Well, I just SAW for the first time one of my holy grails! In a French documentary on Jazz......there was the COMPLETE two minute clip of Leadbelly playing Irene Goodnight in Prison, and then embarassing himself in a dialogue with John Lomax!!!

Damn, I've waited a long time to see that. Leadbelly plays Irene in C(!!) on his green Stella 12 string (the one held together with tape), although he's tuned wayyyyyyy down. He often played it in A7th formation as his voice lowered.

Lomax says "welllll Leadbelly, you're the best nigra songster in this hyar prison (or something like that) and Huddie asks him to take the song (not Irene) to the Governor and get him a pardon. It's hokey and very racist....but am I glad to have finally seen it!

Those French may be Jerry Lewis lovin', Dubya dissin', surrender monkeys, but man to they give good documentary.

Cheers

Rick