• AMERICAN MUSIC
    • about
    • recent additions
    • donate!
    • Stefan Wirz record collection
    • Helmut Wirz record collection
    • Stefan Wirz' facebook groups
    • Stefan Wirz photo gallery
    • "Crew" (1967-70 Mönchengladbach 'blues band')
  • Miscellaneous
    • Persons behind the scene
    • Blues Sidepersons
    • early Blues magazins
    • Blues Calendars
    • Tuba
    • Doubleneck guitars on LP/CD covers
    • Resonator guitars on LP/CD covers
    • Oddities on LP/CD covers
    • American Folk Blues Festival
    • Newport Folk Festival
    • Kent 'Anthology of the Blues' series
    • Fat Possum's 'Worried Blues' series
    • 'The Devil's Music'
    • Lawrence Gellert recordings
    • Bengt Olsson recordings
    • Dr. Harry Oster recordings
    • Nick Perls
    • Various Artists' Early Records
  • Labels
    • 77 Records
    • Adelphi
    • Advent
    • African Folk Society
    • Argo/Chess 'The Blues' series
    • Ahura Mazda
    • Albatros
    • Alben
    • Arhoolie
    • Audio-Video
    • Barrelhouse
    • Belzona
    • Best of Blues (B.o.B)
    • Big Bear
    • Biograph
    • Black Diamond
    • Blue Flame
    • Blue Goose
    • Blue Horizon
    • Blue Night
    • Blues & Rhythm
    • Blues Ball
    • Blues Beacon
    • Blues Classics
    • Blues Obscurities
    • Blues on Blues
    • German Teldec/Storyville/Chess 'Blues Roots' series
    • BluesTime
    • Bluesville
    • Bluesway
    • Boogie Disease
    • Boulevard Vintage
    • Cadet/Chess 'The Blues' series
    • Catfish (UK)
    • Catfish (US)
    • Chicago Slide
    • Chrischaa
    • Collector's Classics
    • Collector's Issue
    • Country Turtle
    • Delmark
    • Delta Swing
    • Document (LPs)
    • DOM/Albatros
    • Down With The Game
    • Elko
    • ESCEHA
    • Excello LPs
    • Flash
    • Floatin' Bridge
    • Flying Crow
    • Flyright
    • Folk-Lyric
    • Fontana
    • 'Genesis'
    • Heritage
    • Herwin
    • High Water
    • Highway 51
    • Historical
    • HK Records
    • Imperial/Liberty 'Legendary Masters'
    • Isabel
    • Jambalaya
    • Jan & Dil
    • Jass
    • Jazz Collector
    • Jazz Society
    • JEMF
    • JOC
    • Joliet
    • JSP
    • Kicking Mule
    • K.O.B.
    • Kokomo
    • Krazy Kat
    • L+R
    • Le Roi du Blues
    • London (Origins of Jazz series)
    • Magnolia
    • Magpie
    • Mamlish
    • Matchbox
    • mbirafon
    • MCM
    • Melodeon
    • Milestone
    • Moonshine
    • Mr. Blues
    • Muskadine
    • Natchez
    • Negro Art
    • Negro Rhythm
    • Neshoba
    • Nighthawk
    • Oldie Blues
    • Origin Blues Classics OBC
    • Origin Jazz Library OJL
    • Ornament
    • Paltram
    • Piedmont
    • Policy Wheel
    • the post war blues
    • Python
    • Razor
    • RBF
    • RCA Victor race series
    • Red Lightnin'
    • Revival
    • Riverside (Origins of Jazz series)
    • Roots
    • Rosetta
    • RST Blues Documents
    • Scout
    • Snatch
    • Solid Sender
    • Southern Culture
    • Southland
    • Spire
    • Spivey
    • Spokane
    • Square
    • Stash
    • St. George
    • Stompin'
    • Storyville
    • Sun blues boxes
    • Sundown
    • Sunflower (UK)
    • Sunnyland
    • Syndicate Chapter
    • Takoma
    • Tempo (UK)
    • Testament
    • Texas Blues Piano
    • Time (Blues Folk)
    • TJ Records
    • Travelin' Man
    • Trio
    • Trix
    • Truth
    • Whoopee
    • Wolf (WSE/WBCD series)
    • XX
    • Yazoo (LPs & CDs)
  • Artists
    • A
    • Woodrow Adams
    • Garfield Akers
    • Dave Alexander
    • 'Texas' Alexander
    • Casey Anderson
    • Jelly Roll Anderson
    • Pink Anderson
    • Little Willie Anderson
    • Ed Andrews
    • Roosevelt Antrim
    • Archibald
    • Billy Boy Arnold
    • Kokomo Arnold
    • Wilbert Atwater
    • Charles Avery
    • B
    • Memphis Willie B.
    • Backwards Sam Firk
    • DeFord Bailey
    • Kid Bailey
    • Willie Baker
    • Barbecue Bob
    • John Henry Barbee
    • Cecil Barfield
    • Raymond Barrow
    • Andrew & Jim Baxter
    • Beale Street Sheiks / Frank Stokes
    • Lottie Beaman/Kimbrough
    • Nathan Beauregard
    • Brenda Bell
    • Earl Bell
    • Ed Bell
    • D.C. Bender
    • Will Bennett
    • Brooks Berry
    • Eric Bibb
    • Leon Bibb
    • Big Maceo
    • Birmingham Jones
    • Billy Bizor
    • Black Ace
