This is a reissue of Leadbelly's original 1943 recordings for the Asch label, released by Atlantic in the wake of the Weavers' chart-topping remake of "Goodnight Irene". The A-side was titled just "Irene" in 1943 and has Leadbelly alone on vocal and guitar, on the B-side he is accompanied by Sanders Terry (aka Sonny Terry) on harmonica (as credited on the original Asch record labels).