Recorded New York: January 28, 1927
Frank Hutchison, vocal, guitar, and harmonica
Originally released on Okeh 45106

(alternate titles: Billy Lyons and Stackalee; Mrs. Delion's Lament; Stagger Lee; Stack O'Lee Blues; Stagolee; Stackerlee; Stack O Lee; Stagolee Was a Bully)

Frank Hutchison (1897-1945) was from Logan, West Virginia. He was a white coal miner who played ballads and blues on guitar, which he played on his lap by sliding a knife up and down the strings. Like neighbor Henry Whitter, Hutchison also used a harmonica rack while playing. He was an impressive guitarist whose style of music was partially shaped by the playing of a crippled black musician named Bill Hunt, who lived nearby (Mike Seeger interview with fiddler Sherman Lawson (who recorded with Hutchison), Old Time Music #11 (1973)). Hutchison, who was called the "Pride of West Virginia." also played on occasion with neighbor Dick Justice (see Track 1). After his recording career ended in 1929, he briefly ran a grocery store in Lake, West Virginia. After that, not much is known about him and he is believed to have died in Ohio around the end of World War II (Old Time Music 1 (summer 1971)). His song "The Train That Carried My Girl from Town" became a staple of guitarist Doc Watson's in later years and his "Coney Isle" was also later popularized by the New Lost City Ramblers. 

"Stagger Lee" is another classic American song that has been performed in various genres. Singer Lloyd Price had a popular hit with it in 1959. Like John Henry, Stagger Lee has become a legendary figure, sometimes described as "so evil that the devil won't let him in Hell" (MacEdward Leach, The Ballad Book, New York: Barnes, 1955, pg. 765). The story of the murder has been told many ways in song. It was based on an actual murder, which took place in Memphis around the turn of the 20th century. There are a number of theories surrounding the circumstances of the crime. For more about the background information see Greil Marcus and Cecil Brown in Mojo #26 (January 1996).

FOR ADDITIONAL RECORDINGS BY HUTCHINSON:
See The Train That Carried My Girl from Town (RND 1007a); and the collections, Roots 'n Blues (COL 47911c); Collection of Mountain Blues (CTY 511a); Old Time Mountain Guitar (CTY 523a); West Virginia Hills (OH 141a); and White Country Blues, 1926-1938 (COL 47466c). For additional information on Hutchison see "Frank Hutchison, The Pride of West Virginia" Old Time Music 1 (1971), and "Hutch", Old Time Music 11 (1973).

OTHER RECORDED VERSIONS INCLUDE:
American Folk: as Stagger Lee:  Negro Prison Songs from the Mississippi State Penitentiary (TRD 1020a); as Stack O'Lee: (Doc and Merle Watson (VG 6576c); as Stagolee Was a Bully (Uncle John Patterson (FW 34162c).

Folksong revival: as Mrs. DeLion's Lament: David Bromberg (FTY 9540a); Jim Ringer (PH 1021a); as Stackalee: Bob Dylan (COL 57590c); Woody Guthrie (SFW CD 40101c, FW 2481c); Tim Hardin (Atco 33210a); The Journeymen (CAP 1951a); Dale Miller (KM 110a); Sparky Rucker (GL 1032a); Pete Seeger (SFW CD 2321c); Dave Van Ronk (FTY 24710a, PRS 14012a); as Stackerlee: Logan English (RVR 12-643a); as Stagolee: Cisco Houston (SFW CD 2042c); as Stagger Lee:  Tom Rush (FTY 24709a). 

Country/String Band: as Stagger Lee: Mickey Giley (EPC 40353c); Charlie Pride (RCA 5031a); The Round Peak Band (MMC 9044d); Freddy Weller (COL 64643c); as Stackalee: Tennessee Ernie Ford (RH 70975c, CAP 30292c); The New Lost City Ramblers (SFW CD 2399c); as Stack O'Lee: The Fruit Jar Guzzlers (JEMF 103 a); Merle Travis (CMH 6262a); Bob Wills (Premier 9046a); as Stackolee: Ed Haley (RND 1010a).

Bluegrass: as Stagger Lee: Tim and Molly O'Brien (SGH 3804c).

Blues/Rhythm and Blues: as Billy Lyons and Stackalee: Furry Lewis (YZ 2008c); Kansas Joe McCoy (YZ 2008c); as Stackalee: Dr. John (ALL 3901c, Atco 7006a, Great Southern 11024c); Champion Jack Dupree (ATL 82432c); The Fabulous Thunderbirds (COL 39983a); The Isley Brothers (EMI 95203c); Johnny Otis (Blues Spectrum 113a); as Stagger Lee: James Brown (KNG 1020a);Cephas and Wiggins (FF 394c); The Downchild Blues Band (ADE 4114a); Shirely Ellis (Congress 3002a); Wilbert Harrison (Grudge 4510c, Relic 7035c); The Isley Brothers (EMI America 95203a); Curtis Jones (DEL 605a); Julius Lester (VG 79199a); Furry Lewis (YZ 1002c); Wilson Pickett (Rhino 72218c); Lloyd Price (ADF 1009a, MCA 11184c, MCA 35994c); Professor Longhair (Harvest 4086a, RH 71446c); Taj Mahal (COL 18c, DRG 1441c); Ike and Tina Turner (ATL 91228c, Saja 91228c); as Stack A Lee: Dave Bartholomew (CAP 80184c); as Stack O'Lee Blues: Mississippi John Hurt (YZ 1065c); Ma Rainey (Milestone 47021c); as Stack O'Lee: Mickey Baker (KM 142a, SH 97019c); Roy Bookbinder (BG 2023a); as Stagolee: David "Honeyboy" Edwards (Earwig 4922c); Jesse Fuller (Good Time Jazz 12031a); Mississippi John Hurt (COL 64986c, YZ 2015c, VG 19/20c, VG 77002c, Genes 9906c).

Jazz: as Stagger Lee: The Quartet (UA 5514a); Zim Zimarel (VG 246c); as Stack O'Lee Blues: Cab Calloway (Classics 526c); Duke Ellington (COL 46177c).

Hawaiian: as Stack O'Lee Blues: Sol Ho'o'pi'i (RND 1024c).

Rock: as Stagger Lee: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds (REP 46195c); Dion and the Belmonts (Cema 56934c, Right Stuff 27305c); Neil Diamond (COL 36121a); Fats Domino (ATL 81751c); The Greatful Dead (Arista 8321c, Arista 8288c); Bill Haley and the Comets (Laserlight 12750c); Sleepy LaBeef (RND 3129c); Huey Lewis and the News (ELK 61500c); Jerry Lee Lewis (MER 836938c); The McCoys (Bang 213a); Terry Melcher (REP 2185a); Sandy Nelson (Imperial 12367a); P.J. Proby (Sunset 50504a); The Righteous Brothers (VV 5004a); Johnny Rivers (Imperial 9284a, UA 93a); Tommy Roe (MCA 1519c); Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs (MGM 4526a); Doug Sahm (Bear Tracks 943401c, Topline 172 a); Neil Sedaka (MCA 5466a); Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes (MER 8602a, MER 826285c); Willie and the Poorboys (BP 5012a); The Youngbloods (WB 2566a); as Stack O'Lee and Billy Lyons: The Bassholes (Revenant 204c); as Stack O'Lee Blues: My Dad is Dead (Homestead 109c).