Parchman Farm: Photographs and Field Recordings, 1947–1959

~ Release by Various Artists (see all versions of this release, 2 available)

Annotation

First released 1957 (partially) as Negro Prison Songs, Tradition Records TLP-1020.

Recorded at the Mississippi State Penitentiary, Lambert, MS. (Camp B), November/December 1947 and Parchman, MS. (Camps 7, 11 and dairy), October 1959.

124-page hardcover book with 2 CDs, includes slipcase and foil stamping
44 audio recordings, 12 previously unreleased, all newly remastered;
77 photographs, many published here for the first time;
Essays by Alan Lomax, Anna Lomax Wood, and Bruce Jackson.
Produced by Steven Lance Ledbetter, founder of Dust-to-Digital, and Nathan Salsburg, curator of the Alan Lomax Archive.

Annotation last modified on 2025-09-20 08:25 UTC.

Tracklist

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1▼CD: 1947‐’48 Work Songs & Hollers
#TitleArtistRatingLength
1Murderer’s Home
producer:
Alan Lomax (US ethnomusicologist)
background vocals:
5 unidentified men (field recordings of unnamed prisoners at Mississippi State Penitentiary)
lead vocals:
Henry Jimpson Wallace (prison blues singer)
field recordings:
Alan Lomax (US ethnomusicologist) (on 1948-02-01)
recorded at:
Unidentified camp, Parchman Farm (Mississippi State Penitentiary) in Sunflower County, Mississippi, United States (on 1948-02-01)
Jimpson0:53
2Rosie
percussion [axes] and background vocals:
unidentified men ([unknown], Special Purpose Artist – Do not add releases here, if possible.)
lead vocals:
C.B. Cook ("88") (Blues singer, former Parchman inmate "88")
field recordings:
Alan Lomax (US ethnomusicologist) (on 1948-02-01)
recorded at:
Unidentified camp, Parchman Farm (Mississippi State Penitentiary) in Sunflower County, Mississippi, United States (on 1948-02-01)
C.B. Cook4:31
3It Makes a Long Time Man Feel Bad
percussion [hoes] and background vocals:
unidentified men ([unknown], Special Purpose Artist – Do not add releases here, if possible.)
lead vocals:
Benny Will Richardson (“22”) (1940s Mississippi prison blues, a.k.a. '22')
field recordings:
Alan Lomax (US ethnomusicologist) (in 1947)
recorded at:
Lambert Camp, Parchman Farm (Mississippi State Penitentiary) in Sunflower County, Mississippi, United States (in 1947)
Benny Will Richardson2:40
4Whoa Buck
vocals:
C.B. Cook ("88") (Blues singer, former Parchman inmate "88")
field recordings:
Alan Lomax (US ethnomusicologist) (on 1948-02-01)
recorded at:
Unidentified camp, Parchman Farm (Mississippi State Penitentiary) in Sunflower County, Mississippi, United States (on 1948-02-01)
C.B. Cook4:02
5When I Went to Leland
percussion [hoe]:
Benny Will Richardson ("22") (1940s Mississippi prison blues, a.k.a. '22'), Walter “Tangle Eye” Jackson (1940’s blues), Little Red (1940s prison blues recorded by Alan Lomax) and Willie Lacey ("Hard Hat")
vocals:
Benny Will Richardson ("22") (1940s Mississippi prison blues, a.k.a. '22'), Walter “Tangle Eye” Jackson (1940’s blues), Little Red (1940s prison blues recorded by Alan Lomax) and Willy Lacey ("Hard Hat")
field recordings:
Alan Lomax (US ethnomusicologist) (in 1947)
recorded at:
Lambert Camp, Parchman Farm (Mississippi State Penitentiary) in Quitman County, Mississippi, United States (in 1947)
Benny Will Richardson, Willie Lacey, Little Red & Walter “Tangle Eye” Jackson3:06
6I’m Going to Memphis
Percy Wilson1:45
7The Prettiest Train I Ever Saw
percussion [hoes] and background vocals:
unidentified men ([unknown], Special Purpose Artist – Do not add releases here, if possible.)
lead vocals:
Benny Will Richardson (“22”) (1940s Mississippi prison blues, a.k.a. '22')
field recordings:
Alan Lomax (US ethnomusicologist) (in 1947)
recorded at:
Lambert Camp, Parchman Farm (Mississippi State Penitentiary) in Sunflower County, Mississippi, United States (in 1947)
