tracks

Irene (Goodnight Irene)
The Bourgeois Blues
Fannin Street (Mister Tom Hughes Town)
The Midnight Special
John Henry
Black Girl (Where Did You Sleep Last Night)
Pick A Bale Of Cotton
Take This Hammer
Cotton Fields
Old Riley
Rock Island Line
The Gallis Pole
Ha-Ha This A Way
Sukey Jump
Boll Weevil
Scottsboro Boys
Governor O.K. Allen
Governor Pat Neff
There's A Man Going Around Taking Names
On A Monday
You Can't Lose Me, Cholly
Keep Your Hands Off Her
We Shall Be Free
Alabama Bound
Almost Day
Fiddler's Dream
Green Corn
Sally Walker
Bring Me A Little Water, Silvy
Julie Ann Johnson
Linin' Track
Whoa, Back, Buck
Shorty George
Ham And Eggs
Moanin'
Out On The Western Plains
Noted Rider
Meeting At The Building
Good, Good, Good (Talking, Preaching) / We Shall Walk Through The Valley
Ain't You Glad (The Blood Done Signed My Name)
I'm So Glad, I Done Got Over
The Hindenburg Disaster
Ella Speed
Haul Away Joe
Old Man
Sweet Jenny Lee
Jean Harlow
Laura
Queen Mary
Good Morning Blues
Sail On, Little Girl
Easy Rider
Poor Howard
Duncan And Brady
How Long, How Long
T.B. Blues
Jim Crow Blues
Pigmeat
John Hardy
Outskirts Of Town
4, 5 And 9
In The Evening (When The Sun Goes Down)
Red Cross Store Blues
Diggin' My Potatoes
Blind Lemon
When A Man's A Long Way From Home
Alberta
Excerpt From "The Lonesome Train"
National Defense Blues
Hitler Song (Mr. Hitler)
Big Fat Woman
Been So Long (Bellevue Hospital Blues)
W.N.Y.C. - Folk Songs Of America - Lead Belly
Grey Goose, Boll Weevil, Yellow Gal, Ha-Ha This A Way, Leaving Blues, Irene (Outro)
W.N.Y.C. - Folk Songs Of America - Lead Belly And The Oleander Quartet
Almost Day, Blues In My Kitchen, Blues In My Dining Room, I Went Up On The Mountain, Good Morning Blues, Baby, Don't You Love Me No More, T.B. Blues, Irene (Outro)
If It Wasn't For Dicky
What's You Gonna Do When The World's On Fire
Rock Me (Hide Me In Thy Bosom)
Packin' Trunk Blues
Leaving Blues
How Come You Do Me Like You Do?
One Dime Blues
I'm Going To Buy You A Brand New Ford
Jail-House Blues
Shout On
Come And Sit Down Beside Me
Red River
Yes, I Was Standing In The Bottom
Ain't Going Down To The Well No More (Version 2)
Everytime I Go Out
Go Down, Old Hannah
Black Betty
Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out
Stewball
Ain't It A Shame To Go Fishin' On A Sunday
Relax Your Mind
Princess Elizabeth
Silver City Bound
The Titanic
House Of The Rising Sun
It's Tight Like That
Diggin' My Potatoes
Springtime In The Rockies
Backwater Blues
Didn't Old John Cross The Water
De Kalb Blues
They Hung Him On The Cross (Version 1)
They Hung Him On The Cross (Version 2)
In The World

notes

Discs packaged inside a 140-page, 12" book.

