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.
This superb two CD collection brings together 52 of the finest songs from this strange genre, dating back as far as 1912 [a time before ‘discs’ per se existed) and as recent as 1960 – this was the golden age of the death disc. With artists as diverse as Leadbelly, Marty Robbins, Nervous Norvus, Alfred Hitchcock and Gene Vincent on tracks with names as gruesome as The Tragedy Of School Bus 27, Grandpa’s Grave, Two Hour Honeymoon and The Water Was Red .
Completed in deluxe packaging with a 16 page booklet, slipcase and extensive liner notes by the author of ‘Death Discs: Account of Fatality in the Popular Song’, this compilation is, remarkably, the first ever CD collection of ‘Death Discs’ to emerge.
Tracklist
DISC 1
1. Messrs. Ernest Pike and Walter Miller – Excelsior!
2. Frank Miller – Don’t Go Down The Mine Dad
3. Vernon Dalhart - Wreck Of The Old '97
4. Louis Armstrong - St. James Infirmary
5. Mattie Delaney - Tallahatchie River Blues
6. Ethel Waters - Miss Otis Regrets
7. Dorsey Dixon - Wreck On The Highway (I Didn't Hear Nobody Pray)
8. Eddy Duchin feat. Patricia Norman - Ol' Man Mose
9. Lord Executor - We Mourn The Loss Of Sir Murchison Fletcher
10. Artie Shaw feat. Pauline Byrne – Gloomy Sunday
11. Leadbelly - Black Girl
12. St. Louis Jimmy Oden – Goin’ Down Slow
13. Lena Horne - Frankie and Johnny
14. Jimmie Osborne - The Death Of Little Kathy Fiscus
15. Vaughn Monroe - Riders In The Sky
16. Red Foley - Old Shep
17. Tom Lehrer – I Hold Your Hand In Mine
18. Eugene Fox - Sinner's Dream
19. Ferlin Husky - The Drunken Driver
20. The Four Freshmen - Their Hearts Were Full Of Spring
21. Donald Woods & The Vel-Aires – Death Of An Angel
22. The Cheers - Black Denim Trousers And Motorcycle Boots
23. Stanley Holloway - Sweeney Todd The Barber
24. Bill Hayes – Message From James Dean
25. Ken Colyer’s Skiffle Group - Down Bound Train
DISC 2
1. Louvin Brothers – Knoxville Girl
2. Nervous Norvus - Wild Dogs Of Kentucky
3. The Cheers – Chicken
4. Robert Mitchum – Ballad Of Thunder Road
5. Tony Casanova – The Grave
6. Ralph Bowman – The Tragedy Of School Bus 27
7. Stanley Brothers – No School Bus In Heaven
8. The Everly Brothers – Down In The Willow Garden
9. Jody Reynolds - Endless Sleep
10. Alfred Hitchcock - Music To Be Murdered By
11. Lloyd Price – Stagger Lee
12. Johnny Cash – Don’t Take Your Guns To Town
13. The Everly Brothers - Take A Message To Mary
14. Ruby Wright - Three Stars
15. George Jones - Who Shot Sam?
16. Jacques Brel - La Mort
17. Paul Hampton - Two Hour Honeymoon
18. Gene Vincent - Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain
19. Mark Dinning - Teen Angel
20. Robert Horton - Sail Ho!
21. Peter Sellers - Grandpa's Grave
22. Johnny Preston - Running Bear
23. Ray Peterson - Tell Laura I Love Her
24. Marilyn Michaels - Tell Tommy I Miss Him
25. The Cadets – Car Crash
26. Johnny Cymbal – The Water Was Red
27. Creed Taylor Orchestra – Wreck Of Old 97
