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

Follow

1959

Power. Fragment II, Alan Lomax

Power in the blood, Alan Lomax

Prayer at St. James Church, Alan Lomax

Prayer at the Pentecostal Temple, Alan Lomax

Preaching at St. James Church, Alan Lomax

Radio commercials at the Hart Temple, Alan Lomax

Roxie, Alan Lomax

Running for Jesus, Alan Lomax

Since I laid my burden down. Session I, Alan Lomax

Since I laid my burden down. Session II, Alan Lomax

Singing during collection at the Pentecostal Temple, Alan Lomax

Sing till the power of the Lord come down. Session I, Alan Lomax

Soon one morning (when death come creeping my room), Alan Lomax

Steal away, Alan Lomax

Talk, ambience, Alan Lomax, Alan Lomax

Talk, ambience at Fred McDowell's home (I), Alan Lomax

Talk, ambience at Fred McDowell's home (II), Alan Lomax

Talk, ambience, church, Alan Lomax

Talk, ambience, Parchman (I), Alan Lomax

Talk, ambience, Parchman (II), Alan Lomax

Talk, ambience, Senatobia, Mississippi, Alan Lomax

Testimony at the Pentecostal Temple, Alan Lomax

The whole world in His hands, Alan Lomax

Unidentified gospel song, Alan Lomax

Unidentified hymn; Look where He brought me from, Alan Lomax

Unidentified lining hymn, Memphis, Tennessee, Alan Lomax

Unidentified long meter hymn, Huntsville, Alabama, Alan Lomax

Unidentified song fragment, Free Springs Methodist Church (I), Alan Lomax

Unidentified song fragment, Free Springs Methodist Church (II), Alan Lomax

Unidentified song fragment, St. Peter Church, Alan Lomax

We need rain. Session II, Alan Lomax

When Malindy sings, Alan Lomax

Wonder what tomorrow gonna bring, Alan Lomax

WROS old time religious hour radio broadcast. Session I, Alan Lomax

WROS old time religious hour radio broadcast. Session II, Alan Lomax

WROS old time religious hour radio broadcast. Session III, Alan Lomax

WROS old time religious hour radio broadcast. Session IV, Alan Lomax

Crawford's jump, Alan Lomax and Cecil Augusta

Stop all the buses, Alan Lomax and Cecil Augusta

Stop all the buses (false start), Alan Lomax and Cecil Augusta

Dangerous blues, Alan Lomax and Floyd Batts

Dollar Mamie sung by Floyd Batts, Alan Lomax and Floyd Batts

Interview with Floyd Batts about the song 'Lucky song', Alan Lomax and Floyd Batts

Lucky song, Alan Lomax and Floyd Batts

Talk, ambience, Parchman (III), Alan Lomax and Floyd Batts

You's one little wretch, Alan Lomax, Harold Blackman, and Ervin Webb

Boogie children. Session II, Alan Lomax, Blue Boy, Darnell Walker, and Willie Jones

God's unchanging hand, Alan Lomax and Anderson Burton

Captain George, Alan Lomax, James Campbell, John Oliver, Ernest Woodson, and L. C. Hoskins

Stewball. Session II, James Campbell and Fred Paine, Alan Lomax, James Campbell (Prison Singer), Author Unknown, and Fred Paine (Prison Singer)

Stewball. Session I, James Campbell and Fred Paine, Alan Lomax, James Campbell (Prison Singer), Author Unknown, and Fred Paine (Prison Singer)

Poor Lazarus, sung by James Carter, Alan Lomax and James Carter

Interview with James Carter, Heuston Earms, and other prisoners about the song 'Poor Lazarus', Alan Lomax, James Carter, and Heuston Earms

Bet I'll get a break, Alan Lomax, Robert Carter, Eugene Smith, Dewey Corley, Will Shade, and Charlie Burse

Didn't leave nobody but the baby, Alan Lomax and Sidney Carter

Everybody ought to treat a stranger right, Alan Lomax and Sidney Carter

Interview with Sidney Hemphill Carter about her father's singing, Alan Lomax and Sidney Carter

