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
Interview with Sid Hemphill about the song 'You can't read, you can't write', Alan Lomax and Sid Hemphill
Interview with Sidney Hemphill Carter and Sid Hemphill about the song 'Pharoah', Alan Lomax and Sid Hemphill
Walk in the parlor. Session II, Alan Lomax and Sid Hemphill
You can't read, you can't write, Alan Lomax and Sid Hemphill
Come on boys, let's go to the ball, Alan Lomax, Sid Hemphill, and Lucius Smith
Don't let my rabbit get away. Session III, Alan Lomax, Sid Hemphill, and Lucius Smith
Emmaline, take your time, Alan Lomax, Sid Hemphill, and Lucius Smith
Interview with Sid Hemphill and Lucius Smith about family and women, Alan Lomax, Sid Hemphill, and Lucius Smith
Interview with Sid Hemphill and Lucius Smith about their playing together, Alan Lomax, Sid Hemphill, and Lucius Smith
Make Lulu behave herself. Session I, Alan Lomax, Sid Hemphill, and Lucius Smith
The Devil's dream. Session I, Alan Lomax, Sid Hemphill, and Lucius Smith
The Devil's dream. Session II, Alan Lomax, Sid Hemphill, and Lucius Smith
Unidentified blues, Alan Lomax, Sid Hemphill, and Lucius Smith
Unidentified song, Alan Lomax, Sid Hemphill, and Lucius Smith
Walk in the parlor. Session I, Alan Lomax, Sid Hemphill, and Lucius Smith
Bullying well, Alan Lomax and Rosa Lee Hill
Faro, Alan Lomax and Rosa Lee Hill
Rolled and tumbled, Alan Lomax and Rosa Lee Hill
It makes a long time man feel bad, Alan Lomax, Walter Hood, Clifton Haughton, and Leroy Grant
Tom Devil; Take this hammer, Alan Lomax and L. C. Hoskins
I'm going home to live with Jesus, Alan Lomax and Viola James
Is there anybody here who loves my Jesus, Alan Lomax and Viola James
Let me ride (Viola James), Alan Lomax and Viola James
Trying to make Heaven my home, Alan Lomax and Viola James
Hen duck, Alan Lomax, Viola James, William Major James, Elisha Franklin, Lonnie Young, and Ed Young
O Mary don't you weep, Alan Lomax, Viola James, and H. C. Lee
Jesus on the mainline, Alan Lomax, Viola James, and James Shorty
Oree. Session II, Alan Lomax, Viola James, Lonnie Young, Ed Young, Elisha Franklin, and William Major James
Oree. Session I, Alan Lomax, William Major James, Lonnie Young, Viola James, Ed Young, and Elisha Franklin
Poor Lazarus, sung by Clyde Jones, Alan Lomax and Clyde Jones
Starting up for Heaven (standing in the safety zone), Alan Lomax, Samuel Jones, Brother Homer, Brother Whitaker, Brother McGhee, William Ayres, and James Leegan
Boogie children (false start), Alan Lomax, Willie Jones, Roland Hayes, and Darnell Walker
Boogie children. Session I, Alan Lomax, Willie Jones, Roland Hayes, and Darnell Walker
Prayer by Reverend Kelly, Alan Lomax, Rev. Kelly, and A. Dawson
I'm pressing on, Alan Lomax and H. C. Lee
Jesus is real to me, Alan Lomax and Mary Lee
Black gal, Alan Lomax and Ed Lewis
I be so glad when the sun goes down, Alan Lomax and Ed Lewis
Interview with Ed Lewis about his Levee Camp Holler, Alan Lomax and Ed Lewis
Interview with Ed Lewis about work songs, Alan Lomax and Ed Lewis
John Henry sung by Ed Lewis. Session I, Alan Lomax and Ed Lewis
John Henry sung by Ed Lewis. Session II, Alan Lomax and Ed Lewis
Levee camp holler, sung by Ed Lewis, Alan Lomax and Ed Lewis
Stewball. Session I, Ed Lewis, Alan Lomax and Ed Lewis
Stewball. Session II, Ed Lewis, Alan Lomax and Ed Lewis
Testimony at the Hart Temple, Alan Lomax and Sister Littlejohn
Opening prayer at the Hart Temple, Alan Lomax and L. L. Lockhart
Praise at the Hart Temple, Alan Lomax and L. L. Lockhart
Sermon at the Hart Temple, Alan Lomax and L. L. Lockhart
What He done for me, Alan Lomax and L. L. Lockhart