    • 'Black Diamond'
    • Lewis Black
    • Scrapper Blackwell
    • Willie "61" Blackwell
    • Arthur 'Blind Blake'
    • 'Blind Blake' Alphonso Higgs
    • Country Jim (Bledsoe)
    • Allan Block
    • Little Joe Blue
    • Blue Smitty
    • Juke Boy Bonner
    • Roy Book Binder
    • Charley Booker
    • James Booker
    • Boston Blackie
    • Chris Bouchillon
    • Eddie Boyd
    • Little Boyd
    • Ishman Bracey
    • Teddy 'Sonny Boy' Smith, Lonnie Johnson & Sam Bradley
    • Jim Brewer
    • Grace & John Brim
    • David Bromberg
    • Buster Brown
    • Elijah Brown
    • Gabriel Brown
    • Henry Brown
    • 'Hi' Henry Brown
    • Rev. Pearly Brown
    • Richard (Rabbit) Brown
    • Willie Brown
    • Ian Buchanan
    • Mojo Buford
    • Samantha Bumgarner
    • Ranie Burnette
    • Eddie & Jimmy Burns
    • R.L. Burnside
    • J.C. Burris
    • Sam Butler
    • C
    • Butch Cage
    • 'Mississippi' Joe Callicott
    • Bob Campbell
    • Blind James Campbell
    • Gus Cannon / Cannon's Jug Stompers
    • Carolina Slim
    • Carolina Tar Heels
    • Leroy Carr
    • Bo Carter
    • George Carter
    • Joe Carter
    • Cat Iron
    • The Cedar Creek Sheik
    • Len Chandler
    • Pernell Charity
    • Good Rockin' Charles
    • Sam Chatmon
    • Frank Christian
    • Cincinnati Jug Band
    • Cortelia Clark
    • Doctor Clayton
    • Paul Clayton
    • Eddy Clearwater
    • Big Boy Cleveland
    • Andy Cohen
    • Bob (Kid Cole) / Walter Coleman
    • Jaybird Coleman
    • Lonnie Coleman
    • Kid Coley
    • Sam Collins
    • Pat Conte aka Major Contay
    • Bobby Leecan & Robert Cooksey
    • Dewey Corley
    • Floyd Council
    • Country Jim (Bledsoe)
    • Country Paul
    • Cousin Leroy
    • Ben Covington / Ben Curry
    • Arthur 'Big Boy' Crudup
    • Eddie Cusic
    • D
    • Daddy Stovepipe
    • Larry Dale
    • Leroy Dallas
    • Dallas String Band
    • Karen Dalton
    • Barbara Dane
    • Julius Daniels
    • Blind Teddy Darby
    • Rev. Gary Davis
    • Maxwell Street Jimmy Davis
    • Little Sammy Davis
    • Walter Davis
    • Blind Willie Davis
    • Jimmy Dawkins
    • Joe Dean
    • Mattie Delaney
    • 'Black Diamond'
    • 'Do Boy' Diamond
    • Tom Dickson
    • Dixon Brothers
    • Bonnie Dobson
    • Washboard Doc, Lucky & Flash
    • Doctor Clayton
    • Doctor Ross
    • Johnny Dollar
    • Willie Doss
    • K.C. Douglas
    • Little Buddy Doyle
    • Driftin' Slim
    • Herve Duerson
    • Laura Dukes
    • Scott Dunbar
    • Willie Joe Duncan
    • Roy Dunn
    • Champion Jack Dupree
    • Big Joe Duskin
    • E
    • Snooks Eaglin
    • Archie Edwards
    • David 'Honeyboy' Edwards
    • Frank Edwards
    • Ramblin' Jack Elliott
    • Queen Sylvia & Johnny Embry
    • Logan English
    • Sleepy John Estes
    • Even Dozen Jug Band
    • Will Ezell
    • F
    • Billy Faier
    • Andy Fernbach
    • Backwards Sam Firk
    • Washboard Doc, Lucky & Flash
    • Harmonica Frank Floyd
    • Forrest City Joe
    • 'Baby Face' Leroy Foster
    • Little Willy Foster
    • Guitar Pete Franklin
    • Calvin Frazier
    • 'Freezone'
    • Jesse Fuller
    • Johnny Fuller
    • G
    • Bob Gaddy
    • Sam Gary
    • Paul Geremia
    • Fred Gerlach
    • Clifford Gibson
    • Gus Gibson
    • Pandora Gibson
    • Jazz Gillum
    • Boyd Gilmore
    • Tony 'Little Sun' Glover
    • 'Goldrush'
    • Good Rockin' Charles
    • Jack Gowdlock
    • John Lee Granderson
    • Arvella Gray
    • L.C. Green
    • Lil Green
    • Norman 'Guitar Slim' Green
    • Mitch Greenhill
    • Grey Ghost
    • Shirley Griffith
    • George Gritzbach
    • Stefan Grossman
    • Lum Guffin
    • Bob Guida
    • Guitar Gabriel (Nyles Jones)
    • Guitar Nubbit
    • Guitar Shorty (John Henry Fortescue)
    • H
    • John Hammond, Jr.
    • 'Stick-Horse' Hammond
    • Lane Hardin
    • Pat Hare
    • Harmonica Frank (Floyd)
    • Harmonica George (Robinson)
    • Richard 'Hacksaw' Harney
    • Slim Harpo
    • Otis Harris
    • Shakey Jake Harris
    • William Harris
    • Willie Harris
    • Hattie Hart
    • Buddy Boy Hawkins
    • Roy Hawkins
    • Gordon Heath & Lee Payant
    • Jessie Mae Hemphill
    • John Lee Henley
    • Big Boy Henry
    • Blind Joe Hill
    • Harvey Hill
    • King Solomon Hill
    • Mable Hillery