Benny Will Richardson3:47
8John Henry
percussion [hoes]:
unidentfied men (field recordings of unnamed prisoners at Mississippi State Penitentiary)
background vocals:
unidentified men (field recordings of unnamed prisoners at Mississippi State Penitentiary)
lead vocals:
Benny Will Richardson ("22") (1940s Mississippi prison blues, a.k.a. '22')
field recordings:
Alan Lomax (US ethnomusicologist) (in 1947)
recorded at:
Lambert Camp, Parchman Farm (Mississippi State Penitentiary) in Sunflower County, Mississippi, United States (in 1947)
edit of:
John Henry (introduction) / John Henry by W.D. “Bama” Stewart (1940s prison blues) / “22” (1940s Mississippi prison blues, a.k.a. '22') & group with hoes (field recordings of unnamed prisoners at Mississippi State Penitentiary)
Benny Will Richardson3:15
9John Old Alabama
percussion [axes] and background vocals:
Prisoners at Mississippi State Penitentiary (field recordings of unnamed prisoners at Mississippi State Penitentiary)
lead vocals:
Dan Barnes (1940's Prison Blues, recorded at Parchman Farm, a.k.a. B.B))
field recordings:
Alan Lomax (US ethnomusicologist) (on 1948-02-09)
recorded at:
Unidentified camp, Parchman Farm (Mississippi State Penitentiary) in Sunflower County, Mississippi, United States (on 1948-02-09)
Dan Barnes3:06
10Hollers
Milton “Foots” Smith1:33
11Stewball
percussion [hoe]:
Tim "Dobie Red" Taylor (1940's Prison Blues) and unidentfied men (field recordings of unnamed prisoners at Mississippi State Penitentiary)
vocals:
Tim "Dobie Red" Taylor (1940's Prison Blues)
field recordings:
Alan Lomax (US ethnomusicologist) (in 1947)
recorded at:
Lambert Camp, Parchman Farm (Mississippi State Penitentiary) in Quitman County, Mississippi, United States (in 1947)
Tim "Dobie Red" Taylor3:08
12Levee Camp Hollers
W.D. “Bama” Stewart2:54
13Early in the Morning
lead vocals:
"22" (Benny Will Richardson) (1940s Mississippi prison blues, a.k.a. '22')
vocals:
"Hart Hat" (Willie Lacey), "Little Red" (1940s prison blues recorded by Alan Lomax) and "Tangle Eye" Walter Jackson (American soul ballad singer)
field recordings:
Alan Lomax (US ethnomusicologist) (from 1947-11 until 1947-12)
recorded at:
Mississippi State Penitentiary in Sunflower County, Mississippi, United States and Camp B, Parchman Farm (Mississippi State Penitentiary) in Quitman County, Mississippi, United States (from 1947-11 until 1947-12)
Benny Will Richardson, Willie Lacey, Little Red & Walter “Tangle Eye” Jackson4:48
14I Got a Bulldog (Well I Wonder)
percussion [hoes] and background vocals:
unidentified men (field recordings of unnamed prisoners at Mississippi State Penitentiary)
lead vocals:
Tim "Dobie Red" Taylor (1940's Prison Blues)
field recordings:
Alan Lomax (US ethnomusicologist) (in 1947)
recorded at:
Lambert Camp, Parchman Farm (Mississippi State Penitentiary) in Quitman County, Mississippi, United States (in 1947)
Tim "Dobie Red" Taylor3:22
15Dollar Mamie
percussion [hoes] and background vocals:
unidentified men (field recordings of unnamed prisoners at Mississippi State Penitentiary)
lead vocals:
Benny Will Richardson (“22”) (1940s Mississippi prison blues, a.k.a. '22')
field recordings:
Alan Lomax (US ethnomusicologist) (in 1947)
recorded at:
Lambert Camp, Parchman Farm (Mississippi State Penitentiary) in Sunflower County, Mississippi, United States (in 1947)
Benny Will Richardson3:30
16Stackalee
W.D. “Bama” Stewart4:09
17I Don’t Want No Jet Black Woman
percussion [axes]:
Prisoners at Mississippi State Penitentiary (field recordings of unnamed prisoners at Mississippi State Penitentiary)
vocals:
Dan Barnes (1940's Prison Blues, recorded at Parchman Farm, a.k.a. B.B))
field recordings:
Alan Lomax (US ethnomusicologist) (on 1948-02-09)
