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
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)