What made Ledbelly's songs so haunting is he used major chords on structures that sound like they call for a minor chord. In the 2nd song here, you hear it. In "In The Pines", Nirvana just flat-out changed the song into the minor chord implied. So Ledbelly always sounds like a guy trying to be happy over hidden pain. Which is a really bizarre and beautiful aesthetic.
MsMelancholy, Right! Incredible honor to actually see Leadbelly. His siren like voice, easily hits the highest range, so powerful and beautiful! I have the anthology of his Lomax recordings, “House of the Rising Sun” is spectacular- But, please Beware in UA-cam: There’s NO authentic version on UA-cam of him singing House of the Rising Sun. There is a fake posted; it’s a woman singing it, and they’ve fraudulently labeled it Leadbelly. I wish they would remove it. But I advise that you to buy the LP with Leadbelly singing it! So wonderful. But, there is an authentic UA-cam Leadbelly “In the Pines,” on UA-cam, where he sings the non-PC lyrics.that I think you’ll all enjoy! ❤️
Harry Clams I’ve heard that story. You forgot about the part where Paul McCartney listened to recordings of Leadbelly and was so influenced he stole music from him. This happened right before he went to the beach and found more of Leadbelly’s work in a bottle so he could copy even more of Leadbelly’s work. Great job telling that story, it’s one for the ages! The LEGENDARY LEADBELLY is the best!!!
Amazing to think I wasn't born yet... Amazing to think my parents weren't born yet... And today, thanks to the Internet, I can hear, and see, this legend. Thank you for having uploaded this treasure.
cheeseburgers? Sports is good for you, not pro sports, but getting the exercise yourself is awesome. But why would you pick the worst thing about the US? Is this all you know about? We have the best universities, amazing museums, greatest music, amazing scenery and landscapes, but you think cheeseburgers is our best known contribution?
This is when musicians like lead belly ate two by fours for breakfast with a few nails and had a gentleness but toughness about them and they sang songs from the soul that taught history, poetry and good times all at the same time - no cable, games, or bull.
Actually, 4 songs since he does a wordless version of "Black Girl"/"Where Did You Sleep Last Night" at the beginning! Also, what about the Lomaxes' film footage of him doing "Irene" at a small party celebrating his release form prison, that they made for the Library of Congress?
Leadbelly is a one of a kind musician. The only guy to compete with him on a 12 string guitar is Bilnd Willie McTell.. listen to his song, "You was born to die". Great folk/blues
I have seen other film of Leadbelly. But this *is* amazing. I want to play this and other Leadbelly songs for my grade-school students in Music Appreciation class, but I don't know that it will go over well. He was one of the great ones and the older I get the more I appreciate his music.
I say go for it! Not only is this man historically one of the integral influences behind several well know musicians, bands, and even genres, he was an historian through his music. Folk songs, work songs, and songs he wrote based on events he was involved in and events that were going on at the time around the country and the world were all part of his repertoire. Personally, I wish my elementary music teacher had introduced me to Lead Belly so I could have begun listening to his music earlier. He was part of some rough times (some of his own design), but he was a brilliant musician.
Good idea,the students will have different reactions,they will remember the day that they watched this,hopefully it will inspire them! You may unlock the creative side of someone!
I know this is years late but I really hope you put them on. I would have loved to have had a teacher show me such an important video/musician. Even if I wouldn't have appreciated it then, looking back I would be full of gratitude.
From my little town in England I was shown the blues from my parents that were into Cream and Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and the like - but i had to find the real roots of the blues myself! - this is one of the greatest things i have ever found! - Thank you for putting this up xx
His guitar work and vocals on Pick a Bale are absolutely astounding, as he swings from what sounds like a mellow folk tune into a frenzied, fast-paced, fine piece of film, fortunately recorded for posterity. His recording of Gallows Pole of course inspired Led Zeppelin, just as his recording of In the Pines (Where Did You Sleep Last Night) later inspired Nirvana.
Deep pain and longing for a freedom and liberty. That still is not fully given. I have tears in my heart and eyes hearing this painful beautiful pure music and lyrics of this awesome man.
That hummed version of In The Pines... My hair is standing on end. I don't particularly believe in ghosts but if they are real, Lead's is in that song.
I love him! My first song I ever learned (besides gospel in church) was my grandpa singing "In the Pines". This was around 1959. I hadn't started school yet. My Pa would hold me on his knee and sing "In the Pines".
He was the best.....period . He really is and was a great man . One of the best guitar players ever . Timeless music. Only a hand full of him playing exist . Imagine his music recorded in better quality.
