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Negro Folk Music of Alabama, Vol. 5: Spirituals

Dock Reed and Vera Hall Ward
Negro Folk Music of Alabama, Vol. 5: Spirituals This album is the fifth in a series of volumes dedicated to " American negro music," showcasing spirituals performed by Dock Reed (1878-1958) and Vera Hall Ward (1902-1964). Reed was a deeply religious man whose repertoire was stayed within spiritual music rather than secular or " sinful" songs. Ward was Reed’s cousin, and both worked in manual labor (Reed in agriculture, Ward in house work). This plays into the elements of typical aspects of the work songs within this genre, such as responsive singing and rhythmic punctuation used to mark labor tasks, such as striking a nail with a hammer. The clear, direct singing on this album serves as documentation of this music rather than focusing on the performance element of the music. Liner notes include an overview of the entire series of Negro Folk Music of Alabama , as well as notes and lyrics specific to this volume.

Track Listing

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101
I'm Going Home on the Morning Train Dock Reed 02:01
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102
My God Ain't No Lying Man Dock Reed and Vera Hall Ward 02:13
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103
Where the Sun Will Never Go Down Dock Reed 02:06
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104
Troubled Lord I'm Troubled Dock Reed and Vera Hall Ward 01:31
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105
Look How They Done My lord Dock Reed and Vera Hall Ward 02:03
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106
Job Job Dock Reed and Vera Hall Ward 02:16
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107
What Month Was Jesus Born In Vera Hall Ward 02:10
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108
Somebody's Talking About Jesus Dock Reed and Vera Hall Ward 01:31
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201
Death is Awful Dock Reed and Vera Hall Ward 01:46
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202
I'm Climbing Up the Hills of Mt. Zion Dock Reed and Vera Hall Ward 01:43
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203
Low Down the Chariot and Let Me Ride Dock Reed and Vera Hall Ward 02:09
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204
The Blood Done Signed My Name Dock Reed and Vera Hall Ward 03:23
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205
Everybody Talkin' About Heaven Ain't Goin' There Dock Reed and Vera Hall Ward 02:51
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206
Noah, Noah Vera Hall Ward 01:25
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207
Plumb the Line Dock Reed and Vera Hall Ward 01:39
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208
Travelling Shoes Vera Hall Ward 01:43