Rock my soul in the bosom of Abraham, Alan Lomax and Velma Lucas
Dollar Mamie, Alan Lomax, Henry Mason, Johnny Lee Moore, James Carter, and Ed Lewis
Tom Devil. Session II, Alan Lomax, Henry Mason, Johnny Lee Moore, James Carter, and Ed Lewis
Certainly Lord, Alan Lomax and Evelina McClathery
What you think about Jesus (he's all right), Alan Lomax and Bernice McClellan
Keep your lamps trimmed and burning. Session III, Alan Lomax, Annie Mae McDowell, and Fred McDowell
61 Highway blues, Alan Lomax and Fred McDowell
Freight train blues, Alan Lomax and Fred McDowell
Germany blues, Alan Lomax and Fred McDowell
Good morning little schoolgirl, Alan Lomax and Fred McDowell
I been drinkin' water out of a hollow log, Alan Lomax and Fred McDowell
Interview with Fred McDowell about learning guitar, Alan Lomax and Fred McDowell
I woke up this morning (with my mind on Jesus), Alan Lomax and Fred McDowell
Keep your lamps trimmed and burning. Session I, Alan Lomax and Fred McDowell
Keep your lamps trimmed and burning. Session II, Alan Lomax and Fred McDowell
Lord have mercy, Alan Lomax and Fred McDowell
Soon one morning, Alan Lomax and Fred McDowell
What's the matter now?, Alan Lomax and Fred McDowell
Wished I was in Heaven sitting down (false start), Alan Lomax and Fred McDowell
Wished I was in Heaven sitting down. Session II, Alan Lomax and Fred McDowell
Wished I was in Heaven sitting down. Session III, Alan Lomax and Fred McDowell
Worried mind blues. Session I, Alan Lomax and Fred McDowell
Worried mind blues. Session II, Alan Lomax and Fred McDowell
You done told everybody in the neighborhood, Alan Lomax and Fred McDowell
Motherless children, Alan Lomax, Fred McDowell, and Felix Dukes
Jesus gonna make up my dying bed, Alan Lomax, Fred McDowell, and Annie Mae McDowell
When you get home, please write me a few of your lines, Alan Lomax, Fred McDowell, and Miles Pratcher
I want Jesus to walk with me (false start). Session I, Alan Lomax, Fred McDowell, and James Shorty
I want Jesus to walk with me (false start). Session II, Alan Lomax, Fred McDowell, and James Shorty
I want Jesus to walk with me. Session I, Alan Lomax, Fred McDowell, and James Shorty
I want Jesus to walk with me. Session II, Alan Lomax, Fred McDowell, and James Shorty
I want Jesus to walk with me. Session III, Alan Lomax, Fred McDowell, and James Shorty
I want Jesus to walk with me. Session IV, Alan Lomax, Fred McDowell, and James Shorty
My mother died and left me, Alan Lomax, Fred McDowell, and James Shorty
Move up, Alan Lomax and Ed McNeill
Alberta (Berta, Berta) sung by Leroy Miller, Alan Lomax and Leroy Miller
Early in the morning, sung by Johnny Lee Moore, Alan Lomax and Johnny Lee Moore
Eighteen hammers, Alan Lomax and Johnny Lee Moore
Levee camp holler, sung by Johnny Lee Moore, Alan Lomax and Johnny Lee Moore
Stewball. Session III, Johnny Lee Moore, Alan Lomax and Johnny Lee Moore
What a fellowship, Alan Lomax, Sadie Parks, and A. Dawson
Collection at the Pentecostal Temple, Alan Lomax and J. O. Patterson
Sermon by Bishop J.O. Patterson, Alan Lomax and J. O. Patterson
If it's all night long. Session I, Alan Lomax, Bob Pratcher, and Miles Pratcher
Joe Turner. Session I, Alan Lomax, Bob Pratcher, and Miles Pratcher
Joe Turner. Session II, Alan Lomax, Bob Pratcher, and Miles Pratcher
Fred McDowell's blues (Going down South), Alan Lomax, Miles Pratcher, Fannie Davis, and Fred McDowell
Going down the river. Session I, Alan Lomax, Miles Pratcher, Fannie Davis, and Fred McDowell
Going down the river. Session II, Alan Lomax, Miles Pratcher, Fannie Davis, and Fred McDowell
Drop down mama, Alan Lomax, Miles Pratcher, and Fred McDowell