Songs in the Key of Z is a book and two compilation albums written and compiled by Irwin Chusid. The book and albums explore the field of what Chusid coined as "outsider music". Chusid defines outsider music as; "crackpot and visionary music, where all trails lead essentially one place: over the edge." Chusid's work has brought the music of several leading performers in the outsider genre to wider attention. These include Daniel Johnston, Joe Meek, Jandek and Wesley Willis. In addition, his CDs feature some recordings by artists who produced very little work but placed their recordings firmly in the outsider area. Notable amongst these are nursing home resident Jack Mudurian who sings snatches of several dozen songs in a garbled collection known as Downloading the Repertoire and the obscure and extreme scat singer Shooby Taylor AKA 'The Human Horn.'
Songs in the Key of Z â The Curious Universe of Outsider Music, the companion compilation albums to Chusid's book were released on Which? Records, the first volume originally in 2000, with the two volumes later combined and released by Cherry Red. The collections, compiled by Irwin Chusid, include performances by gay country singer Peter Grudzien, music schoolteacher B. J. Snowden, and Swedish Elvis-impersonator Eilert Pilarm, along with better-known artists such as Daniel Johnston, the Shaggs, Wesley Willis, Joe Meek, and Captain Beefheart. The collections have drawn criticism from some quarters, with Alvin Dahn's wife unhappy with his inclusion in an 'outsider music' compilation, and B. J. Snowden also unhappy with the categorization.
1. "Philosophy of the World" â The Shaggs <br /> 2. "Walking the Cow" â Daniel Johnston <br /> 3. "Walking On The Moon" â Lucia Pamela <br /> 4. "Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere" â Peter Grudzien <br /> 5. "Downloading the Repertoire" (Excerpt) â Jack Mudurian <br /> 6. "Stout-hearted Men" â Shooby Taylor, The Human Horn <br /> 7. "In Canada" â B. J. Snowden <br /> 8. "Jailhouse Rock" â Eilert Pilarm <br /> 9. "Virgin Child of the Universe" â Song poem, Unknown; later identified as gospel singer Dodie Frost<br /> 10. "Rock N' Roll McDonald's" â Wesley Willis <br /> 11. "Telstar" (Demo) â Joe Meek <br /> 12. "At the Grass Roots" â Sri Darwin Gross <br /> 13. "Cousin Mosquito #1" â Congress-Woman Malinda Jackson Parker <br /> 14. "El Touchy" â Luie Luie <br /> 15. "Standing in a Trash Can (Thinking About You)" â Legendary Stardust Cowboy <br /> 16. "Vampire Suite" â Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band <br /> 17. "Butterfly Mind" â Arcesia <br /> 18. "They Told Me I Was a Fool" â Jandek <br /> 19. "Baby, Your Love's in Town" â "Dusty Roads" Rowe <br /> 20. "True Love" â Tiny Tim With Miss Sue
