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Prison Worksongs

Various Artists
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

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101
Big Louisiana, Rev. Rogers, and Roosevelt Charles
03:51
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102
Guitar Welch, Hogman Maxey, and Andy Mosely
03:27
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103
Rev. Rogers, Big Louisiana, and Jose Smith
02:25
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104
Odea Mathews
01:29
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105
Guitar Welch, Hogman Maxey, and Andy Mosely
03:28
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106
James Russell
02:16
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107
Johnny Butler
05:28
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108
Roosevelt Charles, Arthur Davis, and Big Louisiana
03:32
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109
Willy Rafus and work gang
02:13
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110
Big Louisiana, Willy Rafus, and Arthur Davis
07:20
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111
Willy Rafus, Andy Mosely, and Johnny Butler
03:58
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112
Guitar Welch, Hogman Maxey, and Robert Pete Williams
02:42
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113
Odea Mathews
02:38
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114
Murray Macon
01:55
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115
Emanuel Dunn
09:37
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116
Emanuel Dunn
03:53
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117
Big Louisiana
05:27
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118
Creola and Ceola Scott
01:35
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119
Emanuel Dunn
05:18