Classic African-American Ballads from Smithsonian Folkways

Classic African-American Ballads is a sampling of an important, historic, and engaging slice of America's Black music heritage. The heyday of the Black ballad tradition (1890-1920) left a lasting strain of creativity and a monument to African American life of the time. Ranging from songs created from the heritage of the English ballad, to social commentary vilifying abusive white authority figures, to "blues ballads," this album reminds us of the enormity and constant evolution of African American musical tradition. 36-page booklet. 22 tracks. 67 minutes.

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Track Listing

101	Mouse on the Hill (Froggie Went a-Courting)	Warner Williams with Jay Summerour	03:44
102	Casey Jones	K.C. Douglas	01:23
103	John Hardy	Lead Belly	02:43
104	Railroad Bill	John Jackson	03:33
105	Stewball	Memphis Slim and Willie Dixon	03:33
106	John Henry	Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee	04:04
107	St. James Infirmary	Snooks Eaglin	02:20
108	Staggerlee (Stackolee)	John Cephas and Phil Wiggins	05:03
109	Lost John	Convict Group, Ramsey and Retrieve State Farms	04:54
110	Betty and Dupree	Josh White	03:45
111	Old Riley / Here, Rattler, Here	Lead Belly	01:58
112	The Race of the Jim Lee and Katy Adam	Jazz Gillum, Memphis Slim, and Arbee Stidham	02:27
113	The Titanic	Pink Anderson	02:49
114	Frankie and Johnny	Big Bill Broonzy	02:07
115	White House Blues	Earl Taylor and the Stoney Mountain Boys	01:59
116	Louis Collins	John Jackson	03:18
117	Bad Lee Brown (Late One Night)	Woody Guthrie	02:14
118	Luke and Mullen	Horace Sprott	02:25
119	Duncan and Brady	Dave Van Ronk	03:00
120	Gallis Pole (The Maid Freed from the Gallows)	Lead Belly	02:45
121	Boll Weevil	Pink Anderson	03:04
122	Delia's Gone	Josh White Jr.	03:45