Belly (on 1935-01-24)
partial recording of:
Death Letter Blues (Leadbelly) (on 1935-01-24)
3:01
14Death Letter Blues, Part 2
recorded in:
New York, New York, United States (on 1935-01-24)
guitar and lead vocals:
Lead Belly (on 1935-01-24)
partial recording of:
Death Letter Blues (Leadbelly) (on 1935-01-24)
3:01
15Kansas City Papa
recorded in:
New York, New York, United States (on 1935-01-24)
guitar and lead vocals:
Lead Belly (on 1935-01-24)
2:50
16Red River Blues
recorded in:
New York, New York, United States (on 1935-01-24)
guitar and lead vocals:
Lead Belly (on 1935-01-24)
3:02
17Fort Worth and Dallas Blues
recorded in:
New York, New York, United States (on 1935-01-24)
guitar and lead vocals:
Lead Belly (on 1935-01-24)
3:02
18You Don't Know My Mind
recorded in:
New York, New York, United States (on 1935-01-24)
guitar and lead vocals:
Lead Belly (on 1935-01-24)
3:04
19Daddy I'm Coming Back to You
recorded in:
New York, New York, United States (on 1935-02-05)
guitar and lead vocals:
Lead Belly (on 1935-02-05)
2:51
20My Friend Blind Lemon
recorded in:
New York, New York, United States (on 1935-02-05)
guitar and lead vocals:
Lead Belly (on 1935-02-05)
3:07
21Mr Tom Hughes Town
recorded in:
New York, New York, United States (on 1935-02-05)
guitar and lead vocals:
Lead Belly (on 1935-02-05)
3:05
22Shorty George
recorded in:
New York, New York, United States (on 1935-02-05)
guitar and lead vocals:
Lead Belly (on 1935-02-05)
3:08
23Matchbox Blues
recorded in:
New York, New York, United States (on 1935-02-05)
guitar and lead vocals:
Lead Belly (on 1935-02-05)
recording of:
Match Box Blues (on 1935-02-05)
lyricist and composer:
Blind Lemon Jefferson (American blues and gospel singer‐songwriter)
3:04
24Yellow Jacket
recorded in:
New York, New York, United States (on 1935-03-25)
guitar and lead vocals:
Lead Belly (on 1935-03-25)
2:54
25T.B. Woman Blues
recorded in:
New York, New York, United States (on 1935-03-25)
guitar and lead vocals:
Lead Belly (on 1935-03-25)
3:09
▼ CD 3: Leadbelly in the Studio: 1935 - 1943
#TitleRatingLength
1Pig Meat Papa
recorded in:
New York, New York, United States (on 1935-03-25)
guitar and lead vocals:
Lead Belly (on 1935-03-25)
3:18
2Bull Cow
recorded in:
New York, New York, United States (on 1935-03-25)
guitar and lead vocals:
Lead Belly (on 1935-03-25)
2:45
3My Baby Quit Me
recorded in:
New York, New York, United States (on 1935-03-25)
guitar and lead vocals:
Lead Belly (on 1935-03-25)
2:55
4Frankie and Albert, Part 1
partial recording of:
Frankie and Johnny (traditional song, version of "Frankie and Albert")
publisher:
Carl Sandburg (in 1927)
lyricist and composer:
[traditional] (special purpose artist)
part of:
Roud Folk Song Index (number: 254)
is based on:
You’re My Baby
version of:
Frankie and Albert (traditional song without the lyrics from "You’re My Baby", first published 1904)
2:52
5Frankie and Albert, Part 2
partial recording of:
Frankie and Johnny (traditional song, version of "Frankie and Albert")
publisher:
Carl Sandburg (in 1927)
lyricist and composer:
[traditional] (special purpose artist)
part of:
Roud Folk Song Index (number: 254)
is based on:
You’re My Baby
version of:
Frankie and Albert (traditional song without the lyrics from "You’re My Baby", first published 1904)
3:07
6Poor Howard / Green Corn
3:12
7The Gallis Pole
recording of:
The Gallis Pole
writer:
[traditional] (special purpose artist)
arranger:
Huddie William Ledbetter
version of:
The Maid Freed From the Gallows (traditional song - not the Led Zep arrangement)
3:01
8Pick a Bale of Cotton
guest vocals:
The Golden Gate Quartet
recording of:
Pick a Bale of Cotton
writer:
[traditional] (special purpose artist)
publisher:
Union Songs AB (publisher)
3:03
9Whoa Back, Buck
guest vocals:
The Golden Gate Quartet
3:08
10Midnight Special
guest vocals:
The Golden Gate Quartet
recording of:
Midnight Special
writer:
[traditional] (special purpose artist)
publisher:
Union Songs AB (publisher)
3:06
11Rock Island Line
recorded in:
San Francisco, California, United States (on 1945-02-15)
clarinet, percussion, piano, tenor saxophone and trumpet and background vocals:
[unknown] (Special Purpose Artist – Do not add releases here, if possible.) (on 1945-02-15)
guitar:
Lead Belly (on 1940-06-15, on 1945-02-15)
guest vocals:
The Golden Gate Quartet
vocals:
The Golden Gate Quartet (on 1940-06-15) and Lead Belly (on 1940-06-15, on 1945-02-15)
cover recording of:
Rock Island Line (on 1945-02-15)
lyricist and composer:
Lead Belly
publisher:
Folkways Music Publishers Inc.
