Tragedy – 1958 | Songbook

Tragedy – 1958

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page originally published on 25 October 2011; latest edit: 12 October 2022

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Tragedy (Gerald H. Nelson and Fred B. Burch)

According to some reports, co-songwriter Gerald Nelson was the first to record the song, with his band The Escorts in 1958. However, Thomas Wayne and The DeLons had the first hit with the song with their October 1958 recording. The producer was Scotty Moore. Discogs.com appears to suggest an earlier 1958 UK release of the same Scotty Moore produced recording by Wayne on the London Records label (45-HL-U 8846).

Wikipedia says,

Wayne’s hit version was released on Memphis, Tennessee-based Fernwood Records, which was owned by Ronald “Slim” Wallace (1957–1965). The single was made with a trio of girls [Sandra Brown, Nancy Reed, and Carol Moss] recruited from the local high school.

A 1961 cover by The Fleetwoods made Billboard’s top ten (#10). Brenda Lee also recorded the song in 1961.

Thomas Wayne with The DeLons — issued in October 1958 on Fernwood Records 45-109, b/w “Saturday Date” — chart success: #5, Hot 100

Psychos — instrumental version, issued in October 1960 on Fernwood Records 45-126, b/w “Mack the Knife”

The Fleetwoods — issued in March 1961 on the single Dolton No. 40, b/w “Little Miss Sad One”

Brenda Lee – from her 1961 album All the Way

Johnny Tillotson — from the 1963 album You Can Never Stop Me Loving You, (US) Cadence CLP 25067 (Stereo), Cadence CLP 3067 (Mono)

Anita Kerr Singers — from the 1963 LP Tender Words, RCA Victor LSP 2679

Ronnie and The Devilles — issued in 1965 on the single Youngstown Y-605, as the B-side of “Oh Love”

Brian Hyland – from the 1969 album Tragedy – A Million to One, (US) Dot Records DLP 25926

Floyd Cramer — from the 1969 album Class of ’69, RCA Victor LSP-4162, LSP 4162

Paul McCartney and Wings

Paul McCartney intended to include a recording of the song on a planned double LP version of Red Rose Speedway, but Tragedy was one of a group of songs left over from 1971 Ram sessions. When Speedway was cut to a single record, Tragedy was one of the tracks cut and it went unreleased.

Jerry Garcia — out-take from Garcia’s second solo album, Compliments, released in June 1974 — included as one of ten bonus tracks on a 2004 CD reissue of the album