Tradition songs from the Sea Islands, off the southeast coast of the US, once home to slave plantations were kept alive by singers including the remarkable folk star Bessie Jones, who performed at Jimmy Carter’s inauguration in 1977. These freshly remastered recordings, made by the legendary folklorist Alan Lomax in the early 60s, are a reminder of her driving, rhythmic style. It’s a lengthy set of 51 songs, more than half of them previously unreleased, and it proves that Jones was as powerful singing solo as she was with a choir. The solo work includes John Henry (with appropriate hammering effects), while the Singers join her for a rousing Daniel in the Lion’s Death, and Reverend Gary Davis makes an appearance on Before This Time Another Year, a cheerfully stomping song about death. This is folk and gospel classic.
