Songs Of Tragedy - Hank Snow

 

Old Rover

Songs Of Tragedy

Hank Snow

Produced by Chet Akins

Recorded in RCA Victor's "Nashville Sound" Studio, Nashville, Tennessee

Recording Engineer: Tommy Strong

RCA Victor LSP-2901

1964

From the back cover: It's been several years since Hank Snow's When Tragedy Struck (RCA Victor LPM-1861), and "topping" that outstanding album has perplexed this colorful songster ever since. Resourcefully, he has added one more "ballad of tragedy" at a time, often testing them on personal appearances to be sure each measures up to the standard established by the previous collection. The "survivors" of those testing performances are what you hear here.

Hank' Song Of Tragedy tell of very personal misfortunes under a variety  of emotional circumstances – such as wartime (Mother I Thank You For The Bible You Gave) and prison (The Prisoner's Dream). Tug at your heart they surely will, just as they have stirred audiences for generations; for these songs are far from new, and they fully qualify as great, enduring folk music.

Hank Snow first struck out on his own as a cabin boy on a freighter bucking the big waves off his native Nova Scotia. He's a born adventurer whose way of life has changed little over the years despite his show business success. He thrives on new places, new people, and being as constantly as possible on the move. And everywhere they know him, they love him. Hank's twelve days in Japan this past spring were "a sensation, exclamation point, exclamation point," to quote Tsuneo Nagano, executive director of RCA Victor Artists Corp., Tokyo.

From Billboard - August 15, 1964: With 28 years recording experience (all with RCA) and a collection of top songs about personal misfortunes, you have a combination that cannot  help winning even more fans and popularity for Hank Snow. "The Prisoner's Song," "The Color Song" and "Walking The Last Mile" are examples to prove the point.

The Prisoner's Song

The Color Song

The Answer To Little Blossom

There's A Star Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere

Walking The Last Mile

Old Rover 

The Prisoner's Dream

Put Your Arms Around Me

You Little Band Of Gold

Rocking Alone In An Old Rocking Chair

Mother I Thank You For The Bible You Gave

Little Joe