This very brilliant poet and storyteller MrLeadbelly, you can feel it in his voice and the words he wrote that he suffered during his early life and he saw many other who had hard times
Man, man, man. I can't tell you how many times I've rode by that very same church when I was a kid and never knew this man was buried there. The church is actually closer to Blanchard than Mooringsport, on the Blanchard-Latex Road heading out toward a little crossroads called Latex on the Texas state line. The sanctuary you see in the beginning of the film has long since been replaced by a brick structure.
Jeez, this looks and feels like a MTV video from the Grunge era. My personal favorite delta blues is Leadbelly and Skip James. I'm extremely great full that upload this and just blown away by how good it is.
Yes, amazing. What a fine musician and writer, as well. One of the first influences I recall when I started playing the guitar many years ago. Always great to see this film. I've watched it many times.
Leadbelly, paved the way, for all musicians. White, Black, Poor Rich. Women and Men. Regardless of genre of music. To be able to sing, and play their musics. Leadbelly was the greatest, entertainer. Of the 20th century. God bless his soul, and memory eternally. As well as his musicality always....!!!
Songs of the American Working Man and Woman. We all play a part in building our Great Country, Folk music is about those that get their hands dirty and their soul full of Goodness. Rest Peacefully in the Arms of our Lord Leadbelly. God Bless.
ACTUALLY BEING A COLOR VIDEO FROM 1945 LONG BEFORE ANY OLDTIME BLUESMEN WERE LUCKY TO HAVE ANY RECOGNITION LEADBETTER ACTUALLY HAD MORE SUCCESS IN HIS OWN LIFETIME THAN BLUESMEN 20 YEARS YOUNGER THAN HIM. HE WAS BORN 1888 OR'89. CHESTER BURNETT WAS BORN 1910.22 YEARS LATER. FOR THE TIMES HE HAD MORE RECOGNITION THAN ANY BLUESMAN. BUT HE WASNT REALLY A BLUESMAN WAS HE? I THINK OF A MINSTREL WHEN I THINK OF LEADBETTER. HE HAD MATERIAL OF ALL DIFFERENT KINDS THAT HE COULD PLAY AND SING SOLO VERY WELL. NO DOUBT THAT 12 STRING ADDED RYTHYM BUT HIS STYLE IS SO UNIQUE I DONT THINK ITS BEEN ATTEMPTED TO BE EMULATED. I JUST THOUGHT OF THAT AS I WAS TYPING. LEADBETTER WROTE SOME OF THE MOST WELL KNOWN SONGS FROM THE TIME PERIOD HE LIVED IN. SONGS MANY DONT REALIZE HE WROTE. HOUSE OF RISING SUN. GOODNIGHT IRENE. THATS ENOUGH FROM ME I HOPE I MADE SENSE
Thank you for sharing this trio of awe inspiring songs. I felt chlls rin down my spine listening to the great Lead Belly singing. Truly historic and amazing music. I'd never heard them before and I'll never forget them.
This is awesome! I've been listening to a lot of early blues artists for the past few years and Leadbelly is one of my favorites! I just found this video! It's really cool that this exists! There's so much mystery around early Blues artists like Leadbelly and Robert Johnson. Researching artists like them are always so fun and intriguing! Thanks for posting this video!!
So much with so litle...its mindboggling. You feel almost ashamed to do virtual nothing with all the modern equipment of today. For its nothing compared with Leadbelly. He has just his voice, body and guitar and creates a whole world with his words, gestures and music. Just look how unreal and just boring the MTV-stuff is compared with the more primitive but higher levell of the origins of popmusic. Again why are young people today creating so much dull music compared with the older artists. Its not about the generations it is just that the new generation from late '80-ies to now...are creating nothing, nothing that shocks. For instance I didn't like Punk in the past, hated it back then -not anymore- but despite of being different and not appealing to me it still made me shivver/irritate me or whatever. No music of someone of today does anything it is not surprising, shocking, its just booooring till the hilt. And that is bad......really bad for the first time in rock history nowadays music is not hated because of a socalled generational conflict. But because a lot of people, even younger people...are not even interested. And its not a snobbism of "classical music versus pop', 'old against young' (like in the 50-ies when older people listned to Sinatra/Jazz/Orchestra's versus RocknRoll and Elvis). A lot of people who are open to shocking modern rocknroll or pop are shocked by just one thing....how can young people amuse themselves with so much faking of music and songs that are boring like a blunt worn out tool...Wow how good the old stuff, even the grainy stuff is compared to nowaday's chartlists
Part of the reason is that fewer people are making music. Instead folks are listening to recorded music. In earlier generations, before recordings, everyone sang at least a little and most people played something. In the 20s and 30s every small bar/restaurant/night club had musicians or a small band. Now they all have piped in music and TVs and only a few places have live music. Also, because fewer people play, you don't hear people make mistakes any more. All you hear is 'perfect' produced recorded music, so if kids start to play and make mistakes they figure they aren't any good and they give up too soon. When I was a kid all of my friends took piano lessons or guitar lessons or something. Now? Only a very few kids play anything. Families used to play and sing together in the evenings (before radio & TV) and you learned songs at your mother's knee. Now it just doesn't happen and kids don't learn about music as they grow up or have that connection to the music of the past and their musical roots. So fewer people playing music, fewer people in touch with musical roots, fewer people creating original music, fewer people making mistakes - sometimes a mistake leads you to a whole new idea! It all adds up to less and less creativity.
