MUSIC TO DIE FOR – DEATH DISCS 1914 – 1960
One of pop’s hardiest forms, the ‘death disc’ is, arguably, the most comic too. Death remains one of the topics that has lasted the test of time and even today loss of life - often, but certainly not always related to that of a loved one - remains a subject still popular amongst songwriters of a certain sway. What is sure is that songs related to death, maintain an enormous cult-appeal amongst collectors.
DISC ONE
1. MESSRS. ERNEST PIKE AND WALTER MILLER – Excelsior! (circa 1912) 2. FRANK MILLER – Don’t Go Down the Mine Dad (1913) 3. VERNON DALHART - Wreck of the Old '97 (1924) 4. LOUIS ARMSTRONG - St. James Infirmary (1928) 5. MATTIE DELANEY - Tallahatchie River Blues (1930) 6. ETHEL WATERS - Miss Otis Regrets (1934) 7. DORSEY DIXON - Wreck on the Highway (I Didn't Hear Nobody Pray) (1938) 8. EDDY DUCHIN Feat PATRICIA NORMAN - Ol' Man Mose (1938) 9. LORD EXECUTOR - We Mourn the Loss of Sir Murchison Fletcher (circa 1938-40) 10. ARTIE SHAW Feat PAULINE BYRNE – Gloomy Sunday (1940) 11. LEADBELLY - Black Girl (1940) 12. ST. LOUIS JIMMY ODEN – Goin’ Down Slow (1941) 13. LENA HORNE - Frankie and Johnny (1946) 14. JIMMIE OSBORNE - The Death of Little Kathy Fiscus (1949) 15. VAUGHN MONROE - Riders in the Sky (1949) 16. RED FOLEY - Old Shep (1949) 17. TOM LEHRER – I Hold Your Hand in Mine (1953) 18. EUGENE FOX - Sinner's Dream (1954) 19. FERLIN HUSKY - The Drunken Driver (1954) 20. THE FOUR FRESHMEN - Their Hearts Were Full of Spring (195?) 21. DONALD WOODS & THE VEL-AIRES – Death of an Angel (1955) 22. THE CHEERS - Black Denim Trousers and Motorcycle Boots (1955) 23. STANLEY HOLLOWAY - Sweeney Todd the Barber (1956) 24. BILL HAYES – Message from James Dean (1956) 25. KEN COLYER’S SKIFFLE GROUP - Down Bound Train (1956)
DISC TWO
1. LOUVIN BROTHERS – Knoxville Girl (1956) 2. NERVOUS NORVUS - Wild Dogs of Kentucky (1956) 3. THE CHEERS – Chicken (1957) 4. ROBERT MITCHUM – Ballad of Thunder Road (1957) 5. TONY CASANOVA – The Grave (1958) 6. RALPH BOWMAN – The Tragedy of School Bus 27 (1958) 7. STANLEY BROTHERS – No School Bus in Heaven (1958) 8. THE EVERLY BROTHERS – Down In the Willow Garden (1958) 9. JODY REYNOLDS - Endless Sleep (1958) 10. ALFRED HITCHCOCK - Music to Be Murdered By (1958) 11. LLOYD PRICE – Stagger Lee (1958) 12. JOHNNY CASH – Don’t Take Your Guns to Town (1959) 13. THE EVERLY BROTHERS - Take a Message to Mary (1959) 14. RUBY WRIGHT - Three Stars (1959) 15. GEORGE JONES - Who Shot Sam? (1959) 16. JACQUES BREL - La Mort (1959) 17. PAUL HAMPTON - Two Hour Honeymoon (1960) 18. GENE VINCENT - Blue Eyes Crying In the Rain (1960) 19. MARK DINNING - Teen Angel (1960) 20. ROBERT HORTON - Sail Ho! (1960) 21. PETER SELLERS - Grandpa's Grave (1960) 22. JOHNNY PRESTON - Running Bear (1960) 23. RAY PETERSON - Tell Laura I Love Her (1960) 24. MARILYN MICHAELS - Tell Tommy I Miss Him (1960) 25. THE CADETS – Car Crash (1960) 26. JOHNNY CYMBAL – The Water Was Red (1960) 27. CREED TAYLOR ORCHESTRA – Wreck of Old 97 (1960)