John Henry Legend

Radio Documentary Books Music

John Henry Legend

Music

Blues | Folk/Bluegrass/County | Other

There are hundreds of versions of the ballad, spanning from the early days of recording to now, and representing most every musical form. Here's a small sampling, clumped loosely by genre.

Blues

• Baker, Etta. Instrumental Music of Southern Appalachia. (Guitar version played in open tuning with a jacknife blade)
  
  
• Broonzy, Big Bill, 1893-1958. Big Bill Broonzy Sings Folk Songs. (Smithsonian Folkways, 1989)
  
  
• Campbell, Blind James. Blind James Campbell. (Arhoolie)
  
  
• Cephas, Bowling Green John and Wiggins, Harmonica Phil. Dog Days of August. (Flying Fish, 1984) (One of the most beautiful versions I've heard)
  
  
• Chicago String Band. The Chicago String Band. (Testament Records)
  
  
• Eaglin, Snooks. Country Boy in New Orleans. (Arhoolie)
  
  
• Fuller, Jesse. San Francisco Bay Blues. (Original Blues Classics)
  
  
• Hawkins, Erskine. Blues Masters, Volume 13. (Rhino Records) (Anthology, various artists)
  
  
• Horton, Walter "Shakey." The Soul of Blues Harmonica. (Chess)
  
  
• Hovington, Franklin. Lonesome Road Blues (Flyright) (A dextrous guitarist from southern Delaware; great version)
  
  
• Leadbelly, Leadbelly's Last Sessions. (Folkways/Smithsonian)
  
  
• Lewis, Furry. Shake 'Em On Down (Fantasy Records)
  
  
• McDowell, Fred. Long Way From Home. (Original Blues Classics)
  
  
• McGhee, Brownie and Terry, Sonny. Brownie McGhee and Sonny Terry Sing. (Smithsonian Folkways, 1990)
  
  
• Muddy Waters/Memphis Slim. Chicago Blues Masters Volume 1. (Capitol Blues Collection)
  
  
• Odetta & Larry. The Tin Angel. (Original Blues Classics)
  
  
• Sellers, Brother John. Brother John Sellers Sings Blues and Folk Songs. (Vanguard)
  
  
• White, Josh. Ballads & Blues. (Decca, 195-?)

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Folk/Bluegrass/Country

• American Ballads. (Folkways Records FA 2319, 1957) (Anthology, various artists)
  
  
• Baker, Kenny and Graves, Josh. The Puritan Sessions. (Rebel)
  
  
• Blue Ridge Mountain Music. (Atlantic SD 1347)(Anthology)
  
  
  
• Cash, Johnny. Blood, Sweat and Tears. (Columbia CS 8730)
  
  
• Dickens, "Little" Jimmy. (Columbia Historic Editions) (A hillbilly version by an Opry legend)
  
  
• Flatt, Lester and Scruggs, Earl. Flatt & Scruggs: 20 All-Time Great Recordings. (Columbia)
  
  
• Guthrie, Woody. Worried Man Blues. (Collectables)
  
  
• Hartford, John. Goin' Back to Dixie. (Small Dog A-Barkin')
  
  
• Holcomb, Roscoe (the late, from Daisy, KY...a friend of Jean Ritchie. (Folkways)
  
  
• The Home Folks of Scott County, VA. (June Appal Records/Appalshop)
  
  
• Hot Rize. Traditional Ties. (Sugar Hill)
  
  
• Ives, Burl. Men songs for and about men. (Decca, 1955)
  
  
• Jones, Grandpa. Grandpa Jones LIVE. (Monument Records)
  
  
• Kentucky Colonels... Appalachian Swing. (Rounder)
  
  
• The Lilly Brothers/Don Stover. Early Recordings. (Rebel)
  
  
• The Limeliters. Alive! In Concert Volumes 1 and 2. (GNP/Crescendo)
  
  
• Lomax, John A. John A. Lomax, Jr. Sings American Folk Songs. (Folkways FG 3508, 1956)
  
  
• Macon, Uncle Dave. (A legend in old-time country music and member of the Grand Old Opry. Macon's classic banjo version is one of the first recordings of the ballad, and is the one that most inspired Doc Watson.)
  
  
• McCutcheon, John. Howjadoo. (Rounder)
  
  
• Ochs, Phil. The Broadside Tapes 1. (Smithsonian Folkways, 1989)
  
  
• Puckett, Riley. (An early and classic version)
  
  
• Seeger, Pete. Carry it On. (Flying Fish)
  
  
• Songs of Death and Tragedy, edited by Richard K. Spottswood. (Library of Congress, 1977, LBC-9) (An anthology; this version of John Henry is by John Cephas)
  
  
• Stanley, Ralph. Classic Bluegrass. (Rebel)
  
  
• Thompson, Hank. At The Golden Nugget. (Liberty)
  
  
• Travis, Merle. 24 Greatest Hits. (CMH Productions)
  
  
• Watson, Doc. Doc Watson Sings Songs for Little Pickers. (Sugar Hill) (Doc has several excellent versions; this one is a live performance for kids)

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Other

• Belafonte, Harry. Harry Belafonte. (Bella Musica)
  
  
• Copland, Aaron. John Henry: A Railroad Ballad for Orchestra. (Music Score-Boosey & Hawkes, 1982, ©1953)
  
  
• Cows. Peacetika. (Amphetamine Reptile Records) (A hardcore/punk version)
  
  
• Robeson, Paul. The Power and the Glory. (Legacy Records)
  
  
• Smothers Brothers. Think Ethnic. (Mercury)

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Copyright © 1999–2005, Ginna Allison. All rights reserved.

Contact: ginna @ wormlips [dot] com.