Hi there, I read BGRASS-L from the newsgroups but have subscribed to post this message. A few months ago Cheryl Cline posted a question for me ... I asked for a list of murder ballads. I am collecting these for an upcoming radio show on KSCU in Santa Clara (my program's name is "Topsoil") and a possible research project (grad school???). A number of people wanted me to post this list when I was finished. I was kind of wary because this is a very long list (go figure), so if this offends you I apologize in advance! Now, to get on with business. This list has not been proofread much yet. I have found errors in my original list (entry of suicide ballad with no murder, wrong artist, etc) and I am sure there are more in this one. If you spot any please notify me at kscu@iuma.com (or gardner@cadence.com). If you have any additions notify me. If you have any historical comments about the songs that I could use on the air, just holler. The only book I have found so far completely devoted to murder ballads is one from Burt called "American Murder Ballads and their Stories" from the 1950s. If you know of any other books let me know. Enough gab, here is the list. Fill in the blanks if you can! Steve Gardner 459 entries Artist Song Album ========================================================================== Fuller, Jesse 99 Years Jesse Fuller O'Brien, Tim 99 Years Waits, Tom A Little Rain Bone Machine A PLEA FOR ORDER Flanders ADAM GORMAN Ballads Migrant in NE Mint Juleps Ain't He Got Nerve Round Our Way McIntosh ALAN BANE Folk Songs and Singing Games. Sandburg, Carl ALICE B. American Songbag Lehrer, Tom Alma ANDREW ROSS (ANDREW ROSE) Peters Away to Wisconsin Folk Songs out of Wisconsin BABYLON, OR THE BONNIE BANKS O' FORDIE Kingston Trio Bad Man's Blunder The Very Best of... Smith, Walter "Kid" Ballad of Charlie Lawson Stanley Brothers Ballad of Charlie Lawson Watson, Doc and Merle Ballad of Charlie Lawson BALLADS FROM DEEP GAP Ballad of Jesse James Riley, Jeannie Ballad of Louise Harper Valley PTA Poole, Charlie Ballad of the Lawson Family Cox, John Harrington BAMBOO BRIER Folk-Songs of the South Armstrong, Frankie BANKS OF GREEN WILLOW * Rice, Tony Banks of the Ohio Tony Rice Stanley, Ralph Banks of the Ohio Sat. Night and Sun. Morning Watson, Doc Banks of the Ohio Watson, D. & B. Monroe Banks of the Ohio Live Duets De Dannan BANKS OF THE ROSES Best of... Tabor, June Banks of the Roses Aqaba Redpath, Jean BANKS OF THE ROSES Leadbelly BILL MARTIN AND ELLA SPEED Bill Vanero Fisher, C. & A. TreziseBilly Taylor For Foul Day and Fair Billy the Kid LaRue, Custer Binnorie The Daemon Lover BINNORIE (TWO SISTERS) Baez, Joan BIRMINGHAM SUNDAY Beers Family BLACK HAIRED LASS Bogle, Eric Blackjack County Chains Smoke & Strong Whiskey BLUEBEARD Profitt, Frank BO LAMKIN Steeleye Span BOLD POACHERS Parcel of Rouges Null, L. with B. Shute Bonnie Susie Cleland The Feathered Maiden Redpath, Jean Bonnie Susie Cleland Father Adam Mitchell, H. & L. Null BONNIE, BONNIE BANKS OF THE VIRGIO (Cruel Brother) Niles, John Jacob BONNY FARDAY Folk Balladeer Null, Lisa BORDER WIDOW'S LAMENT Feathered Maiden Carthy, & Swarbrick Bows Of London Two Sisters Fairport Convention Breakfast In Mayfair Babbacombe Lee Armstrong, Frankie Broomfield