List of cover versions of Lead Belly songs

Huddie William Ledbetter /ˈhjuːdi/ (January 20, 1888 – December 6, 1949)[1] was an American folk and blues musician notable for his strong vocals, virtuosity on the twelve-string guitar, and the folk standards he introduced. He is best known as Lead Belly.

Lead Belly's songs covered a wide range of genres and topics including gospel music; blues about women, liquor, prison life, and racism; and folk songs about cowboys, prison, work, sailors, cattle herding, and dancing. He also wrote songs about people in the news, such as Franklin D. Roosevelt, Adolf Hitler, Jean Harlow, Jack Johnson, the Scottsboro Boys and Howard Hughes.

Lead Belly's work has been widely covered by subsequent musical acts, including:

Song Artist(s) Release Year Reference
"Midnight Special" Bob Dylan
Brian Wilson
Johnny Rivers Here We à Go Go Again! 1964
Delaney Davidson
Tom Russell
Lonnie Donegan
Creedence Clearwater Revival Willy and the Poor Boys 1969
Elvis Presley [2]
ABBA
Pete Seeger
Weavers [3]
Harry Belafonte
Frank Sinatra
Nat King Cole
Animals
Mischief Brew Songs From Under the Sink
Jay Farrar
Johnny Cash
Tom Petty
Dr. John
Ry Cooder
Davy Graham
Maria Muldaur
Rory Block
The Grateful Dead
Gene Autry
Odetta
Billy Childish
Mungo Jerry
Paul King
Van Morrison
Michelle Shocked
"Cotton Fields" The Beach Boys 20/20 1969
country style single 1970
Creedence Clearwater Revival Willy and the Poor Boys 1969
Elvis Presley [2]
ABBA
Pete Seeger
Weavers [3]
Harry Belafonte
Frank Sinatra
Nat King Cole
Animals
Jay Farrar
Johnny Cash
Tom Petty
Dr. John
Ry Cooder
Davy Graham
Maria Muldaur
Rory Block
The Grateful Dead
Gene Autry
Odetta
Billy Childish
Mungo Jerry
Paul King
Van Morrison
Michelle Shocked
"Goodnight, Irene" Bryan Ferry Frantic (album) 2002
Tom Waits Orphans 2006
Half Man Half Biscuit
Ry Cooder Chicken Skin Music 1976
James Booker Junco Partner 1976
Dr. John Goin' Back to New Orleans 1992
Scott H. Biram
Ron Sexsmith
British Sea Power
Rod Stewart
Ernest Tubb
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Ram Jam
Little Richard Little Richard Is Back (And There's a Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On!) 1964
Peter Tork
"Black Betty" Ram Jam Ram Jam 1977
Spiderbait Tonight Alright 2004
Tom Jones Reloaded: Greatest Hits 2003
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds Kicking Against the Pricks 1986
"Boll Weevil" White Stripes Live in Mississippi 2011
Fall
Hole
Smog
Old Crow Medicine Show
Meat Loaf
Ministry
Raffi
Rasputina
"Out on the Western Plain" Rory Gallagher Against the Grain 1975
Sensational Alex Harvey Band
Deer Tick
Hugh Laurie
X
Bill Frisell
Koerner, Ray & Glover
Red Hot Chili Peppers
"Where Did You Sleep Last Night" / "In the Pines" Nirvana MTV Unplugged in New York 1994
Meat Puppets
Blind Willies
The Grateful Dead
Mark Lanegan
Smog
WZRD WZRD 2012
Keith Richards
"I Got Stripes" / "On a Monday" Johnny Cash 1959
Phil Lee Cash on Delivery 1999
"Hangman Jury" (sampled from "Can't You Line 'em") Aerosmith Permanent Vacation 1987 [4]
"The Gallis Pole / "Gallows Pole" Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin III 1970
"Ain’t It A Shame" Nirvana With The Lights Out 1989
"John Hardy" The Gun Club Miami 1982

References

  1. ^ Eagle, Bob; LeBlanc, Eric S. (2013). Blues - A Regional Experience. Santa Barbara: Praeger Publishers. p. 301. ISBN 978-0313344237.
  2. ^ a b Presley, Elvis; Cash, Johnny. "Together: Elvis Presley/Johnny Cash". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-03-12.[dead link‍]
  3. ^ a b Gilliland, John (1969). "Play A Simple Melody: American Pop Music in the Early Fifties. Part 1" (audio). Pop Chronicles. University of North Texas Libraries.
  4. ^ "Leadbelly Covers [mixtape]". Archived from the original on October 4, 2013. Retrieved 8 May 2013.