What made Ledbelly's songs so haunting is he used major chords on structures that sound like they call for a minor chord. In the 2nd song here, you hear it. In "In The Pines", Nirvana just flat-out changed the song into the minor chord implied. So Ledbelly always sounds like a guy trying to be happy over hidden pain. Which is a really bizarre and beautiful aesthetic.
I honestly love both. They have different feels and qualities that make them feel both good, but also distinct. And after all, what good is a cover if you just do exactly what the original artist did? (Unless it's a tribute band or something)
Songs of the American Working Man and Woman. We all play a part in building our Great Country, Folk music is about those that get their hands dirty and their soul full of Goodness. Rest Peacefully in the Arms of our Lord Leadbelly. God Bless.
I feel like the first song is basically an expression of how brutal and backbreaking work it was, so you had to hype yourself up a lot to get it done. Kinda gets to the sense of frantic work required in warehouse work today to try to make rate. I sung to myself the same way lol
Leadbelly was so good he inspired Kurt cobain to do his best cover in the pines I practiced a couple songs off his music in the pines and gallis pole so far he was a very fast technical guitar player on that 12 string acoustic and his vocals were the best of his time very melodic catchy and rhythmic
Amazing to think I wasn't born yet... Amazing to think my parents weren't born yet... And today, thanks to the Internet, I can hear, and see, this legend. Thank you for having uploaded this treasure.
That hummed version of In The Pines... My hair is standing on end. I don't particularly believe in ghosts but if they are real, Lead's is in that song.
Harry Clams I’ve heard that story. You forgot about the part where Paul McCartney listened to recordings of Leadbelly and was so influenced he stole music from him. This happened right before he went to the beach and found more of Leadbelly’s work in a bottle so he could copy even more of Leadbelly’s work. Great job telling that story, it’s one for the ages! The LEGENDARY LEADBELLY is the best!!!
The "where did you sleep last night" humming version in the beginning of this footage is the most creepiest melody I've ever heard. What a dark mood, a nightmare soundtrack!
@@MrCoronelperillo e como serve, e bom saber que mais brasileiro teve a oportunidade de apreciar essa lenda. Viva o folk, viva o blues, viva leadbelly.
Thank you for sharing this trio of awe inspiring songs. I felt chlls rin down my spine listening to the great Lead Belly singing. Truly historic and amazing music. I'd never heard them before and I'll never forget them.
From my little town in England I was shown the blues from my parents that were into Cream and Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and the like - but i had to find the real roots of the blues myself! - this is one of the greatest things i have ever found! - Thank you for putting this up xx
His guitar work and vocals on Pick a Bale are absolutely astounding, as he swings from what sounds like a mellow folk tune into a frenzied, fast-paced, fine piece of film, fortunately recorded for posterity. His recording of Gallows Pole of course inspired Led Zeppelin, just as his recording of In the Pines (Where Did You Sleep Last Night) later inspired Nirvana.
MsMelancholy, Right! Incredible honor to actually see Leadbelly. His siren like voice, easily hits the highest range, so powerful and beautiful! I have the anthology of his Lomax recordings, “House of the Rising Sun” is spectacular- But, please Beware in RU-vid: There’s NO authentic version on RU-vid of him singing House of the Rising Sun. There is a fake posted; it’s a woman singing it, and they’ve fraudulently labeled it Leadbelly. I wish they would remove it. But I advise that you to buy the LP with Leadbelly singing it! So wonderful. But, there is an authentic RU-vid Leadbelly “In the Pines,” on RU-vid, where he sings the non-PC lyrics.that I think you’ll all enjoy! ❤️
Actually, 4 songs since he does a wordless version of "Black Girl"/"Where Did You Sleep Last Night" at the beginning! Also, what about the Lomaxes' film footage of him doing "Irene" at a small party celebrating his release form prison, that they made for the Library of Congress?
The video must have a better quality in some archive, somewhere......but even in this rough state its one of the best combinations of music, and image i've ever seen. I imediatly think of Van Gogh, the roughness of his brush all over these images. Leadbelly is not only great on his own, he's also the grandfather of the popsong, blues, folk and rocknroll. Remember direct or indirect (Lonnie Donnogan) the Beatles were influenced by this man, what a world of pictures this man creates with only a voice and an acoustic guitar.....Marvelous.......
Leadbelly, paved the way, for all musicians. White, Black, Poor Rich. Women and Men. Regardless of genre of music. To be able to sing, and play their musics. Leadbelly was the greatest, entertainer. Of the 20th century. God bless his soul, and memory eternally. As well as his musicality always....!!!
I love him! My first song I ever learned (besides gospel in church) was my grandpa singing "In the Pines". This was around 1959. I hadn't started school yet. My Pa would hold me on his knee and sing "In the Pines".
Does anyone else know that the Oriental theatre in Chicago was the site of the largest fire in US history? 602 people were burned to death. the lucky ones just suffocated, I guess. There isn't even a little plaque there. It doubled the loss of the Chicago fire.
He was the best.....period . He really is and was a great man . One of the best guitar players ever . Timeless music. Only a hand full of him playing exist . Imagine his music recorded in better quality.
Yes, James Brown said “gimme the 1” to Bootsie Collins and Funk was born but...wasn’t Huddie stayin on the 1 so many years before that? It comes from work songs... aw Lawd!
I think it was really good of Kurt Cobain to cover Leadbelly's music because that way he (Leadbelly) isn't forgotten. I'd never have heard of him otherwise.