Wager Female Frolic Roberts & Barrand Broomfield Wager Dark Ships Denney, Sandy Bruton Town Live in 1972 Hart, T. and M. Prior Bruton Town Folk Songs Of Olde England Vol.1 Ranch Romance Buckaroo Lomax, Alan Buffalo Skinners Folk Song America Ramblin' Jack Elliott Buffalo Skinners South Coast Lilly Brothers Butcher Boy Burns, Robert Caldonia Harrell, Kelly CHARLES GUITEAU Old-Time Mountain Ballads (County) Zevon, Warren Charlie's Medicine Seeger, P. & MacColl CHYLDE OWLET Blood & Roses Redpath, Jean Clerk Saunders Lowlands Tabor, June Clerk Saunders Cash, Johnny Cocaine Blues Live at Folsom Prison Thorogood, George Cocaine Blues Move it on Over Violent Femmes Country Death Song Hallowed Ground Fairport Convention CRAZY MAN MICHAEL Liege & Lief Mulcahy and Fitzgibbon Croppies Lie Down The Voice of the People Fisher, Archie CRUEL BROTHER Schneyer, Helen CRUEL MOTHER Somber, Sacred & Silly Old Blind Dogs Cruel Sister Back to the Bone Pentangle Cruel Sister Cruel Willie Deep Water Belafonte, Harry Delia Mark Twain Blake, Blind Delia Cordelia's Dad Delia Why Can't I Sleep Dylan, Bob Delia World Gone Wrong Cash, Johnny Delia's Gone American Recordings Riders in the Sky Deparado Trail Cowboy's Jubilee Thompson, Richard Did she jump or was she pushed DIXON AND JOHNSON Ozark Folksongs Carter Family Don't Forget This Song My Clinch Mountain Home Redpath, Jean DOWIE DENS OF YARROW Young, Neil Down By The River Cherish The Ladies Down By The Sally Gardens Country Gentlemen Down By The Waterfall Wiseman, Mac DOWN IN A WILLOW GARDEN Everly Brothers Down in the Willow Garden Songs Our Daddy Taught Us Nash. Bluegrass Band Down in the Willow Garden Home is Where The Heart Is Osborne Brothers Down in the Willow Garden Bear Family Box Set Thompson, Richard Dragging The River Axton, Hoyt Duncan and Brady Leadbelly Duncan and Brady Rush, Tom Duncan and Brady First Album Van Ronk, Dave Duncan and Brady Ives, Burl EDWARD EDWARD BALLAD Faulkner, John Edward Conners Planxty Edward Conners EDWARD IN THE LOWLANDS Steeleye Span Edwin Edwin in the Lowlands Low Robbins, Marty El Paso Kweskin, Jim Ella Speed Country Gentlemen Ellen Smith Country Songs Old and New Kipper Family EVERY MAN Zevon, Warren Excitable Boy Louisiana Lou Export Gal Fair Ellender FAIR WILLIAM AND LADY MAISRY Mitchell, Chad Trio FALL RIVER HOEDOWN Mighty Day on Campus John and Tony FALSE LADY Dark Ships Carthy, Martin FAMOUS FLOWER OF SERVING MEN Lisa Null FAMOUS FLOWER OF SERVING MEN Faulkner, John FARMER MICHAEL HAYES Farewell to Eirin Planxty FARMER MICHAEL HAYES After the Break Seeger, Peggy FATAL FLOWER GARDEN Redpath, Jean Fine Flowers in the Valley Ballad Folk Baez, Joan FLORA THE LILY OF THE WEST Cash, Johnny Folsom Prison Blues Live at Folsom Prison O'Brien, Tim Footsteps So Near Zevon, Warren Frank and Jesse James Mississippi John Hurt Frankie News and Blues Compilation Dylan, Bob Frankie and Albert Good as I been to you Frankie and Johnnie Haggard, Merle Frankie and Johnny Same Train Different Time Moore, Byrd Frankie Silvers Old-Time Mountain Ballads (County) Van Ronk, Dave Frankie's Blues Liscomb, Mance Freddy GAMBLING ON THE SABBATH DAY Hot Toddy GLENCOE Paxton, Tom Goodman, Schwerner, and Chaney Albion Country Band Hanged I Shall Be Rogers, Stan Harris