120675bk Leadbelly 26/2/03 10:46 am Page 2 7. Fannin Street 2:50 15. Ain’t Goin’ Down To The Well No The Naxos Historical labels aim to make available the greatest recordings of the history of recorded (Huddie Ledbetter) Mo’—Go Down Old Hannah 3:17 music, in the best and truest sound that contemporary technology can provide. To achieve this aim, Musicraft 225, mx GM 498 (Traditional) Naxos has engaged a number of respected restorers who have the dedication, skill and experience to Recorded 1 April 1939 Musicraft 224, mx GM 509-K produce restorations that have set new standards in the field of historical recordings. Recorded 1 April 1939 8. Frankie And Albert 6:01 (Huddie Ledbetter) 16. Good Morning Blues 2:25 Also available in our companion series Naxos Nostalgia ... Musicraft 223/4, mx GM 449K & 499A (Huddie Ledbetter) Recorded 1 April 1939 With Sonny Terry, harmonica Asch 343-1, mx SC 263 9. De Kalb Blues 3:03 Recorded Summer 1943 (Huddie Ledbetter) Musicraft 226, mx GM 502-2 17. How Long 2:13 Recorded 1 April 1939 (Huddie Ledbetter) With Sonny Terry, vocal & harmonica 10. Looky Looky Yonder—Black Betty— Asch 343-1, mx SC 260 Yallow Women’s Door Bells 3:05 Recorded summer 1943 (Traditional) Musicraft 223, mx GM 503-M 18. Irene 5:02 Recorded 1 April 1939 (Huddie Ledbetter–John Lomax) With Sonny Terry, harmonica 11. The Bourgeois Blues 3:21 Asch 343-2, Melodisc 1151, mx SC 261-1 8.120543* 8.120567* 8.120620 (Huddie Ledbetter) and 261 Musicraft 227, mx GM 504 Recorded summer 1943 Recorded 1 April 1939 ... and Naxos Jazz Legends ... 19. Rock Island Line 2:07 12. Poor Howard—Green Corn 3:21 (Traditional, arr. Huddie Ledbetter) (Traditional) Asch 102, mx SC 103 Musicraft 223, mx GM 505-K Recorded January 1942 Recorded 1 April 1939 13. The Boll Weevil 3:08 All selections recorded in New York (Traditional) Transfers & Production: David Lennick Musicraft 226, mx GM 507 Digital Noise Reduction: Graham Newton Recorded 1 April 1939 Original recordings from the collections of 14. The Gallis Pole 3:09 Roger Misiewicz, David Lennick and Doug (Huddie Ledbetter) Pomeroy Musicraft 227, mx GM 509-A Recorded 1 April 1939 Original monochrome photo of Leadbelly from 8.120575 8.120660 8.120666* Michael Ochs Archives / Redferns * Not Available in the U.S. 5 8.120675 6 8.120675 120675bk Leadbelly 26/2/03 10:46 am Page 1 LEADBELLY particularly powerful form throughout this complete output from 1939 is on this release. thought of as his trademark song. The same PRODUCER’S NOTE: Rock Island Line date. Black Snake Moan has passionate yet The ten performances contain many highlights fate happened to the pseudo-gospel song Rock Many of Leadbelly’s recordings were made eerie singing and fluent doubletime lines from including the two-part Frankie And Albert Island Line, which was a strong seller for Original Recordings 1935-1943 under less than optimum conditions. The ones his guitar. Compared to the more swing- which is Leadbelly’s adaptation of “Frankie And Lonnie Donegan in the mid-1950s. for the American Record Company labels One of the most famous and intriguing of the he performed for Texas governor Pat Neff who Johnny”, complete with new details and angles oriented blues of Big Bill Broonzy and other Leadbelly was at the height of his powers in (Melotone, Perfect et al) were typical of their early folk singers, Leadbelly had a colourful life was so impressed that he soon granted him a to the traditional story. A three-song medley popular artists in 1935, Leadbelly’s storytelling 1943 when he was 55. But his health began to time, and oddly enough were budget priced. that begins with Looky Looky Yonder puts the with enough ups and downs to fill up several pardon. Now known as Leadbelly, he music seemed old fashioned at the time but decline within a couple of years and, although Those made for Musicraft and Asch were full- emphasis totally on Leadbelly’s voice since it is Hollywood movies. His music crossed over continued working in the South for the next five was so sincere and intense as to be timeless he continued performing and recording into priced, poorly recorded, and often pressed on between folk music and blues, the black years before getting into trouble again. This enough to still be relevant today. On Four Day taken a cappella. The Bourgeois Blues has 1949, he died on 6 December 1949. He inferior shellac. The Musicraft sides were issued storytelling tradition of the 1800s and modern time he was convicted in Louisiana for Worry Blues, rather than sing his lyrics straight, frank language (including protesting against missed the folk music revival of the early 1960s in an album titled “Negro Sinful Songs”. country blues of the 1930s. His voice was attempted murder