Leadbelly—Blues Archive

Read About This Recording

Leadbelly certainly had a colorful life. Born as Huddie Ledbetter in 1888 or 1889, at a plantation in Louisiana, he grew up in Texas. He started out on accordion but soon mastered the guitar including the 12-string guitar. A pioneer at playing folk music in the early 1910s, Leadbelly was constantly in trouble with the law. In 1918 after he killed a man in a fight, he went to prison, staying until he was pardoned in 1925. In 1930 he was back in prison for attempted homicide. However, in 1933 when John and Alan Lomax were recording musical prisoners for the Library of Congress, they discovered Leadbelly, who they recorded extensively.

In 1934 Leadbelly was pardoned and moved to New York. He began recording the following year and by 1940 was part of a growing folk scene in New York. Leadbelly became a legend and a living link to the beginnings of blues and folk music. He recorded extensively until he became ill in 1949 during his only European tour, passing away later that year.

This two CD-set imported from Europe, has some of Leadbelly's most enduring recordings from 1935-43. Among his more memorable performances are Four Day Worry Blues, Death Letter Blues, Midnight Special, Good Morning Blues, Alberta, Rock Island Rock and Goodnight Irene.

Taken as a whole, the 28 selections, which are joined by a 20-page booklet, give listeners a strong sampling of Leadbelly's unique and highly influential style.

-Scott Yanow

Extended Article

The Louisiana blues is a laid back and percussive form of the tighter Chicago sound. The guitar work is more fundamental but with generous splashes of Lightnin' Hopkins and Muddy Waters added for good measure. Its Blues rhythm can best be described as plodding and even uptempo tunes sound like a slow blues played a bit faster. The performances have a darker sound and feel, giving rise to the style's alternate name - swamp blues.

Contents

Imported from Europe!

See See Rider: I'm Sorry Mama; Packin' Trunk; Four Day Worry Blues; Roberta, Pt. 1; Death Letter Blues, Pt. 1; Fort Worth and Dallas Blues; Ox Drivin' Blues; TB Woman Blues; My Baby Quit Me; Midnight Special; Pigmeat; Black Snake Moan; See See Rider; Shorty George; You Don't My Mind; The Bourgeois Blues; John Hardy; Pick a Bale of Cotton; Grey Goose; Where Did You Sleep Last Night?; Pretty Flower in Your Backyard; On Monday: Good Morning Blues; Whoa Back Buck; Leaving Blues; Alberta; Alabama Bound; Bourgeois Blues; The Red Cross Store Blues; Easy Rider; I'm on My Last Go Round; New York City; Irene; On Monday; Rock Island Line; Eagle Rock Rag; Corn Bread Rough; Little Sally Walker; I Got a Pretty Flower; Take This Hammer; In New Orelans; How Long; Irene Goodnight.

Leadbelly, Vocals/Guitar; John Hardy, Vocals; The Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet; Sonny Terry, Harmonica; Paul Howard, Cither.

Includes 20-page book.