Alan Lomax Collection

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