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Various Artists - Prison Songs Vol. 2: 1947-48

Track listing:
  1. Don'tcha Hear Poor Mother Calling? - Hollie Dew, Bull & Group 3:36
  2. Jonh Henry - "22" & Group 0:31
  3. Strongest Man I Ever Saw - Bama 3:15
  4. Well, I Wonder - Dobie Red & Group 0:38
  5. Lies - Bama, Dobie Red 3:20
  6. Bama - I'm Goin' Home 2:05
  7. More Lies - Bama, "22", & Bull 2:07
  8. O'berta - Bull & Group 2:03
  9. Disability Boogie Woogie - Curry Childress 4:04
  10. O Rosie - "22" & Group 2:08
  11. Hollers - Dobie Red, Foots 3:42
  12. Stewball - "22" & Group With Axes 1:30
  13. Fox Chase - Curry Childress, C.B. Banks 2:46
  14. Katy Left Memphis - Percy Wilson 1:32
  15. About Prison Singers - Interview With Dobie Red 2:29
  16. Rosie - "88" & Group 1:47
  17. High Rollin' Sergeant - Tangle Eye 4:12
  18. Garbage Man - Toast By George Johnson 3:49
  19. When I Went To Leland - "22" & Group 0:45
  20. Prodigal Son - George Johnson 3:05
  21. I'm Goin' To Memphis - Percy Wilson & Group 1:58
  22. Untitled - Unknown 1:38

Notes


These were recorded during the same field trips to Parchman Farm that yielded the material heard on Rounder's Prison Songs Vol. 1. Unlike that set, everything here is previously unreleased; what's more, most of the singers on this collection were not heard on the other volume. It's quite similar to Vol. 1, however, in that most of the material is a cappella, much of it recorded while the men were at work. Perhaps it's a bit starker and rawer, although exactly what made some selections suitable for release while others remain unissued is not obvious, other than the intrinsic lack of commercial potential for several discs' worth of projects of this nature. These performances, like those on the previous volume, project great spiritual fortitude, with a dignity and force that evokes more admiration than pity.