1-1: also known as "Irene, Goodnight"; from Folkways 2004, 1950/ Smithsonian Folkways 40044, 1996; recorded possibly August 1943
1-2: from Folkways 2034, 1953/ Smithsonian Folkways 40045, 1997; recorded May 1944
1-3: also known as "Cry to Me"; from Folkways 2942, 1953/ Smithsonian Folkways 40068, 1994; recorded 1949
1-4: from archive reel #3613/ Smithsonian Folkways 40045, 1997; recording date unknown
1-5: from Folkways 31030, 1971/ Smithsonian 40105, 1998; recorded October 1948
1-6: also known as "In the Pines"; from Folkways 2014, 1950/ Smithsonian Folkways 40044, 1996; recorded possibly Summer 1947
1-7: from Folkways 2004, 1950/ Smithsonian Folkways 40044, 1996; from "Folk Songs of America," WNYC; recorded Fall 1941
1-8: also known as "This Old Hammer Killed John Henry"; from Smithsonian Folkways 40044, 1996; matrix SC-101; Smithsonian acetate 1431; recorded January 1942
1-9: also known as "The Cotton Song"; from Folkways 2014, 1950/ Smithsonian Folkways 40044, 1996; recorded Summer 1947
1-10: also known as "In Dem Long Hot Summer Days," "Hey Rattler," "Old Rattler"; from Folkways 2014; recorded Summer 1947
1-11: from Folkways 2014, 1956/ Smithsonian Folkways 40044, 1996; recorded January 1942
1-12: also known as "Maid Freed from the Gallows," "Hangman," "Gallows Pole," "Gallows Tree"; from Folkways 31030, 1971/ Smithsonian Folkways 40045, 1997; recorded October 1948
1-13: from Smithsonian Folkways 40044, 1996; possibly matrix SC26; Smithsonian acetate 270; recorded January 9, 1942
1-14: from Folkways 2014, 1950/ Smithsonian Folkways 40044, 1996; recorded possibly Summer 1947
1-15: from Folkways 2492, 1953/ Smithsonian Folkways 40068, 1994; recorded October 1948
1-16: from Library of Congress disc 4473A3; recorded August 23, 1940, in Washington, D.C.
1-17: also known as "Angola Blues" from LOC-124-B2; recorded July 1, 1934, at Angola Prison
1-18: also known as "Sweet Mary," "Oh Mary," "Going Back Home to Mary," "If I Had You Governor"; from Folkways 31030, 1971/ Smithsonian Folkways 40105, 1998; recorded from WNYC, October 1948
1-19: from Folkways 2488, 1962/ Smithsonian Folkways 40010, 1989; recording date unknown
1-20: also known as "Almost Done," "I Got Stripes"; from Smithsonian Folkways 40044, 1996; Smithsonian acetate 133; matrix 258; shellac disc; recorded August 1943
1-21: from Smithsonian Folkways 40044, 1996; Smithsonian acetate 1432; matrix MA-80; shellac disc; recorded July 1941
1-22: from Folkways 2488, 1962/ Smithsonian Folkways 40010, 1989; recorded ca. May 1944
1-23: from Folkways 2488, 1962/ Smithsonian Folkways 40010, 1989; recorded ca. May 1944
2-1: from Folkways 31019, 1968/ Smithsonian Folkways 40045, 1997; Disc 6045; Smithsonian acetate 132; matrix D669; recorded ca. October 1946
2-2: also known as "Chicken Crowing for Midnight," "Christmas Song," "Christmas Is a Coming," from Smithsonian Folkways 40044, 1996; Smithsonian acetate 259; aluminum-based acetate disc; recording date unknown
2-3: from Folkways 2488, 1962/ Smithsonian Folkways 40010, 1989; Smithsonian acetate 385; matrix D674; recorded ca. October 1946
2-4: from Smithsonian Folkways 40044, 1996; matrix D674; Smithsonian acetate 276; recorded possibly in June 1946
2-5: also known as "Little Sally Walker"; from Smithsonian Folkways 40044, 1996; Smithsonian acetate 1430; matrix SC 27; shellac disc; recorded January 9, 1942
2-6: also known as "Sylvie"; from Folkways 2004, 1950/ Smithsonian Folkways 40044, 1996; from "Folk Songs of America," WNYC: March 20, 1941
2-7: from Smithsonian Folkways 40045, 1997; Asch 561-1; Smithsonian acetate 387; matrix SC275; recorded October 1943
2-8: also known as "Line 'Em"; from Folkways 2488, 1962; recorded May 1944
2-9: from Folkways 31030, 1971/ Smithsonian Folkways 40105, 1998; recorded October 1948
2-10: from Folkways 2014, 1950/ Smithsonian Folkways 40044, 1996; "Folk Songs of America," WNYC: February 27, 1941; Smithsonian acetate 381
2-11: also known as "Make It on the Side of the Road"; from "Folk Songs of America," WNYC: March 20, 1940; Smithsonian acetate 382
2-12: from Smithsonian Folkways 40044, 1996; acetate 270; recorded January 11, 1941
2-13: from Disc 3002; matrix SC-270; recorded October 1943
2-14: also known as "Noted Rider Blues," "No Good Rider"; matrix SC-271; Smithsonian acetate 217; aluminum-based acetate disc; recorded October 1943
2-15: also known as "All Over This World"; from Smithsonian Folkways 40044, 1996; matrix SC-273; Smithsonian acetate 684; recorded September 1, 1943
2-16: from Folkways 2488, 1962/ Smithsonian Folkways 40010, 1989; matrix SC-273; recorded October 1934
2-17: from Folkways 2488, 1962/ Smithsonian Folkways 40010, 1989; Asch 343-2; matrix SC-262; recorded ca. August 1943
2-18: previously unreleased; from Smithsonian acetate 387; recorded possibly October 1943
2-19: from the Library of Congress Collection discs 998-B1 and 2; recorded June 22, 1937
