✕
1/
Skip to main content

Shop

Lead Belly's Last Sessions

Lead Belly
Lead Belly's Last Sessions
View Cart
Buy 4CD Box Set $44.98
Buy 4CD Box Set $44.98
View Cart
Download $39.96
Download $39.96

Spontaneous, intimate, spellbinding recordings from 1948. Four discs contain 96 songs and include the two remaining unissued tracks from the Last Sessions, plus Lead Belly's best-known songs such as Midnight Special, Goodnight Irene, and Rock Island Line. The 24-page booklet contains rare photos, articles, original documentation, technical notes, biography, bibliography, and discography. Produced and annotated by Frederic Ramsey, Jr. Reissue compiled and annotated by Anthony Seeger, Matt Walters and Jeff Place. "Rich in tone and pungent with history and personality." — Goldmine

Track Listing

icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
101
Yes, I Was Standing in the Bottom Lead Belly 1:40
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
102
Yes, I'm Going Down in Louisiana (Version 1) Lead Belly 0:42
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
103
Ain't Going Down to the Well No More Lead Belly 1:23
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
104
Dick Ligger's Holler Lead Belly 0:43
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
105
Liza Jane Lead Belly 2:08
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
106
Dog Latin Song Lead Belly 0:52
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
107
Leaving Blues Lead Belly 0:31
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
108
Go Down, Old Hannah Lead Belly 4:59
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
109
The Blue Tailed Fly (Jimmie Crack Corn) Lead Belly 2:20
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
110
Nobody in This World is Better Than Us Lead Belly 1:26
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
111
We're in the Same Boat, Brother Lead Belly 2:18
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
112
Looky Looky Yonder Lead Belly 1:33
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
113
Jolly O the Ransom Lead Belly 0:57
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
114
Old Ship of Zion Lead Belly 1:51
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
115
Bring Me a Little Water, Silvy Lead Belly 1:27
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
116
Mistreatin' Mama Lead Belly 1:24
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
117
Black Betty Lead Belly 1:52
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
118
Ain't Going Down to the Well No More Lead Belly 2:45
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
119
Yes, I'm Going Down in Louisiana (Version 2) Lead Belly 0:28
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
120
I Don't Know You, What Have I Done? Lead Belly 3:11
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
121
Rock Island Line Lead Belly 1:03
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
122
Old Man, Will Your Dog Catch a Rabbit? Lead Belly 1:29
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
123
Shorty George Lead Belly 0:46
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
124
Stewball Lead Belly 2:34
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
125
Bottle Up and Go Lead Belly 1:25
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
126
You Know I Got to Do It Lead Belly 0:52
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
127
Ain't It a Shame to Go Fishin' on Sunday Lead Belly 1:21
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
128
DeKalb Blues (Ain't Gonna Drink No More) (Version 1) Lead Belly 2:37
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
129
Winnsboro Cotton Mill Blues Lead Belly 2:18
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
130
My Lindy Lou Lead Belly 1:08
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
131
I'm Thinking of a Friend Lead Belly 3:22
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
132
He Never Said a Mumbling Word Lead Belly 2:28
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
133
Gee, But I Want to Go Home (Army Life) Lead Belly 3:59
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
134
In the World Lead Belly 2:01
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
135
I Want to Go Home Lead Belly 1:26
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
201
New Iberia Lead Belly 3:08
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
202
Dancing with Tears in My Eyes Lead Belly 3:11
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
203
John Henry Lead Belly 4:59
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
204
Salty Dog Lead Belly 3:29
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
205
National Defense Blues Lead Belly 3:30
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
206
Easy, Mr. Tom Lead Belly 2:08
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
207
Relax Your Mind Lead Belly 4:09
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
208
Bottle Up and Go Lead Belly 3:36
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
209
Polly Wolly Wee Lead Belly 1:45
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
210
Pig Latin Song Lead Belly 2:10
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
211
Hawaiian Song Lead Belly 2:15
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
212
Drinkin' Lum Y A Alla Lead Belly 1:50
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
213
The Gray Goose Lead Belly 2:17
