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Negro Folk Music of Alabama, Vol. 5: Spirituals

Dock Reed and Vera Hall Ward
Negro Folk Music of Alabama, Vol. 5: Spirituals
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This album is the fifth in a series of volumes dedicated to " American negro music," showcasing spirituals performed by Dock Reed (1878-1958) and Vera Hall Ward (1902-1964). Reed was a deeply religious man whose repertoire was stayed within spiritual music rather than secular or " sinful" songs. Ward was Reed’s cousin, and both worked in manual labor (Reed in agriculture, Ward in house work). This plays into the elements of typical aspects of the work songs within this genre, such as responsive singing and rhythmic punctuation used to mark labor tasks, such as striking a nail with a hammer. The clear, direct singing on this album serves as documentation of this music rather than focusing on the performance element of the music. Liner notes include an overview of the entire series of Negro Folk Music of Alabama , as well as notes and lyrics specific to this volume.

Track Listing

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101
I'm Going Home on the Morning Train Dock Reed 2:01
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102
My God Ain't No Lying Man Dock Reed and Vera Hall Ward 2:13
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103
Where the Sun Will Never Go Down Dock Reed 2:06
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104
Troubled Lord I'm Troubled Dock Reed and Vera Hall Ward 1:31
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105
Look How They Done My lord Dock Reed and Vera Hall Ward 2:03
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106
Job Job Dock Reed and Vera Hall Ward 2:16
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107
What Month Was Jesus Born In Vera Hall Ward 2:10
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108
Somebody's Talking About Jesus Dock Reed and Vera Hall Ward 1:31
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201
Death is Awful Dock Reed and Vera Hall Ward 1:46
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202
I'm Climbing Up the Hills of Mt. Zion Dock Reed and Vera Hall Ward 1:43
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203
Low Down the Chariot and Let Me Ride Dock Reed and Vera Hall Ward 2:09
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204
The Blood Done Signed My Name Dock Reed and Vera Hall Ward 3:23
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205
Everybody Talkin' About Heaven Ain't Goin' There Dock Reed and Vera Hall Ward 2:51
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206
Noah, Noah Vera Hall Ward 1:25
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207
Plumb the Line Dock Reed and Vera Hall Ward 1:39
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208
Travelling Shoes Vera Hall Ward 1:43

Album Info

Catalog Number(s)

FW04473, FE 4473

Year(s) Released

1950

Label/Collection

Folkways Records

Genre(s)

African American Music; American Folk; Sacred

Country(s)

United States

Culture Group(s)

African American

Language(s)

English

Credit(s)

Harold Courlander - Recorder, Producer
 Dock Reed - Artist
 Ronald Clyne - Designer
 Vera Hall Ward - Artist
Download Liner Notes