In the August 2022 issue of the United Kingdom’s highly influential Country Music People magazine, a special feature called ‘Killer Songs: Country Music’s Best Tales of Murder‘ was included, and one of Gene Watson‘s recordings was mentioned.
‘Long Black Veil’
Lefty Frizzell (Saturday 31 March 1928 – Saturday 19 July 1975)
Written by Danny Dill (Friday 19 September 1924 – Thursday 23 October 2008) and Marijohn Wilkin (Wednesday 14 July 1920 – Saturday 28 October 2006), the best known recording of ‘Long Black Veil’ is by Lefty Frizzell, but the song must rate as one of the most recorded country songs. The classic tale of the woman who braves the weather to visit the gravestone of her lover who would rather be sentenced to death for a crime he didn’t commit than expose the real killer…and their affair.
It has become a go-to for traditionalists. Among those who have cut the song are Daryle Bruce Singletary (Wednesday 10 March 1971 – Monday 12 February 2018), Dale Watson, Lee Ann Womack and Gene Watson.
Lefty was given the song ata time when he was burnt out and unhappy with Columbia for not releasing what he thought were his best songs. He stopped recording and didn’t chart a single in 1956 or 1957. He began working with Cedarwood Publishing in 1959 and it was them who gave him ‘Long Black Veil’. More folky than the honky tonk for which he had become known, the single became a surprise hit, peaking at No.6. Its success re-invigorated the Texan-born Frizzell who moved to Nashville and picked up his writing and touring rate once more. Only ‘Saginaw, Michigan’ (written by Bill Anderson), his 1964 chart-topper, would be a bigger hit in his remaining career, but despite enjoying five other No.1s, it is arguably ‘Long Black Veil’ which has become his best-known hit, and surely the most covered.
Source
The ‘Killer Songs: Country Music’s Best Tales of Murder‘ feature was published in the August 2022 issue of Country Music People, and was reproduced on Gene Watson’s Fan Site with the kind permission of Country Music People.
In 1959, Lefty Frizzell (Saturday 31 March 1928 – Saturday 19 July 1975) recorded ‘Long Black Veil’, which was written by Marijohn Wilkin (Wednesday 14 July 1920 – Saturday 28 October 2006) and Danny Dill (Friday 19 September 1924 – Thursday 23 October 2008) for Columbia Records; the track, which reached No.6 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1959, was subsequently included on ‘Lefty Frizzell’s Greatest Hits’ (Columbia Records, 1966).
Daryle Bruce Singletary (Wednesday 10 March 1971 – Monday 12 February 2018) recorded ‘Long Black Veil’, which was written by Marijohn Wilkin (Wednesday 14 July 1920 – Saturday 28 October 2006) and Danny Dill (Friday 19 September 1924 – Thursday 23 October 2008), and included the track on ‘That’s Why I Sing This Way’ (Audium Records / Koch Records, 2002).
Gene Watson recorded ‘Long Black Veil’, which was written by Marijohn Wilkin (Wednesday 14 July 1920 – Saturday 28 October 2006) and Danny Dill (Friday 19 September 1924 – Thursday 23 October 2008), and included the track on ‘My Heroes Have Always Been Country‘ (Fourteen Carat Music, 2014); the album was officially released by Fourteen Carat Music on Tuesday 10 June 2014, and reached No.48 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 2014.
Dale Watson recorded ‘Long Black Veil’, which was written by Marijohn Wilkin (Wednesday 14 July 1920 – Saturday 28 October 2006) and Danny Dill (Friday 19 September 1924 – Thursday 23 October 2008), and included the track on ‘Under The Influence’ (Red River Entertainment, 2016).
Lee Ann Womack recorded ‘Long Black Veil’, which was written by Marijohn Wilkin (Wednesday 14 July 1920 – Saturday 28 October 2006) and Danny Dill (Friday 19 September 1924 – Thursday 23 October 2008), and included the track on ‘The Lonely, The Lonesome & The Gone’ (ATO Records, 2017).
‘Long Black Veil’, which was written by Marijohn Wilkin (Wednesday 14 July 1920 – Saturday 28 October 2006) and Danny Dill (Friday 19 September 1924 – Thursday 23 October 2008) was also recorded by the following artists:
Johnny Cash (Friday 26 February 1932 – Friday 12 September 2003) recorded ‘Long Black Veil’, which was written by Marijohn Wilkin (Wednesday 14 July 1920 – Saturday 28 October 2006) and Danny Dill (Friday 19 September 1924 – Thursday 23 October 2008), and included the track on two of his landmark albums; ‘Orange Blossom Special’ (Columbia Records, 1965) and ‘At Folsom Prison’ (Columbia Records, 1968).
Hank Williams Jr. recorded ‘Long Black Veil’, which was written by Marijohn Wilkin (Wednesday 14 July 1920 – Saturday 28 October 2006) and Danny Dill (Friday 19 September 1924 – Thursday 23 October 2008), and included the track on ‘Sweet Dreams’ (MGM Records, 1971).