This sums up what I tell everyone I know. The music nowadays I could go over a whole collection of pop and underground with no interest or surprise. The 80s were narrowed in style but at least it caught your attention and some very innovative. Being a guitarist I measure the decline by no soul in music because I feel it's all vocal orientated. I thank all the groups that covered Belly songs as I always had Muddy Waters type albums Belly flew under my radar even though rock did his songs.
I think it was really good of Kurt Cobain to cover Leadbelly's music because that way he (Leadbelly) isn't forgotten. I'd never have heard of him otherwise.
It's not as much scary as it is eerie to me. The opening footage of a desolate graveyard and Leadbelly humming "Black Girl" in the background. The sort of technicolor hue. And knowing that we sometimes just 'consume' his music and forget how hard life was for Leadbelly and others is a real tragedy, imo.
I got here in the weirdest way possible...a YA novel within the Percy Jackson universe. But man am I glad I did. This is some phenomenal music. Thanks Leadbelly and thank you Rick Riorden! Humanity can truly be amazing sometimes. Let's keep aiming for that and maybe we'll get somewhere.❤🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤
I love the opening instrumental where he hums "In the Pines" without ever actually singing a word...then, this historically significant video keeps getting better from there. How blue can you get? lol
5 років тому+2
What a beautiful voice he had. "Take this hammer (Ha!) and carry it to the Captain(Ha!). Tell him I'm gone(Ha!). If he ask you (Ha!) was I running(Ha!), Telling him I was flying".
He is terrific. Wish we had more videos. A rock star in every way. reminds me of David Berne's moves on some of his videos. I know Leadbelly is moving to the music as he feels it and not trying to be ironic as David Berne was.
WHO THE HELL IS david berne???? Leadbelly didn't have any "moves", you twit. He was born in the late 1880's and died 4 years after the date of this film. LONG before MTV was launched in 1981 with their rock "stars" and their "moves". DUMBA$$.
He is one of the greatest American music heroes, I can’t imagen the sound and arrangements He would made in 60’s, also the filmmaker of these is a genius, using shadows and 2 low lights to produce such a fantastic film. I think Leadbelly has been influential in a lot of musicians, even I wonder if Led Zeppelin name is related, some attribute to Keith Moon’s joke he made about the band but I don’t know, will never know the real story behind as Zep used a lot of black music as inspiration. This guy was a revolution per se, he never stops, and nothing stopped him only death. Thank you for giving us this video!
Does anyone else know that the Oriental theatre in Chicago was the site of the largest fire in US history? 602 people were burned to death. the lucky ones just suffocated, I guess. There isn't even a little plaque there. It doubled the loss of the Chicago fire.
+John Doe it was from Nirvana unplugged. Right before they sang "Where did you sleep last night" he said someone from the Leadbelly estate offered him one of his guitars for 500,000. he asked David Geffen personally for it and he said no
Leadbelly was so good he inspired Kurt cobain to do his best cover in the pines I practiced a couple songs off his music in the pines and gallis pole so far he was a very fast technical guitar player on that 12 string acoustic and his vocals were the best of his time very melodic catchy and rhythmic
There are many things I don't like in the US as a Greek, but music like this, the blues and then rock and roll, no country will ever produce... Maybe it's because they were a strong voice against the system, not just the American, I mean worldwide..
He was such a great influence on almost ever genre of music. He never got the recognition and praise he deserved. Except for the Lomax film, I thought there was no "video" record of him singing. And he died 2 months after I was born, so I never got to see him.
The video must have a better quality in some archive, somewhere......but even in this rough state its one of the best combinations of music, and image i've ever seen. I imediatly think of Van Gogh, the roughness of his brush all over these images. Leadbelly is not only great on his own, he's also the grandfather of the popsong, blues, folk and rocknroll. Remember direct or indirect (Lonnie Donnogan) the Beatles were influenced by this man, what a world of pictures this man creates with only a voice and an acoustic guitar.....Marvelous.......
