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https://soundcloud.com/esa-blomberg/cotton-fields-huddie-lead-belly-ledbetter-1940?si=6d4a50a665ae45a0b3cdee4652fb6004&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

Cotton Fields (The Cotton Song) aka In Them Old Cotton Fields Back Home is a song written by American blues musician Huddie Ledbetter, better known as Lead Belly, who made the first recording of the song in 1940. His song is based on Cotton Fields, also known as Cotton-Eyed Joe, a traditional American folk song that dates back many decades. The song is believed to have originated in the southern United States, particularly in the Mississippi Delta region, where cotton farming was prevalent.
There are published several versions with different lyrics.
In my version, which is with the original lyrics of Lead Belly, I sing and play the guitars (6 and 12 strings) and banjos (tenor and plectrum).
I produced this at my home with Band in a Box and Reaper.

****** Song Summary *************
Title: Cotton Fields
Key=G , Tempo 140, Length (m:s)=3:03
Style is _BIGEASY.STY (Big Easy New Orleans Old and New)
RealTracks used:
RealTracks in style: ~~1618:Tuba, DixielandFast Sw 165
RealTracks in style: 2165:Piano, Acoustic, Rhythm NewOrleansSwinginPop Sw 130
RealTracks in song: 3315:Vocal Mmms, Background RockNRollGospel12-8Tenor1Dbl Sw 065 (1TrackVocalSection)
RealTracks in song: 3322:Vocal Mmms, Background RockNRollGospel12-8BariDbl Sw 065 (1TrackVocalSection)
RealTracks in song: 3323:Vocal Mmms, Background RockNRollGospel12-8BassDbl Sw 065 (1TrackVocalSection)
RealDrums in style:NewOrleansShuffle^04-a:Kick Shuffle , b:Ride, Shuffle

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Ah, I was waiting for this Ledbetter song. You are delivering these with such a good sound, Arri. Your playing are so well done. I particularly liked what I call the tuba part.


Enjoy whatever happens!
marty

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Thanks. I made the "tuba part" to generate a change to a otherwise very pour dynamics of this folk song. I also like to surprise listeners. Glad you liked it.

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Hi, Arri.

Nice cover! smile


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Vocal control, you say. Never heard of it. Is that some kind of ProTools thing?

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Thank.

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Many thanks. This is my last of the series of Lead Belly songs. Next time comes something very different. Wait and hear.

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Arri, I do enjoy your versions of these old songs
You always do an excellent job on them
Another winner


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My mother sang this song around the house more than any other tune in the world. She wasn't a good singer but that didn't stop her. Great version here and I liked the break. Cotton-Eyed Joe is a very different song as far as I know, but I've never researched it. BTW, folk and blues historian Alan Lomax used to show up at my neighborhood record store (which specialized in old blues, folk and country music). That was in the 1990s and he was probably working with the Library of Congress at the time. Again, great job, I'm listening multiple times.


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Thanks

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Good job on this old standard, enjoyed!

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Thank you again for bringing these beautiful songs back to life.
Laurent

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Ari, this song was sung around our house, too. Brings back some nice memories. Super job with capturing the rustic charm of the original recordings.

We're fortunate to have as many recordings of Huddie Ledbetter as we do. There's a tragic backstory of his exploitation and extreme dislike of the "Lead Belly" moniker that always creeps into my mind when I hear one of his tunes. I don't think this is inappropriate though.


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Led Belly - when I read this, my first thought was "what? A LED-light belly-piercing?".
shocked
I don't know the original, but your interpretation certainly reflects the time perfectly.
Very nicely done!

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Sounds very much like what it might have sounded like back in the day. This is a very nice rendition. Enjoyed my listen!

Alan


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Your arrangement well captured the traditional vibe of the tune.

And your vocals added very nicely to that feel.

Your instrumental performances and the BiaB session guys worked very well.

The tuba interlude was cool.

Nice soundstage with the mix also.

We enjoyed it,

J&B


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Thanks Janice & Bud.

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