"I think it was a day or two after that that his plane went down. And somebody - somebody I’d never seen before - handed me a Leadbelly record with the song “Cottonfields” on it. And that record changed my life right then and there. Transported me into a world I’d never known. It was like an explosion went off. Like I’d been walking in darkness and all of the sudden the darkness was illuminated. It was like somebody laid hands on me. I must have played that record a hundred times." - Bob Dylan
He never said a mumbling word is reference to Mark 15 towards the end of the chapter where Jesus of Nazareth has been hung on the cross already and labeled with “King of Jews” (an insult) and while he’s hanging from the cross fighting for breath every second his own people insult and mock him deny him and call him a liar. And though they say and insult him and watch him hang up on the cross blood and bruise from being whipped not to mention how he other has nails through his hands pining him to the post or they are tied there loosing circulation in his arms Through all this he is baring Jesus hangs to rescue the people who are having him killed from hell and even though he knows he’s doing it for them he’s listening to all these insults and yet never says a word back “Not even a mumbling word” “He never said a mumbling word”
There are so few recordings of Huddie with a band behind him. Notably, this one and the wonderful Good Morning Blues on the old Folkways "Folk Songs For Children". They always needed to be on their toes to keep up with LB's steadily-accelerating tempos. Compare the tempo at the end of this to the intro! At least Huddie was consistent in his speeding-up. I can only feel for those rhythm sections trying to keep up with someone like Lightnin' Hopkins!
I knew belly back in 04. We were on a circuit together.He was a mean som a bitch , Luncheon one day brought a tramp of EPIC size Belly .holdin fast. Was a site.
He did it much differently, and in a different era. Both are really great. To say one is better is a little far from the point. Johnny Cash himself woulda said Lead Belly didn’t better!
Just an FYI for those not familiar with this part of the country-- if you are anywhere in Louisiana the very closest you can be to Texarkana is about 30 miles.
