Credit Soundtrack - "The West Auckland Poisoner"

Original Broadsheet Ballad c.1873

During the course of my research into Mary I found a number of Broadsheet Ballads regarding her case. These ballads were used to spread news to the populous via single sheet hand printed songs before automation, they continued into The Industrial Revolution with mass media distribution, the composed lyrics regarding news events were sung to well known popular tunes.

I thought that it might be interesting to incorporate one of these into the credit soundtrack, but to compose a new music score to pick up the pace a bit and update the song for a modern audience, the original tune is very slow.
This hopefully would give a feel for the influence of such a track upon hearing it to a historical audience.

I spoke to my brother who is a musician and asked him if he may be interested in composing a new track for the production. I said I wanted it to be radically different and suggested something perhaps Punky, or maybe The Pogues..ish so that a folky feel could be maintained when sung.

I picked the best broadsheet for the content of its lyrics and due to its running length, selectively picked lines from the verses and chorus, whilst maintaining the lyrical structure and provide a narative start middle and end within a credit length time frame.

Recording and mixing took a day to complete, I think that the resulting mix is good. It is undeniably a first mix-down. Retrospectively I think that whilst it is important that the lyrics are clear for the audience, the vocals are too prominent within the track and drown out his musical composition a bit (which he performed with each instrument).

 

“She murdered her husbands and the lodger as well.
The numbers she poisoned no one can tell”.

“Her crimes have struck terror all over the land,
and deep indignation on every hand”.

“Strong hand of justice compelled her to stay,
and her crimes been proven as clear as the day”.

“And in Durham prison condemned she did lie.
and on the dread scaffold was prepared to die”.

“No one can pity and no one can bless
Mary ann Cotton for her wickedness”.

“The West Auckland poisoner condemned did lie
she murdered her children and soon she did die”.

Selected Broadsheet Lyrics (composed c.1873)

We are going to perform a re-mix of the track for the final edit.