    • Eddie Hinton
    • Otis Hinton
    • Silas Hogan
    • Andrew 'Smokey' Hogg
    • Lyin' Joe Holley
    • Wright Holmes
    • Roosevelt Holts
    • Homesick James
    • Earl Hooker
    • Joel Hopkins
    • Walter Horton
    • Son House
    • Cisco Houston
    • Lawyer 'Soldier Boy' Houston
    • Frank Hovington
    • 'Paul Howard'
    • Peg Leg Howell
    • Howlin' Wolf
    • Little Hudson
    • Long "Cleve" Reed & Little Harvey Hull
    • D.A. Hunt
    • Prince Albert Hunt
    • Mississippi John Hurt
    • J
    • Bo Weavil Jackson
    • G.P. Jackson
    • John Jackson
    • Lee Jackson
    • Lil' Son Jackson
    • Papa Charlie Jackson
    • Elmore James
    • Homesick James
    • Jesse James
    • Skip James
    • Blind Lemon Jefferson
    • Bobo Jenkins
    • Country Jim (Bledsoe)
    • Henry 'Rufe' Johnson
    • Herman E. Johnson
    • Larry Johnson
    • Teddy 'Sonny Boy' Smith, Lonnie Johnson & Sam Bradley
    • Luther 'Georgia Boy'/'Snake' Johnson
    • Mary Johnson
    • Robert Johnson
    • Tommy Johnson
    • Blind Willie Johnson
    • Birmingham Jones
    • Coley Jones
    • Curtis Jones
    • Eddie 'One-String' Jones
    • Floyd Jones
    • 'Little Hat' Jones
    • Little Johnny Jones
    • Nyles Jones (Guitar Gabriel)
    • Charley Jordan
    • Luke Jordan
    • Dick Justice
    • K
    • Danny Kalb / Blues Project
    • Alfred G. Karnes
    • Arthur 'Guitar' Kelley
    • Jack Kelly
    • Jo Ann Kelly
    • Prez Kenneth
    • Hank Kilroy
    • Lottie Beaman/Kimbrough
    • Lisa Kindred
    • Lee Kizart
    • Ransom Knowling
    • 'Spider' John Koerner
    • Jim Kweskin (& The Jug Band)
    • Charlie Kyle
    • L
    • Rube Lacey
    • Peter La Farge
    • Jack Landrón
    • Bruce Langhorne
    • Hip Lankchan/Linkchain
    • Louie Lasky
    • Terrea Lea
    • John Lee
    • Bobby Leecan & Robert Cooksey
    • J.B. Lenoir
    • Cousin Leroy
    • Lazy Lester
    • Walter 'Furry' Lewis
    • Johnie Lewis
    • Sammy Lewis
    • 'Papa George' Lightfoot
    • Lightnin' Slim
    • Pinetop & Lindberg
    • Hip Linkchain/Lankchan
    • Mance Lipscomb
    • Little Hudson
    • Little Joe Blue
    • John Littlejohn
    • Little Walter
    • Robert Lockwood
    • Cripple Clarence Lofton
    • Willie 'Poor Boy' Lofton
    • Lonesome Sundown
    • Willie Love
    • Ennis Lowery ('Larry Dale')
    • Lazy Bill Lucas
    • Washboard Doc, Lucky & Flash
    • M
    • Willie Mabon
    • Short Stuff Macon
    • Magic Sam
    • Magic Slim
    • Sidney Maiden
    • Steve Mann
    • Eddie Mapp
    • Johnny Mars
    • Carl Martin
    • Maxwell Street Jimmy Davis
    • Judy Mayhan
    • Palmer McAbee
    • Tommy McClennan
    • Robert McCoy
    • Mississippi Fred McDowell
    • Suni McGrath
    • L.C. McKinley
    • Andrew McMahon
    • Dennis McMillon
    • Hayes McMullan
    • Fred McMullen
    • Blind Willie McTell
    • Memphis Jug Band
    • Memphis Piano Red
    • Memphis Willie B.
    • Big Maceo Merriweather
    • Herb Metoyer
    • Elmon Mickle
    • Luke 'Long Gone' Miles
    • John Miller
    • Walter Miller
    • Mississippi Sheiks
    • Sam Mitchell
    • Model T. Slim
    • Flora Molton
    • Little Brother Montgomery
    • Alex Moore
    • Alice Moore
    • Kid Prince Moore
    • William Moore
    • Leo Morris
    • Willie Morris
    • Buddy Moss
    • Teddy Moss
    • Lattie Murrell
    • Rabbit Muse
    • Sam Myers
    • N
    • Fred Neil
    • Romeo Nelson
    • Sonny Boy Nelson
    • Bob Neuwirth
    • New Lost City Ramblers
    • Hambone Willie Newbern
    • Johnny Nicholas
    • Manny Nichols
    • J.D. Nicholson
    • Hammie Nixon
    • Chuck Norris
    • Nugrape Twins
    • Hermes Nye
    • O
    • St. Louis Jimmy Oden
    • The Otis Brothers
    • Jack Owens
    • Marshall Owens
    • P
    • Cleo Page
    • Tom Paley
    • Shorty Bob Parker
    • Turner Parrish
    • Charley Patton
    • Dave Peabody
    • Robert Peeples
    • Peg Leg Sam
    • Morris Pejoe
    • Paul Pena
    • Robert Petway
    • Washington Phillips
    • Buster Pickens
    • Dan Pickett
    • Pinetop & Lindberg
    • Lonnie Pitchford
    • Eugene Powell
    • Snooky Pryor
    • Forrest City Joe (Pugh)
    • Joe Pullum
    • Q
    • Doug Quattlebaum
    • Rufus & Ben Quillian
    • Herb Quinn
    • R
    • Yank Rachell
    • Willie Guy Rainey
    • Brother Percy Randolph
