Skip to main content

Classic African-American Ballads from Smithsonian Folkways

Various Artists
Classic African-American Ballads from Smithsonian Folkways

Classic African-American Ballads is a sampling of an important, historic, and engaging slice of America's Black music heritage. The heyday of the Black ballad tradition (1890-1920) left a lasting strain of creativity and a monument to African American life of the time. Ranging from songs created from the heritage of the English ballad, to social commentary vilifying abusive white authority figures, to "blues ballads," this album reminds us of the enormity and constant evolution of African American musical tradition. 36-page booklet. 22 tracks. 67 minutes.

RELATED VIDEOS
Steamboat Whistle

Track Listing

icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
101
Warner Williams
03:44
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
102
K.C. Douglas
01:23
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
103
Lead Belly
02:43
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
104
John Jackson
03:33
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
105
Memphis Slim and Willie Dixon
03:33
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
106
Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee
04:04
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
107
Snooks Eaglin
02:20
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
108
John Cephas and Phil Wiggins
05:03
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
109
Prisoners at the Ramsey and Retrieve State Farms, Texas
04:54
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
110
Josh White
03:45
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
111
Lead Belly
01:58
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
112
Jazz Gillum, Memphis Slim, and Arbee Stidham
02:27
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
113
Pink Anderson
02:49
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
114
Big Bill Broonzy
02:07
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
115
Earl Taylor and the Stoney Mountain Boys
01:59
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
116
John Jackson
03:18
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
117
Woody Guthrie
02:14
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
118
Horace Sprott
02:25
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
119
Dave Van Ronk
03:00
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
120
Lead Belly
02:45
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
121
Pink Anderson
03:04
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
122
Josh White Jr.
03:45