J.B. Smith: No More Good Time in the World for Me

From the Texas prison fields comes the haunting, unbroken voice of J.B. Smith—singing epic songs of labor, faith, and hard time.

In 1965 and 1966, folklorist Bruce Jackson recorded J.B. Smith at Ramsey State Farm in Rosharon, Texas. Smith—prisoner #130196—was serving a 45-year sentence for the murder of his wife. A seasoned song leader in the penitentiary’s work gangs, he was known for his powerful delivery under the blistering Texas sun.

Beyond the traditional work songs, Smith composed what he called his “little ol’ songs” while chopping sugarcane or picking cotton. These extended, deeply personal pieces—sometimes stretching over twenty minutes—shared a single melody but varied in tempo, ornamentation, and emotional weight. Songs like The Major Special, No More Good Time in the World for Me, and Ever Since I Been a Man Full Grown each carry a distinct mood, much like a preacher shaping a sermon.

This digital-only edition includes all 18 recordings, newly remastered, with 15 tracks released here for the first time. Also included is a PDF booklet with full lyric transcriptions, never-before-published photographs of J.B. Smith, and extensive liner notes by Nathan Salsburg.

What’s Included

• 18 digital audio tracks
• 15 previously unreleased
• View the complete tracklist here: [Insert hosted PDF link]
• 36 page digital booklet (PDF) featuring:
• lyrics, photos, and liner notes

Praise for J.B. Smith’s Recordings

“An astonishing body of work… songs of uncommon power and endurance.”

— The Wire

"An essential document of American music and history.”

— PopMatters