Ola Belle Reed

 Ola Belle Reed, *17-08-1916 Ashe County Grassy Creek, NC, +16-08-2002
By Thieu Van DeVorst, Dick Grant, Praguefrank, Jim Nelson
SESSIONS
Mid 1960 Rodel Studio, 1028 33 St., N.W., Washington, D.C. – Alex Campbell and Ola Belle Reed [1] /Deacon The Steel Drivin‘ Man [-2] (Alex Campbell [vcl/?], Ola Belle Campbell Reed [vcl/?], Deacon Brumfield [steel] + unknown musicians. Producer: Donald F. “Don” Owens)
001 6009  LITTLE MOSES -1 Blue Ridge 507 New River 1036
002 6010 DEACON’S STEEL GUITAR CHIMES  [STEEL GUITAR CHIMES*] -2  -instr.-  507 New River 1036*
1961 unknown – Alex Campbell and Ola Belle Reed and The New River Boys
003 OLD SONGS  Magic World MW 60623    
004 WAY BACK WHEN  Magic World MW 60623    
005 HUMMING AND STRUMMING  Magic World MW 60623    
006 STORIES FOR SINGING  Magic World MW 60623    
007 SONGS ON THE RANGE  Magic World MW 60623    
008 DO-IT-YOURSELF SONGS  Magic World MW 60623    
009 WISHFUL SINGING  Magic World MW 60623    
010 MEET SOME GEESE  Magic World MW 60623    
011 OLD SMOKEY  Magic World MW 60623    
012 WORKING AND TALKING BLUES  Magic World MW 60623    
013 SIMPLE GIFTS  Magic World MW 60623    
014 VISION IN SONG  Magic World MW 60623
1962 unknown - Alex Campbell and Olabelle and The New River Boys (Alex Campbell [vcl-1], Ola Belle Read [vcl-2], Deacon Brumfield [vcl-3/dobro], Ted Lundy [banjo], Earl Wallace [bass], John Jackson [fiddle])  [purchased masters]
015 5953  I'LL BE ALL SMILES TONIGHT -3  New River 1032 EP-100/SLP-214
016 5954  HANDSOME MOLLY -1  New River 1040 EP-104/SLP-214
017 5955  GONNA HAVE A BIG TIME TONIGHT -2 New River 1038 EP-103/SLP-214 SLP-232
018 5956  KENTUCKY –instr.-  New River 1038 EP-103/SLP-214
019 5957  LITTLE WHITE CHURCH  -1-2 New River 1037 EP-103/SLP-214
020 5958  LITTLE MOSES -1-2 New River EP-102/ SLP-214
021 5959  DEACON'S BOOGIE –instr.-  New River 1031 EP-100/SLP-214
022 5960  BUILD ME A CABIN IN GLORYLAND  -1-2  New River 1037 EP-103/SLP-214
023 5961  WHITE FLOWER  -2-3 New River EP-101/ SLP-214
024 5962  DOBRO CHIMES –instr.-  EP-102/SLP-214
025 5963  STILL THE SAME -2  1035  EP-102/SLP-214
026 5964  ALOHA  -instr.-   New River EP-101/SLP-214
027 5965  UNCLOUDY DAY -1-2-3  1031 EP-100/SLP-214
028 5966  LONGING FOR A LOVE Í'LL NEVER KNOW -2  New River 1039 EP-104/SLP-214
029 5967  WILDWOOD FLOWER  -instr.-  New River 1039 EP-104/SLP-214
030 5968  WHEN MY TIME COMES TO GO  -1-2-3  New River 1033 EP-101/SLP-214 SLP-308 SLP-342 Rimrock SLP-308 GT7-
