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

Joseph Spence 1973 source: Notes accompanying Arhoolie CD 349 photographer: Dick Waterman

#	year of release	title / label / notes
1	1959	Joseph 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)
2	1964	Joseph 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)
3	1964	Joseph 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)
4	1966	The 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"
5	1972	Joseph 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
6	1978	The 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"
7	1980	Joseph 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
8	1990	Joseph 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
9	1990	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
10	1992	Joseph 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
11	1992	Joseph 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)
12	1995	Frederick 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
13	1995	Gospel 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
1	1982	Ralph 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"
2	1982	Ralph McTell - Song For Ireland - Hands Of Joseph Lunar LOON 11 (Ireland)
3	1994	Out 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   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