The "where did you sleep last night" humming version in the beginning of this footage is the most creepiest melody I've ever heard. What a dark mood, a nightmare soundtrack!
![[UA] Team Vitality проти NAVI | IEM Cologne 2024](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/wttO1zVRTC0/mqdefault.jpg)
What made Ledbelly's songs so haunting is he used major chords on structures that sound like they call for a minor chord. In the 2nd song here, you hear it. In "In The Pines", Nirvana just flat-out changed the song into the minor chord implied. So Ledbelly always sounds like a guy trying to be happy over hidden pain. Which is a really bizarre and beautiful aesthetic.
This is why I love youtube. Where else would we able to see something as awesome as this?!
Right !!
Pornhub.
UA-cam is a Time Machine
Pogo's Ego XNXX
MsMelancholy, Right! Incredible honor to actually see Leadbelly.
His siren like voice, easily hits the highest range, so powerful and beautiful!
I have the anthology of his Lomax recordings, “House of the Rising Sun” is spectacular- But, please Beware in UA-cam: There’s NO authentic version on UA-cam of him singing House of the Rising Sun. There is a fake posted; it’s a woman singing it, and they’ve fraudulently labeled it Leadbelly. I wish they would remove it.
But I advise that you to buy the LP with Leadbelly singing it! So wonderful.
But, there is an authentic UA-cam Leadbelly “In the Pines,” on UA-cam, where he sings the non-PC lyrics.that I think you’ll all enjoy! ❤️
He’s just living his life and doing his thing not realizing he’s inspiring the future of music
He had no idea he was changing music but here we are... Looking into our roots!!!
Don't forget the killing people bit.
@@johnllewlyndavies222 *manslaughter
George Harrison once said "no Leadbelly, no Beatles", period.
Now that's real talk
Harry Clams I’ve heard that story. You forgot about the part where Paul McCartney listened to recordings of Leadbelly and was so influenced he stole music from him. This happened right before he went to the beach and found more of Leadbelly’s work in a bottle so he could copy even more of Leadbelly’s work. Great job telling that story, it’s one for the ages! The LEGENDARY LEADBELLY is the best!!!
No Lonnie donagan
@Harry Clams where’d you hear this story? Its like a folk legend
@Harry Clams Adapting old folk songs is not stealing.
Amazing to think I wasn't born yet... Amazing to think my parents weren't born yet...
And today, thanks to the Internet, I can hear, and see, this legend.
Thank you for having uploaded this treasure.
My grandparents are boomers who werent even born yet! UA-cam is both a gift and a curse lol
@@MrAppalachia Agreed about YT. All depends of what you're looking for on it.
It's not things like Cheeseburgers and Sports that make me proud to be an American, it's things like Leadbelly. Thank You so much for posting!!
cheeseburgers? Sports is good for you, not pro sports, but getting the exercise yourself is awesome. But why would you pick the worst thing about the US? Is this all you know about? We have the best universities, amazing museums, greatest music, amazing scenery and landscapes, but you think cheeseburgers is our best known contribution?
You have Colorado ! Beautiful mountains, hot springs, a lot of goood weeds and craft beers, enjoy !
Cheeseburgers also make me proud to be an American, along with Leadbelly
Cheers, Leadbelly showed me the way ..
praise God for cheeseburgers and Leadbelly!
75 years later, this guy is still amazing. I can see how so many musicians can appreciate Leadbelly's talent.
When you talk about underrated guitarists, I think Leadbelly has to be in the top 5.
+Prince Aligorna Definately when you consider the few influences back then..
+Prince Aligorna absolutely one of the best
King of the Twelve String!
Prince Aligorna he inspired my favorite bands
well if he was white or gay he would of been much more famous
Absolute legend. Sad that he was so famous in his time, recorded amd sold out shows all over , but still died a poor man.
will you? no? even sadder.
@@_Ramen-Vac_ bro what?
@@revalone3944 yes, it's incoherent . can't really tell wtf i meant either lol
@@_Ramen-Vac_ you're saying man in question won't die poor despite not being famous, which makes It even sadder he died poor while being popular
@@revalone3944 i rectum yer right..
The songs are; "IN THE PINES", "PICK A BALE OF COTTON", GREY GOOSE" & "TAKE THIS HAMMER"
This is when musicians like lead belly ate two by fours for breakfast with a few nails and had a gentleness but toughness about them and they sang songs from the soul that taught history, poetry and good times all at the same time - no cable, games, or bull.
