From Supplemental Notes:

(alternate titles: Battle Axe and the Devil; Devil and the Farmer's Wife; The Farmer's Curst Wife).

The Reeds apparently were involved in one recording session for Columbia in Johnson City. Not a great deal is known about who they were but it is thought that all the artists at this session were from the nearby region. They probably were from Virginia or Kentucky (Charles Wolfe). The Reeds also recorded two songs during this session with their children. Belle Reed is not to be confused with Ola Belle Reed who made numerous later recordings. This traditional ballad has been recorded frequently.

OTHER RECORDED VERSIONS INCLUDE:
Traditional American folk: See as The Farmer's Curst Wife (Sheila Adams Barnhill (Granny Dell 3107d); Lena Armstrong and Etta Jones (FL 22a); Kenneth Ward Atwood (Okehdokee 76004a); E.C. and Orna Ball (ATL 82496c); Horton Barker (FW 2362c, LC L1a, LC AFSL1a); Joe Hubbard (BRI 002a); Lewis Lund (NW 239a); Andrew Rowan Summers (FW 2021c)); as Old Woman and the Devil (John Jacob Niles (TRD 1046a)); as The Devil and the Farmer's Wife (Hamper McBee (RND 0061a); Hobart Smith (FL 17a); Doc Watson (VG 2115a)).

Folksong revival: see as The Devil and the Farmer's Wife (Oscar Brand (Caedmon 1624a); Richard Dyer-Bennet (DYB 13c, VG 6007c); John McCutcheon (JA 003a); Tony and Judy Seeger (Indiana Archives of Traditional Music d)); as The Divil and the Farmer (Burl Ives (COL 6058a)); as The Farmer's Cursed Wife (Patrick Sky (VG 79207a)); as the Farmer's Curst Wife (Ted Ashlaw (PH 1022a); Caswell Carnahan (KM 316d); Paul Clayton (FW 2110c); Sam Eskin (CK 1020c); Anne Grimes (FW 5217c); Sam Hinton (DEC 8108a); Spider John Koerner (RDH 44c); John Langstaff (TRD 1009a); Sandy and Caroline Paton (FL 1002d); Peggy Seeger (RVR 12-655a); Pete Seeger (FW 2319c); Jeff Warner and Jeff Davis (Warner-Davis 102c); George and Mary Williamson (OH 80006a)).
Post revival: as The Devil and the Farmer's Wife (Hesperus (Golden Apple 7553c); Bruce Hutton (MMC 9040d)).

Children: as the Farmer's Cursed Wife (Tom Glazer (CMS 4650d)).

Country/String Band: as The Devil and the Farmer's Wife (Cat Cane Ramblers Fiddle Band (Voyager 3055a); West Orrtanna String Band (RVH 932a)).

Bluegrass: as the Farmer's Cursed Wife (Tim O'Brien (SGH 3808c)).

Rock: as the Farmer's Cursed Wife (Spud (Sonet 742a)).

British: as The Devil and the Farmer's Wife (Frankie Armstrong (SRR 4211a); Gryphon (Transatlantic 262a)).

Irish: as The Farmer's Curst Wife (Seamus Ennis (TRD 2013a)).

~Masato