✕
1/
Skip to main content

Shop

Prison Worksongs

Various Artists
Prison Worksongs
View Cart
Download $9.99
Download $9.99
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

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

Album Info

Catalog Number

ARH00448

Year(s) Released

1997

Recording Date(s)

1959

Recording Location(s)

Louisiana State Penitentiary, Angola, Louisiana

Label/Collection

Arhoolie Records

Genre(s)

Blues

Instrument(s)

Vocals; Vocals, lead
Download Liner Notes

Folkways Suggests

TOP

.