Southern Journey, Vol. 5: Bad Man Ballads - Songs Of Outlaws And Desperadoes

Alan Lomax | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 22, 1997)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Rounder Select
• ASIN: B0000002UM
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #82,255 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #17 in Music > Indie Music > Blues > Delta Blues
  • #65 in Music > World Music > North America > Appalachian

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Southern Journey, Vol. 5: Bad Man Ballads, December 19, 1999

By 

Gene Jus "Gene" (desert city USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Southern Journey, Vol. 5: Bad Man Ballads - Songs Of Outlaws And Desperadoes (Audio CD)

Alan Lomax recorded these folk songs during the late 1950's in people's houses and in prisons. Incredible to have recordings of prisoners singing to the beat of their axe strokes as they work. Housework seems less mundane when doing it with this music on. Wide range of music represented here, but many of the songs in this volume are concerned with crime, especially murder, and prison life. Two (actually three) great versions of Po' Lazarus, and an interesting John Henry. I would have given it 5 stars except there's 1 track I hate and two others I don't care for. That leaves 14 great tracks.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Voices from a pastoral past, August 28, 2001

By 

"wranx" (Down by the riverside) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Southern Journey, Vol. 5: Bad Man Ballads - Songs Of Outlaws And Desperadoes (Audio CD)

While you can certainly buy music with better production (these songs were produced "on the spot" in sometimes less than ideal conditions),better musicianship and more competent vocals, you would be hard pressed to find a contemporary collection that is more heartfelt and stirring as the one offered here. This music embodies our past ~ the roots from which grew blues and bluegrass. The "artists" represented on this CD are just plain folks that learned their instruments and songs from family and friends,passed down from the preceding generations. When taken within the context of the collection each selection is a gem on its own. Among these gems, many have a rare and haunting beauty. You should buy this CD if you have even a passing interest in American roots music