    • Jerry Rasmussen
    • Dave 'Snaker' Ray
    • Blind Alfred Reed
    • James Reed
    • Jimmy Reed
    • Long "Cleve" Reed & Little Harvey Hull
    • Blind Joe Reynolds
    • Eugene Rhodes
    • Walter Rhodes
    • Seth Richard
    • 'Philadelphia' Jerry Ricks
    • Nat Riddles
    • Boyd Rivers
    • Walt Robertson
    • 'William Robertson'
    • Freddy Robinson (Abu Talib)
    • L.C. Robinson
    • Sugar Chile Robinson
    • Judy Roderick
    • Sonny 'Cat Daddy' Rodgers
    • Jimmy Rogers
    • Bayless Rose
    • Dick Rosmini
    • Doctor Ross
    • Cousin Leroy Rozier
    • Ollie Rupert
    • Otis Rush
    • S
    • Carl Sandburg
    • Charlie Sayles
    • Alan Seidler
    • Brother John Sellers
    • Sid Selvidge
    • Will Shade
    • Shakey Jake
    • Omar Sharriff
    • Robert Shaw
    • Thomas Shaw
    • Johnny Shines
    • J.D. Short
    • Mr. Short Stuff (Macon)
    • Siegel-Schwall Band
    • Frankie Lee Sims
    • Skoodle Dum Doo & Sheffield
    • Patrick Sky
    • Slim Harpo
    • Lightnin' Slim
    • Rev. Dan Smith
    • George 'Harmonica' Smith
    • Gordon Smith
    • J.B. Smith
    • Pinetop Smith
    • Robert Curtis Smith
    • Teddy 'Sonny Boy' Smith, Lonnie Johnson & Sam Bradley
    • Moses 'Whispering Smith'
    • J.T. 'Funny Papa' Smith
    • Spark Plug Smith
    • 'Thunder' Smith
    • Blue Smitty
    • Smoky Babe
    • Abe 'Little Smokey' Smothers
    • Otis 'Big Smokey' Smothers
    • John Snipes
    • Charlie Spand
    • Lucille Spann
    • Otis Spann
    • Sparks Brothers
    • Henry Spaulding
    • Speckled Red
    • Joseph Spence
    • Arthur 'Big Boy' Spires
    • Mark Spoelstra
    • Freddie Spruell
    • Wild Jimmy Spruill
    • St. Louis Jimmy
    • James 'Guitar Slim' Stephens
    • Vol Stevens
    • Michael Stewart
    • Frank Stokes / Beale Street Sheiks
    • Luther Stoneham
    • Babe Stovall
    • Daddy Stovepipe
    • Leon Strickland
    • Hubert Sumlin
    • Sweet Papa Tadpole
    • Roosevelt Sykes
    • T
    • Sweet Papa Tadpole
    • Abu Talib (Freddy Robinson)
    • Tampa Red
    • Tarter & Gay
    • Baby Tate
    • Cary Tate
    • Harry Taussig
    • Hound Dog Taylor
    • Montana Taylor
    • "Big Road" Webster Taylor
    • Johnny Temple
    • Art Thieme
    • Henry "Ragtime Texas" Thomas
    • James 'Son' Thomas
    • Jesse Thomas
    • Lafayette Thomas
    • Ramblin' Thomas
    • Willie B. Thomas
    • Jim Thompkins
    • Mac Thompson
    • Big Son Tillis
    • James Tisdom
    • Joan Toliver
    • Henry Townsend
    • Willie & Richard Trice
    • Lemuel Turner
    • T.V. Slim
    • V
    • Ton van Bergeyk
    • Dave Van Ronk
    • Mose Vinson
    • Otto Virgial
    • Eric von Schmidt
    • W
    • Phillip Walker
    • Willie Walker
    • Wesley Wallace
    • Dock Walsh
    • Mercy Dee Walton
    • 'Square Walton
    • Wade Walton
    • Baby Boy Warren
    • J.W. Warren
    • Washboard Doc, Lucky & Flash
    • Washboard Willie
    • Jackie Washington
    • Esau Weary
    • Curley Weaver
    • Sylvester Weaver
    • Katie Webster
    • Casey Bill Weldon
    • Will Weldon
    • Robert Lee Westmoreland
    • Arthur Weston
    • Whistler's Jug Band
    • 'Bukka' White
    • Josh White Sr.
    • James 'Boodle It' Wiggins
    • Geeshie Wiley
    • Major Wiley
    • Joe Willie Wilkins
    • Robert Wilkins
    • Bill Williams
    • Blind Connie Williams
    • Big Joe Williams
    • George "Bullet" Williams
    • Jabo Williams
    • Jimmy Lee Williams
    • Jo Jo Williams
    • L.C. Williams
    • Lovey Williams
    • Robert Pete Williams
    • John Lee 'Sonny Boy' Williamson
    • Sonny Boy Williamson III
    • Mott Willis
    • Ralph Willis
    • Oscar "T.V. Slim" Wills
    • Jimmy Wilson
    • Howlin' Wolf
    • 'Poor Bob' Woodfork
    • Johnny Woods
    • Oscar 'Buddy' Woods
    • Big John Wrencher
    • David Wylie
    • XYZ
    • Chris Youlden
    • Johnny Young
    • Mighty Joe Young
    • John Lee Zeigler
  • Under construction
    • labels
    • Bluebird
    • NIXA
    • Rounder
    • Top Rank
    • Vogue
    • X Records
    • XTRA
    • artists
    • Bumble Bee Slim
    • Blind Boy Fuller
    • Lightnin' Hopkins
    • Lonnie Johnson
    • Jimmy McCracklin
    • Muddy Waters
    • Willie Nix
    • Paul Robeson
    • Muddy Waters
    • Peetie Wheatstraw
Wirz' AMERICAN MUSIC

