The Alan Lomax Recordings document blues and gospel music recorded by folklorist Alan Lomax between 1945 and 1965. The files were digitized by the Association for Cultural Equity, which deposited digital research copies with the Blues Archive.

Folklorist, ethnomusicologist, producer, documentarian, and author Alan Lomax (31 January 1915 – 19 July 2002) was one of America’s most prolific collectors of folk songs. Documenting musical traditions in America, Ireland, the United Kingdom, the Caribbean and many other areas, Lomax followed the folksong collecting work of his parents John and Ruby Lomax. Through his radio shows, concert promotions, audio productions, and books, Lomax introduced large audiences to the music of Woody Guthrie, Jelly Roll Morton, Muddy Waters, Leadbelly, and countless others.

Due to copyright concerns, the recordings in this collection can only be accessed by arrangement with the Department of Archives and Special Collections. If you are interested in reproducing any of these recordings, you must contact the Association for Cultural Equity.

Image credit: Cold Room at the Alan Lomax Archive at the Library of Congress

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1965

 

Announcement of intermission, Alan Lomax

 

Commentary by Alan Lomax on African-American work songs; Introduction of John Davis, Alan Lomax

 

Commentary by Alan Lomax on Mabel Hillary, Alan Lomax

 

Commentary by Alan Lomax on Reverend Gary Davis and early African American spirituals, Alan Lomax

 

Commentary by Alan Lomax on the roots of the blues, Alan Lomax

 

Commentary by Alan Lomax on the song 'Row the boat, child', Alan Lomax

 

Introduction and welcome announcement by Alan Lomax, Alan Lomax

 

Introduction by Alan Lomax of the Georgia Sea Island Singers, Alan Lomax

 

Introduction by Alan Lomax on Georgia Sea Island game songs, Alan Lomax

 

Introduction of Reverend Gary Davis by Alan Lomax, Alan Lomax

 

Oree (little and low), Alan Lomax

 

Buck dance, Alan Lomax and Gary Davis

 

Candy man, Alan Lomax and Gary Davis

 

Commentary by Reverend Gary Davis on courting; Introduction of the song 'Twelve stick rag', Alan Lomax and Gary Davis

 

Commentary by Reverend Gary Davis on fighting and Christianity; Introduction of the song 'Samson and Delilah', Alan Lomax and Gary Davis

 

Commentary by Reverend Gary Davis on making a guitar talk and Hell, Alan Lomax and Gary Davis

 

Commentary by Reverend Gary Davis on religious revivals, Alan Lomax and Gary Davis

 

Commentary by Reverend Gary Davis on salvation, Alan Lomax and Gary Davis

 

Introduction of Reverend Gary Davis by Alan Lomax; Commmentary by Reverend Gary Davis on the song 'Twelve gates to the city', Alan Lomax and Gary Davis

 

Kitty wants corn, Alan Lomax and Gary Davis

 

Reverend Gary Davis introducing the song 'Sally, where you get your liquor from', Alan Lomax and Gary Davis

 

Reverend Gary Davis teaching the refrain to the song 'Sally, where you get your liquor from', Alan Lomax and Gary Davis

 

Sally, where you get your liquor from, Alan Lomax and Gary Davis

 

Samson and Delilah, Alan Lomax and Gary Davis

 

Talk, ambience, Reverend Gary Davis, Alan Lomax and Gary Davis

 

Twelve gates to the city, Alan Lomax and Gary Davis

 

Twelve stick rag, Alan Lomax, Gary Davis, and Bessie Jones

 

Before this time another year, Alan Lomax, Gary Davis, Bessie Jones, John Davis, Peter Davis, Mable Hillery, and Emma Ramsay

 

Got on my traveling shoes (New York City), Alan Lomax, Gary Davis, Bessie Jones, John Davis, Peter Davis, Mable Hillery, and Emma Ramsay

 

I'm a soldier in the army of the Lord, New York, N.Y. (continued), Alan Lomax, Gary Davis, Bessie Jones, John Davis, Peter Davis, Mable Hillery, and Emma Ramsay

 

Commentary by John Davis on African-American work songs, Alan Lomax and John Davis

 

Commentary by John Davis on shouting, Alan Lomax and John Davis

 

Commentary by John Davis on slavery and the night watch, Alan Lomax and John Davis

 

Commentary by John Davis on the biblical story of John the Disciple, Alan Lomax and John Davis

 

Commentary by John Davis on the Creation, Alan Lomax and John Davis

 

Commentary by John Davis on the Garden of Eden, Alan Lomax and John Davis

 

Commentary by John Davis on the song 'One morning soon', Alan Lomax and John Davis

 

Commentary by John Davis on the song 'Raggy Levee', Alan Lomax and John Davis

 

Commentary by John Davis on the song 'Row the boat, child', Alan Lomax and John Davis

 

Commentary by John Davis on the song 'God as a rock', Alan Lomax, John Davis, and Bessie Jones

 

Commentary by Bessie Jones on the song 'Before this time another year', Alan Lomax and Bessie Jones

 

Commentary by Bessie Jones on the song 'Buzzard lope', Alan Lomax and Bessie Jones

 

Commentary by Bessie Jones on the song 'Draw me a bucket of water', Alan Lomax and Bessie Jones

 

