It seems to me my earliest reollection of hearing Follow the Drinkin' Gourd was on an old pre-LP "record" by Burl Ives, in the mid to late 40s.

A guy who is making a discography of this song "heard" me say that was my recollection, and he's drawn a blank trying to find such a recording.

Can anyone shed any light on this?

Dave Oesterreich