1. "Lift Every Voice and Sing" â Shooby Taylor<br /> 2. "You're Out of the Computer" â Bingo Gazingo & My Robot Friend <br /> 3. "Mr. Snuggles" - Dr. Love <br /> 4. "America" â B.J. Snowden <br /> 5. "You're Driving Me Mad" â Alvin Dahn <br /> 6. "Cousin Mosquito # 2" â Congress-Woman Malinda Jackson Parker <br /> 7. "I Had Too Much to Dream (Last Night)" â The Space Lady <br /> 8. "Touch of Light" â Luie Luie <br /> 9. "Curly Toes" â Unknown <br /> 10. "Stepping High Dance" â Eddie Murray <br /> 11. "5 Ft. 9 1/12 Inches Tall" â Dick Kent <br /> 12. "Recitation About Roy Acuff" â Gary Mullis <br /> 13. "Deep Bosom Woman" â Wayne <br /> 14. "High Speed" â Bob Vido <br /> 15. "Herma, Scene 5; Recitation/An" â Thoth <br /> 16. "Jet Lady" â Tangela Tricoli <br /> 17. "Birthmark Story" â Buddy Max <br /> 18. "Heart of the Heartland" â Mark Kennis
1. "Hap-Hap-Happy Heart" - Lucia Pamela <br /> 2. "Rock and Roll Baby" - Eddie Murray <br /> 3. "The Future is Now" - Neil Dick <br /> 4. "Indiana" - Shooby Taylor, The Human Horn <br /> 5. "Lonesome, Lonesome George Jones" - Queenie Montgomery <br /> 6. "Hitting the Bottom" - Tony Mason-Cox <br /> 7. "First Time" - Kitty <br /> 8. "Rock & Rolling Dance" - Gordon Thomas <br /> 9. "The Cook Who Couldn't Cook" - Bingo Gazingo & Leo Abraham <br /> 10. "Boo-Bah-Bah" - Bob Vido <br /> 11. "Because We Care" - Beulah <br /> 12. "Vote for Buddy Max" - Buddy Max <br /> 13. "Settle Down" - Polly Feazel <br /> 14. "Die With Your Boots On" - Anton Maiden <br /> 15. "They Are There! (Third Take)" - Charles Ives <br /> 16. "Adele's Laughing Song" - Florence Foster Jenkins <br /> 17. "Rainy Weekend" - San D'jinn Din <br /> 18. "Wake Up America" - Sylvia Boshers <br /> 19. "The President's Prayer" - Freddie Martell <br /> 20. "I Want To Marry An Egghead" - Leona Bass <br /> 21. "Hi, Dear Mister Master Keith Richards (Intro)" - Paul "Super Apple" <br /> 22. "Apple Love" - Paul "Super Apple" <br /> 23. "Love Lives On" - Paul "Super Apple" <br /> 24. "The Chance" - Paul "Super Apple" <br /> 25. "Please Call, Keith (Outro)" - Paul "Super Apple"
1. "It Gets Better All the Time" - Shooby TaylorÃÂ <br /> 2. "Star's Ghost" - Frances Cannon, The Singing PsychicÃÂ <br /> 3. "I Wanna Job" - Abner JayÃÂ <br /> 4. "In the Ghetto" - Eilert PilarmÃÂ <br /> 5. "Moon Pilot" - UnknownÃÂ <br /> 6. "Dock of the Bay" - Mexia State School Sunshine SingersÃÂ <br /> 7. "Delightful Company" - Dana DrakeÃÂ <br /> 8. "Something" - Gary StrivantÃÂ <br /> 9. "Michael Ferrucci" - UnknownÃÂ <br /> 10. "Why Do People Try & Hurt Little Birdie" - Little BirdieÃÂ <br /> 11. "Worship Me" - AmandaÃÂ <br /> 12. "It JustÃÂ Is" - Sri Darwin GrossÃÂ <br /> 13. "I Really Don't Want to Know" - Ali Mapo & His GirlsÃÂ <br /> 14. "Cruise Around the Planets" - David DynamoÃÂ <br /> 15. "Hey Fireman, Put out the Fire"ÃÂ - Omo the HoboÃÂ <br /> 16. "Our Flag"ÃÂ - Tom MerloÃÂ <br /> 17. "Letter to a Christian" - Hallmark Song-Poems & Alice J. JacksonÃÂ <br /> 18. "The Nightclub" - Michael O. Sullivan, The Singing IrishmanÃÂ <br /> 19. "Stella by Starlight" - Ivo AraujoÃÂ <br /> 20. "The Garbage Can" - Bingo GazingoÃÂ <br /> 21. "Make Our Love Positive" - Martin MechanicÃÂ <br /> 22. "Genevieve, Oh My Genevieve" - "Dusty Roads" RoweÃÂ <br /> 23. "I Want a Nurse" - Jack BarrettÃÂ <br /> 24. "Message to the Label Industry" - J&H ProductionsÃÂ <br /> 25. "New York, New York" - Ken DeFeudis