Prison Worksongs

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 incarcerated people 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 woman incarcerated at the state penitentiary in Angola. The liner notes are written by Dr. Oster.

Track Listing

101	Berta	Big Louisiana, Rev. Rogers, and Roosevelt Charles	03:51
102	Take This Hammer (1)	Guitar Welch, Hogman Maxey, and Andy Mosely	03:27
103	Stewball	Rev. Rogers, Big Louisiana, and Jose Smith	02:25
104	Five Long Years for One Man	Odea Mathews	01:29
105	Alberta Let Your Bangs Grow Long	Guitar Welch, Hogman Maxey, and Andy Mosely	03:28
106	I Had Five Long Years	James Russell	02:16
107	Early in the Mornin'	Johnny Butler	05:28
108	All Teamed Up in Angola's Mule Lot	Roosevelt Charles, Arthur Davis, and Big Louisiana	03:32
109	I Got a Hurtin' in My Right Side	Willy Rafus and work gang	02:13
110	Let Your Hammer Ring	Big Louisiana, Willy Rafus, and Arthur Davis	07:20
111	Cleaning This Highway	Willy Rafus, Andy Mosely, and Johnny Butler	03:58
112	John Henry	Guitar Welch, Hogman Maxey, and Robert Pete Williams	02:42
113	Something Within Me	Odea Mathews	02:38
114	Jesus Cares	Murray Macon	01:55
115	Working on the Levee, Pt. 1: Good Morning Captain	Emanuel Dunn	09:37
116	Working on the Levee, Pt. 2	Emanuel Dunn	03:53
117	Take This Hammer (2)	Big Louisiana	05:27
118	Pickin' Cotton All Day Long	Creola and Ceola Scott	01:35
119	My Mule Grey (A Plowing Song)	Emanuel Dunn	05:18