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Angola Prisoners' Blues (CD Edition)

by Various Artists

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about

Angola Prison, officially known as the Louisiana State Penitentiary, is one of the largest maximum security prisons in the country. In the 1950s, LSU English professor Dr. Harry Oster recorded a series of music performances by African American prisoners at the infamous facility. The performances, many by prisoners serving life sentences, are full of despair and raw emotion. Included in this collection are a cappella selections by three female prisoners (Angola housed both male and female prisoners until 1961). Part of the royalties from this collection go to the Inmate Welfare Fund at the Louisiana State Penitentiary.

credits

released January 1, 1959

1959, Smithsonian Folkways Recordings. Originally released on Arhoolie Records.

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Arhoolie Records El Cerrito, California

In Nov. 1960, Arhoolie LP 1001 introduced the Texas songster Mance Lipscomb to the world. (An arhoolie is a field holler). For 60 years, Arhoolie Records has released 350+ albums, including Cajun, zydeco, norteño, bluegrass, gospel and blues. Regional forms like zydeco may have never had national exposure without Arhoolie. The Smithsonian acquired Arhoolie in 2016. ... more

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