Document released a CD in September of 2004 called Leadbelly Live: New York 1947 and Austin, Texas 1949. On it, he does a spoken introduction of Linin' Track that talks about Ella Louise as a woman who is calling out the lead, directing the other workers how to line the track. This is the recording Rick Fielding was referring to (may he rest in peace). I, too, suspect that Lead Belly's story may be apocryphal. However, it does help rule out that Eloise was not just misheard. I'm pretty sure Lead Belly was very accustomed to the vernacular on the prison farms. I suspect Eloise is just a symbol for many other women, just like Alberta. I think that puts me in agreement with Barry Finn.

Roger in Baltimore