The pick a bale song is genuinely other-worldly.
Most work songs are.
MY GOD...HUDDIE LEDBETTER WAS SUCH A PRESENCE IN MY LIFE. THANK YOU. And this is the most amazing piece of film.
Actually, 4 songs since he does a wordless version of "Black Girl"/"Where Did You Sleep Last Night" at the beginning! Also, what about the Lomaxes' film footage of him doing "Irene" at a small party celebrating his release form prison, that they made for the Library of Congress?
Here it is:
ua-cam.com/video/w-t9YlYa_S8/v-deo.html
Quite possibly the most important video I've ever seen.
agreed
Yes sir!!!!
Correct.
A man is nothing with out his pride in family and knowledge of that family's history.
Man I found me a new Folk singer hero. Lead Belly.
Leadbelly is a one of a kind musician. The only guy to compete with him on a 12 string guitar is Bilnd Willie McTell.. listen to his song, "You was born to die". Great folk/blues
Can't appreciate this without insulting everyone else, huh?
Try Blues singer home boy!!!!
Goerge Bent fukin elitists suck
He was who he was. Another era. He certainly inspired many. He is playing right now in his timeline, and I just met him in mine. Leadbelly.
Love this COMMENT
I have seen other film of Leadbelly. But this *is* amazing. I want to play this and other Leadbelly songs for my grade-school students in Music Appreciation class, but I don't know that it will go over well. He was one of the great ones and the older I get the more I appreciate his music.
I say go for it! Not only is this man historically one of the integral influences behind several well know musicians, bands, and even genres, he was an historian through his music. Folk songs, work songs, and songs he wrote based on events he was involved in and events that were going on at the time around the country and the world were all part of his repertoire. Personally, I wish my elementary music teacher had introduced me to Lead Belly so I could have begun listening to his music earlier. He was part of some rough times (some of his own design), but he was a brilliant musician.
Good idea,the students will have different reactions,they will remember the day that they watched this,hopefully it will inspire them!
You may unlock the creative side of someone!
Robert Edward Bullock yeah I’m 25 and we used to sing pick a bale in elementary school
I sang this with my sixth graders and they loved it, they started doing their own dancing.
I know this is years late but I really hope you put them on. I would have loved to have had a teacher show me such an important video/musician. Even if I wouldn't have appreciated it then, looking back I would be full of gratitude.
From my little town in England I was shown the blues from my parents that were into Cream and Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and the like - but i had to find the real roots of the blues myself! - this is one of the greatest things i have ever found! -
Thank you for putting this up xx
His guitar work and vocals on Pick a Bale are absolutely astounding, as he swings from what sounds like a mellow folk tune into a frenzied, fast-paced, fine piece of film, fortunately recorded for posterity. His recording of Gallows Pole of course inspired Led Zeppelin, just as his recording of In the Pines (Where Did You Sleep Last Night) later inspired Nirvana.
Deep pain and longing for a freedom and liberty. That still is not fully given. I have tears in my heart and eyes hearing this painful beautiful pure music and lyrics of this awesome man.
That hummed version of In The Pines...
My hair is standing on end. I don't particularly believe in ghosts but if they are real, Lead's is in that song.
I'm so happy to see so many young people appreciating the genius that was Leadbelly ❤
A priceless historical treasure
I love him! My first song I ever learned (besides gospel in church) was my grandpa singing "In the Pines". This was around 1959. I hadn't started school yet. My Pa would hold me on his knee and sing "In the Pines".
He was the best.....period . He really is and was a great man . One of the best guitar players ever . Timeless music.
Only a hand full of him playing exist . Imagine his music recorded in better quality.
Its 2021… wonder if Lead Belly could’ve ever dreamed we’d be watching this and singing these songs.. beautiful piece of history and American culture
This very brilliant poet and storyteller MrLeadbelly, you can feel it in his voice and the words he wrote that he suffered during his early life and he saw many other who had hard times
Hedy was smokin' that 12 string, on Pick a Bale... imagine if he had an amp.
Hudie
The world would split into
The thought of Lead Belly being plugged into a rig with a Fender round his shoulder makes me shiver
He didn't need any amp, nor any damn electric guitar either!
Here’s a tribute. ua-cam.com/video/weQfVOAMSVs/v-deo.html
God Bless good Ole Leadbelly, great tribute to the Working Man. May you Rest Peacefully in the arms of our Lord.
My life just got 10 times better seein this! One of the greatest legends!
