Prison Worksongs

Various Artists

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In the late 1950s, ethnomusicologist professor Dr. Harry Oster made a series of field recordings at state penitentiaries in Louisiana. This collection focuses on the type of prison work songs sung by inmates performing physically demanding labor. Of note is a version of the African American ballad “John Henry” sung by a trio with Robert Pete Williams and two songs sung by Odea Matthews, a female inmate at the state penitentiary in Angola. The liner notes are written by Dr. Oster.

Track Listing

101	Berta	Big Louisiana (Rodney Mason), Rev. Rogers, & Roosevelt Charles	3:51
102	Take This Hammer	Guitar Welch, Hogman Maxey, & Andy Mosely	3:27
103	Stewball	Rev. Rogers, Big Louisiana, & Jose Smith	2:25
104	Five Long Years for One Man	Odea Mathews	1:29
105	Alberta Let Your Bangs Grow Long	Guitar Welch, Hogman Maxey, & Andy Mosely	3:28
106	I Had Five Long Years	James Russell	2:16
107	Early in the Mornin'	Johnny Butler	5:28
108	All Teamed Up in Angola's Mule Lot	Roosevelt Charles, Arthur Davis, & Big Louisiana	3:32
109	I Got a Hurtin' in My Right Side	Willy Rafus and Work Gang	2:13
110	Let Your Hammer Ring	Big Louisiana, Willy Rafus, & Arthur Davis	7:20
111	Cleaning This Highway	Willy Rafus, Andy Mosely, & Johnny Butler	3:58
112	John Henry	Guitar Welch, Hogman Maxey, & Robert Pete Williams	2:42
113	Something Within Me	Odea Mathews	2:38
114	Jesus Cares	Murray Macon	1:55
115	Working on the Levee, Pt. 1 (Good Morning Captain)	Emanuel Dunn	9:37
116	Working on the Levee, Pt. 2	Emanuel Dunn	3:53
117	Take This Hammer	Big Louisiana	5:27
118	Pickin' Cotton All Day Long	Creola And Ceola Smith	1:35
119	My Mule Grey (A Plowing Song)	Emanuel Dunn	5:18

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Prison Worksongs

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