Parchman Farm: Photographs and Field Recordings, 1947–1959

~ Release by Various Artists (see all versions of this release, 2 available)

Annotation

First released 1957 (partially) as Negro Prison Songs, Tradition Records TLP-1020.

Recorded at the Mississippi State Penitentiary, Lambert, MS. (Camp B), November/December 1947 and Parchman, MS. (Camps 7, 11 and dairy), October 1959.

124-page hardcover book with 2 CDs, includes slipcase and foil stamping
44 audio recordings, 12 previously unreleased, all newly remastered;
77 photographs, many published here for the first time;
Essays by Alan Lomax, Anna Lomax Wood, and Bruce Jackson.
Produced by Steven Lance Ledbetter, founder of Dust-to-Digital, and Nathan Salsburg, curator of the Alan Lomax Archive.

Tracklist

1▼CD: 1947‐’48 Work Songs & Hollers
#TitleArtistLength
1Murderer’s Home
producer:
Alan Lomax
background vocals:
5 unidentified men
lead vocals:
Henry Jimpson Wallace
field recordings:
Alan Lomax (on 1948-02-01)
recorded at:
Unidentified camp, Parchman Farm (Mississippi State Penitentiary) in Sunflower County, Mississippi, United States (on 1948-02-01)
Jimpson0:53
2Rosie
percussion [axes] and background vocals:
unidentified men
lead vocals:
C.B. Cook ("88")
field recordings:
Alan Lomax (on 1948-02-01)
recorded at:
Unidentified camp, Parchman Farm (Mississippi State Penitentiary) in Sunflower County, Mississippi, United States (on 1948-02-01)
C.B. Cook4:31
3It Makes a Long Time Man Feel Bad
percussion [hoes] and background vocals:
unidentified men
lead vocals:
Benny Will Richardson (“22”)
field recordings:
Alan Lomax (in 1947)
recorded at:
Lambert Camp, Parchman Farm (Mississippi State Penitentiary) in Sunflower County, Mississippi, United States (in 1947)
Benny Will Richardson2:40
4Whoa Buck
vocals:
C.B. Cook ("88")
field recordings:
Alan Lomax (on 1948-02-01)
recorded at:
Unidentified camp, Parchman Farm (Mississippi State Penitentiary) in Sunflower County, Mississippi, United States (on 1948-02-01)
C.B. Cook4:02
5When I Went to Leland
percussion [hoe]:
Benny Will Richardson ("22"), Walter “Tangle Eye” Jackson, Little Red and Willie Lacey ("Hard Hat")
vocals:
Benny Will Richardson ("22"), Walter “Tangle Eye” Jackson, Little Red and Willy Lacey ("Hard Hat")
field recordings:
Alan Lomax (in 1947)
recorded at:
Lambert Camp, Parchman Farm (Mississippi State Penitentiary) in Quitman County, Mississippi, United States (in 1947)
Benny Will Richardson, Willie Lacey, Little Red & Walter “Tangle Eye” Jackson3:06
6I’m Going to Memphis
Percy Wilson1:45
7The Prettiest Train I Ever Saw
percussion [hoes] and background vocals:
unidentified men
lead vocals:
Benny Will Richardson (“22”)
field recordings:
Alan Lomax (in 1947)
recorded at:
Lambert Camp, Parchman Farm (Mississippi State Penitentiary) in Sunflower County, Mississippi, United States (in 1947)
Benny Will Richardson3:47
8John Henry
percussion [hoes]:
unidentfied men
background vocals:
unidentified men
lead vocals:
Benny Will Richardson ("22")
field recordings:
Alan Lomax (in 1947)
recorded at:
Lambert Camp, Parchman Farm (Mississippi State Penitentiary) in Sunflower County, Mississippi, United States (in 1947)
edit of:
John Henry (introduction) / John Henry by W.D. “Bama” Stewart / “22” & group with hoes
Benny Will Richardson3:15
9John Old Alabama
percussion [axes] and background vocals:
Prisoners at Mississippi State Penitentiary
lead vocals:
Dan Barnes
field recordings:
Alan Lomax (on 1948-02-09)
recorded at:
