The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #75521 Message #1327708
Posted By: Big Al Whittle
15-Nov-04 - 04:39 PM
Thread Name: Why doesn't anyone talk about Leadbelly?
Subject: RE: Why doesn't anyone talk about Leadbelly?
When I was very new into folk music about 1964-5 - I loved peter Paul and mary (particularly Mary) and then Bob Dylan came along and they seemed sort of tame.
Then I remember one day I wandered into a friends room and he was playing a record of Fiddlers Dram by Leadbelly - I think Sonny Terry was in the mix somewhere as well. I thought, what the hell is this - it just sounded so African - like I'd come to jungle clearing, and found all these Zulus whooping it up. I confess I just didn't get it. neither did I get Robert Johnson for many years. these guys sounded so primitive to me.
theres still things I never really understand.... about Leadbelly. For example, they all say he was a great childrens entertainer. I always wondered how that worked. speaking as someone who has never had children, I 've always had difficulty relating to young folk, and these days I'm too grumpy and self obsessed, to give a stuff about the world kids inhabit.
As for the Lomaxes, we all owe them a big debt. they doubtless had the faults of their class and time - who doesn't. they will judge us all one day - if we are of the slightest interest. But just think of all those songs they have left us all. And what vision they must have had to see the songs and not just turn wawy from them as something alien - like I did as a dumb kid.