and the Mare Between the Breaks...Live Tannahill Weavers ? Harris and the Mare Henry Martin Rice, Tony Hills of Roane County Tony Rice Michelle Shocked Hold Me Back (Frankie and Johnny) Arkansas Traveller Kipper Family HOLLOW GROUND I HAD A WIFE Lehrer, Tom I'LL HOLD YOUR HAND IN MINE Grayson and Whitter I'll Never Be Yours Old-Time Mountain Ballads (County) Watson, Gene I'm Gonna Kill You In Good King Arthur's Time In Seaport Town * Lundy, Ted It Rained A Mist Pentangle Jack Orion (Pentangle) Grateful Dead Jack Straw Screaming Lord Sutch Jack the Ripper JAMES MACDONALD Beech Mountain JEALOUS BROTHERS Hickerson, Joe JEALOUS BROTHERS JEALOUSY Zevon, Warren Jeanie Needs a Shooter Seeger, P. and MacColl JELLON GRAEME Blood and Roses Ball, Bentley Jesse James Folk Song America Country Gentlemen Jesse James Country Songs, Old and New Elliott, Jack Jesse James Elektra Folk Box New Lost City Ramblers Jesse James Old Time Music Pogues Jesse James Red Roses For Me Golden Ring JESSE JAMES (I WONDER WHERE MY POOR OLD JESSE'S GONE) Bragg, Billy Joe Hill Don't Mourn - Organize! Ochs, Phil Joe Hill Dylan, Bob Joey Sharp, Dave Joey the Jone Hard Travelin' Henry, Joe John Hanging Shuffletown Thorogood, George John Hardy George Thorogood Uncle Tupelo John Hardy No Depression Carter Family John Hardy Victor Recordings, Vol 1 Leadbelly John Hardy Hills of Home Springsteen, Bruce Johnny 99 Nebraska JOHNNY ARMSTRONG Johnson Brady, Paul JOLLY SOLDIER Andy Irvine/Paul Brady French, Frith, Kaiser, Thompson Killing Jar Invisible Means Henry, Joe King's Highway Short Man's Room Jim and Jesse Knoxville Girl Louvin Brothers Knoxville Girl Capitol Country Music Classics Malicorne L'ecolier assassin (The Schoolby assassin) Malicorne La Blanche Biche" (The White Doe) Lovett, Lyle LA County Pontiac Armstrong, Frankie Lady Diamond Lovely on Water Cooper, P. & M. Nelson Lady Diamond Pretty Susan Redpath, Jean Lady Diamond Seeger, P. and McColl Lady Diamond Blood and Roses II LADY DYSIE 2 Kazee, Buell Lady Gay KY Country/Folk Song America Hickerson, Joe LADY ISOBEL & THE ELF KNIGHT Drive Dull Care Away, II LAIRD OF WARISTON LAMKIN Nash. Bluegrass Band LEAVING HOME New Lost City Ramblers LEAVING HOME Poole, Charlie LEAVING HOME Costello, Elvis Let Him Dangle Spike Uncle Tupelo Lilli Schull March 16-20, 1992 Lily of the West McTell, Blind Willie Little Delia Ritchie, Jean Little Devils Elektra Folk Box Stanley Brothers Little Glass of Wine Rice, Tony Little Sadie Manzanita Watson, Doc Little Sadie Steeleye Span Little Sir Hugh LITTLE SIR WILLIAM Travels With Charley Little Willie Uncle Herb Amusements Null, L. with B. Shute Lizie Wan The Feathered Maiden Runkle, Bill Lonely Tonight Baez, Joan Long Black Veil One day at a Time Cash, Johnny Long Black Veil Orange Blossom Special Country Gentlemen Long Black Veil Country Songs Old and New Frizzell, Lefty Long Black Veil The Best of... (Rhino) Monroe, Bill Long Black Veil Carthy, Martin Long Lankin The Collection Carthy and Swarbrick Long Lankin But Two Came By High Level Ranters Long Lankin A Mile To Ride Steeleye Span Long Lankin Commoner's Crown Cooper, P. & M. Nelson Lord Abor & Mary Flynn Pretty Susan LORD BANNER Tabor, June LORD MAXWELL'S LAST GOODNIGHT Ashes And Diamonds Incrdible String