031 5969  ALL THE WORLD IS LONELY NOW   New River 1032 EP-100/SLP-342                                         
032 JUST OVER IN THE GLORYLAND  New River 1033 EP-?
033 HOME SWEET HOME New River 1040 EP-104
033a STEEL GUITAR RAG  1035 EP 102
1965 unknown - Alex Campbell and Olabelle (leased to Starday)
034 7696/ZTSB-101339  I CAN'T BE SATISFIED New River EP-107/ Nashville 5231/SLP-342                                      
035 7697/ZTSB-101340  YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW New River EP-107/ Nashville 5231/SLP-342                                           
036 7698  I MARKED THE SPOT  New River EP-107/SLP-342                                        
037 7699  FOREVER I KNOW New River EP-107/SLP-342                                               
038 7700  INDECISION  New River EP-108/SLP-342                                         
039 7701  I THREW AWAY THE KEY  New River EP-108/SLP-342                                            
040 7702  DEBRO CRY  unissued
041 7703  LEGEND OF DOGWOOD  unissued
042 7704  GEORGIA STEEL GUITAR  unissued
043 7705  PAUL AND SILAS SLP-342 GT7-0865                                             
044 7706  WHEN I LAY MY BURDEN DOWN   New River EP-108/SLP-342 GT7-0865                                 
045 7707  TRAVEL ON  New River EP-108/SLP-342                                                  
046 7708  JUST OVER IN THE GLORYLAND       SLP-342 GT7-0865                                   
047 7709? WHEN IT COMES MY TIME TO GO     SLP-342
Ca 1965 unknown – Alex Campbell and Olabelle
Unknown tracks for Cabin Creek LP 2014
1965 unknown – Alex Campbell and  Olabelle (Producer: Lee Sutton)
071 IT'S ALL RIGHT NOW LP 202  
072 THE GREAT JUDGEMENT DAY LP 202  
073 HIGHER IN MY PRAYERS LP 202  
074 IF I COULD HEAR MY MOTHER PRAY AGAIN LP 202
075 WHERE THE SOUL NEVER DIES LP 202  
076 HOME OF THE SOUL LP 202
077 TRAVELING THE HIGHWAY HOME LP 202
078 BEAUTIFUL PICTURE LP 202  
079 TURN YOUR RADIO ON LP 202  
080 GLORY ROUND TRAIN LP 202  
081 WHILE ETERNAL AGES ROLL LP 202
082 I'LL FLY AWAY LP 202  
083 MOTHER LEFT ME HER BIBLE LP 202
084 WAIT FOR THE LIGHT TO SHINE LP 202
085 I'M LIVING THE RIGHT LIFE NOW LP 202  
086 I AM A PILGRIM LP 202
087 I'LL BE COMING HOME SOMEDAY LP 202  
088 HOW BEAUTIFUL HEAVEN MUST BE LP 202  
089 HOLD TO GOD'S UNCHANGING HAND LP 202  
090 DUST ON THE BIBLE LP 202  
091 WHAT WOULD YOU GIVE LP 202
1966 unknown – Alex Campbell and Ola Belle
092 LITTLE DARLIN' Ken-Del 4950  
093 YOU'VE ALWAYS WANTED Ken-Del 4950  
094 ME AND MY FIDDLE Ken-Del 4950  
095 CUMBERLAND GAP Ken-Del 4950
096 COME AND KNOCK Ken-Del 4950  
097 SEND ME THE PILLOW Ken-Del 4950  
098 NEW RIVER TRAIN Ken-Del 4950
099 THE GREY EAGLE HORNPIPE Ken-Del 4950  
100 DON'T YOU CALL MY NAME Ken-Del 4950  
101 SWEET FERN Ken-Del 4950  
102 WILL YOU MISS ME Ken-Del 4950  
103 DO YOU WONDER Ken-Del 4950  
104 LITTLE GARDEN Ken-Del 4950  
105 SOURWOOD MOUNTAIN Ken-Del 4950  
106 BEFORE I MET YOU Ken-Del 4950
107 WALKIN' WITH YOU IN MY DREAMS Ken-Del 4950  
108 BRINGING IN THE GEORGIA MAIL Ken-Del 4950  
109 JOHN HENRY Ken-Del 4950  
110 ROLL ON BUDDY, ROLL ON Ken-Del 4950
111 WHITEHOUSE BLUES Ken-Del 4950
112  WILDWOOD FLOWER Ken-Del 4950    

