Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Been is an album by folk

Folk music

Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....

 artist "Spider" John Koerner released in 1986. The album was recorded in one evening at Creation Audio studios in Minneapolis, MN.

Reception

In his Allmusic review, music critic Richard Meyer wrote, "Spider John Koerner sings and plays (12-string guitar) with a knowing but commanding casual authority that brings this material to life brilliantly. The music jumps out of the speaker so effortlessly you can appreciate the fun and dark side of these old songs."

Track listing

All songs traditional unless otherwise noted.

1. "Cotton-Eyed Joe
   Cotton-Eyed Joe
   "Cotton-Eyed Joe" is a popular American folk song known at various times throughout the United States and Canada, although today it is most commonly associated with the American South...
   
   " – :38
2. "Sail Away Ladies" – 2:54
3. "Acres of Clams" – 4:10
4. "Black Dog" – 3:28
5. "Froggie Went A-Courtin'
   Frog Went A-Courting
   "Frog Went A-Courtin'" is an English language folk song. Its first known appearance is in Wedderburn's Complaynt of Scotland under the name "The frog came to the myl dur", though this in Scots rather than English...
   
   " – 4:16
6. "The Old Chisholm Trail" – 3:22
7. "The Leather-Winged Bat" – 2:12
8. "Red Apple Juice" – 3:12
9. "Worried Rambler" (John Koerner) – 3:58
10. "What's a Matter with the Mill" – 2:29
11. "Shenandoah
    Oh Shenandoah
    "Oh Shenandoah" is a traditional American folk song of uncertain origin, dating at least to the early 19th century...
    
    " – 3:02
12. "The Roving Gambler" – 2:41
13. "St. James Infirmary
    St. James Infirmary Blues
    "St. James Infirmary Blues" is based on an 18th century traditional English folk song of anonymous origin, though sometimes credited to the songwriter Joe Primrose . Louis Armstrong made it famous in his influential 1928 recording.-Authorship and history:"St...
    
    " (Joe Primrose
    Irving Mills
    Irving Mills was a jazz music publisher, also known by the name of "Joe Primrose."Mills was born to Jewish parents in the Lower East Side of Manhattan in New York City. He founded Mills Music with his brother Jack in 1919...
    
    , Traditional) – 3:08
14. "Irene
    Goodnight, Irene
    "Goodnight, Irene" or "Irene, Goodnight," is a 20th century American folk standard, written in 3/4 time, first recorded by American blues musician Huddie 'Lead Belly' Ledbetter in 1932....
    
    " (Lead Belly, Alan Lomax
    Alan Lomax
    Alan Lomax was an American folklorist and ethnomusicologist. He was one of the great field collectors of folk music of the 20th century, recording thousands of songs in the United States, Great Britain, Ireland, the Caribbean, Italy, and Spain.In his later career, Lomax advanced his theories of...
    
    ) – 3:00
15. "Cotton-Eyed Joe (Reprise)" – :42

Personnel

• "Spider" John Koerner – guitar, harmonica, vocals
• John "Mr. Bones" Burrell – percussion
• Tony Glover – harmonica on "The Leather-winged Bat" and "Red Apple Juice"
• Dakota Dave Hull – guitar
• Willie Murphy
  Willie Murphy (musician)
  Willie Murphy is an American pianist, singer, producer, and songwriter. He is best known as a singer and pianist for the blues band Willie and the Bees and his work with Bonnie Raitt and John Koerner.-Biography:...
  
   – bass
• Peter Ostroushko
  Peter Ostroushko
  Peter Ostroushko is an American violinist and mandolinist.-Background and career:Of Ukrainian ancestry, Ostroushko grew up in northeast Minneapolis...
  
  – mandolin
• Chip Taylor Smith – fiddle
• Butch Thompson – piano

Production notes

• Dakota Dave Hull – producer
• Eric Peltoniemi – executive producer
• Steve Wiese – engineer
• Gregg Vershay – photography
• George Ostroushko – artwork, design
• Marge Ostroushko – assistant producer
• Dan Corrigan – photography
• John Hanson – design