I've done this a few differnt times myself (the single song compilation, not the ballad research) when there's been a song I've liked and wanted to learn, or wanted to hear variations on. So far I've done Gallis/Gallow's Pole/Hangman Whiskey in the Jar Hey Joe St. James Infirmary (interesting variations on this one) Long Black Veil Matty Groves and a couple others I can't think of off hand. The reason I did this was wanting to learn lyrics, but not having the tolerance to hear the same exact recording over and over and over. Throw 20 different versions on a CD, and it makes for a very entertaining educational tool. Especially when you compare things like Cab Calloway and Spider John Koerner's versions of St James.
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