3 July 1972  [Smithsonian Festival Of American Folklife 1972] National Mall, Washington, D.C. – Ola Belle Reed, *with Sarah Cleveland (Ola Belle Reed [vcl/banjo], David Reed [gt], Bud Reed [gt], John Coffey [fiddle])
11201 LOOK DOWN THAT LONESOME ROAD*  SFW CD 40202
11202 I‘VE ENDURED SFW CD 40202
11203 RANGER'S COMMAND SFW CD 40202
11204 I SAW THE LIGHT SFW CD 40202
Fall 1972 Devault, PA – Ola Belle Reed (Ola Belle Reed [banjo/gt], Alan Reed [gt/banjo], David Reed [gt/banjo], Bud Reed [gt/ banjo/harmonica], John Miller [fiddle]. Producer: Bill Nowlin, Ken Irwin, Marian Leighton)   
113 WAYFARING PILGRIM Rounder 0021
114 HIGH ON A MOUNTAIN Rounder 0021 0506-2 AN 25
115 THE SOLDIER AND THE LADY Rounder 0021
116  FLY AROUND MY PRETTY LITTLE MISS Rounder 002
117 1 GO HOME LITTLE GIRL Rounder 0021
118 BLUES IN MY MIND Rounder 0021
119 GOD PUT A RAINBOW IN THE CLOUDS Rounder 0021
120 FLOP EARED MULE Rounder 0021
121 THE SPRINGTIME OF LIFE Rounder 0021
122 BILLY IN THE LOWGROUND Rounder 0021
123 YOU DON'T TELL ME THAT YOU LOVE ME ANYMORE Rounder 0021
124 I'VE ALWAYS BEEN A RAMBLER Rounder 0021
125 ROSEWOOD CASKET Rounder 0021
126 JOHN HARDY Rounder 0021
127 MY EPITAPH Rounder 0021
128 I BELIEVE Rounder 0021
ROUNDER AN 25 THE REAL MUSIC: 25 YEARS OF ROUNDER RECORDS (1995, 9 CDs); ROUNDER 0506-2 O SOSTER 2 – A WOMEN’S BLUEGRASS COLLECTION (2002)
1970s? unknown – Ola Belle Reed (Ola Beller Reed [vcl/gt])
129 SIX FEET OF EARTH MAKES US ALL OF ONE SIZE Rounder 11661-0485-2
ROUNDER 11661-0485-2 THE ANGELS ARE SINGING- A WOMEN'S BLUEGRASS GOSPEL COLLECTION (2002)
1976 unknown – Ola Belle Reed
130 HIGH ON THE MOUNTAIN FA 2493  SFW CD 40202
131 I'VE ENDURED FA 2493  SFW CD 40202
132 SING ME A SONG FA 2493  SFW CD 40202
133 MY EPITAPH FA 2493 SFW CD 40202
134 SPRINGTIME OF MY LIFE FA 2493 SFW CD 40202
135 FORTUNES FA 2493   SFW CD 40202
17*-18 June 1976  [Smithsonian Festival Of American Folklife 1976] National Mall, Washington, D.C. – Ola Belle Reed (Ola Belle Reed [vcl/banjo], Bud Reed [gt], John Coffey [fiddle], Betsy Rutherford [vcl])
13501 UNDONE IN SORROW* [17-06-76] SFW CD 40202
13502 I BELIEVE IN THE OLD TIME WAY [18-06-76] SFW CD 40202
13503 NINE POUND HAMMER [18-06-76] SFW CD 40202
13504 I AM THE MAN, THOMAS [18-06-76] SFW CD 40202
1976  Rising Sun, MD – Ola Belle Reed (Ola Belle Reed [vcl/banjo], Bud Reed [gt/ banjo/ harmonica], David Reed [gt])
136 GOING TO WRITE ME A LETTER Rounder 0077 0077-2
137 MY DONEY, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN SO LONG Rounder 0077 0077-2  
138 THE NINETY AND NINE Rounder 0077 0077-2
139 LAMPLIGHTING TIME IN THE VALLEY Rounder 0077 0077-2  
140 ONLY THE LEADING ROLE WILL DO Rounder 0077 0077-2
141 OVER YOUNDER IN THE GRAVEYEARD Rounder 0077 0077-2
142 SING ME A SONG Rounder 0077 0077-2
143 YOU LED ME TO THE WRONG Rounder 0077 0077-2  
144 THE RANGER'S COMMAND Rounder 0077 0077-2  
145 BOAT'S UP THE RIVER Rounder 0077 0077-2  
146 WHEN CAN I READ MY TITLES CLEAR Rounder 0077 0077-2
147 THE BUTCHER'S BOY Rounder 0077 0077-2  
148 WHERE THE WILD, WILD FLOWERS GROW Rounder 0077 0077-2
149 I'VE ENDURED Rounder 0077 0077-2
150 NO SORROW WILL BE THERE Rounder 0077-2
151 WILD BILL JONES Rounder 0077-2
152 AWAY OUT ON THE MOUNTAIN Rounder 0077-2
153 OLD BANJO TUNE Rounder 0077-2
154 THE TRAIN THAT CARRIED MY GIRL FROM TOWN Rounder 0077-2
