Angola Prison Spirituals

Angola Prison, officially known as the Louisiana State Penitentiary, is one of the largest maximum-security prisons in the country. In the 1950s, LSU English professor Dr. Harry Oster (1923-2001) recorded a series of music performances by African Americans incarcerated at the infamous facility. Among the performances were the singing of gospel and spirituals. The songs provide a sense of soul present in the music—pain, hope, and heart. Part of the royalties from this collection go to the Inmate Welfare Fund at the Louisiana State Penitentiary.

Track Listing

101	I'm on My Way Andy Mosely and Robert Pete Williams	02:41
102	Church on Fire with the Word of God Robert Pete Williams	03:03
103	What Shall I Do Robert “Guitar" Welch	02:55
104	Brother Norah Angola Quartet	02:51
105	Little School Song Tom Dutson and Robert Pete Williams	01:28
106	Dyin' Soul Robert Pete Williams	04:29
107	Let My People Go Roosevelt Charles	03:48
108	So Much Is Happenin' in the News Robert Pete Williams	04:17
109	Dig My Grave with a Silver Spade Tom Dutson and Robert Pete Williams	03:42
110	Brother Mosely Crossed the Water Andy Mosely and “Hogman" Maxey	01:29
111	I'm Stranded on the Banks of Ole Jordan Angola Quartet #2	01:55
112	I'm Goin' Back with Him When He Comes Robert Pete Williams	03:01
113	The Old Ship of Zion Rev. Benjamin E. Osborne with congregation	07:22
114	When I Lay My Burden Down Robert Pete Williams	05:04
115	See How They Done My Lord Angola Quartet (six) from Camp A	02:57
116	Be with Me Jesus Angola Quartet (six) from Camp A	02:30
117	Rise and Fly Angola Vocal Group - unidentified lead singers	07:59
118	I Know I Got Religion Andy Mosely and “Hogman" Maxey	02:29
119	Jesus Andy Mosely and “Hogman" Maxey	01:55
120	I Take Jesus (Do Lord, Remember Me) Angola Choir dir. by Murray Ted Macon	01:55
121	Each Day (Life's Evening Sun) Angola Choir dir. by Murray Ted Macon	02:35
122	Steal Away to Jesus Angola Choir dir. by Murray Ted Macon	04:18