Unidentified camp, Parchman Farm (Mississippi State Penitentiary) in Sunflower County, Mississippi, United States (on 1948-02-09)
Dan Barnes3:06
10Hollers
Milton “Foots” Smith1:33
11Stewball
percussion [hoe]:
Tim "Dobie Red" Taylor and unidentfied men
vocals:
Tim "Dobie Red" Taylor
field recordings:
Alan Lomax (in 1947)
recorded at:
Lambert Camp, Parchman Farm (Mississippi State Penitentiary) in Quitman County, Mississippi, United States (in 1947)
Tim "Dobie Red" Taylor3:08
12Levee Camp Hollers
W.D. “Bama” Stewart2:54
13Early in the Morning
lead vocals:
"22" (Benny Will Richardson)
vocals:
"Hart Hat" (Willie Lacey), "Little Red" and "Tangle Eye" Walter Jackson
field recordings:
Alan Lomax (from 1947-11 until 1947-12)
recorded at:
Mississippi State Penitentiary in Sunflower County, Mississippi, United States and Camp B, Parchman Farm (Mississippi State Penitentiary) in Quitman County, Mississippi, United States (from 1947-11 until 1947-12)
Benny Will Richardson, Willie Lacey, Little Red & Walter “Tangle Eye” Jackson4:48
14I Got a Bulldog (Well I Wonder)
percussion [hoes] and background vocals:
unidentified men
lead vocals:
Tim "Dobie Red" Taylor
field recordings:
Alan Lomax (in 1947)
recorded at:
Lambert Camp, Parchman Farm (Mississippi State Penitentiary) in Quitman County, Mississippi, United States (in 1947)
Tim "Dobie Red" Taylor3:22
15Dollar Mamie
percussion [hoes] and background vocals:
unidentified men
lead vocals:
Benny Will Richardson (“22”)
field recordings:
Alan Lomax (in 1947)
recorded at:
Lambert Camp, Parchman Farm (Mississippi State Penitentiary) in Sunflower County, Mississippi, United States (in 1947)
Benny Will Richardson3:30
16Stackalee
W.D. “Bama” Stewart4:09
17I Don’t Want No Jet Black Woman
percussion [axes]:
Prisoners at Mississippi State Penitentiary
vocals:
Dan Barnes
field recordings:
Alan Lomax (on 1948-02-09)
recorded at:
Unidentified camp, Parchman Farm (Mississippi State Penitentiary) in Sunflower County, Mississippi, United States (on 1948-02-09)
Dan Barnes3:04
18Did You Hear About Louella Wallace?
percussion [hoe]:
Hollie “Bull” Dew, Milton “Foots” Smith and Tim "Dobie Red" Taylor
vocals:
Hollie “Bull” Dew, Milton “Foots” Smith and Tim "Dobie Red" Taylor
field recordings:
Alan Lomax (in 1947)
recorded at:
Lambert Camp, Parchman Farm (Mississippi State Penitentiary) in Quitman County, Mississippi, United States (in 1947)
Hollie “Bull” Dew & Tim "Dobie Red" Taylor2:39
19Tangle Eye’s Blues
recorded in:
Sunflower County, Mississippi, United States (in 1947)
vocals:
Walter “Tangle Eye” Jackson
field recordings:
Alan Lomax (in 1947)
recorded at:
Lambert Camp, Parchman Farm (Mississippi State Penitentiary) in Quitman County, Mississippi, United States (in 1947)
Walter “Tangle Eye” Jackson3:08
20Rosie
percussion [hoes] and background vocals:
unidentified men
lead vocals:
Benny Will Richardson ("22")
field recordings:
Alan Lomax (in 1947)
recorded at:
Lambert Camp, Parchman Farm (Mississippi State Penitentiary) in Sunflower County, Mississippi, United States (in 1947)
Benny Will Richardson3:45
21I’m Going Home
W.D. “Bama” Stewart4:06
22No More My Lord
percussion [axes]:
Prisoners at Mississippi State Penitentiary
vocals:
Henry Jimpson Wallace
field recordings:
Alan Lomax (on 1948-02-09)
recorded at:
Unidentified camp, Parchman Farm (Mississippi State Penitentiary) in Sunflower County, Mississippi, United States (on 1948-02-09)
Jimpson2:54
23The Weather Get Warm
[unknown]0:12
2▶CD: 1947‐’48 Blues / 1959 Work Songs & Hollers