The Lead Belly Songbook - Lead Belly, no stranger to the blues

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Easy Rider

click here to listen to Real Audio format 28.8 modem. the midi file recording, using RA 5.0 or less.

Easy Rider is one of those slippery phrases that can describe a loose woman, as they used to say.  Blind Lemon Jefferson was one of the first people to popularize the phrase in music, and Lead Belly and he probably sang it well before 1920. 

"Classic" Lead Belly licks are the first few bass notes of the song. The origin of this song is lost. Almost all blues musicians have a version. For me, the hard part about this song in playing Lead Belly's style, is the strong accent on the beat when changing to the IV position. It is in the fifth measure after the beginning lyric.

click here to listen to the version that I transcribed - Lead Belly's Last Sessions.   In RealAudio G2 format only.

click here to listen to another version of Lead Belly singing Easy Rider.   This is in RealAudio G2 format only.