LEDBELLY — Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order Volume 2 · 1940-1943 | DOCD-5227 (1994) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The Austrian Document Records label continues its series of CDs presenting Leadbelly's commercial recordings in chronological order from 1939 with this second volume, which picks up with the second day of the singer's two days of sessions for RCA Victor Records in June 1940, some of the tracks featuring the Golden Gate Quartet, material issued either on the album The Midnight Special and Other Prison Songs or on singles on the discount-priced Bluebird Records subsidiary. These recordings (tracks one through ten) marked the end of Leadbelly's work for major record labels for the time being. His next, far more informal, commercial sessions were made for the tiny Asch Records label run by Moses Asch (later the founder of Folkways Records) and initially issued on the Asch albums Play Parties in Song and Dance as Sung by Lead Belly; Work Songs of the U.S.A. Sung by Leadbelly; Leadbelly & His Guitar; and Songs by Lead Belly. (Leadbelly also made many recordings for the Library of Congress [issued separately by Document] and airchecks during this period that do not fit into the series' concept of commercial recordings and thus are not included.) Many of Leadbelly's better-known songs are included in these sessions, among them "Easy Rider," "Grey Goose," "Stew Ball," "Skip to My Lou," "Rock Island Line," and "John Henry" (the last featuring Sonny Terry on harmonica). Particularly notable are two 1943 takes of "(Good Night) Irene," a song that would be popularized by the Weavers shortly after Leadbelly's death in 1949. The singer is in prime shape; his guitar playing is typically forceful, and he even plays concertina on some songs. The tracks have been transferred from old vinyl discs, with hiss and crackles audible throughout (and even, in the case of some of the Asch tracks, skips), but the sound quality is generally fair. William Ruhlmann
Tracklist :
1.        Easy Rider    3:10
2.        New York City    3:00
3.        Worried Blues    3:08
4.        Don't You Love Your Daddy No More?    3:03
5.        You Can't Lose-A Me Cholly    3:03
6.        Grey Goose    3:01
7.        Stew Ball    2:58
8.        Take This Hammer    2:59
9.        Can't You Line 'Em    2:55
10.        Ham An' Eggs    2:55
11.        Ha Ha Thisaway    2:38
12.        Little Sally Walker    2:41
13.        Redbird    2:41
14.        Christmas Song    2:41
15.        Skip To My Lou    2:21
16.        You Can't Lose Me Cholly    2:32
17.        Take This Hammer    2:13
18.        Haul Away, Joe    2:12
19.        Rock Island Line    2:04
20.        Ol' Riley    2:31
21.        Corn Bread Rough    2:04
22.        Old Man    2:30
23.        On A Monday    1:46
24.        John Henry    2:14
25.        How Long    2:10
26.        (Good Night) Irene (Tk. 1)    2:21
27.        (Good Night) Irene    2:36
28.        Ain't You Glad    2:01
29.        Good Morning Blues    2:23
Credits : 
Accordion [Button Accordion] – Leadbelly (tracks: 21)
Compiled By, Producer – Johnny Parth
Guitar – Leadbelly (tracks: 1 to 5, 7, 11 to 20, 22 to 29)
Harmonica – Sonny Terry (tracks: 23 to 26, 28, 29)
Liner Notes – Ken Romanowski
Remastered By – Gerhard Wessely
Vocals – Leadbelly, The Golden Gate Quartet (tracks: 6 to 10)