J O S E P H   S P E N C E; source: Front cover of Broadside Vol. IV, No. 6 (May 12, 1965); photographer's name not given, most likely Fritz Richmond
Joseph Spence 1964
source: Front cover of Broadside Vol. IV, No. 6 (May 12, 1965)
photographer's name not given, most likely Fritz Richmond

"It all started with Joseph Spence
when I was a little kid. He was one
of my all-time great inspirations.
When he did those bass runs, I didn't
understand it. I was so mad all the time."

Ry Cooder

 

Joseph Spence
b. August 3, 1910 in Small Hope, Bahamas
d. March 18, 1984 in Nassau, Bahamas

buried at Woodlawn Gardens Cemetery, Nassau City, New Providence, Bahamas
discography

J O S E P H   S P E N C E 1973; source: Notes accompanying Arhoolie CD 349; photographer: Dick Waterman
Joseph Spence 1973
source: Notes accompanying Arhoolie CD 349
photographer: Dick Waterman

#year
of release
title / label / notes
11959Joseph Spence: Bahaman Folk Guitar
Music of the Bahamas Volume 1

- Coming In On A Wing And A Prayer   @ youtube   @ Spotify
- There Will Be A Happy Meeting In Gloryland   @ youtube   @ Spotify
- Brownskin Gal   @ youtube   @ Spotify

- I'm Going To Live That Life   @ youtube   @ Spotify
- Face To Face I Shall Know Him   @ youtube   @ Spotify
- Jump In The Line   @ youtube   @ Spotify

rec. July 23, 1958 at Fresh Creek Settlement, Andros, Bahamas Islands by Samuel B. Charters with assistance by Ann Danberg Charters; Joseph Spence, voc, g


Folkways FS 3844 (US 1959)

(=) Smithsonian Folkways CD SF-40066 (US 2006)


= Doxy Music DOY658 (It 2011)

21964Joseph Spence: Folk Guitar /
John Roberts & Frederick McQueen: Bahaman Ballads & Rhyming Spirituals


Joseph Spence
- Bimini Gal (6:22)   @ youtube   @ Spotify
- The Lord Is My Sheperd (5:23)   @ youtube   @ Spotify
- Glory Glory (4:50)   @ youtube   @ Spotify

John Roberts
- Out On The Rolling Sea
- Cecil Gone In The Time Of Storm
Frederick McQueen
- Harcourt Got Drowsed
- Dig My Grave
- Kneeling Down Beside The Gate
- Shake My Hand


Joseph Spence tracks rec. July 23, 1958 at Fresh Creek Settlement, Andros, Bahamas Islands by Samuel B. Charters with assistance by Ann Danberg Charters; Joseph Spence, voc, g


Folkways FS 3847 (US 1964)

Joseph Spence tracks
(=) Smithsonian Folkways CD SF-40066 (US 2006)

31964Joseph Spence: Happy All The Time

- Out On The Rollin' Sea   @ youtube   @ Spotify
- Bimini Gal   @ youtube   @ Spotify
- We Shall Be Happy   @ Spotify
- The Crow   @ youtube   @ Spotify
- Diamond On Earth   @ Spotify
- Uncle Lou / No Lazy Man   @ Spotify

- How I Love Jesus   @ Spotify
- Conch Ain't Got No Bone   @ Spotify
- I Am Living On The Hallelujah Side   @ youtube   @ Spotify

rec. 1964 in Nassau, Bahamas by Paul Rothchild with the assistance of Fritz Richmond (with two mics and a portable Nagra recorder); Joseph Spence, voc, g; Edith Pinder (Spence' sister), voc
Elektra EKL 273 cover photo by Fritz Richmond

notes by Paul Rothchild

Elektra EKL 273 (US 1964)

notes by Paul Rothchild

= Carthage CGLP 4419 [on labels: GGLP 4419] (US 1985)


= Ryko/Hannibal HNCD 4419-2 (Ca 1993)

notes by David Suff, Jac Holzmann, Paul A. Rothchild

= Water CD 110 (US 2003)

   

- Gonna Lay Down My Sword And Shield (aka "Down By The Riverside")

rec. July 23 (Saturday night concert), 1966 live at the Newport Folk Festival in Newport, RI; Joseph Spence, voc, g

Vanguard VCD 77014-2 (EU 1995)

41966The Real Bahamas In Music and Song

Pindar Family & Joseph Spence
- We Will Understand It Better By And By
- Sheep Know When Thy Shepherd Calling (Frederick McQueen & Rev. W.G. McPhee)
- I Told You People Judgment Coming (Sam Greene & Group)

Joseph Spence
- Don't Take Everybody To Be Your Friend #   @ youtube
- Sailboat Malarkey (Frederick McQueen)
- Up In The Heaven Shouting (Bruce Green, Tweedy Gibson, Clifton Graham)