Man, man, man. I can't tell you how many times I've rode by that very same church when I was a kid and never knew this man was buried there. The church is actually closer to Blanchard than Mooringsport, on the Blanchard-Latex Road heading out toward a little crossroads called Latex on the Texas state line. The sanctuary you see in the beginning of the film has long since been replaced by a brick structure.
butanebandit greetings from denmark
This man is genius
Jeez, this looks and feels like a MTV video from the Grunge era. My personal favorite delta blues is Leadbelly and Skip James. I'm extremely great full that upload this and just blown away by how good it is.
+Leigh Foulkes Yeah, Nirvana covered this intro song.
Leigh Foules Leadbelly aint Delta hes from Texas. Charley Patton and Robert Johnson are the best Delta blues guitarists.
It´s so amazing I can really feel his soul in his singing. Hardship and joy
WooooW this is mind blowing!!
Yes, amazing. What a fine musician and writer, as well. One of the first influences I recall when I started playing the guitar many years ago. Always great to see this film. I've watched it many times.
Yes, me also. Goodnight Irene was the first song I learned.
Seeing this is a privilege
Leadbelly is a national and international treasure.
From Brazil
Happy 🥳🥠🥂🌞💃🏽🍾🎉🍾🥧🍭🎂🎶🍺🎂🎁🎈💃🏽🕺🏽🔥🙏🏾🌾🍂🍃🎤🎄🔥✊🏿🍻🫵🎶💯🔝🕺👑🍀☀🎂🥂🍾🪂🏄♀⛵🏖 music birthday (Jan 20) in heaven Lead Belly ("Rock island line" etc.)(d. 1949) ;-)
Leadbelly, paved the way, for all musicians. White, Black, Poor Rich. Women and Men. Regardless of genre of music. To be able to sing, and play their musics. Leadbelly was the greatest, entertainer. Of the 20th century. God bless his soul, and memory eternally. As well as his musicality always....!!!
Songs of the American Working Man and Woman. We all play a part in building our Great Country, Folk music is about those that get their hands dirty and their soul full of Goodness. Rest Peacefully in the Arms of our Lord Leadbelly. God Bless.
Chills up my spine
Shilo Baptist Church, the CBGB's of '45...
+Bennie Townsend Bwaha
ACTUALLY BEING A COLOR VIDEO FROM 1945 LONG BEFORE ANY OLDTIME BLUESMEN WERE LUCKY TO HAVE ANY RECOGNITION LEADBETTER ACTUALLY HAD MORE SUCCESS IN HIS OWN LIFETIME THAN BLUESMEN 20 YEARS YOUNGER THAN HIM. HE WAS BORN 1888 OR'89. CHESTER BURNETT WAS BORN 1910.22 YEARS LATER. FOR THE TIMES HE HAD MORE RECOGNITION THAN ANY BLUESMAN. BUT HE WASNT REALLY A BLUESMAN WAS HE? I THINK OF A MINSTREL WHEN I THINK OF LEADBETTER. HE HAD MATERIAL OF ALL DIFFERENT KINDS THAT HE COULD PLAY AND SING SOLO VERY WELL. NO DOUBT THAT 12 STRING ADDED RYTHYM BUT HIS STYLE IS SO UNIQUE I DONT THINK ITS BEEN ATTEMPTED TO BE EMULATED. I JUST THOUGHT OF THAT AS I WAS TYPING. LEADBETTER WROTE SOME OF THE MOST WELL KNOWN SONGS FROM THE TIME PERIOD HE LIVED IN. SONGS MANY DONT REALIZE HE WROTE. HOUSE OF RISING SUN. GOODNIGHT IRENE. THATS ENOUGH FROM ME I HOPE I MADE SENSE
Dave Grabowski YES you came across to those who are Hep . couldn't have done better myself.
Bennie Townsend haha!
Thank you for sharing this trio of awe inspiring songs. I felt chlls rin down my spine listening to the great Lead Belly singing. Truly historic and amazing music. I'd never heard them before and I'll never forget them.
If you have seen this video
"you have now lived".
What a great musician!!!! So glad his work lives on.
I put Leadbelly live without actually believing I could find anything, and I found this! This video is a precious piece of history
This is awesome! I've been listening to a lot of early blues artists for the past few years and Leadbelly is one of my favorites! I just found this video! It's really cool that this exists! There's so much mystery around early Blues artists like Leadbelly and Robert Johnson. Researching artists like them are always so fun and intriguing! Thanks for posting this video!!
I am overwhelmed like a mofo....
So much with so litle...its mindboggling. You feel almost ashamed to do virtual nothing with all the modern equipment of today.
