Various Artists – The rough guide to murder ballads

Description

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.