OSCAR BRAND: Presidential Campaign Songs, 1789-1996 SMITHSONIAN FOLKWAYS

“Attack ads,” “character assassinations,” and “spin doctors” are not new in American Presidential campaigns. Before radio and television, campaign songs were written and published to transmit similar ideas and influence voters. This collection includes one song from the campaign of every President, from George Washington to William Clinton performed by folk singer Oscar Brand and recorded in 1998. Set to marches and popular tunes, accompanied by banjo, guitar, percussion, and wind, these songs present some of the enduring themes of American political campaigns and the events that have influenced them. Includes “Follow Washington,” “Jefferson and Liberty,” “Tippecanoe and Tyler Too,” “Lincoln and Liberty,” “Grant, Grant, Grant,” “Roosevelt the Cry,” “I’m Just Wild About Harry,” “Buckle Down With Nixon,” “California Here We Come,” “Don’t Stop Thinking About Tomorrow” and 33 others. For ages 9 and up. 69 minutes. Extensive liner notes. “One of the most thoroughly unique folk records released in 1999, Presidential Campaign Songs is also a thorough and unique look at America’s political history. An important and well-crafted historical document, Presidential Campaigning Songs educates and entertains in equal measure.” —Heather Phares, All Music Guide

1 In General – Free Electrion
2 George Washington – Follow Washington
3 John Adams – Adams and Liberty
4 Thomas Jefferson – for Jefferson and Liberty
5 James Madison – Huzzah for Madison, Huzszah
6 James Monroe – Monroe Is the Man
7 John Q. Adams – Little Know Ye Who’s Coming
8 Andrew Jackson – Jackson and Kentucky
9 Martin Van Buren – Rockabye, Baby
10 William H. Harrison – the Harrison Yankee Doodle
11 John Tyler – Tippecanoe and Tyler, Too
12 James K. Polk – Jimmy Polk of Tennessee
13 Zachary Taylor – Rumadum Dum
14 Millard Fillmore – the Union Wagon
15 Franklin Pierce – Pierce and King
16 James Buchanan – Buchanan and John Breckenridge
17 Abraham Lincoln – Lincoln and Liberty
18 Andrew Johnson – Just Before Election, Andy
19 Ulysses S. Grant – Grant, Grant, Grant
20 Rutherford Hayes – for Hayes and Wheeler, Too
21 James a. Garfiled – If the Johnnies Get Into Power Again
22 Grover Cleveland – Democrats, Good Democrats
23 Benjamin H. Harrison – He’s All Right
24 William McKinley – Marching with McKinley
25 Teddy Roosevelt – Roosevelt the Cry
26 William H. Taft – Get on a Raft with Taft
27 Woodrow Wilson – Wilson, That’s All
28 Warren G. Harding – Harding, You’re the Man for Us
29 Calvin Coolidge – Keep Cool and Keep Coolidge
30 Herbert Hoover – If He’s Good Enough for Lindy
31 Franklin D. Roosevelt – Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Back Again
32 Harry S. Truman – I’m Just Wild About Harry
33 Dwight D. Elsenhower – I Like Ike
34 John F. Kennedy – Marching Down to Washington
35 Lyndon B. Johnson – Hello, Lyndon
36 Richard M. Nixon – Buckle Down with Nixon
37 Gerald R. Ford – I’m Feeling Good About America
38 Jimmy Carter – Why Not the Best
39 Ronald w. Reagan – California, Here We Come
40 George Bush – This Land Is Your Land
41 William J. Clinton – Don’t Stop Thinking About Tomorrow
42 Third Party – the Same Merry Go Round
43 All of Them – Song of the Presidents