For its nothing compared with Leadbelly. He has just his voice, body and guitar and creates a whole world with his words, gestures and music. Just look how unreal and just boring the MTV-stuff is compared with the more primitive but higher levell
of the origins of popmusic. Again why are young people today creating so much dull music compared with the older artists.
Its not about the generations it is just that the new generation from late '80-ies to now...are creating nothing, nothing that shocks. For instance I didn't like Punk in the past, hated it back then -not anymore- but despite of being different and not appealing to me it still made me shivver/irritate me or whatever. No music of someone of today does anything it is not surprising, shocking, its just booooring till the hilt. And that is bad......really bad for the first time in rock history nowadays music is not hated because of a socalled generational conflict. But because a lot of people, even younger people...are not even interested. And its not a snobbism of "classical music versus pop', 'old against young' (like in the 50-ies when older people
listned to Sinatra/Jazz/Orchestra's versus RocknRoll and Elvis).
A lot of people who are open to shocking modern rocknroll or pop are shocked by just one thing....how can young people amuse themselves with so much faking of music and songs that are boring like a blunt worn out tool...Wow how good the
old stuff, even the grainy stuff is compared to nowaday's chartlists
Part of the reason is that fewer people are making music. Instead folks are listening to recorded music. In earlier generations, before recordings, everyone sang at least a little and most people played something. In the 20s and 30s every small bar/restaurant/night club had musicians or a small band. Now they all have piped in music and TVs and only a few places have live music.
Also, because fewer people play, you don't hear people make mistakes any more. All you hear is 'perfect' produced recorded music, so if kids start to play and make mistakes they figure they aren't any good and they give up too soon. When I was a kid all of my friends took piano lessons or guitar lessons or something. Now? Only a very few kids play anything. Families used to play and sing together in the evenings (before radio & TV) and you learned songs at your mother's knee. Now it just doesn't happen and kids don't learn about music as they grow up or have that connection to the music of the past and their musical roots.
So fewer people playing music, fewer people in touch with musical roots, fewer people creating original music, fewer people making mistakes - sometimes a mistake leads you to a whole new idea! It all adds up to less and less creativity.
This sums up what I tell everyone I know. The music nowadays I could go over a whole collection of pop and underground with no interest or surprise. The 80s were narrowed in style but at least it caught your attention and some very innovative. Being a guitarist I measure the decline by no soul in music because I feel it's all vocal orientated. I thank all the groups that covered Belly songs as I always had Muddy Waters type albums Belly flew under my radar even though rock did his songs.
How about SRV's MTV performance? That was killer. There are awesome musicians everywhere. They just dont get attention.
I agree on some points... it’s very sad when you hear a “viral” popular song and 4 years later it’s gone: Next flavour of th month is on.
I think it was really good of Kurt Cobain to cover Leadbelly's music because that way he (Leadbelly) isn't forgotten. I'd never have heard of him otherwise.
Filmed by Wah Chang, prop maker extraordinaire. Who worked on movies from Pinnochio to Cleopatra to The Seven Faces of Dr. Lao and Star Trek TOS.
I love Leadbelly, but christ he scares the shit outta me. Awesome!
I think it's the way it's filmed. Even though he is my favorite performer, this video does weird me out a bit despite how good the songs are.
I have no idea. I think it's like you said. The quality of the film and the way it's been taken. Love it tho
It doesn't scare me...but I am surprised at how I kinda feel something familiar about this video but I have never seen it before...
ieattofu68 I felt the same way, but then I remembered that when I was in elementary school we used to sing folk songs Lead Belly sang.
It's not as much scary as it is eerie to me. The opening footage of a desolate graveyard and Leadbelly humming "Black Girl" in the background. The sort of technicolor hue. And knowing that we sometimes just 'consume' his music and forget how hard life was for Leadbelly and others is a real tragedy, imo.
A great man with great vitality. He passes on the wonderful tradition of folks just singin' from their hearts.
This is the US culture that we need to stop denying ... what a beautiful expression
What a precious video this is! Thank you so much for posting it here!
What a performer. How he acts out the songs seamlessly with his instrument while playing
this man was a genius
saw the movie 2 days ago, now I'm in love with Lead Belly
THANK YOU FOR THIS SIR!!!!..SAVED MY LIFE TONIGHT!!
Listen plz. Never forget about ours ancestor .GOD'S BLESS YOU.
What a man. What an artist! Incomparable talent.