and sentenced to 30 years at Leadbelly acts as a narrator part of the time racism in Washington D.C.) that contrasts with but remains a household name today for Leadbelly’s recordings for Asch would appear powerful and expressive and he was an the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola. It and his introduction sets up the story on the traditional blues structure. In addition, anyone interested in folk, blues, and traditional in a variety of formats and on several labels. underrated and very effective guitarist. looked as if Leadbelly had blown his last chance Packin’ Trunk Blues. Instead of following several traditional folk songs are revived by African-American music. Even more than a “Irene” was recorded as two takes, in different for a decent life. specific musical rules or sticking to a specific Leadbelly including Poor Howard, Green Corn, Born Huddie Ledbetter on 20 January 1888 in half-century after his death, Leadbelly is a keys and with differing lyrics, and the two length of each chorus, Leadbelly made up his The Boll Weevil, Ain’t Goin’ Down The Well Mooringsport, Louisiana, he learned guitar Miraculously, Leadbelly’s music saved his life unique figure in history. versions were issued separately; they’ve been own rules so as to best get his musical message No Mo’, and Go Down Old Hannah (the last joined for this compilation. early on and dropped out of school when he again. In 1933 John Lomax, a researcher for Scott Yanow, 2003 across. The music served the story rather than two taken unaccompanied) which hark back to was twelve or thirteen to make his living as a the Library Of Congress, was traveling through – author of seven jazz books including Classic Jazz, David Lennick the other way around. the 1800s. musician. A popular performer in the South, the South looking for folk singers to record. He Swing and Trumpet Kings Ledbetter was a pioneer folk singer and one of was told about Leadbelly, they met, and in July Honey, I’m All Down And Out, rather than The last four songs on this reissue (from 1942- the first masters of the twelve-string guitar. He he recorded Leadbelly for the Library of being a conventional blues, is completely 43) are among Leadbelly’s most famous pieces. was always adding new songs and traditional Congress. There were further sessions the unpredictable both in its structure and in its The first three have him joined by the great 1. Black Snake Moan 3:13 4. Honey, I’m All Out And Down 3:11 folk songs to his rapidly growing repertoire following year and Lomax helped Leadbelly to story. Becky Deem, She Was A Gambling Girl harmonica player Sonny Terry who would (Huddie Ledbetter) (Huddie Ledbetter) which he performed at dances and parties. In be released after only four of the thirty-year is based a bit on “How Long, How Long Blues” become famous teaming up with guitarist Melotone M 13327, mx 16691-2 Melotone M 1326, mx 16688-2 1915 he learned slide guitar from Blind Lemon sentence. although the story is original. After an abstract Brownie McGhee for decades. Good Morning Recorded 23 January 1935 Recorded 23 January 1935 Jefferson and was already becoming legendary. guitar introduction, Pig Meat Papa becomes a Blues includes some familiar stanzas that were 2. Four Day Worry Blues 3:05 5. Becky Deem, She Was A Gamblin’ Leadbelly recorded prolifically during the next blues with occasionally eccentric guitar utilized by a countless number of jazz and blues (Huddie Ledbetter) Girl 3:04 Unfortunately Ledbetter had a violent temper fourteen years. After a session with the Library singers. How Long is a derivation of Leroy accompaniment. Melotone M 13327, mx 16689-2 (Huddie Ledbetter) and was constantly in trouble with the law. In of Congress on 21 January 1935, two days later Carr’s “How Long, How Long Blues,” long an Recorded 23 January 1935 Perfect 6-04-55, mx 16687-1 1917 he was arrested for murder in Texas and Leadbelly made his first commercially available Later in 1935, Leadbelly settled in New York Recorded 23 January 1935 alternate chord structure for blues performers. 3. Packin’ Trunk Blues 2:54 the following year was sentenced to 30 years in recordings, including the first five selections on where he gained a small but devoted following. Irene (best known as “Goodnight Irene”) was (Huddie Ledbetter) 6. Pig Meat Papa 3:15 prison. Behind bars, Ledbetter became known this wide-ranging sampler. Leadbelly His lyrics dealt with a wide variety of social first performed by Leadbelly nearly forty years Melotone M 13326, mx 16685-1 (Huddie Ledbetter) for his singing and guitar playing and he instinctively knew that this was probably going matters, he continued reviving ancient folk before this 1943 recording.