"Goodnight Irene" by Lead Belly (1935)
Lead Belly was the undisputed master of twelve-string blues guitar. This song was from Lead Belly's New York recording session in 1935. It is a cleaned up version of the grim tale of domestic violence and morphine addiction, which Lead Belly originally performed for John Lomax in Angola State Prison in 1934. Perhaps his most famous song, "Goodnight Irene" became a sort of signature for Lead Belly. The questioning commentator, doubtless serving to softly introduce Lead Belly's rough Delta blues to the American public, awkwardly parallels black music's call and response. In the 1940s, Lead Belly, along with folk singer Woody Guthrie became instrumental in the formation of urban folk.Listen to Lead Belly's "Shin on Me" as well.