The Original KING of Rhythm and Blues Rock and Roll
I got here in the weirdest way possible...a YA novel within the Percy Jackson universe. But man am I glad I did. This is some phenomenal music. Thanks Leadbelly and thank you Rick Riorden! Humanity can truly be amazing sometimes. Let's keep aiming for that and maybe we'll get somewhere.❤🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤
I remember The BBC playing things 1st track before Children’s TV in the mid Sixties
I love the opening instrumental where he hums "In the Pines" without ever actually singing a word...then, this historically significant video keeps getting better from there. How blue can you get? lol
What a beautiful voice he had. "Take this hammer (Ha!) and carry it to the Captain(Ha!). Tell him I'm gone(Ha!). If he ask you (Ha!) was I running(Ha!), Telling him I was flying".
When I went home I drove to that church and saw his memorial/ graveside. You know he married someone that's related to my family .
Just the best
This is a piece of world music history!
He is terrific. Wish we had more videos. A rock star in every way. reminds me of David Berne's moves on some of his videos. I know Leadbelly is moving to the music as he feels it and not trying to be ironic as David Berne was.
WHO THE HELL IS david berne???? Leadbelly didn't have any "moves", you twit. He was born in the late 1880's and died 4 years after the date of this film. LONG before MTV was launched in 1981 with their rock "stars" and their "moves". DUMBA$$.
Lead Belly is from another planet!!
Leadbelly is in your soul......just sayin`...
leadbelly rock n role jeasus
He is one of the greatest American music heroes, I can’t imagen the sound and arrangements He would made in 60’s, also the filmmaker of these is a genius, using shadows and 2 low lights to produce such a fantastic film. I think Leadbelly has been influential in a lot of musicians, even I wonder if Led Zeppelin name is related, some attribute to Keith Moon’s joke he made about the band but I don’t know, will never know the real story behind as Zep used a lot of black music as inspiration. This guy was a revolution per se, he never stops, and nothing stopped him only death. Thank you for giving us this video!
Absolutely brilliant. Must have watched it at least 100 times in the last few days!
in the beggining when he's humming and hits a low note on the guitar just sends shivers down my spine
Does anyone else know that the Oriental theatre in Chicago was the site of the largest fire in US history? 602 people were burned to death. the lucky ones just suffocated, I guess. There isn't even a little plaque there. It doubled the loss of the Chicago fire.
I wish leadbelly could've lived to see the civil rights acts. He would've been very happy about that.
Beautiful! Thanks for this.
I imagine if that guitar is still around, it's worth a pretty penny.
Geotubest I'm pretty sure it's still around somewhere. Kurt Cobain asked David Geffen to buy it for him for $500,000 and he said no.
SalandFindles It is in Cleveland at the Hall of Fame.
thebandcoca If that's so, then it's the worst joke in the world, because it's easily shut down by facts.
+thebandcoca Wiki says he did ask him
+John Doe it was from Nirvana unplugged. Right before they sang "Where did you sleep last night" he said someone from the Leadbelly estate offered him one of his guitars for 500,000. he asked David Geffen personally for it and he said no
THANK YOU MUSIC MASTERS CLUB!!!
What a treasure this is!
modern music in its earliest.!
Como alguém tem coragem de negativar um som desses!
fantastic
Leadbelly was so good he inspired Kurt cobain to do his best cover in the pines I practiced a couple songs off his music in the pines and gallis pole so far he was a very fast technical guitar player on that 12 string acoustic and his vocals were the best of his time very melodic catchy and rhythmic
Wonderful, I didn't even know there were any videos of him. I wish he was still around.
Incredible!!!!!!!!....................
Grande, talvez o maior! 💯💥👏👏👏
There are many things I don't like in the US as a Greek, but music like this, the blues and then rock and roll, no country will ever produce... Maybe it's because they were a strong voice against the system, not just the American, I mean worldwide..
I used to sing that cotton song frequently when I was a little girl...I have no idea where I learned it from....
He was such a great influence on almost ever genre of music. He never got the recognition and praise he deserved. Except for the Lomax film, I thought there was no "video" record of him singing. And he died 2 months after I was born, so I never got to see him.
Thank you very much for posting this.
Now its 2014 and this song is 1945 this is crazy and now are songs are relly different
The video must have a better quality in some archive, somewhere......but even in this rough state its one of the best combinations of music,
and image i've ever seen. I imediatly think of Van Gogh, the roughness of his brush all over these images. Leadbelly is not only great on his own,
he's also the grandfather of the popsong, blues, folk and rocknroll. Remember direct or indirect (Lonnie Donnogan) the Beatles were influenced
by this man, what a world of pictures this man creates with only a voice and an acoustic guitar.....Marvelous.......
Best folk singer ever, The best
The "where did you sleep last night" humming version in the beginning of this footage is the most creepiest melody I've ever heard. What a dark mood, a nightmare soundtrack!
RIP Leadbelly