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Cduniverse.com:
Named after a line in his version of the traditional folk ballad "The Gallis Pole," the 13-track compilation IN THE SHADOW OF THE GALLOWS POLE is intended as a brief introduction to the folkier side of Huddie "Leadbelly" Ledbetter. Though you most often find Leadbelly's music filed under "blues" in the record store, he always had a deep appreciation for and knowledge of traditional folk music. As such, most of the tracks here are ballads, story songs like "John Hardy," cowboy tunes like "Whoa, Back, Buck!," and rollicking good-time ditties like the opening medley of "Looky Looky Yonder," "Black Betty" (later a rock & roll staple and major '70s hit for the band Ram Jam), and "Yellow Women's Doorbells." Leadbelly's amazing range is clearly evident throughout. As always with Rykodisc releases, the sound, liner notes, and packaging are superb.

Allmusic.com:
There seems to be some kind of unwritten rule against giving exact session dates on most Tradition CD reissues, although at least one of the tracks on In the Shadow of the Gallows Pole comes from 1939. The sleeve does note that the material "is digitally remastered directly from rare, mint condition 78s contained in Leadbelly's first full album, Negro Sinful Songs, and from 78s released on the Stinson label." There's some interest in the variety of instrumentation -- Leadbelly uses not only his 12-string guitar, but also piano and button accordion (the last of which is used to unusual effect on the version of "John Hardy"). "The Bourgeois Blues" is also a bit unusual in that its lyric derives not from folk traditions, but from an incident in Washington, D.C. in 1935 in which Leadbelly encountered segregation. This can't be recommended as one of his more essential releases, however, particularly as the running time is a mere 28 minutes. ~ Richie Unterberger

Solo performer: Huddie "Leadbelly" Ledbetter (vocals, 12-string guitar, accordion).

Tracks:
1. Looky Looky Yonder / Black Betty / Yellow Women's Doorbells
2. Poor Howard / Green Corn
3. De Blues
4. Gallis Pole, The *****
5. Bourgeois Blues, The
6. Noted Rider
7. Big Fat Woman
8. Borrow Love And Go
9. Bring Me Little Water Silvy
10. Julie Ann Johnson
11. Line Tin
12. Whoa, Back, Buck! (Back Band)
13. John Hardy