“Songs by Lead Belly” – Lead Belly

Album: Songs by Lead Belly

Artist: Lead Belly

Year: 1944

Genre: Country Blues

Grade: A-

“When I got up this mornin’, blues walkin’ round my bed/I went to eat my breakfast, the blues was all in my bread.”

Lead Belly sleeps, eats and breathes the blues. And as one of the genre’s oldest and original progenitors on record (he was already 54 years old by the time Songs by Lead Belly was recorded), his interpretations are among the most authentic and simplistic. On this early six-song collection, Lead Belly accompanies himself with barren acoustic 12-string guitar and lyrical harmonica. All the while, his clear melodic voice takes center stage, powerfully belting out these ancient American tunes with the bona fide passion they deserve.

Songs by Lead Belly features renditions from old-time folk and blues traditions: “Good Morning Blues” is a humorously menacing stomper, with lyrics that readily admit the genre’s stranglehold on the singer; “How Long?” is a lonesome tune resembling the train-whistle country of Jimmie Rodgers; “Ain’t You Glad?” benefits from its non-stop chugging rhythm; “Goodnight Irene,” one of the best songs of the 1930s, ‘nuff said; “On a Monday” and “John Henry” are rollicking tunes that feature tremendous harmonica in the background.

The six-song collection is another great example of Lead Belly’s mastery of popular styles, effortlessly combining blues, folk and country and wrapping it all up in charisma and larger-than-life personality. And the sound quality is quite good as far as early 1940’s recordings go.

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