The Midnight Special and Other Southern Prison Songs

The Midnight Special and Other Southern Prison Songs
Studio album by Lead Belly
Released 1941
Recorded June 15-17, 1940, Camden, New Jersey
Genre Folk, blues
Length 18:31
Label Victor Records
Producer Robert P. Weatherald

The Midnight Special and Other Southern Prison Songs is an album by Lead Belly and the Golden Gate Quartet, recorded for Victor Records in Camden, New Jersey in 1940 and released in 1941.

In 1939, Lead Belly was back in jail for assault after stabbing a man in a fight in Manhattan. Alan Lomax, then 24, took him under his wing and helped raise money for his legal expenses, dropping out of graduate school to do so. He was signed by and started to record six sides for Victor Records.[1]

It was Lomax's original intent to record songs in prison, but instead a recording studio was used. To create a "prison" feel Lomax suggested that the Golden Gate Quartet back Lead Belly. However, the Golden Gate Quartet was a polished, professional group, and Lead Belly had to teach them how to sing as a group of prisoners would sing the selected songs.[2]

The Midnight Special and Other Southern Prison Songs was originally released as one three-disc collection of 78 rpm records. Six sides, including the double-sided "The Midnight Special", were included in this release. All tracks were recorded at Victor Studios in Camden, New Jersey on June 15-17, 1940.

An image of the original 78 record from Lead Belly's Victor album.

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."The Midnight Special"3:07
2."Ham and Eggs"2:59
3."Grey Goose"2:57
4."Stewball"3:01
5."Pick a Bale of Cotton"3:01
6."Alabama Bound"3:03

References

  1. ↑ https://www.thestoryoftexas.com/discover/artifacts/grey-goose-78-rpm-by-lead-belly
  2. ↑ Szwed, John (2010). Alan Lomax: The Man Who Recorded the World. Penguin. p. 169. ISBN 9781101190340.
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