1st of 2 CDs in Leadbelly Golden Classics series
11/12/2000
(3 out of 5 stars)
"(28') Taken from expertly reprocessed and cleaned-up 78s, this is a fine selection of Lead Belly guitar/vocal solos, with very acceptable sound. However, all 13 tracks given here are duplicated on either "Vols. 1 & 2" COL5603 (52') or "Vols. 3 & 4" COL5604 (54') of Collectables' Lead Belly Memorial" 2-CD series, which is a much better buy. All these tracks were originally recorded by Moses Asch in his studio, and his pressings went to Stinson Records as a result of Asch's Folkways bankruptcy; however, Asch's masters are now at the Smithsonian, which has produced its own "Lead Belly Legacy" series of CDs.Also note that on Golden Classics Part 2 "Defense Blues" COL5196 (24') four of the ten tracks are duplicated in Collectables' "Memorial" series, but six are unique; the sound quality of that CD is very poor. These 6 unique tracks appear not to be Asch recordings, but I haven't tried to verify this."