[78-L] Bad news on record

[soundthink at aol.com]

These are cumulatively known in the folklore world as "event ballads." Writers/musicians such as the Rev. Andrew Jenkins used to hang out on courthouse steps, waiting to get the verdict for controversial trials so that they could get the jump on finishing off a song and getting it published. This was the paparazzi of their day. "Little Marian Parker" was one such song composed in this fashion. They all followed a pattern - the song is?"sung" by the criminal himself, often on the gallows awaiting "justice." Of course, at the end of the song, there was always a change of heart as the criminal revealed himself to be guilty and going to his grave in repentance ("Charles Guiteau" by Kelly Harrell is a great example). The prominent "Citybilly" singers - Frank Luther, Carson Robison, Bob Miller, and Vernon Dalhart - were the Murderer's Row (if you will) of this genre. 

Then there's Shel Silverstein's "25 Minutes to Go," in which the condemned prisoner counts down the minutes before his demise and actually gets hanged while singing the song, never finishing his last verse. "One more minute to go! And now I'm swinging and here I gooooooooooo!"

Cary Ginell



-----Original Message-----
From: Charles Bihun <csintala79 at yahoo.com>
To: 78-L Mail List <78-l at klickitat.78online.com>
Sent: Thu, Jul 9, 2009 1:13 pm
Subject: Re: [78-L] Bad news on record



Also, "Wreck on the Highway," Roy Acuff and his Smokey Mountain Boys, Okeh 
6685/Columbia 20195, 5/28/1942.? Plumb pitiful.

ChuckB
?




________________________________
From: Margaret Still <mgstill at bellsouth.net>
To: 78-l at klickitat.78online.com
Sent: Thursday, July 9, 2009 3:03:12 PM
Subject: Re: [78-L] Bad news on record


Deaths of famous people:

Gene Autry Conqueror 8168??? The Death of Jimmie Rodgers

Jack Cardwell King 1172??? The Death of Hank Williams

Peck Curtis & the Blues Rhythm Boys??? ??? The Death of Sonny Boy
Williamson

Billy Joe Burnette Gusto-Starday 167 Welcome Home Elvis (sung by Elvis' dead
twin)


Accidents and disasters:

Jimmie Osborne King 788??? The Death of Little Kathy Fiscus

Porter Wagoner The Carroll County Accident? RCA Victor 47-9651

Jailhouse Fire Blues - Buddy Boy Hawkins

Dixon Brothers??? ??? ??? The School House Fire

WILLIAM and VERSEY SMITH??? When That Great Ship Went Down

The Bee Gees??? ATCO 6487??? New York Mining Disaster 1941


Apologies for any duplications-

Best,
Margaret G. Still




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