The Executioner's Last Songs

Jon Langford

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 19, 2002)
• Original Release Date: March 19, 2002
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Bloodshot Records
• ASIN: B000060MOI
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #49,594 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
The Executioner's Last Songs is an album with a political purpose--artists' proceeds benefit charitable organizations working to end the death penalty--but by and large it doesn't preach. Instead, Jon Langford, his Pine Valley Cosmonauts, and a bevy of guest vocalists--many of whom also appeared on the Cosmonauts' cowboy-jazz covers record, Salute the Majesty of Bob Wills--simply sing "songs of murder, mob-law, and cruel, cruel punishment." Although "stars" like Steve Earle and Neko Case chip in, the best cuts come from lesser lights deploying a range of tactics: Some are faithful, including Edith Frost (who covers Merle Haggard's "Sing Me Back Home") and Brett Sparks of the Handsome Family ("Knoxville Girl"), while others take chances that pay off--in particular Diane Izzo, who does justice to Ralph Stanley's nearly impossible-to-cover "Oh Death." Then there's the creepy (Janet Bean of Freakwater skipping through the Mel Tillis tune "The Snakes Crawl at Night"), the unexpected (Jenny Toomey's take on Cole Porter's "Miss Otis Regrets"), the oddly nonchalant (Rosie Flores doing the Hank Williams standard "I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive"), and the downright weird (the little-heard Chris Ligon's "Great State of Texas"). --Anders Smith Lindall

Product Description
This album has songs by the Louvin Brothers, Hank Williams, Charley Pride, Johnny Paycheck, Cole Porter, Merle Haggard, Stanley Brothers, Johnny Cash, Bill Monroe, that lost country juggernaut The Adverts, and more. Helping PVC out with the vocals are, as usual, a dazzling array of guest stars. Let’s see who we have here: Steve Earle, Brett Sparks of the Handsome Family, the Rockabilly Filly Rosie Flores, Deano from the Wacos, Janet Bean of Freakwater, Lonesome Bob, Neko Case, Johnny Dowd, Edith Frost, Diane Izzo, Rick Sherry of Devil in a Woodpile, Sally Timms, Paul Burch, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Collection of Country Death Songs, June 13, 2002

By A Customer

An excellent collection of songs sure to please any fan of traditional country music. Stand outs from this CD include the chilling "Gary Gilmore's Eyes", "The Hangman's Song" and "Oh Death". The proceeds from the purchase of this cd benefit the Illinois Death Penalty Morturium. Every song on here is an absolute gem and a delight to country fans with a bent sense of humor and a sense of justice about the inhumanity of the death penalty. The linear notes for this CD promise a volume 2, and I can't wait to purchase it!

4.0 out of 5 stars gruesome material, great lyrics, May 4, 2008

By	MFinesilver (Wisconsin) - See all my reviews

I got this album because I like the cause it supports and the music of many of the artists on it, and found it to be most enjoyable. Most of the songs are classic murder ballads although there are a few originals thrown in. The artists keep the feel of the music light and fun, and I think that folks who like the Bloodshot Records kind of alt. country would enjoy this CD a lot.

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Among the best releases of 2002, December 6, 2002

By A Customer

An outstanding collection -- every bit as great as their Bob Wills tribute CD. Each song is good, but Chris Ligon's "The Great State of Texas" is worth the price of the disc alone.