Joseph & Louise Spence
- Won't That Be A Happy Time   @ youtube
- Out On The Rolling Sea (Fredrick McQueen, George McKenzie, Sheldon Swin)

- I Am So Glad (Bruce Green, Tweedy Gibson, Clifton Graham)
- Come For Your Dinner (Fredrick McQueen)
- God Locked The Lion's Jaw (Fredrick McQueen, Stanley Thompson, Sheldon Swin)

Pindar Family & Joseph Spence
- Great Dream From Heaven
- My Lord Help Me To Pray (Bruce Green, Tweedy Gibson, Clifton Graham)
- Numberless As The Sands On The Seashore (Sheldon Swin, Stanley Swin, Ronald Swin, George McKenzie)
- I Ain't Got Long (Sam Greene & Group)
- I Bid You Goodnight (Pindar Family)


rec. June 1965 in the Bahamas by Peter K. Siegel & Jody Stecher

# rec. May 1965 in New York during Joseph Spence's first American concert tour


Nonesuch H-2013 (mono) (US 1966)
Nonesuch H-72013 (stereo)


= Polydor 236 581 (UK 1969)


Nonesuch Explorer Series 7559-79300-2 (1998) "The Real Bahamas Volumes 1 & 2"


= Nonesuch 7559-79725-2 (EU 2003) "The Real Bahamas Vol. 1"

51972Joseph Spence: Good Morning Mr. Walker

- Out On The Rolling Sea   @ youtube   @ Spotify
- I See Mary And Joseph   @ Spotify
- Oh, How I Love Jesus   @ Spotify
- Lay Down My Brother (aka I Bid You Goodnight)   @ Spotify
- Coming In On A Wing And A Prayer   @ Spotify

- Good Morning Mr. Walker   @ Spotify
- The Glory Of Love   @ Spotify
- Don't Let Nobody Burn Down Burma Road   @ Spotify
- Sloop John B   @ Spotify
- Be A Friend To Jesus   @ Spotify
- Mary Ann   @ Spotify

rec. May 16, 1971 in the afternoon and last three selections at a concert that evening in Cambridge, MA by Chris Strachwitz and Dick Waterman; Joseph Spence, "guitar and vocal sounds"; engineered by DurG Gessner; supervised by Jack Viertel
cover photo by Dick Waterman; liner photo by Andrew Ltd. Nassau

notes (1971) by Jack Viertel

Arhoolie 1061 (US 1972)

(=) Arhoolie CD 349 (US 1990)

= Mississippi MR-046 (US 2009)

Arhoolie Records discography

61978The Real Bahamas Volume 2

- I See Mary And Joseph - Joseph Spence and the Pindar Family
- Peter, You Need The Lord - Bruce Green et al.
- Jesus Promised Me A Home Over There - Swin Family
- Troublesome Water - Tweedie Gibson et al.

- Kneeling Down Inside The Gate - Pindar Family & Joseph Spence
- Jesus Your Name So Sweet - Bruce Green et al.
- Take Me Over The Tide - Pindar Family

- When The Leaves Turn Red - Bruce Green et al.

- There Will Be A Happy Meeting - Joseph Spence
- King Canute - Linda Albury
- The Little Black Moustache - Linda Albury
- The Great Coronation - Swin Family
- The Captain Go Ashore - Fredrick McQueen

- Ain't No Grave Gonna Hold God's Body Down - Pindar Family & Joseph Spence

rec. June 1965 in the Bahamas by Peter K. Siegel & Jody Stecher
cover art by Carole Kowalchuk

notes by Jody Stecher

Nonesuch H-72078 (US 1978)


Nonesuch Explorer Series 7559-79300-2 (US 1998) "The Real Bahamas Volumes 1 & 2"


= Nonesuch 7559-79733-2 (EU 2003) "The Real Bahamas Vol. 2"

71980Joseph Spence: Living On The Hallelujah Side

- I'll Overcome Some Day *   @ youtube [at 0:00]
- Just A Closer Walk With Thee #   @ youtube [at 2:05]
- Where Shall I Go *
- I'll Be A Friend To Jesus # []   @ youtube [at 5:06]
- More And More With Jesus *
- Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town *   @ youtube

- On My Way To Heaven #   @ youtube [at 7:50]
- Neighbor Gone Home #   @ youtube [at 0:00]
- Jesus On The Mainline #   @ youtube
- Living On The Hallelujah Side # []   @ youtube [at 2:05]
- When The Saints Go Marching In *   @ youtube [at 4:30]
- Irene Goodnight #   @ youtube [at 7:25]

# rec. August 23 and 24, 1978 at the New Olympia Hotel, Nassau, Bahamas by Scott Billington and Bill Nowlin; Joseph Spence, voc, g; [] Blooming Rosalie Roberts, voc

* rec. November 1972 in Cambridge, Massachusetts by DurG Gessner; Joseph Spence, voc, g

notes (July 1980) by Scott Billington

Rounder 2021 (US 1980)