Band Lord Randall Jimmy Rogers Lord Randall Jimmy Rogers Cooper, P. & M. Nelson Lord Thomas & Lady MargaretLady's Triumph Seeger, Mike LORD THOMAS * LORD THOMAS AND FAIR ELENDER or THE BROWN GIRL Lord Thomas and Fair Elenore Dylan, Bob Love Henry World Gone Wrong Henske, Judy Love Henry Kelly, O'Brien, SprouleLovely Willie Traditional Irish Music Scartaglen Lovely Willie Scartaglen Carthy & Swarbrick Lucy Wan Byker Hill Cooper, P. & M. Nelson Lucy Wan Lady's Triumph Guthrie, Woody LUDLOW MASSACRE Maggie was a Lady (Frankie & Johnny variant) Armstrong, Frankie MARROW BONES Fisher, Cilla MARROW BONES Baez, Joan Mary Hamilton The First Ten Years MARY MILD Adams, Sheila Kay Matty Groves Blake, Norman and NancyMatty Groves Just Give Me Something I'm Used To Fairport Convention Matty Groves Niles, John JJ Matty Groves McAfee's Confession Ely, Joe Me and Billy the Kid Live at Liberty Lunch Grateful Dead Me and my Uncle Meg Drummond Burnette, Johnny Midnight Train (?) Redpath, Jean Mill o' Tifty's Annie Song of the Seals Kennedy, Norman MOLLY BAWN (POLLY VAUGHN) Monongahela Sal Garmana Mother & Daughter Punished Vittrad Harter, George MOUNTAIN MEADOWS MASSACRE Library of Congress LBC9 Waits, Tom Murder in the Red Barn Bone Machine Cowboy Junkies Murder in the Trailer Park Collins, Shirley Murder of Maria Marten No Roses and the Albion Country Band Wilkin, Marijohn My Long Black Veil Springsteen, Bruce Nebraska Nebraska Hot Rize Ninety Nine Years First album (hamburger) Stecher, Jody Oh The Wind & The Rain Going Up On The Mountain Garcia, Jerry Oh the Wind and Rain Almost Acoustic OLD JUDGE DUFFY Stanley, Ralph Old Richmond Prison Lonesome and Blue & Ralph Stanley Beacon Hillbillies Omie Wise More Songs About Love and Murder Watson, Doc Omie Wise The Essential Doc Watson Robb, I & Hang the PiperOn the Banks of Red Roses Ian Robb and Hang the Piper ON THE BANKS OF THE OLD PEDEE Starkweathers One For Him, One For Her 5 Song EP Evans, Dale Only One Was True Rebel Retrospective OOR HAMLET Nash. Bluegrass Band Open Pit Mine Waiting For the Hard Times to Go Special Consensus Open Pit Mine Hickory Wind Otto Wood At the Wednesday Night Waltz Watson, Doc Otto Wood the Bandit OUR HOUSE Allen, Terry Ourland Bloodlines Armstrong, Frankie OUTLANDISH KNIGHT * The Music Plays So Grand OXFORD CITY Oyster Band Oxford Girl OXFORD TRAGEDY Tabor, June Pavanne Against the Streams Thompson, R. and L. Pavanne First Light Burnett and Rutherford Pearl Bryan Old-Time Mountain Ballads (County) Austin Lounge Lizards Pflugerville Creatures from the Black Saloon Guthrie, Woody Philadelphia Lawyer Maddox, Rose Philadelphia Lawyer Classic Country Music, Vol 2 Willie Nelson Philadelphia Lawyer A Vision Shared Country Gentlemen Poison in a Glass of Wine Cox, Harry POLLY VAUGHN Folk Songs of Britain Vol 7 (Topic) POLLY WILLIAMS Blake, Norman Poor Ellen Smith Directions Flatt & Scruggs Poor Ellen Smith Holcomb, Roscoe Poor Ellen Smith Mountain Music of Kentucky Jones, Vester Poor Ellen Smith Music of Carroll and ? Counties O'Day, Molly Poor Ellen Smith Collection (Bear Family) Smith, Hobart Poor Ellen Smith Taylor & Ston. Mtn BoysPoor Ellen Smith Watson, Doc Poor Ellen Smith Carthy & Swarbrick Poor Murdered Woman But Two Came By Collins, Shirley