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Tragedy (Thomas Wayne song)
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Wikipedia article
"'Tragedy'" is a song by Gerald H. Nelson and Fred B. Burch.
Thomas Wayne recording
A recording of the song by Thomas Wayne and the DeLons rose to #5 on the Billboard Top 100 in 1959.[http://www.allmusic.com/artist/thomas-wayne-p193918/charts-awards/billboard-singles Thomas Wayne charting singles] Retrieved 09-24-11
Wayne's hit version was released on Memphis, Tennessee-based Fernwood Records, which was owned by Ronald "Slim" Wallace (19571965). The single was made with a trio of girls recruited from the local high school. Wayne was a one hit wonder who cut around 20 songs including a remake of his hit for the reactivated Sun label which sounds similar to the original. Some of his other songs were hits for others such as "This Time" (Troy Shondell) and "Girl Next Door Went a Walkin'" (Elvis Presley). Despite all of his recordings for 3 different labels before his death in a car crash on August 15, 1971, he never cut an album and there has never been any CD issued of his songs until 2021 when Jasmine Records released every Thomas Wayne recording from his debut in 1958 to the end of 1962.
Other recordings
*A 1961 cover version by The Fleetwoods rose to #10 on the charts.[http://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-fleetwoods-p4274/charts-awards/billboard-singles The Fleetwoods' charting singles]. It was also #26 hit in Italy. Retrieved 09-24-11
*Brian Hyland also recorded it in 1969, but it only made it to #56.[http://www.allmusic.com/artist/brian-hyland-p4534/charts-awards/billboard-singles Brian Hyland's charting singles] Retrieved 09-24-11
*Paul McCartney and Wings also recorded a version of the song for the planned 2-LP set 'Red Rose Speedway'. The idea for the 2-LP set was later abandoned and instead they released a single LP with the same title, but without "Tragedy". Wings' version was officially released on the 2018 deluxe edition of Red Rose Speedway which included the original proposed double album.
*Brenda Lee recorded a version of the song on her 1961 album 'All the Way'.[http://www.allmusic.com/album/all-the-way-r62469 Brenda Lee, 'All the Way'] Retrieved 09-24-11
*Actress and singer Bette Midler recorded a version of the song on her 1976 album 'Songs For the New Depression'.
*Pop and country singer Ronnie Dove recorded a country version of the song in 1976, although it failed to chart.
References
Category:1959 singles
Category:1961 singles
Category:1969 singles
Category:The Fleetwoods songs
Category:Brian Hyland songs
Category:Brenda Lee songs
Category:1959 songs
Category:Songs written by Fred Burch
Category:Paul McCartney and Wings songs
Category:Paul McCartney songs
Category:Song recordings produced by Paul McCartney
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