155 FORTUNES Rounder 0077-2
156 SHOO FLY Rounder 0077-2
157 LET ME IN Rounder 0077-2
158 BURY ME AT THE FOOT OF THE MOUNTAIN Rounder 0077-2 )
1977 home recordings, PA – Ola Belle Reed, Bud Reed and Kevin Roth (Ola Belle Reed [vcl-1/banjo], Bud Reed [vcl-2/gt/banjo/harmonica], Kevin Roth [vcl-3])
159 HIGHWAY DREAMER -3 FA 2329  
160 OLABELLE'S BLUES -1 FA 2329 SFW CD 40202   
161 WAY OUT ON THE MOUNTAIN -2 FA 2329  
162 SWEET EVALINA -1-3 FA 2329   SFW CD 40202
163 WHEN IT CAME TO LOVING YOU -3 FA 2329
164 BONAPARTE'S RETREAT-1  FA 2329  SFW CD 40202
165 FOGGY MOUNTAIN TOP -1 FA 2329 SFW CD 40202  
166 DREAMS -3 FA 2329  
167 LARKIN'S WOODS -3 FA 2329
168 WAITING FOR A TRAIN -2 FA 2329   
169 RAINBOW LOVE -3 FA 2329  
170 TEAR DOWN THE FENCES -1 FA 2329 SFW CD 40202
 

ALBUMS
Magic World MW-60623 Let's Learn About America's Songs:  Old Songs;  Way Back When;  Humming And Strumming;  Stories For Singing;  Songs On The Range;  Do-It-Yourself Songs;  Wishful Singing;  Meet Some Geese;  Old Smokey;  Working And Talking Blues;  Simple Gifts;  Vision In Song - 61 with Alex Campbell                                                 
Starday SLP-214 16 Radio Favorites:  I'll Be All Smiles Tonight;  Handsome Molly;  Gonna Have A Big Time Tonight; Kentucky; Little White Church;  Little Moses;  Deacon's Boogie;  Build Me A Cabin In Gloryland;  White Flower;  Dobro Chimes;  Still The Same;  Aloha;  Uncloudy Day;  Longing For A Love I'll Never Know;  Wildwood Flower; When My Time Comes To Go - 63  with Alex Campbell
Starday SLP-342 Travel On:  Travel On;  All The World Is Lonely Now;  I Threw Away The Key;  You Don't Even Know;  I Can't Be Satisfied;  When It Comes My Time To Go;  When I Lay My Burden Down;  Just Over In The Gloryland;  I Marked The Spot;  Indecision;  Paul And Silas;  Forever I Know  - 07-65 with Alex Campbell       
Cabin Creek LP-201 Gospel Album: (tracks unknown) – ca. 65  with Alex Campbell 
Cabin Creek LP-202  Old Time Gospel Singing With String Band:  It's All Right Now;  The Great Judgement Day;  Higher In My Prayers;  If I Could Hear My Mother Pray Again;  Where The Soul Never Dies;  Home Of The Soul; Traveling The Highway Home;  Beautiful Picture;  Turn Your Radio On;  Glory Round Train;  While Eternal Ages Roll;  I'll Fly Away;  Mother Left Me Her Bible; Wait For The Light To Shine;  I'm Living The Right Life Now;  I Am A Pilgrim;  I'll Be Coming Home Someday;  How Beautiful Heaven Must Be;  Hold To God's Unchanging Hand;  Dust On The Bible;  What Would You Give – 66 with Alex Campbell   (also on Ess-Gee ELP-1002; MX: S4RM-7827/8)                                      
Ken-Del 4950  Alex Campbell And Ola Belle: Little Darlin'; You've Always Wanted; Me And My Fiddle; Cumberland Gap; Come and Knock; Send Me The Pillow; New River Train; The Grey Eagle Hornpipe; Don't You Call My name; Sweet Fern; Will You Miss Me; Do You Wonder; Little Garden; Sourwood Mountain; Before I Met You; Walkin' With You In My Dreams; Bringing In The Georgia Mail; John Henry; Roll On Buddy, Roll On; Whitehouse Blues; Wildwood Flower - 66  with Alex Campbell
