In the Shadow of the Gallows Pole (1996)

About this title: There seems to be some kind of unwritten rule against giving exact session dates on most Tradition CD reissues, although at least one of the tracks on In the Shadow of the Gallows Pole comes from 1939. The sleeve does note that the material "is digitally remastered directly from rare, mint condition 78s contained in Leadbelly's first full album, Negro Sinful Songs, and from 78s released on the Stinson label." There's some interest in the variety of instrumentation -- Leadbelly uses not only his 12-string guitar, but also piano and button accordion (the last of which is used to unusual effect ... read more

Tracks:

1. Looky Looky Yonder/Black Betty/Yellow Women's Door Bells [Leadbelly/Lomax/Lom]
2. Poor Howard/Green Corn [Leadbelly/Lomax/Lom]
3. De Blues [Leadbelly/Lomax/Lom]
4. The Gallis Pole [Leadbelly/Lomax/Lom]
5. The Bourgeois Blues [Leadbelly/Lomax]
6. Noted Rider [Leadbelly/Lomax/Lom]
7. Big Fat Woman [Leadbelly]
8. Bottle Up and Go [Traditional]
9. Bring Me Li'l Water, Silvy [Leadbelly/Lomax/Lom]
10. Julie Ann Johnson [Leadbelly/Lomax/Lom]
11. Line 'Em [Leadbelly/Lomax/Lom]
12. Whoa Back Buck [Back Band] [Leadbelly/Lomax/Lom]
13. John Hardy [Leadbelly]

Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is further described below.