Rounder Records discography

81990Joseph Spence: Bahamian Guitarist
Good Morning Mr. Walker

- Out On The Rolling Sea [Arhoolie 1061]
- I See Mary And Joseph [Arhoolie 1061]
- Oh, How I Love Jesus [Arhoolie 1061]
- I Bid You Good Night [Arhoolie 1061]
- Coming In On A Wing And A Prayer [Arhoolie 1061]
- Good Morning Mr. Walker [Arhoolie 1061]
- The Glory Of Love [Arhoolie 1061]
- Don't Let Nobody Burn Down Burma Road [Arhoolie 1061]
- Bye And Bye *   @ Spotify
- If I Had The Wings Of A Dove *   @ Spotify
- All Hail The Power Of Jesus' Name *   @ Spotify
- Don't Take Everybody To Be Your Friend *   @ Spotify
- Brown Skin Gal *   @ Spotify
- Neighbor Gone Home *   @ Spotify
- He Walks With Me (Live) *   @ Spotify
- Will The Serpent Be Unbroken (Live) *   @ Spotify
- The Lord's My Shepherd (Live) *   @ Spotify
- Yellow Bird (Live) *   @ youtube   @ Spotify
- Sloop John B. (Live) [Arhoolie 1061]
- Be A Friend To Jesus (Live) [Arhoolie 1061]
- Mary Ann (Live) [Arhoolie 1061]

* previously unreleased tracks

rec. May 16, 1971 in Cambridge, MA by Chris Strachwitz and Dick Waterman; Joseph Spence, voc, g
cover photo by Guy Droussart

Arhoolie 1061

notes by Jack Viertel

Arhoolie CD 349 (US 1990)

Arhoolie Records discography

91990 Joseph Spence: Glory

- Glory Glory #
- Old Time Religion *
- Jordan Chilly River *
- All Hail The Power Of Jesus Name #
- Down By The Riverside #
- In Time Like This #
- Old Rugged Cross []
- Piano Tune §
- Don't Take Everybody To Be Your Friend *
- Jesus On The Mainline *
- We Will Understand It Better By And By #
- Shake My Hand *
- Rock Daniel *
- In The Garden *
- Out On The Rolling Sea *

all tracks rec. by Guy Droussart; Joseph Spence, voc, g, p
# rec. March 29 & 30, 1978 at the home of Joseph and Louise Spence
* rec. May 7, 1978 at the home of Raymond and Edith Pinder
[] rec. April 13, 1980 at the home of Blooming Rosalie Roberts
§ rec. April 14, 1980 at the Oakes Field Primary School
photo, hand-coloring by Guy Droussart

notes by Guy Droussart

Rounder CD 2096 (US 1990)

Rounder Records discography

101992Joseph Spence & The Pinder Family: The Spring of Sixty-Five

- Out On The Rolling Sea
- Victory Is Coming   @ youtube
- Harcourt Got Drowned
- I Bid You Goodnight #   @ youtube [at 3:42]
- Coming In On A Wing And A Prayer *   @ youtube
- If I Could Hear My Mother Pray
- Living On The Hallelujah Side
- No Grave To Hold God's Body Down
- The Crow
- Take Your Burden To The Lord And Leave It There
- Troublesome Waters #   @ youtube [at 0:00]
- Live The Life I Sing About In My Song
- When Jesus Calls Again

# rec. June 1965 in the Bahamas by Peter K. Siegel & Jody Stecher
Seven selections were recorded at the same sessions that yielded the Nonesuch Real Bahamas album, recorded in the backyard of the Pinders, with Spence accompanied by incredible vocals from the Pinder Family, Edith, Raymond, and Geneva

* rec. May 1965 in New York during Joseph Spence's first American concert tour
Six tracks were recorded in New York City during Joseph Spence's first tour of the U.S., and prominently feature Spence's guitar and vocals, with harmonies and occasional lead vocals from his sister Edith Pinder

prod. by Peter K. Siegel

notes by Jody Stecher

Rounder CD 2114 (US 1992)

Rounder Records discography

111992Joseph Spence: The Complete Folkways Recordings  1958

- Coming In On A Wing And A Prayer [Folkways FS 3844]
- There Will Be A Happy Meeting In Glory [Folkways FS 3844]
- Brownskin Gal [Folkways FS 3844]
- I'm Going To Live That Life [Folkways FS 3844]
- Face To Face That I Shall Know Him [Folkways FS 3844]
- Jump In The Line [Folkways FS 3844]
- Bimini Gal [Folkways FS 3847]
- The Lord Is My Shepherd [Folkways FS 3847]
- (Glory, Glory) When I Lay My Burden Down [Folkways FS 3847]


Smithsonian Folkways CD SF-40066 (US 1992)

121995Frederick McQueen, Pinder Family, Joseph Spence & others: Kneelin' Down Inside the Gate
The Great Rhyming Singers of the Bahamas

- My Lord Help Me To Pray - Bruce Green
- Standing In The Need Of Prayer - Joseph Spence
- Kneelin' Down Inside The Gate - Stanley Thompson
- Run Come See Jerusalem - Frederick McQueen
- Be Engaged Unto The Lord - Bruce Green
- I Met My Mother This Morning - Clifford Ellis

- Cecil Gone In The Time Of Storm - Joseph Spence
- Long Summer Days - Frederick McQueen
- Hallelujah, My Mother Gone Over - Bruce Green
- Shepherd Moan - Frederick McQueen

- Shepherd Moan - Joseph Spence
- Oh Jesus My Baby - Shelton Swain And Group
- There Is Good News - Bruce Green

- Just A Little Talk With Jesus - Joseph Spence
- What A Beautiful Home - Joseph Spence

rec. June 1965 in Nassau, Bahamas and May 1965 in New York; Bruce Green, Clifton Green and Tweedie Gibson, voc; Joseph Spence & the Pinder Family, voc; Stanley Thompson and Group, voc; Frederick McQueen with Rev. W.G. McPhee, voc; Clifford Ellis and Group, voc

notes by Jody Stecher

Rounder CD 5035 (US 1995)