2-20: from Library of Congress 125B2; recorded July 1, 1934, at Angola Prison
2-21: from Folkways 7027, 1951/ Smithsonian Folkways 40045, 1997; Smithsonian acetate 170; recording date unknown
2-22: also known as "Old Man, Will Your Dog Catch a Rabbit"; from Folkways 7027, 1951/ Smithsonian Folkways 40105, 1998; matrix SC-106; recorded January 1942
2-23: from Folkways 2492, 1953/ Smithsonian Folkways 40068, 1994; recorded October 1948
2-24: from Folkways 2488, 1962/ Smithsonian Folkways 40010; recorded ca. May 1944
2-25: from Folkways 2004, 1950/ Smithsonian Folkways 40044, 1996; recorded 1947
2-26: from Library of Congress recording 997-B; recorded June 22, 1937 in Washington, D.C.
3-1: from Smithsonian Folkways 40044, 1996; Smithsonian acetate 1617; matrix SC-263; recorded August 1943
3-2: also known as "You Can't Mistreat Me"; from Folkways 31046, 1976/ Smithsonian Folkways 40045, 1997; recording date unknown
3-3: from Folkways 2034, 1953/ Smithsonian Folkways 40045, 1997; recorded June 1946
3-4: from "A Lead Belly Memorial, Vol. 4"; Stinson 51, 1962
3-5: also known as "Brady"; from Folkways 2014, 1950/ Smithsonian Folkways 40044, 1996; Smithsonian acetate 258; recording date unknown
3-6: also known as "How Long Blues"; from Asch 343-1; from Smithsonian Folkways 40105, 1998; Smithsonian acetate 1615; matrix SC-260; recorded August 1943
3-7: from Folkways 2034, 1953/ Smithsonian Folkways 40045, 1997; recorded May 1944
3-8: from Folkways 2034, 1953/ Smithsonian Folkways 40045, 1997; Smithsonian acetate 384; recording date unknown
3-9: also known as "Pigmeat Papa"; from Smithsonian Folkways 40044, 1996; Smithsonian acetate 291; matrix D308; recorded possibly Summer 1947
3-10: from Smithsonian Folkways 40045, 1997; Smithsonian acetate 2939; recording date unknown
3-11: from Folkways 2488, 1962/ Smithsonian Folkways 40010, 1989; Smithsonian acetate 546; matrix 97; recorded April 25, 1944)
3-12: also known as "Hollywood and Vine"; from Smithsonian Folkways 40001, 1989; Smithsonian acetate 293; matrix D384; recorded ca. June 1946
3-13: also called "When the Sun Goes Down"; from Smithsonian Folkways 40044, 1996; Smithsonian acetate 638; recording date unknown
3-14: from "A Leadbelly Memorial"; Stinson 48, 1952
3-15: from Smithsonian Folkways 40045, 1997; Smithsonian acetate 294; matrix D385; 10" shellac disc; recorded ca. June 1946
3-16: from Folkways 2014, 1950/ Smithsonian Folkways 40044, 1996; Smithsonian acetate 317; recorded possibly Summer 1947
3-17: from Folkways 7533, 1960/ Smithsonian Folkways 45047, 1999; recorded February 15, 1945 in San Francisco
3-18: from "A Leadbelly Memorial, Vol. 3"; Stinson 48, 1952
3-19: also known as "Abraham Lincoln"; from Smithsonian Folkways 40045, 1997; Smithsonian acetate 282; recording date unknown
3-20: from Smithsonian Folkways 40021, 1996; Smithsonian acetate 292; matrix D386; recorded ca. 1946
3-21: from Folkways 2034, 1953/ Smithsonian Folkways 40021, 1996; Smithsonian acetate 258; recorded May 1944
3-22: also known as "Big Fat Mama"; from Smithsonian Folkways 40044, 1996; matrix SC-271; from Disc 660; recorded 1944
3-23: previously unreleased; Smithsonian acetate 185; recording date unknown
4-1: from Smithsonian acetate 381-102
4-2: from Smithsonian acetate 377-101
4-3: from "America Tells Its Stories," WNYC: February 18, 1941; Smithsonian acetate 398
4-4: from "America Tells Its Stories," WNYC: February 18, 1941; Smithsonian acetate 398
4-5: from "America Tells Its Stories," WNYC: February 18, 1941; Smithsonian acetate 398
4-6: from "America Tells Its Stories," WNYC: February 27, 1941; Smithsonian acetate 381-101
4-7: from Folkways 31046; recorded March 13, 1941
4-8: from "Folk Songs and Work Songs," WNYC: undated; Smithsonian acetate 376
4-9: also known as "Fore-Day Blues"; from "Folk Songs and Work Songs," WNYC: undated; Smithsonian acetate 376
4-10: from "Folk Songs and Work Songs," WNYC: recorded 1942; from Smithsonian acetate 376
4-11: also known as "It Was Early One Morning"; from Folkways 31030/ Frederic Ramsey tape 448; from WNYC: recorded October 1948
4-12: also known as "Honey, I'm All Out and Down"; from Folkways 31030; from WNYC: recorded October 1948
4-13: also known as "All for You"; from Folkways 31030/ Frederic Ramsey tape 453; from WNYC: recorded October 1948
4-14: also known as "Red River Blues," "Blood Red River"; from WNYC: recorded November 7, 1940; Smithsonian acetate 266

credits

Art Direction – Visual Dialogue
Compilation Producer – Jeff Place, Robert Santelli
Design – Visual Dialogue
Edited By – Carla Borden
Executive-Producer – D.A. Sonneborn, Daniel E. Sheehy,
Guitar – Leadbelly
Liner Notes – Jeff Place, Robert Santelli
Production Manager – Mary Monseur
Remastered By – Pete Reiniger
Vocals – Leadbelly

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