Rounder 0021 Olabelle Reed: Wayfaring Pilgrim; High On A Mountain; The Soldier And The Lady; Fly Around My Pretty Little Miss; Go Home Little Girl; Blues In My Mind; God Put A Rainbow In The Clouds; Flop Eared Mule; The Springtime Of Life; Billy In The Lowground; You Don't Tell Me That You Love Me Anymore; I've Always Been A Rambler; Rosewood Casket; John Hardy; My Epitaph; I Believe - 73
Folkways FA 2493 My Epitaph: Interview; High On The Mountain; Interview; I've Endured; Interview; Sing Me A Song; Interview; My Epitaph; Interview; Springtime Of My Life; Interview; Fortunes - 76
Rounder 0077 Olabelle Reed And Family: Going To Write Me A Letter;  My Doney, Where Have You Been So Long;  The Ninety And Nine;  Lamplighting Time In The Valley;  Only The Leading Role Will Do;  Over Younder In The Graveyeard;  Sing Me A Song;  You Led Me To The Wrong;  The Ranger's Command;  Boat's Up The River;  When Can I Read My Titles Clear;  The Butcher's Boy;  Where The Wild, Wild Flowers Grow;  I've Endured – 77  (reissued in 2006 on Rounder 11661-0077-2 with bonus tracks: No Sorrow Will Be There; Wild Bill Jones; Away Out On The Mountain; Old Banjo Tune; The Train That Carried My Girl From Town; Fortunes; Shoo Fly; Let Me In; Bury Me At The Foot Of The Mountain)
Folkways FA 2329 All In One Evening: Highway Dreamer [Kevin Roth]; Olabelle's Blues;  Way Out On The Mountain [Bud Reed]; Sweet Evalina (with Kevin Roth); When It Came To Loving You [Kevin Roth]; Bonaparte's Retreat;  Foggy Mountain Top;  Dreams [Kevin Roth]; Larkin's Woods [Kevin Roth]; Waiting For A Train [Bud Reed];  Rainbow Love [Kevin Roth]; Tear Down The Fences – 78
Gusto GT7-0865-2 Oldtime Gospel Singing: When My Time Comes To Go; Little White Church; Uncloudy Day; When I Lay My Burdens Down; Just Over In The Gloryland; Paul And Silas; White Flower; Little Moses; Build Me A Cabin In Gloryland – 09 W. Alex Campbell (sampler)
Field Recorders' Collective FRC203 Ola Belle Reed: Carl's Introduction; High on a Mountain; Ola Belle's Home (talk); I've Endured; Wings Like an Eagle; Chewing Chawing Gum; Only the Leading Role Will Do; Wild Bill Jones; My Sweet Love Ain't Around; Ain't Gonna Work Tomorrow; I Am a Pilgrim; I'll Fly Away; Undone in Sorrow; I Believe in the Old Time Way; The Train that Carried My Girl from Town; Reuben's Train; The Cannonball; Lamp Lighting Time in the Valley; Unclouded Day    ; Sing Me a Song; He's Gone; Tear Down the Fences; Bringing in the Georgia Mail – 05 (recording info unknown, not in sessions)
Field Recorders' Collective FRC-210 Campbell's Corner: the Ola Belle Reed-Alex Campbell Radio Shows: Fiddle Introduction; Alex Campbell's Introduction; Old Joe Clark; Radio Announcements; Bring Back My Blue Eyed Boy to Me; I'll Be All Smiles Tonight; Radio Announcements; The Uncloudy Day; Announcements; Soldiers Joy; Can't Get You Off of My Mind; Announcements and WCOJ News; John Hardy; Radio Announcements; Wildwood Blossom; Radio Announcements; Dark and Raining and I Gotta Go Home; I'll Wear a White Flower for You; Radio Announcements; Pretty Polly; My Pretty Fraulein; Radio Announcements; Steel Guitar Rag; Bring Back My Blue Eyed Boy to Me; Dr. Pepper Announcement; Soldier's Joy; Radio Announcement; I Can't Get You Off of My Mind; Radio Announcements; I'll Wear a White Flower for You – 09 The New River Boys, Ola Belle Reed, Alex Campbell (radio shows, not in sessions)

