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Don't be fooled, know what you're getting, and enjoy. Wonderfully assembled, on the Stardust label (a subsidiary of Cleopatra). One star for listing this as a 34 track collection. It's actually a superb, 5-star, 14 track LP.
This is not the first disappointing cd remastering I've bought on line. Seems like the poor ones are a product of low remastering standards. I loved the Lusty, vibrant Leadbelly on my old LP. But I have some great ones as well. I'm gonna stick to buying in a store. Man, his voice and that great 12-string guitar just filled the room. But this cd remastering is a flunk, sounds like a whine in an adjoining room.
If you're curious about Lead Belly this CD is a great introduction to his music. The CD booklet has a good biography and extensive track notes, along with quotes from Lead Belly himself about selected songs. Included are plenty of Lead Belly playing his legendary 12-string guitar along with some a capella tracks.
Lead Belly (Huddie Ledbetter) was supposedly "discovered" and recorded in prison by John Lomax (the recordings on this CD were recorded by Moses Asch in the 1940s). It includes some of his most memorable songs: "Irene", "Grey Goose", "Cotton Fields", "Sylvie", "Rock Island Line", "Green Corn". Lead Belly is one of the best in American music - he's right up there with Woody Guthrie (if not above him, which is more than arguable) in influence and importance for the formation of 20th century music.
The recording quality is great considering the age of the recordings. If you want more, this series has 2 additional excellent volumes. He also is said to have sung his way into being pardoned (during his second term in prison after being convicted of murder) by the then governor of Texas.
He never became a star, but many of his songs have been re-recorded by popular artists (probably the best-known examples are the covers of "Goodnight, Irene" by the Weavers and "Midnight Special" by Credence Clearwater Revival).This collection is a great starting point for Lead Belly's music.
Its a bit hard to listen to stait through though. This is an essential album to any collection.
if you dig Leadbelly check out Missippi John Hurt, Blind Boy Fuller,Sleepy John Estes, Reverend Gary Davies and early Rory Gallagher. absolutely amazing. especially the haunting "where did you sleep last night.", the field holler "pick a bale o cotton", Midnight Special, Leaving Blues, the funky Rock Island Line an the saddest song ever "Childrens blues" about his mother dying.
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