LEDBELLY — Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order Volume 3 · 1943-1944 | DOCD-5228 (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 third volume, which picks up with a session for record company owner Moses Asch (whose label was now called Disc, but who would later found Folkways) probably held in October 1943, material issued on the album Negro Folk Songs as Sung by Leadbelly (tracks one through six). The singer's contract with Asch was nonexclusive, and in February 1944 he returned to Musicraft Records (for which he had recorded in 1939) for sessions that resulted in the album Leadbelly Sings Ballads of Beautiful Women and Bad Men/With the Satin Strings (tracks seven through 14). Asch was back to calling his label Asch Records by April 1944, when Leadbelly cut a series of sessions (tracks 15-26) that appeared on different Asch collections and, after the company's bankruptcy, on Stinson, the company controlled by Asch's partner, who took away some of the masters. Some of Leadbelly's better-known songs are included in these sessions, among them "Bring Me Lil Water Silvy," "In the Pines," and "In New Orleans" (aka "House of the Rising Sun"), and two versions of "John Hardy," and the recordings also are notable for featuring his piano and concertina playing on some tracks and for the presence of Josh White (who duets on "I've a Pretty Flower" and takes lead vocals on "Don't Lie Buddy") and Sonny Terry here and there. On "Blind Lemon (Memorial Record)," Leadbelly demonstrates the style of Blind Lemon Jefferson, whom he used to accompany. The singer is in prime shape, and his guitar playing is typically forceful. The tracks have been transferred from old vinyl discs, with hiss and crackles audible, but the sound quality is generally good. William Ruhlmann
Tracklist :
1.        Cow Cow Yicky Yea / Out On The Western Plains    3:07
2.        Noted Rider / Big Fat Woman / Borrow Love And Go    4:02
3.        John Hardy    4:15
4.        Meeting At The Building / Talking Preaching / We Shall Walk Through The Valley    3:19
5.        Fiddler's Dream / Yallow Gal / Green Corn    3:08
6.        Bring Me Lil Water Silvy / Julia Ann Johnson / Line 'Em / Whoa Back Buck    3:52
7.        Roberta    3:04
8.        Bill Brady    3:03
9.        Where Did You Sleep Last Night?    2:59
10.        Yellow Gal    3:03
11.        When The Boys Were Out On The Western Plains    2:54
12.        Pretty Flowers In Your Backyard    2:43
13.        In New Orleans    3:13
14.        John Hardy    3:10
15.        I've A Pretty Flowers    2:23
16.        Don't Lie Buddy    2:19
17.        How Do You Know / Don't Mind The Weather    2:14
18.        (What Are) Little Boys (Made Of) / Let Me Hold Your Hand (All For You) / Polly Wolly (Polly) Wee    2:16
19.        Skip To My Lou / Christmas Day (It's Almost Over)    1:59
20.        Little Sally Walker / Ha Ha Thisaway / Red Bird    2:34
21.        Outskirts Of Town    2:38
22.        Red River / Black Girl (In The Pines) / Don't Miss Your Water Blues    4:12
23.        Blind Lemon (Memorial Record)    1:23
24.        Leadbelly's Dance    0:50
25.        Mother's Blues (Little Children Blues)    2:30
26.        Mo' Yet / (Little Boy) How Old Are You / There's A Limb On The Tree (Green Grass Grows All Around)    2:51
Credits : 
Accordion [Button Accordion] – Leadbelly (tracks: 3)
Compilation Producer – Johnny Parth
Guitar – Josh White (tracks: 15, 16, 25), Leadbelly (tracks: 1, 2, 4 to 26)
Harmonica – Sonny Terry (tracks: 21, 22)
Liner Notes – Ken Romanowski
Piano – Leadbelly (tracks: 2)
Remastered By – Gerhard Wessely
Speech – Leadbelly (tracks: 23, 24)
Tap Dance – Leadbelly (tracks: 24)
Vocals – Josh White (tracks: 15, 16), Leadbelly