part of:
Roud Folk Song Index (number: 15211)
recording of:
Rock Island Line (in 1948)
lyricist and composer:
Lead Belly
publisher:
Folkways Music Publishers Inc.
part of:
Roud Folk Song Index (number: 15211)
42:37
12Good Morning Blues
recorded in:
San Francisco, California, United States (on 1945-02-15)
clarinet, percussion, piano, tenor saxophone and trumpet and background vocals:
[unknown] (Special Purpose Artist – Do not add releases here, if possible.) (on 1945-02-15)
guitar:
Lead Belly (on 1940-06-15, on 1945-02-15)
vocals:
Lead Belly (on 1940-06-15, on 1945-02-15)
recording of:
Good Morning Blues (from 1940 to present)
lyricist, composer and arranger:
Huddie William Ledbetter
publisher:
Kensington Music Ltd. and TRO-Folkways Music Publishers, Inc.
recording of:
Good Morning Blues (on 1945-02-15)
lyricist, composer and arranger:
Huddie William Ledbetter
publisher:
Kensington Music Ltd. and TRO-Folkways Music Publishers, Inc.
2:54
13T.B. Blues
3:09
14Red Cross Store Blues
guitar:
Lead Belly (on 1940-06-15)
vocals:
Lead Belly (on 1940-06-15)
3:08
15Sail On, Little Girl, Sail On
guitar:
Lead Belly
vocals:
Lead Belly
recording of:
Sail On Little Girl No. 3 (aka Sail On, Little Girl, Sail On) (on 1940-06-15)
lyricist and composer:
Amos Easton
3:17
16I'm on My Last Go-Round
recorded in:
New York, New York, United States (on 1940-06-15)
guitar:
Lead Belly (on 1940-06-15)
vocals:
Lead Belly (on 1940-06-15)
recording of:
I'm on My Last Go Round (on 1940-06-15)
writer:
Huddie William Ledbetter
3:12
17New York City
recorded in:
New York, New York, United States (on 1940-06-17)
guitar:
Lead Belly (on 1940-06-17)
vocals:
The Golden Gate Quartet (on 1940-06-17) and Lead Belly (on 1940-06-17)
recording of:
New York City (on 1940-06-17)
writer:
Huddie William Ledbetter
3:03
18Grey Goose
guest vocals:
The Golden Gate Quartet
3:04
19Stew Ball
guest vocals:
The Golden Gate Quartet
3:01
20Take This Hammer
guest vocals:
The Golden Gate Quartet
3:02
21Can't You Line 'em
guitar:
Lead Belly (on 1940-06-17)
guest vocals:
The Golden Gate Quartet
vocals:
The Golden Gate Quartet (on 1940-06-17) and Lead Belly (on 1940-06-17)
2:57
22Ham an' Eggs
guest vocals:
The Golden Gate Quartet
2:57
23On a Monday
guest harmonica:
Sonny Terry
1:48
24John Henry
guest harmonica:
Sonny Terry
2:16
25How Long
recorded in:
New York, New York, United States (in 1943-08)
guest harmonica and harmonica:
Sonny Terry (in 1943-08)
guitar:
Lead Belly (in 1943-08)
vocals:
Lead Belly (in 1943-08)
performer:
Sonny Terry (in 1943-08)
cover recording of:
How Long, How Long Blues (in 1943-08)
lyricist and composer:
Leroy Carr
publisher:
Compact Music and MCA Music Publishing (renamed since c. 1996 as Universal Music Publishing Group)
2:13
26Ain't You Glad
guest harmonica:
Sonny Terry
2:03
▼ CD 4: Leadbelly, The Last Years: 1943 - 1949
#TitleRatingLength
1John Hardy
concertina:
Lead Belly
4:18
2Where Did You Sleep Last Night
acoustic guitar:
Lead Belly
recording of:
Where Did You Sleep Last Night (In the Pines)
lyricist, composer and arranger:
Lead Belly
writer:
[traditional] (special purpose artist)
publisher:
Folkways Music Publishers Inc.