Poor Murdered Woman No Roses and the Albion Country Band Dillards Poor Polly Elektra Folk Box Pretty Boy Floyd Ball, EC Pretty Polly High Atmosphere Boggs, Doc Pretty Polly Folkways Anthology Country Gentlemen Pretty Polly Henske, Judy Pretty Polly High Flying Bird Nash. Bluegrass Band Pretty Polly Stanley Brothers Pretty Polly Stanley, Ralph Pretty Polly Carthy, Martin Prince Heathen Prince Heathen Costello, Elvis Psycho Almost Blue Protrudi, Rudi Psycho White Trash Wagoner, Porter Psycho Travelling Wilburys PUT IT IN A COOL DRY PLACE High Country Rain and Snow Sunset on the Prarie Anderson, John Red Georgia Clay Tokyo, Oklahoma Lehrer, Tom Ricketty Ticketty Tin Jones, Floyd Rising Wind Masters of Modern Blues Country Gentlemen River Bottom Zevon, Warren Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner Rolling a-Rolling Hickerson, Joe ROLLING OF THE STONES Dull Care I Young Tradition ROLLING OF THE STONES Grayson and Whitter Rose Conley Old-Time Mountain Ballads (County) Everly Brothers Rose Connolly Bringing It All Back Home Case, Peter Rose Conolly Sings Like Hell Country Gentlemen Roving Gambler Country Songs, Old and New Guthrie, Arlo Roving Gambler Together Simpson, Martin Roving Gambler The Collection Sadie Tovey, Frank Sam Hall Tyranny and the Hired Hand White, Josh Sam Hall Trout Fishing in Am. Sam's Last Boogie Over the Limit SAMUEL SMALL (SAM HALL) Country Gentlemen Secret of the Waterfall Seven Yellow Gypsies Thompson, Richard Shane & Dixie Mirror Blue McColl, Ewan Sheath and Knife Black and White McCoullough, GeordeannaSheath and Knife Redpath, Jean Sheath and Knife Schneyer, Helen Sheath and Knife Ballads, Broadside, and Hymns Shotgun Slade Baez, Joan Silver Dagger The First Ten Years SILVERY TIDE Rarely Herd Simon Crutchfield's Grave Midnight Loneliness Steeleye Span SIR JAMES THE ROSE Rocket Cottage Chapin, Harry Sniper Boiled in Lead Son Oh Son Kottke, Leo Sonora's Death Row Essential Robert Earl Keen Sonora's Death Row Dylan, Bob Stack O'Lee Mississippi John Hurt Stag-o-Lee Professor Longhair Stag-o-Lee Standing Stones STANDING STONES Williams and J. Clark STEP IT OUT, NANCY STOKES'S VERDICT Streets of Forbes Tabor& the Oyster Band Susie Clelland Freedom and Rain SWEENEY TODD THE BARBER Sweet William's Ghost Tell Old Bill Henry, Sam THE AULD MAN & THE CHURNSTAFF Songs of the People Henske, Judy The Ballad of Little Romy Calvert, Raymond THE BALLAD OF WILLIAM BLOAT Songs of Belfast Jones, Nic The Banks of Green Willow Nic Jones The Bitter Withy Gaughan, Dick The Bonnie Banks O' Fordie THE BONNY EARL OF MURRAY Jackson, Wanda The Box it Came In Hart, T. & Maddy Prior THE BRAMBLE BRIAR Folksongs of Old England West, Hedy The Brown Girl First Album Battlefield Band The Cruel Brother Opening Moves Fisher, Archie The Cruel Brother The Man With The Rhyme THE CRUEL MILLER Seeds of Love Baez, Joan The Cruel Mother Nelson, Margaret The Cruel Mother Stand Where You Shine Null, L. with B. Shute The Cruel Mother American Primitive Redpath, Jean The Cruel Mother Mrs. Bowring The Cruel Mother 2 Waterson, Mike THE CRUEL SHIP'S CARPENTER Roches The Death of Suzzy Roche Nurds Cooper, P. & M. Nelson The Death of Young Andrew Across the Water Williamson, John The Drover's Boy THE EXECUTION OF FREDERICK