oldcrowprophet

Old country blues songs were talking about murder long before hip-hop came around, I agree. If anything, gangsta rap is just a continuation of some of those old blues songs from Blind Willie McTell, Johnson, etc.

A Truer Sound still had the comp. I have most of those songs but some I don't, what a treat!

The Anthology of American Folk Music is great, I dl it a while back but only listened to a bit, but loved it.

Has anyone listened to "The Executioner's Last Song: Vol. 1-3"? It's a John Langford project, filed under John Langford & The Pine Valley Cosmonauts. The first song is a rendition of "Knoxville Girl". Steave Earles version of "Tom Dooley" is a must listen. If I had a better connection with the interweb, I'd upload it and provide a link.

Berni

Have the Jon Langfords, but had forgotten - good call.

I really enjoyed a book called The Sound Of The City: The Rise Of Rock And Roll by Charles Gillett. He starts at the beginning of recorded music (if I remember correctly) and makes the connection between the old blues and Jimmy Rogers, whom is considered by many to be the start of country (along with the Carter Family).

Even apparently sweet songs such as "You are my sunshine" contained the following : "But if you leave me To love another You'll regret it all some day"

I'd really like to read your work when you get done!