Folkways SFW CD 40202 Rising Sun Melodies: [Folkways tracks:]  I've Endured (2:49); Ola Belle's Blues; Springtime of Life; Bonaparte's Retreat; Foggy Mountain Top; Fortunes; High on the Mountain; Sweet Evalina; Sing Me a Song; Tear Down the Fences; My Epitaph; [Smithsonian Festival of American Folklife 1972 and 1976]: Look Down That Lonesome Road; Undone in Sorrow; I Believe in the Old Time Way; Nine Pound Hammer; I am the Man, Thomas; I‘ve Endured (2:35); Ranger's Command; I Saw the Light – 03-08-10
Dust-To-Digital DTD-40 Ola Belle Reed And Southern Mountain Music On The Mason-Dixon Line: Uncloudy Day; My Home’s Across the Blue Ridge Mountain (w. Alex Campbell and John Miller); Bringing in the Georgia Mail (w. Alex Campbell, Burl Iilby); Train 45; The Worried Man Blues; The Worried Man Blues (w. Burl Kirby); The Ranger’s Command (w. Burl Kilby and John Miller); Big Kid’s Barroom (w. Burl Kilby and John Miller); The Miller’s Will (w. Burl Kirby); Black Jack Davy (w. Burl Kirby); John Hardy (w. Alex Campbell and John Miller); Single Girl (w. Burl Kilby and John Miller); Kitty Wells (w. Burl Kirby); The Orphan Girl (w. Burl Kilby and John Miller); I’ve Always Been a Rambler (w. Burl Kirby);  Undone in Sorrow; You Led Me to the Wrong (w.Burl Kilby and John Miller); Absalom My Son, My Son; Amazing Grace (w. John Miller); Six Feet of Earth (w.Burl Kilby and John Miller); All the Dark Places;  I’m Going Through (w.Burl Kilby and John Miller);  I’ve Endured (w.Burl Kilby and John Miller);  I’ve Endured (w. Burl Kilby and John Miller) [Disc Two includes tracks by various artists] – 21-08-15 (double; recording info unknown, not in sessions)

EPs  with Alex Campbell
New River EP-100 Deacons Boogie;  Uncloudy Day / All The World Is Lonely Now;  I'll Be All Smiles Tonight – 62 (MX: NRS 1031/2)
New River EP-101 White Flower / Aloha / When My Time Comes To Go; Just Over In The Glory Land / Alohe; White Flower – 6- (MX: NRS 1033/4)
New River EP-102 Still The Same;  Steel Guitar Rag /  Little Moses;  Steel Guitar Chimes – 03-64 (MX: NRS 1035/6)
New River EP-103 Build Me A Cabin In Gloryland ; Little White Church / Gonna Have A Big Time Tonight; Kentucky – 64 (MX: NRS 1031/2)
New River EP-104 Longing For A Love I'll Never Know;  Wildwood Flower / Handsome Molly; Home Sweet Home – 64?  (MX NRS 1039/40)
New River EP-107 I Can't Be Satisfied;  I Marked The Spot / Forever I Know; You Don't Even Know - 65  (MX: S79420/1)   
New River EP-108 Travel On / When I Lay My Burden Now / Threw Away The Key / Indecision  - 65                        

SINGLES
Blue Ridge (1960)
507 Little Moses / Deacon’s Steel Guitar Chimes – 08-60  
New River (1962)    w. The New River Boys            
1031 Deacon’s Boogie / Uncloudy Day - 62
1032 All The World Is Lonely Now / I'll Be All Smiles Tonight - 17-03-62                                 
1033 Just Over In The Gloryland / When My Time Comes To Go - 62
1034 Aloha / White Flower - 62
1035 Still The Same / Steel Guitar Rag - 62
1036 Little Moses / Steel Guitar Chimes – 62 (reissue of Blue Ridge 507)
1037 Build Me A Cabin In Gloryland / Little White Church -62
1038 Gonna Have A Big Time Tonight / Kentucky -62         
1039 Longing For A Love I'll Never Know / Wildwood Flower - 62
1040 Handsome Molly / Home Sweet Home - 62