These songs are as American as the Mississippi River. They were born out of the very rock and earth of this country, as black hands broke the soil, moved it, reformed it, and rivers of stinging sweat poured upon the land under the blazing heat of Southern skies. These songs are mounted upon the passion that this struggle with nature brought forth. Even more importantly, they tell us much of the story of the slave gang, the sharecropper system, the lawless work camp, the chain gang, the pen. Here is the dark, fertile soil that gave rise to the blues. Indeed, these recordings, made in the heart of the Delta where the blues took shape at the turn of the century, provide the background for America’s most important song-form.

CD 1

LISTEN LISTEN LISTEN LISTEN LISTEN LISTEN LISTEN LISTEN LISTEN LISTEN LISTEN LISTEN LISTEN LISTEN LISTEN LISTEN LISTEN

01. Murder’s Home - sung by “Jimpson” & five others 02. No More, My Lawd - sung by “Jimpson” and men with axes 03. Old Alabama - sung by “B.B” and six others 04. Black Woman - sung by “B.B”. and six others 05. Jumpin’ Judy - sung by “Tangle Eye”, “Fuzzy Red”, “Hard Hair” and others 06. Whoa Buck - sung by “C.B.” 07. Prettiest Train - sung by “22” with group 08. Old Dollar Mamie - sung by “22” with group 09. Makes A Long Time Man Feel Bad - sung by “22” with group 10. Rosie - sung by “C.B.” and ten others with axes 11. Levee Camp Holler - sung by “Bama” 12. What Makes A Work Song Leader? - (Interview with prisoners) 13. Early In The Mornin’ - sung by “22”, “Little Red”, “Tangle Eye” and “Hard Hair” 14. How I Got In The Penitentiary - (Interview) 15. Tangle Eye Blues - sung by “Tangle Eye” 16. Stackerlee - sung by “Bama” 17. Prison Blues - ung and played on harmonica by “Alex”

CD 2

LISTEN LISTEN LISTEN LISTEN LISTEN LISTEN LISTEN LISTEN LISTEN LISTEN LISTEN LISTEN LISTEN

01. Duckin’ And Dodgin’ - Hogman Maxey 02. My Baby’s Got To Go - John Henry Jackson 03. Penitentiary Blues - Otis Webster 04. Lonesome Blues - Guitar Welch 05. They’ll Miss Me When I’m Gone - Jesse Butcher & Guitar Welch 06. Rock Me Mama - Hogman Maxey 07. Boll Weevil Blues - Guitar Welch 08. Hard-Headed Woman - Hogman Maxey 09. Standing At The Greyhound Bus Station - Otis Webster 10. Tell Me Pretty Baby - John Henry Jackson 11. Ball And Chain For Me - Otis Webster 12. Bad Luck Blues - Guitar Welch 13. Goin’ Home To My Old Used To Be - The Cool Cats