From tales of jealous lovers to gunslinging outlaws and assassins, American roots music has long embraced the concept of the murder ballad. These seminal recordings offer an intriguing insight into this macabre genre which continues to be reinvented by musicians to this day. This Rough guide offers a unique insight into the American tradition of the murder ballad, and includes seminal renditions of the legendary folk standards 'Stack- O- Lee', 'Frankie and Johnny' and 'Tom Dooley'. Featuring the legendary blues divas Bessie Smith and Victoria Spivey, plus pioneering country musicians Jimmie Rodgers, Charlie Poole and B.F. Shelton.

Disc 1

Track name

Artist

1.Pretty Polly

B.F. Shelton

2.Frankie and Johnny

Jimmie Rodgers

3.Billy Lyons and Stack O'Lee

Furry Lewis

4.Send Me to the 'Lectric Chair

Bessie Smith

5.Tom Dooley

Grayson & Whitter

6.Charles Guiteau

Kelly Harrell

7.Old John Hardy

Clarence Ashley

8.Louis Collins

Mississippi John Hurt

9.Railroad Bill

Will Bennett

10.Murder in the First Degree

Victoria Spivey

11.Henry Lee

Dick Justice

12.White House Blues

Charlie Poole & The North Carolina Ramblers

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