recorded at:
Unidentified camp, Parchman Farm (Mississippi State Penitentiary) in Sunflower County, Mississippi, United States (on 1948-02-09)
Dan Barnes3:04
18Did You Hear About Louella Wallace?
percussion [hoe]:
Hollie “Bull” Dew (Blues singer, former Parchman inmate), Milton “Foots” Smith (prison blues singer) and Tim "Dobie Red" Taylor (1940's Prison Blues)
vocals:
Hollie “Bull” Dew (Blues singer, former Parchman inmate), Milton “Foots” Smith (prison blues singer) and Tim "Dobie Red" Taylor (1940's Prison Blues)
field recordings:
Alan Lomax (US ethnomusicologist) (in 1947)
recorded at:
Lambert Camp, Parchman Farm (Mississippi State Penitentiary) in Quitman County, Mississippi, United States (in 1947)
Hollie “Bull” Dew & Tim "Dobie Red" Taylor2:39
19Tangle Eye’s Blues
recorded in:
Sunflower County, Mississippi, United States (in 1947)
vocals:
Walter “Tangle Eye” Jackson (1940’s blues)
field recordings:
Alan Lomax (US ethnomusicologist) (in 1947)
recorded at:
Lambert Camp, Parchman Farm (Mississippi State Penitentiary) in Quitman County, Mississippi, United States (in 1947)
Walter “Tangle Eye” Jackson3:08
20Rosie
percussion [hoes] and background vocals:
unidentified men (field recordings of unnamed prisoners at Mississippi State Penitentiary)
lead vocals:
Benny Will Richardson ("22") (1940s Mississippi prison blues, a.k.a. '22')
field recordings:
Alan Lomax (US ethnomusicologist) (in 1947)
recorded at:
Lambert Camp, Parchman Farm (Mississippi State Penitentiary) in Sunflower County, Mississippi, United States (in 1947)
Benny Will Richardson3:45
21I’m Going Home
W.D. “Bama” Stewart4:06
22No More My Lord
percussion [axes]:
Prisoners at Mississippi State Penitentiary (field recordings of unnamed prisoners at Mississippi State Penitentiary)
vocals:
Henry Jimpson Wallace (prison blues singer)
field recordings:
Alan Lomax (US ethnomusicologist) (on 1948-02-09)
recorded at:
Unidentified camp, Parchman Farm (Mississippi State Penitentiary) in Sunflower County, Mississippi, United States (on 1948-02-09)
Jimpson2:54
23The Weather Get Warm
[unknown]0:12
2▼CD: 1947‐’48 Blues / 1959 Work Songs & Hollers
#TitleArtistRatingLength
1Lucky Song
Floyd Batts3:25
2Disability Boogie Woogie
Alex2:13
3Berta
John Edwards4:04
4Poor Lazarus
Clyde Jones2:33
5Cool Drink of Water Blues
John Dudley2:46
6Levee Camp Holler ~ Interview
Ed Lewis3:46
7Black Gal
Ed Lewis & Prisoners3:35
8I Don’t Want You Baby
W.D. “Bama” Stewart & Robert Sanders4:55
9Rosie
Grover Wells4:57
10Hollers
Bridges Lee Cole3:17
11You Got a Mean Disposition
John Dudley2:27
12Big Road Blues
John Dudley1:27
13I’m Going Home
Ervin Webb & Prisoners3:28
14Berta
George Golden4:05
15Up the River
Grover Wells2:05
16Prison Blues
Alex2:28
17Tom Devil
Ed Lewis & Prisoners5:21
18My Jack Don’t Drink No Water
Willy Washington1:42
19Sometimes I Wonder
Leroy Campbell & Robert Sanders4:03
20Look for Me in Louisiana
Henry Ratcliff1:46
21Ain’t Been Able to Get Home No More
Heuston Earms3:44

Credits

Release

art direction and design:Barbara Bersche (design)
photography:Alan Lomax (US ethnomusicologist)
liner notes:Bruce Jackson (US folklorist, documentary filmmaker, writer & photographer)
Anna Lomax Wood
Alan Lomax (US ethnomusicologist)
miscellaneous support:Michael Graves (Osiris Studio owner/engineer) (task: audio restoration)
executive producer:Jeffrey Greenberg
Anna Lomax Wood
producer:Steven Lance Ledbetter
Nathan Salsburg
mastering:Michael Graves (Osiris Studio owner/engineer)
mastered at:Osiris Studio in Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Discogs:https://www.discogs.com/release/6345271 [info]
ASIN:US: 0981734294 [info]
purchase for mail-order:http://www.dust-digital.com/parchman-farm/ [info]
Allmusic:https://www.allmusic.com/album/release/mr0004259007 [info]