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Matthew King Kaufman | Public Domain 4U

THE 1ST MILLION-SELLING COUNTRY SINGLE BECOMES PUBLIC DOMAIN

This 1924 recording of this top-selling “Hillbilly-marketed” song became public domain in January. Recorded by Country Hall of Fame Honoree, Vernon Dahlhart, who was born Marion Try Slaughter, for Victor Records, this recording became one of the biggest selling singles of the 1920s. Written by Vernon but copyrighted in the name of his cousin, Guy Massey, it has been re-recorded by many famous artists such as Hank Snow and Bill Monroe. This single “The Prisoner’s Song” was #1 on the charts for over 12 weeks and sold over 9 million copies.

CAN YOU BELIEVE RHAPSODY IN BLUE IS IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN?


 

I want to be first in 2020 to share some music that arrived in the public domain. Can you believe George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody In Blue” is ours to use!?

The composition was commissioned by bandleader Paul Whiteman. It was orchestrated by Ferde Grofé. It was considered modern in 1924. I selected a performance done in 2011. It still sounds modern whenever it’s performed.

IMPEACHMENT IN SONG

Impeachment is on everyone’s mind as well it should be.
There are two important documents in the public domain.
Here are links to both:

https://intelligence.house.gov/report/

https://www.npr.org/2019/12/02/784183484/read-republican-report-on-the-impeachment-inquiry

In 1972 The Honeydrippers recorded “Impeach The President.” Seems Tyrone Brown brought this song to the present with some contemporary graphics. This song makes the past the present.