version of:
In the Pines (Black Girl)
43:02
3Pretty Flowers in Your Backyard
acoustic guitar:
Lead Belly
2:46
4In New Orleans
acoustic guitar:
Lead Belly
3:15
5Outskirts of Town
acoustic guitar:
Lead Belly
guest harmonica:
Sonny Terry
2:40
6Mother's Blues (Little Children Blues)
acoustic guitar:
Lead Belly
guest acoustic guitar:
Josh White (American folk-blues singer/songwriter)
2:33
7In the Evenin' (When the Sun Goes Down)
acoustic guitar:
Lead Belly
guest harmonica:
Sonny Terry
cover recording of:
In the Evening (When the Sun Goes Down)
writer:
Leroy Carr and Don Raye
2:34
8Jim Crow Blues
acoustic guitar:
Lead Belly
2:25
9Mr Hitler
acoustic guitar:
Lead Belly
3:07
10Corn Bread Rough
concertina:
Lead Belly
2:08
11Ella Speed
acoustic guitar:
Lead Belly
guest zither:
Paul Mason Howard
2:46
12Rock Island Line
acoustic guitar:
Lead Belly
guest zither:
Paul Mason Howard
recording of:
Rock Island Line
lyricist and composer:
Lead Belly
publisher:
Folkways Music Publishers Inc.
part of:
Roud Folk Song Index (number: 15211)
2:56
13Tell Me Baby
acoustic guitar:
Lead Belly
guest zither:
Paul Mason Howard
2:58
14Take This Hammer
double bass:
Lead Belly
guest zither:
Paul Mason Howard
2:55
15Irene (Goodnight Irene)
acoustic guitar:
Lead Belly
guest zither:
Paul Mason Howard
recording of:
Goodnight Irene
lyricist and composer:
[traditional] (special purpose artist)
arranger:
Ledbetter and John A. Lomax
publisher:
Lodlow Music, Spencer Music Corp., TRO-Ludlow Music, Inc. and Tyler Music Ltd.
part of:
Roud Folk Song Index (number: 11681)
translated version of:
Godnatt Irene
2:54
16On a Christmas Day
acoustic guitar:
Lead Belly
guest zither:
Paul Mason Howard
2:52
17Backwater Blues
acoustic guitar:
Lead Belly
guest zither:
Paul Mason Howard
recording of:
Backwater Blues (Leadbelly Arrangement)
guitar arranger:
Lead Belly
version of:
Backwater Blues
2:59
18Eagle Rock Rag
guest zither:
Paul Mason Howard
piano:
Lead Belly
2:51
19Sweet Mary Blues
recorded in:
Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States (on 1944-10-27)
acoustic guitar:
Lead Belly
guest zither:
Paul Mason Howard
guitar:
Lead Belly (on 1944-10-27)
vocals:
Lead Belly (on 1944-10-27)
recording of:
Sweet Mary Blues (on 1944-10-27)
writer:
Huddie William Ledbetter
2:58
20Grasshoppers in My Pillow
recorded in:
Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States (on 1944-10-27)
acoustic guitar:
Lead Belly
guest zither:
Paul Mason Howard
guitar:
Lead Belly (on 1944-10-27)
vocals:
Lead Belly (on 1944-10-27)
recording of:
Grasshoppers in My Pillow (on 1944-10-27)
writer:
[traditional] (special purpose artist)
2:48
21Diggin' My Potatoes
acoustic guitar:
Lead Belly
guest acoustic guitar and guest vocals:
Brownie McGhee
guest double bass:
George "Pops" Foster
guest harmonica:
Sonny Terry
guest piano:
Willie “The Lion” Smith
2:36
22Defense Blues
acoustic guitar:
Lead Belly
guest acoustic guitar:
Brownie McGhee
guest double bass:
George "Pops" Foster
guest harmonica:
Sonny Terry
guest piano:
Willie “The Lion” Smith
3:19
23Easy Rider
acoustic guitar:
Lead Belly
guest acoustic guitar:
Brownie McGhee
guest double bass:
George "Pops" Foster
guest harmonica:
Sonny Terry
guest piano:
Willie “The Lion” Smith
cover recording of:
See See Rider Blues
lyricist and composer:
[traditional] (special purpose artist)
part of:
Roud Folk Song Index (number: 10056)
2:50
24Pigmeat
acoustic guitar:
Lead Belly
guest acoustic guitar:
Brownie McGhee
guest double bass:
George "Pops" Foster
guest harmonica:
Sonny Terry
guest piano:
Willie “The Lion” Smith
2:19
25Howard Hughes
recorded in:
New York, New York, United States (in 1947)
acoustic guitar:
Lead Belly
guitar:
Lead Belly (in 1947)
vocals:
Lead Belly (in 1947)
recording of:
Howard Hughes (in 1947)
writer:
Huddie William Ledbetter
3:02
26Shine on Me
acoustic guitar:
Lead Belly
4:12