Sammi Smith (Thursday 5 August 1943 – Saturday 12 February 2005) recorded ‘Long Black Veil’, which was written by Marijohn Wilkin (Wednesday 14 July 1920 – Saturday 28 October 2006) and Danny Dill (Friday 19 September 1924 – Thursday 23 October 2008), and included the track on ‘Sunshine’ (Mega Records, 1975); the track reached No.26 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1974.
Johnny Lee recorded ‘Long Black Veil’, which was written by Marijohn Wilkin (Wednesday 14 July 1920 – Saturday 28 October 2006) and Danny Dill (Friday 19 September 1924 – Thursday 23 October 2008), and included the track on ‘H-e-e-ere’s Johnny’ (GRT Records, 1977).
John Anderson recorded ‘Long Black Veil’, which was written by Marijohn Wilkin (Wednesday 14 July 1920 – Saturday 28 October 2006) and Danny Dill (Friday 19 September 1924 – Thursday 23 October 2008), and included the track on ‘Wild & Blue’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1982); the track featured guest vocals from Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016).
Sydney Devine (Thursday 11 January 1940 – Saturday 13 February 2021) recorded ‘Long Black Veil’, which was written by Marijohn Wilkin (Wednesday 14 July 1920 – Saturday 28 October 2006) and Danny Dill (Friday 19 September 1924 – Thursday 23 October 2008), and included the track on ‘Favourite Memories of Mine’ (Country House Records, 1983).
David Frizzell recorded ‘Long Black Veil’, which was written by Marijohn Wilkin (Wednesday 14 July 1920 – Saturday 28 October 2006) and Danny Dill (Friday 19 September 1924 – Thursday 23 October 2008), and included the track on ‘David Frizzell Sings Lefty’s Greatest Hits’ (Playback Records, 1986).
Seldom Scene recorded ‘Long Black Veil’, which was written by Marijohn Wilkin (Wednesday 14 July 1920 – Saturday 28 October 2006) and Danny Dill (Friday 19 September 1924 – Thursday 23 October 2008), and included the track on ‘Scenic Roots’ (Sugar Hill Records, 1990).
Razzy Bailey (Tuesday 14 February 1939 – Thursday 5 August 2021) recorded ‘Long Black Veil’, which was written by Marijohn Wilkin (Wednesday 14 July 1920 – Saturday 28 October 2006) and Danny Dill (Friday 19 September 1924 – Thursday 23 October 2008), and included the track on ‘Razzy Unwrapped’ (SOA Records, 1991).
The Chieftains recorded ‘Long Black Veil’, which was written by Marijohn Wilkin (Wednesday 14 July 1920 – Saturday 28 October 2006) and Danny Dill (Friday 19 September 1924 – Thursday 23 October 2008), and included the track on ‘The Long Black Veil’ (RCA Victor Records, 1995); the track featured guest vocals from Mick Jagger.
Don Williams (Saturday 27 May 1939 – Friday 8 September 2017) recorded ‘Long Black Veil’, which was written by Marijohn Wilkin (Wednesday 14 July 1920 – Saturday 28 October 2006) and Danny Dill (Friday 19 September 1924 – Thursday 23 October 2008), and included the track on ‘Borrowed Tales’ (American Harvest Records, 1996).
The Proclaimers (Charlie Reid and Craig Reid) recorded ‘Long Black Veil’, which was written by Marijohn Wilkin (Wednesday 14 July 1920 – Saturday 28 October 2006) and Danny Dill (Friday 19 September 1924 – Thursday 23 October 2008), and included the track on ‘Sunshine On Leith’ (Chrysalis Records / Nettwerk Records, 2001); this album was originally released in August 1988 (United Kingdom) and 1989 (United States) minus this track.
The Insiders recorded ‘Long Black Veil’, which was written by Marijohn Wilkin (Wednesday 14 July 1920 – Saturday 28 October 2006) and Danny Dill (Friday 19 September 1924 – Thursday 23 October 2008), and included the track on ‘Me & My Heart & My Shoes’ (CWR Records, 2005).
Tim O’Brien recorded ‘Long Black Veil’, which was written by Marijohn Wilkin (Wednesday 14 July 1920 – Saturday 28 October 2006) and Danny Dill (Friday 19 September 1924 – Thursday 23 October 2008), and included the track on ‘Fiddler’s Green’ (Howdy Skies / Sugar Hill Records, 2005).
Rosanne Cash recorded ‘Long Black Veil’, which was written by Marijohn Wilkin (Wednesday 14 July 1920 – Saturday 28 October 2006) and Danny Dill (Friday 19 September 1924 – Thursday 23 October 2008), and included the track on ‘The List’ (Manhattan Records, 2009); the track featured guest vocals from Jeff Tweedy.
Robert Earl Keen recorded ‘Long Black Veil’, which was written by Marijohn Wilkin (Wednesday 14 July 1920 – Saturday 28 October 2006) and Danny Dill (Friday 19 September 1924 – Thursday 23 October 2008), and included the track on ‘Happy Prisoner: The Bluegrass Sessions’ (Dualtone Records, 2014).