Old dead songwriters, is no excuse. In the UK and Europe - as well as many other territories, copyright lasts for 70 years after the death of the writer. If a joint authorship, 70 years after the death of the last surviving writer.   In the UK the PRS/MCPS and any publishers will likely control the rights for 'covers'.

As to recordings, sometimes the recordings will be out of copyright, but the songs that have been recorded will be in copyright - as above. So royalties will have to be paid to heirs, or whoever was involved.

In the UK it is 70 years after publication date of the recording - after that anybody can issue the recordings - as long as royalties are paid on any songs performed/recorded that are in copyright.