Customer Reviews

Where Did You Sleep Last Night: Leadbelly Legacy 1

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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. 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). 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. It includes some of his most memorable songs: "Irene", "Grey Goose", "Cotton Fields", "Sylvie", "Rock Island Line", "Green Corn". The recording quality is great considering the age of the recordings. Included are plenty of Lead Belly playing his legendary 12-string guitar along with some a capella tracks. The CD booklet has a good biography and extensive track notes, along with quotes from Lead Belly himself about selected songs. If you're curious about Lead Belly this CD is a great introduction to his music. If you want more, this series has 2 additional excellent volumes.

(67') This is the first of three volumes in the Smithsonian's Lead Belly Legacy series, probably the best set for just listening to Lead Belly play and sing. All three CDs are taken from Moses Asch's original studio masters (as opposed to most other available compilations on reprint labels, which are made from secondary sources); the other two are Vol. 2 "Bourgeois Blues" SF40045 (72'), and Vol. 3 "Shout On" SF40105 (70'). As usual, the Smithsonian provides extensive and authoritative notes.

Leadbelly slices through the blues like a hot knife through butter! His mastery of the 12-string guitar and wailing vibrato vocals cause your toes to tingle and your mouth to water. The sound quality is a little shaky at times but the CD is a better alternative than spinning the old records on your turntable. LEADBELLY- Blues at its best!

After hearing kurt cobain cover where did you sleep last night on the unplugged album I thought it only right that I go and check out the original. I am glad I did - this record has the intense emotion I liked in nirvana, the same kind of difficult subject matter mixed with a knowing pop tune. I reject all other rock bands - william burroughs said something about rock'n'roll was rubbish - if you want to hear real soul listen to leadbelly.. I can see why kurt loved this guy, shame none of my friends can..

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. if you dig Leadbelly check out Missippi John Hurt, Blind Boy Fuller,Sleepy John Estes, Reverend Gary Davies and early Rory Gallagher.

its hard to overestimate the impact lead belly had on music. i nearly flipped my wig when i first heard this. as a songwriter lead belly is hard to top. he was doing the same thing as blues giants son house and robert johnson were doing but lead belly has a certain passion to what he does. i'm very compelled by lead belly. he is one of my all time favorite singer/songwriters.

I first got into Leadbelly about three years ago, after hearing various things about him and having a little listen. Leadbelly is one of the originals. Some musicians today, well, everyone knows that manufactured is too nice a term. Leadbelly lived how he sang, he lived a hard life and sang hard songs, but the amount of sheer beauty he can put into some of these tunes is breathtaking. Classics such as 'Leavin BLues' still have relevance today and others such as 'green corn' are great to sing along to. Leadbelly has a lot of detractors, he seems to be someone you either love or hate, but if he could get his way out of jail on a murder sentance by composing a song for the jail governer ('Governer OK Allen' is the tune) then he must have been onto something. This CD contains a pretty good summation of his work, so if you are into your blues and appreciate real skill, then buy this.

This is one of the most amazing blues albums I've ever owned! I highly recommend it!!!

I loved the Lusty, vibrant Leadbelly on my old LP. 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. This is not the first disappointing cd remastering I've bought on line. But I have some great ones as well. Seems like the poor ones are a product of low remastering standards. I'm gonna stick to buying in a store.

One star for listing this as a 34 track collection. It's actually a superb, 5-star, 14 track LP. Wonderfully assembled, on the Stardust label (a subsidiary of Cleopatra). Don't be fooled, know what you're getting, and enjoy!