Rounder Records discography

131995Gospel at Newport

- Christian's Automobile - The Dixie Hummingbirds °°
- Only Believe - Swan Silvertone Singers °°
- Keep Your Lamp Trimmed And Burning - Rev. Pearly Brown & Mrs. Christine Brown "°°" [actually previously on Vanguard VCD2-77005]

- Gonna Lay Down My Sword And Shield (aka "Down By The Riverside") # - Joseph Spence °°
- Swing Down Chariot - Dorothy Love Coates & The Gospel Harmonettes °°
- Jesus Hear My Prayer - Swan Silvertone Singers °°
- I've Got So Much To Shout About - The Dixie Hummingbirds °°
- Trouble In The Land Will Soon Be Over - Dorothy Love Coates & The Gospel Harmonettes °°
- You Better Mind - Bessie Jones, Janie Hunter °°
- See God's Ark A-Moving - Moving Star Hall Singers [Vanguard VRS 9182]
- What A Time - Rev. Pearly Brown & Mrs Christine Brown °°
- Highway To Heaven - Rev. Alex Bradford & The Stone Temple Baptist Church Singers °°
- Samson And Delilah - Reverend Gary Davis [Vanguard VRS-9145]
- This Little Light Of Mine - The Freedom Singers °°
- John The Revelator - Son House °°
- Every Day Will Be Sunday By And By - Dorothy Love Coates & The Gospel Harmonettes °°
- Just A Closer Walk With Thee - The Chambers Brothers/Joan Baez °°
- Oh Mary Don't You Weep - Swan Silvertone Singers [Vanguard VRS-9186]
- Pray On My Child - The Staple Singers [Vanguard VRS-9185]


rec. live at the Newport Folk Festival 1959, 1963-66
# rec. July 23 (Saturday night concert), 1966; Joseph Spence, voc, g

°° previously unreleased

notes by Mary Katherine Aldin

Vanguard VCD 77014-2 (EU 1995)


Ace/Vanguard VCD 77014-2 (EU 2004)



Additional information appreciated !!!

 

 

 

Other artist's Covers of Joseph Spence songs
#year
of
release
Artist:
Record Title

- featured Joseph Spence song / label # / notes
11982Ralph McTell: Water Of Dreams

- Got To Be With Yyou
- Please Don't Haunt Me
- I'm Not A Rock

- Hands Of Joseph
- Pykey boy
- Bentley & Craig
- Water Of Dreams
- Affairs Of The Heart
- Cold On The Stones
- I Want You
- Geordie's On The Road
- Song For Martin

"Hands Of Joseph" played live:  


Mays TG005

= Leola TPGCD23 (2003)

also on
Castle CCSCD329 (1992)
"Silver Celebration"

live version on
Leola TPGCD16 (DCD 1999)
"Travelling Man
- The Journey The Songs"

Leola OLABOX60
(4-CD box set 2006)
"The Journey - Recordings
1965-2006"

21982Ralph McTell

- Song For Ireland
- Hands Of Joseph


Lunar LOON 11 (Ireland)

31994Out On the Rolling Sea
A tribute to the music of Joseph Spence
& the Pinder family

- On The Rolling Sea When Jesus Came to Me - Van Dyke Parks
- Kneelin' Down Inside the Gate - Jody Stecher / Kate Brislin / Larry Hanks
- Afindrafindrao - David Lindley   @ youtube
- Sloop John B. - Ron Kavana
- Blow Wind Blow - Taj Mahal
- Tsiaro - Tarika Sammy
- People Get Ready - David Grisman / Marc Silber
- Although the Lord Be High Above - Victoria Williams
- Paul & Pana Tsy Fotoana Mahafinaritra Ve Izao? / I Ain't Got Long On This Island - Rossy
- The Crow - Wavy Gravy / Henry Kaiser / Steve Kimock Crow
- Great Dreams From Heaven - Michael Chapman
- A Chilling Tale: Harcourt Drowned / Troublesome Water - 3 Mustaphas 3   @ youtube
- Don't Let Nobody Burn Down Burma Road - Tom Constanten   @ youtube
- Stealin' - Ralph McTell
- Carmen Goes to Bimini - Mitch Greenhill/Wayne Smith
- Good Morning Mr. Walker / Wait Til Tomorrow - Niles Hokkanen
- Goodnight Irene - Japheth Dean
- Out on the Rolling Sea - Jim Dickinson
- I Bid You Goodnight - Blue Murder


Hokey Pokey CD HPR 2004.2
= Green Linnet GLCD 3095



Additional information appreciated !!!

 

Sources / Further reading:
- own record collection
- eBay auctions
- diverse internet resources

thanks to Deke Dickerson for additional info

 

J O S E P H   S P E N C E; source: Front cover of Ryko/Hannibal CD 44192
source: Front cover of Ryko/Hannibal CD 44192
photographer: Guy Droussart

 

A Tribute to Joseph Spence and the Pinder Family
by Bryan P. Deno
http://spence.bryandeno.com

Joshua Gone Barbados: A Joseph Spence Appreciation
by Chris Smith
http://www.indiana.edu/%7Esmithcj/cjsbvoi2.html

Joseph Spence Fingerstyle Phenomenon
by John Stropes and Justin Segel
http://www.stropes.com/refdocs/spence.pdf

 

 

 

 

home   facebook twitter youtube pinterest ebay
Joseph Spence discography (latest date of editing: 12/16/2020)
© responsible for contents: Stefan Wirz
hitwebcounter.com
counting 'American Music' since 12/08/2019