CROCKETT COURIER-POST: The Ballad - Part 1 (1955)

Oakland Tribune, Feb. 19, 1955

Des Moines Register, Feb. 20, 1955

Chicago Tribune, Feb. 28, 1955

North Hollywood Valley Times , Feb. 28, 1955

Lancaster Intelligencer Journal, Mar. 4, 1955

Lancaster Intelligencer Journal, Mar. 11, 1955

Los Angeles Times, Mar. 14, 1955

Holdrege Daily Citizen, Mar. 18, 1955

LISTEN HERE: Davy Crockett, The NON-DISNEY Indian Fighter

Sure, you've seen the first three Disney episodes (at least I hope you have), and maybe you've even heard the audio adaptations of "Indian Fighter," "Goes to Congress" and "At the Alamo" released and rereleased on Disney 78s and LPs. But because Disney couldn't copyright Davy's name - or his life story -     Plymouth Records (and the Plymouth Players) jumped on the gravy train and produced their own versions of the stories.

As you'd expect, they're vastly inferior to the Disney productions, but since relatively few were sold, they're a lot harder to come by today. Not for you, though. All you have to do is click the PLAY arrow and listen.

We present here the first of Plymouth's three LPs. It begins with someone singing the Disney ballad, then gives way to the Players. Someone named Scotty MacGregor is credited with being involved, but whether it's he or "Cowboy Slim" who sings the ballad is unclear. He may or may not be the Player in the Davy role. 

The flip side this album, and the others, featured a lot of yodeling, some of which I posted on YouTube as TRULY INSANE YODELING SONGS. You can assault your ears with those, if you're so inclined, HERE. 

"The Ballad of Davy Crockett" by Doug Sahm

The Battle of DAVY CROCKETT, Round 5: Serge Singer vs. Mystery Singer

The Battle of DAVY CROCKETT Round 5: Chantal Goya vs. Annie Cordy

The Battle of DAVY CROCKETT Round 4: Billy Cotton vs. Ronnie Ronalde

Two British band leaders duke it out. Let the battle begin.

The Battle of DAVY CROCKETT Round 3: Patti Page vs. Gisele MacKenzie

I don't know if these ladies ever released the song on vinyl, but they sure made a meal of it on TV.

The Battle of DAVY CROCKETT, Round 2: Fess Parker vs. Mac Wiseman

Two more of the many BODC releases of 1955. Fess Parker recorded the ballad at least four times, but this was the first released. His was the second biggest seller of the year, following Bill Hayes'. We'll hear Fess's other efforts further down the road. Mac Wiseman recorded another (and much smoother) version later, too. 

The Battle of DAVY CROCKETT, Round 1: Bill Hayes vs. Tennessee Ernie Ford

Four versions of this tune (one of my two favorite songs) reached the top ten in 1955. Bill Hayes made it to #1, while Tennessee Ernie peaked at #5. The others were by Fess Parker and Mac Wiseman (we'll be hearing them later).

The ULTIMATE Ballad of Davy Crockett (20 verses!) by Fred Waring and his Pennsylvanians

"Thanks, Gobe!"