These powerful performances date from 1939-43 when Ledbetter had moved to New York City after his years in prison. He was a fluid performer and his command of his trademark 12-string guitar is evident. Recorded by John and Alan Lomax, these sessions include "BollWeevil," "The Titanic," "Tight like That" and "Henry Ford Blues."
Lead Belly - The Library Of Congress Recordings Vol 1 - Midnight Special. Rounder CD-1044 (1991)
01. Irene [44-A]
02. Irene [44-B-1]
03. Matchbox Blues [123-B]
04. Midnight Special [124-A-1]
05. Governor O. K. Allen [124-B-2]
06. Frankie And Albert [125-A]
07. Ella Speed [125-B]
08. Which Way Do The Red River Run ? [128-A]
09. Get Up In The Mornin' So Doggone Soon [128-B]
10. You Don't Know My Mind [129-A]
11. I'm Sorry Mama [126-B]
12. Take A Whiff On Me [45-A]
13. De Kalb Blues [47-A]
14. Roberta [51-B]
15. Careless Love [52-A]
Lead Belly - The Library Of Congress Recordings Vol 2 - Gwine Dig A Hole To Put The Devil In. Rounder CD-1045 (1991)
01. C. C. Rider [52-B]
02. Governor Pat Neff (Sweet Mary) [53-A]
03. Becky Dean [129-B-2]
04. The Medicine Man [138-A]
05. Alberta [140-A]
06. Old Rattler [156-A]
07. If It Wasn't For Dicky [993-B]
08. Queen Mary [997-B]
09. Turn Yo' Radio On [998-A-1]
10. Mama, Did You Bring Any Silver ? (Gallis Pole) [2501-A]
11. The Bourgeois Blues [2502-B-2]
12. Po' Howard [4469-B-1]
13. Dance Calls (including "A Dollar Bill: Baby Won't You Buy Any Shoes") [4469-B-2]
14. Gwine Dig A Hole To Put The Devil In [4469-B-3]
15. Green Corn [4469-B-5]
Lead Belly - The Library Of Congress Recordings Vol 3 - Let It Shine On Me. Rounder CD-1046 (1991)
01. Monologue On The Mourner's Bench [4470-B-(a)]
02. You Must Have That Religion, Halleloo [4470-B-1]
03. Backslider, Fare Thee Well [4470-B-2]
04. Must I Be Carried To The Sky On Flowered Beds Of Ease ? [4470-B-4]
05. Down In The Valley To Pray [4470-B-6]
06. Let Is Shine On Me [4471-B-1]
07. Run Sinners [4472-A-1]
08. Ride On [4472-A-2]
09. Howard Hughes [4472-B-2]
10. Cowboy Song (When I Was A Cowboy) [4472-B-4]
11. Leaving Blues [4473-A-1]
12. The Roosevelt Song [4473-A-2]
13. The Scottsboro Boys [4473-A-3]
14. No Good ("Noted") Rider [4473-B-1]
15. Blues About New York ("So Doggone Soon") [4473-B-3]
16. Mr. Hitler [6407-B-2]
Lead Belly - The Library Of Congress Recordings Vol 4 - The Titanic. Rounder CD-1097 (1994)
01. Blind Lemon Blues [123-A]
02. Mister Tom Hughes' Town [246-B-3]
03. The Shreveport Jail [250-B-1]
04. Don't You Love Me No More [143-A]
05. Henry Ford Blues [143-B]
06. Julie Ann Johnson [44-B-2]
07. Angola Blues (So Doggone Soon) [51-A]
08. Dallas And Fort Worth Blues [130-A]
09. Mary Don't You Weep [131-A]
10. Easy Mr. Tom [134-A]
11. I Ain't Bothered A Bit [134-B]
12. Boll Weevil [135-A]
13. The Titanic [136-A]
14. Red Cross Sto' [138-B]
15. Fo' Day Worry Blues [140-B]
16. Hesitation Blues [141-A-1]
17. Take Me Back [141-A-2]
18. Tight Like Taht [142-A]
19. Sail On, Little Girl [4470-A-1]
Lead Belly - The Library Of Congress Recordings Vol 5 - Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen. Rounder CD-1098 (1994)
01. Ho Day [48-A-1]
02. One Dollar Bill Baby [48-A-2]
03. Ain't Goin' Down To The Well No More [48-B]
04. Shorty George [150-A]
05. Ha-Ha Thisaway [151-A]
06. Where De Sun Done Gone [153-A]
07. Bring Me Water Silvy [153-B]
08. Monkey Men [995-A]
09. I Ain't Gonna Ring Dem Yallow Women's Do' Bells [995-B-1]
10. Rock Island Line [995-B-2]
11. Billy the Weaver [157-B-2]
12. Ain' Goin' Drink No Mo' [996-B]
13. New York City [997-A]
14. The Hindenburg Disaster [998-B-1]
15. The Hindenburg Disaster [998-B-2]
16. Git On Board [2021-B]
17. Outshine The Sun [2502-A-2]
18. Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen [2503-A-1]
19. Little John Henry [2503-A-2]
Lead Belly - The Library Of Congress Recordings Vol 6 - Go Down Old Hannah. Rounder CD-1099 (1994)
01. T.B. Blues [4469-A-2]
02. How Long? [4469-A-3]
03. When the Train Comes Along [4469-A-4]
04. Monologue On Square Dances (or) Sooky Jumps [4469-B-(a)]
05. Monologue On (The) Blues [4470-A-(a)]
06. Amazing Grace [4470-B-3]
07. Old Time Religion [4471-B-8]
08. Stand Your Test In Judgement [4471-B-9]
09. Christmas [4472-A-4]
10. John Henry [4472-A-5]
11. John Hardy [4472-B-1]
12. Go Down, Old Hannah [50-B]
13. Oh, Something on My Mind [4471-B-3]
14. How Long? [4471-B-4]
15. Swing Low, Sweet Chariot [4471-B-5]
16. Ain't Goin' Study War No More [4471-B-6]
17. Join The Band [4471-B-7]
18. Prayer [4472-A-3]