Interview with Sidney Hemphill Carter about the song 'Everybody ought to treat a stranger right', Alan Lomax and Sidney Carter

Leather britches, Alan Lomax and Sidney Carter

Pharoah, Alan Lomax and Sidney Carter

Worried now, Alan Lomax and Sidney Carter

There is not a friend like Jesus, Alan Lomax and Annie Mae Clayton

Composite of field hollers, Alan Lomax and Bridges Lee Cole

Commentary by Alan Lomax and Shirley Collins. Session I, Alan Lomax and Shirley Collins

Commentary by Alan Lomax and Shirley Collins. Session II, Alan Lomax and Shirley Collins

Commentary by Alan Lomax and Shirley Collins. Session III, Alan Lomax and Shirley Collins

Interview with Mississippi hitchhiker. Session I, Alan Lomax and Shirley Collins

Interview with Mississippi hitchhiker. Session II, Alan Lomax and Shirley Collins

Interview with Mississippi hitchhiker. Session III, Alan Lomax and Shirley Collins

Collection address; I wonder will we meet again?, Alan Lomax and R. C. Crenshaw

Collection speech, Alan Lomax and R. C. Crenshaw

Collection speech; Unidentified lining hymn, Alan Lomax and R. C. Crenshaw

I couldn't hear nobody pray, Rev. R.C. Crenshaw, Alan Lomax and R. C. Crenshaw

I'm going home on the morning train, Alan Lomax and R. C. Crenshaw

Introduction to 'Steal away', Alan Lomax and R. C. Crenshaw

Preaching; Unidentified lining hymn, Alan Lomax and R. C. Crenshaw

Sermon: Forgetting the past; I love the Lord, he hears my cry, Alan Lomax and R. C. Crenshaw

Alberta (Berta, Berta), Alan Lomax, Albert Culbertson, Walter Hood, Grover Wells, Leroy Miller, and Leroy Grant

WEUP radio broadcast by Daddy Cool, Alan Lomax and Cool Daddy (Musical group) Daddy

Old speckled lady, Alan Lomax and Wade Darling

That's all right, Alan Lomax and Wade Darling

Blues (you're gonna be sorry), Alan Lomax, Fannie Davis, Fred McDowell, and Miles Pratcher

Shake 'em on down. Session I, Alan Lomax, Fannie Davis, Fred McDowell, and Miles Pratcher

Shake 'em on down. Session II, Alan Lomax, Fannie Davis, Fred McDowell, and Miles Pratcher

Did you ever see a man like Jesus, Alan Lomax, A. Dawson, and Fleming

Don't you know it'll be all right (I'll overcome some day), Alan Lomax, A. Dawson, and Fleming

Sing till the power of the Lord come down. Session III, Alan Lomax, A. Dawson, and Fleming

Vacation in Heaven, Alan Lomax, A. Dawson, and Fleming

Free at last (Give me wings, I'll fly away), Alan Lomax, A. Dawson, Fleming, and R. C. Crenshaw

Get right church and let's go home, Alan Lomax, A. Dawson, Fleming, and R. C. Crenshaw

Baptism invocation at St. James Church. Session I, Alan Lomax and W. A. Donaldson

Baptism invocation at St. James Church. Session II, Alan Lomax and W. A. Donaldson

Big road blues, Alan Lomax and John Dudley (folksinger)

Clarksdale mill blues. Session I, Alan Lomax and John Dudley (folksinger)

Clarksdale mill blues. Session II, Alan Lomax and John Dudley (folksinger)

Cool drink of water blues. Session I, Alan Lomax and John Dudley (folksinger)

Cool drink of water blues. Session II, Alan Lomax and John Dudley (folksinger)

I'm gonna move to Kansas City, Alan Lomax and John Dudley (folksinger)

Interview with John Dudley about playing guitar at dances, Alan Lomax and John Dudley (folksinger)

Poor boy blues, Alan Lomax and John Dudley (folksinger)