Commentary by Bessie Jones on the song 'Got on my traveling shoes', Alan Lomax and Bessie Jones

 

Commentary by Bessie Jones on the song 'Little Johnny Brown', Alan Lomax and Bessie Jones

 

Commentary by Bessie Jones on the song 'Rooster', Alan Lomax and Bessie Jones

 

Commentary by Bessie Jones on the song 'Sink 'em low', Alan Lomax and Bessie Jones

 

I'm a soldier in the army of the Lord, New York, N.Y., Alan Lomax and Bessie Jones

 

Moses, don't get lost, Alan Lomax, Bessie Jones, John Davis, Peter Davis, and Mable Hillery

 

Adam in the garden, Alan Lomax, Bessie Jones, John Davis, Peter Davis, Mable Hillery, and Emma Ramsay

 

Buzzard lope, Alan Lomax, Bessie Jones, John Davis, Peter Davis, Mable Hillery, and Emma Ramsay

 

Carrie Belle, Alan Lomax, Bessie Jones, John Davis, Peter Davis, Mable Hillery, and Emma Ramsay

 

Draw me a bucket of water, Alan Lomax, Bessie Jones, John Davis, Peter Davis, Mable Hillery, and Emma Ramsay

 

Little Johnny Brown, Alan Lomax, Bessie Jones, John Davis, Peter Davis, Mable Hillery, and Emma Ramsay

 

O day, Alan Lomax, Bessie Jones, John Davis, Peter Davis, Mable Hillery, and Emma Ramsay

 

Once there was no sun, Alan Lomax, Bessie Jones, John Davis, Peter Davis, Mable Hillery, and Emma Ramsay

 

One morning soon, Alan Lomax, Bessie Jones, John Davis, Peter Davis, Mable Hillery, and Emma Ramsay

 

Raggy levee, Alan Lomax, Bessie Jones, John Davis, Peter Davis, Mable Hillery, and Emma Ramsay

 

Read 'em, John, Alan Lomax, Bessie Jones, John Davis, Peter Davis, Mable Hillery, and Emma Ramsay

 

Riley, Alan Lomax, Bessie Jones, John Davis, Peter Davis, Mable Hillery, and Emma Ramsay

 

Rock in the weary land, Alan Lomax, Bessie Jones, John Davis, Peter Davis, Mable Hillery, and Emma Ramsay

 

Row the boat, child. Session I, Alan Lomax, Bessie Jones, John Davis, Peter Davis, Mable Hillery, and Emma Ramsay

 

Row the boat, child. Session II, Alan Lomax, Bessie Jones, John Davis, Peter Davis, Mable Hillery, and Emma Ramsay

 

Sink 'em low, Alan Lomax, Bessie Jones, John Davis, Peter Davis, Mable Hillery, and Emma Ramsay

 

Rooster, Alan Lomax, Bessie Jones, Emma Ramsay, and Mable Hillery

 

How long blues, Alan Lomax, Roger Phoenix, and Mable Hillery

 

Commentary by Ed Young, Alan Lomax and Ed Young

 

Commentary by Ed Young on the song 'Oree', Alan Lomax and Ed Young

 

Commentary by Ed Young on the song 'Sitting on top of the world', Alan Lomax and Ed Young

 

Chevrolet, performed in Central Park, Alan Lomax, Ed Young, Emma Ramsay, and Mable Hillery

 

Commentary by Ed Young on Emma Ramsay, Mabel Hillary, and the song 'Chevrolet', Alan Lomax, Ed Young, Emma Ramsay, and Mable Hillery

 

Jim and John. Session IV, Alan Lomax, Ed Young, and Lonnie Young

 

Oree (little and low) (fragment), Alan Lomax, Ed Young, and Lonnie Young

 

Sitting on top of the world (New York City), Alan Lomax, Ed Young, and Lonnie Young

 

Unidentified fife and drum tune, Alan Lomax, Ed Young, and Lonnie Young

1959

 

All of my appointed time; I'm gonna wait till my change shall come, Alan Lomax

 

Announcement and dedication at the Hart Temple, Alan Lomax

 

Announcement at St. Peter Church (I), Alan Lomax

 

Announcement at St. Peter Church (II), Alan Lomax

 

Announcements at the New Browns Chapel, Alan Lomax

 

Boats up the river (fragment), Alan Lomax

 

Do like the Bible says (fragment), Alan Lomax

 

Getting ready to move upstairs, Alan Lomax

 

Going to see the king (When I rise), Alan Lomax

 

Heaven is mine, Alan Lomax

 

I don't know about wou (I'm gonna see it through), Alan Lomax

 

I'll meet you on Canaan's shore. Session I, Alan Lomax

 

I'll meet you on Canaan's shore. Session II, with preaching, Alan Lomax

 

In the name of the almighty God, Alan Lomax

 

Introduction of the Morning Echoes, Alan Lomax

 

Jesus keep (fragment), Alan Lomax

 

Jesus will carry you through, Alan Lomax

 

Lay down, you weary one, lay down, Alan Lomax

 

Let my last day be my best, Alan Lomax

 

Lift him up (Help me Jesus), Alan Lomax

 

Lord, I try, Alan Lomax

 

Make it somehow, Alan Lomax

 

No one else than Him, Alan Lomax

 

No tears in Heaven, Alan Lomax

 

Old ship Of Zion, Alan Lomax