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
214
Silver City Bound Lead Belly 6:01
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
215
The Titanic Lead Belly 5:14
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
216
Death Letter Blues Lead Belly 3:30
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
217
Oh, Mary Don't You Weep Lead Belly 3:28
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
218
He Never Said a Mumbling Word Lead Belly 2:49
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
301
The Midnight Special Lead Belly 2:11
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
302
Boll Weevil Lead Belly 3:06
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
303
Careless Love Lead Belly 6:29
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
304
Easy Rider Lead Belly 3:00
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
305
Fannin Street (Mr. Tom Hughes' Town)(Cry to Me) Lead Belly 3:31
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
306
DeKalb Blues (Ain't Going to Drink No More) (Version 2) Lead Belly 3:54
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
307
Birmingham Jail Lead Belly 2:56
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
308
Old Riley Lead Belly 1:46
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
309
Julie Ann Johnson Lead Belly 1:11
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
310
It's Tight Like That Lead Belly 3:12
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
311
4, 5 and 9 Lead Belly 4:53
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
312
Good Morning Babe, How Do You Do? Lead Belly 0:41
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
313
Jail House Blues Lead Belly 4:31
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
314
Well, You Know I Had to Do It Lead Belly 2:56
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
315
Irene (Goodnight Irene) (Version 1) Lead Belly 1:22
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
316
Story of the 25 Cent Dude Lead Belly 2:20
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
317
How Come You Do Me Like You Do? Lead Belly 3:24
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
318
Hello Central, Give Me Long Distance Phone Lead Belly 5:29
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
319
Hesitation Blues Lead Belly 2:17
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
320
I'll Be Down on the Last Bread Wagon Lead Belly 3:35
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
401
Digging My Potatoes Lead Belly 4:00
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
402
Springtime in the Rockies Lead Belly 3:02
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
403
Chinatown Lead Belly 1:12
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
404
Rock Island Line Lead Belly 1:57
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
405
Backwater Blues Lead Belly 3:27
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
406
Governor Pat Neff (Sweet Mary) Lead Belly 3:12
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
407
Irene (Goodnight Irene) (Version 2) Lead Belly 2:44
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
408
Easy, Mr. Tom Lead Belly 2:16
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
409
In the Evening When the Sun Goes Down Lead Belly 2:54
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
410
I'm Alone Because I Love You Lead Belly 2:54
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
411
House of the Rising Sun Lead Belly 2:23
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
412
Oh, Mary Don't You Weep Lead Belly 1:58
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
413
Talk About Fannin Street Lead Belly 3:41
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
414
Fannin Street (Mr. Tom Hughes' Town) Lead Belly 3:36
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
415
Sugar'd Beer Lead Belly 1:40
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
416
Didn't Old John Cross the Water? Lead Belly 2:01
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
417
Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out Lead Belly 3:19
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
418
Bully of the Town Lead Belly 2:08
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
419
Sweet Jenny Lee Lead Belly 1:54
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
420
Yellow Gal Lead Belly 2:04
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
421
He Was the Man Lead Belly 3:48
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
422
We're in the Same Boat, Brother Lead Belly 4:16
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
423
Leaving Blues Lead Belly 2:36

Album Info

Catalog Number(s)

SFW40068, FA 2941, FA 2942, FP 241, FP 242

Year(s) Released

1994, 1953

Recording Date(s)

September-October, 1948

Recording Location(s)

Home of Frederic Ramsey, New York, New York, USA

Label/Collection

Smithsonian Folkways Recordings

Genre(s)

African American Music; American Folk; Blues

Country(s)

United States

Culture Group(s)

African American

Instrument(s)

Guitar; Vocals

Language(s)

English

Credit(s)

Frederic Ramsey - Producer, Recorder, Liner Notes
 Lead Belly - Artist
 Anthony Seeger - Producer, Liner Notes
 Matt Walters - Producer, Liner Notes
 Moses Asch - Liner Notes
 Sean Killeen - Liner Notes
 Alan Yoshida - Mastering Engineer
 Visual Dialogue - Designer
 Jeff Place - Liner Notes
Download Liner Notes
TOP

.