Recorded on July 23, 1949, at Radio Recorders in Hollywood, King Records 811 presents Lloyd "Cowboy" Copas performing "Hangman's Boogie." The track features a stellar West Coast studio lineup including Merle Travis on electric guitar and Speedy West on steel guitar. The song presents a dark, first-person narrative about a condemned rustler, set to an infectious, up-tempo dance groove.
The late 1940s post-war boom allowed country musicians to adopt advanced electronic studio equipment. "Hangman's Boogie" reflects this technological shift by moving away from traditional rural acoustic roots toward highly amplified city styles. By using an African-American twelve-bar blues structure alongside a syncopated, walking boogie-woogie bassline, this track demonstrates how rural musicians used electronic instruments to create the propulsive dance rhythms that laid the foundation for mid-1950s rockabilly.

The macabre theme of the song contrasts sharply with Copas's smooth, warm baritone voice. The track features some of the earliest collaborative studio work between guitar pioneer Merle Travis and pedal steel legend Speedy West.
Condition Report
• Visual Grade: Very Good (VG) with light surface marks and scuffs that do not affect playback. The shellac remains sturdy and glossy.
• Labels: Classic dark red King labels with clean, gold-foil lettering showing light aging.
Postage, Packing & Delivery
Shipping is handled with absolute care to guarantee safe arrival. The record is housed in a protective sleeve,lined with thick card stiffeners, wrapped securely in multiple layers of heavy-duty bubble wrap, and suspended inside a custom, double-skin corrugated box filled with void material. Every precaution is taken to eliminate movement inside the box, avoiding any void spaces. Your item will be carefully packed and promptly dispatched.