Skimming through the Leadbelly entry in Godrich & Dixon, it appears he recorded 'Irene Parts 1&2' for the Library of Congress in July 1933 and again in January 1935. ARC recordings of 'Irene Parts 1&2' were made in February 1935 (16810 and 16811) but were not issued. It seems the first issued commercial recording was made in the summer of 1943 and released on Asch 343-2, Atlantic 917 and the English Melodisc 1151.

--Stewie.