Big Brazos: Texas Prison Recordings, 1933 and 1934
( Rounder Records 2000 )Part of the Deep River of Song Series
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Prisons were the last home for the work song tradition that African slaves had used to keep themselves alive in the brutal plantation economy of the American South. The Texas prisoners recorded here used work songs in the same way and for the same reasons. These songs have a variety of subjects, but what they're really about is staying alive in hell.
1. AIN'T NO MORE CANE ON THE BRAZOS (2:47) Ernest Williams and group
2. BLACK BETTY (1:24) James "Iron Head" Baker and group
3. OLD RATTLER (3:20) Moses "Clear Rock" Platt and James “Iron Head” Baker
4. STEWBALL (3:07) Lightnin' Washington and group
5. LONG JOHN (2:34) Lightnin' Washington and group
6. GO ‘WAY, EADIE (2:12) Dave Tippin and Lightnin’ Washington
7. BLACK GAL (2:33) Lightnin' Washington and group
8. GONNA BE A WITNESS FOR MY LORD (1:39) Lightnin' Washington, Dave Tippin, and group
9. HAMMER RING (2:39) Lightnin' Washington and group
10. I WONDER WHAT'S THE MATTER (3:01) Lightnin' Washington and group
11. GREAT GOD A’MIGHTY (LONG HOT SUMMER DAYS) (3:32) Lightnin' Washington and group
12. GO DOWN, OLD HANNAH (2:38) Ernest Williams and group
13. JOHNNY WON'CHA RAMBLE (1:39) Dave Tippin and Lightnin’ Washington
14. GO ON, OLD ‘GATOR (1:41) Augustus "Track Horse" Haggerty and group
15. OLD RATTLER (2:38) Augustus "Track Horse" Haggerty and group
16. GOD A’MIGHTY DRAG (3:23) Augustus “Track Horse” Haggerty
17. MAMA, MAMA (2:54) Augustus “Track Horse” Haggerty
18. DROP, OLD DIAMOND (6:05) Jesse Bradley and group
19. WACO IDA (3:36) Jesse Bradley and group
20. HAMMER RING (2:39) Jesse Bradley and group