18 - Long Hot Summer Days: Work songs from the 1939 Texas recordings

Been All Around This World

This second episode exploring the 1939 Texas recordings of John A. and Ruby T. Lomax focuses on work songs: selections of "river songs" sung by Black men incarcerated in the prison-farms of the Texas Department of Corrections, as well as pieces from free-world agricultural settings and the railroad section gang.

1) Alan Lomax interview with Charles Kuralt, 1991 (watch the complete interview here)

2) Tommy Woods & group: Go Down Old Hannah (Dormitory, Clemens State Farm, Brazoria, Brazoria County, Texas, April 16, 1939)

3) Clyde Hill & group: Long Hot Summer Days (Dormitory, Clemens State Farm, Brazoria, Brazoria County, Texas, April 16, 1939)

4) Charles Eckhardt: Calling the animals, (Pipe Creek, Bandera County, Texas, May 4, 1939)

5) Henry Truvillion: calling track (Truvillion’s home, between Newton and Burkeville, Texas, May 16, 1939)

6) Jose Suarez: Cotton-pickers corrido (The home of J.K. Wells, Brownsville, Cameron County, Texas, April 26, 1939)

7) John Lowey Goree, Who Curled Your Hair, Who Combed Your Bangs (At Goree's home, 2908 Jackson St, Houston, Harris County, Texas, April 12, 1939)

8) Mose “Clear Rock” (or “Wyandotte”) Platt: Ain’t No More Cane on the Brazos (Hotel Blazilmar, 107 Porter Street, Taylor, Williamson County, Texas, May 10, 1939)

9) Unidentified men: Hammer Ring (Dormitory, Clemens State Farm, Brazoria, Brazoria County, Texas, April 16, 1939)

Bed Music

Smith Casey: East Texas Rag (Dormitory, Clemens State Farm, Brazoria, Brazoria County, Texas, April 16, 1939)

Elmo Newcomer: Unfortunate Puppy (The home of Elmo Newcomer, Pipe Creek, Bandera County, Texas, May 13, 1939)

L.W. Gooden, Ace Johnson: Mama Don't Allow (Dormitory, Clemens State Farm, Brazoria, Brazoria County, Texas, April 16, 1939)