BAKER Carthy, Martin The Famous Flower Of Serving Men Carthy, Martin The Famous Flower of Serving Men Bailey, Green The Fate of Ellen Smith Old-Time Mountain Ballads (County) Kingston Trio The Fate of Ellen Smith The Feathered Maiden The Fowler Nash. Bluegrass Band The Ghost of Eli Renfro Ochs, Phil The Highwayman There and Now Lehrer, Tom THE IRISH BALLAD (RICKETY TICKETY TIN) Stekert THE JEALOUS LOVER THE KING O' SPAIN'S DAUGHTER THE LADY AND THE FARMER'S SON Flatt & Scruggs The Last Public Hanging in WV THE LONELY WILLOW TREE THE LORD OF SCOTLAND THE MURDER OF COLONEL SHARP THE NOEL GIRL THE OLD SHAWNEE Clancy Brothers The Old Woman of Wexford Planxty The Pursuit of Farmer Michael Hayes After the Break Kipper, Sid The Red Barn Dance Murder Null, L. with B. Shute The Rocky Banks of the Buffalo L. Null w/ B. Shute THE SHAPE OF MY LOVE MacColl, Ewan The Sheath and Knife Black and White THE SHIP'S CARPENTER Country Gentlemen The Story of the Lawson Family Country Songs, Old and New Owens, Buck The Streets of Laredo Live Cordelia's Dad The Sun and the Moon Comet THE SWAN SWIMS BONNIE (Two Sisters) Old Blind Dogs The Twa Brothers Close to the Bone Silly Wizard The Twa Brothers Caledoonia's Hardy Sons THE TWO BROTHERS Pentangle The Two Sisters Planxty The Well below the Valley Armstrong, Geo. & G. The Wind and Rain Simple Gifts Grey, S. w/Ed Trickett The Wind and Rain Tish Hinojosa The Window Culture Swing Young, Neil Tired Eyes Kingston Trio Tom Dooley Kingston Trio New Lost City Ramblers Tom Dooley Proffitt, Frank Tom Dooley Watson, Doc Tom Dooley TRUE BALLAD OF JESSE JAMES Redpath, Jean TWO BROTHERS Carthy, Martin TWO BUTCHERS Second Album (Topic) Wakes, Muckram Two sisters Armstrong, Frankie TWO SISTERS (Bonnie Broom) Lovely on Water Golden Ring TWO SISTERS (Bonnie Broom) Old Blind Dogs TWO SISTERS (Bonnie Broom) Back to the Bone Cliff Waldron Veil of White Lace Traditional Grass Veil of White Lace Songs of Love and Life Vernon Oxford Veil of White Lace Cannon's Jug Stompers Viola Lee Blues Case, Peter Walk in the Woods Peter Case Watson, Doc Wanted Man Old Timey Concert Evans, Dave When Only One Was True Classic Bluegrass Keen, Robert Earl Whenever Kindness Fails Bigger Piece of Sky WHITE HOUSE BLUES McCoury, Del Who Showed Who? Classic Bluegrass Alison Krauss and US Wild Bill Jones Two Highways New Lost City Ramblers Wild Bill Jones WILLIAM GRISMOND Armstrong, Frankie William Taylor Out of Love, Hope, and Suffering Stewart, Gary Williamson County Out of Hand Seeger, Peggy Willie Moore Strecher and Brislin Willie Moore Stay Awhile Burnett and Rutherford Willie Moore Old-Time Mountain Ballads (County) Herb Pedersen Willow Garden Lonesome Feeling Wakefield, Frank Willow Garden Kitchen Tapes Grateful Dead Wind and Rain Irish Rovers WIND THAT SHAKES THE CORN Unicorn Norton, Dellie Young Emily High Atmosphere Young Emma YOUNG HUNTING Tabor, June Young Watters & Reynardine Airs and Graces ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ * Steve Gardner Roots/Traditional/Folk kscu@iuma.com * * "Topsoil" Sundays 3-6pm Ph. (408) 944-7827 * * KSCU - Santa Clara, CA Fx: (408) 954-9517 * * http://mail.iuma.com/kscu/programming/djpromo/gardner/topsoil.html * ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~