Let's talk about The great prolific composer, Anonymous

[Hardbopjazz]

What are some great pieces of music that are credited one of the best composers, Anonymous? 

Here are two.

St. James Infirmary

House of the Rising Sun

I do have a recording of St. James Infirmary, I don't recall who, where the composer is credited to Irving Mills. I guess that's taking credit for something that is unknown to get more royalties.  

[medjuck]

Irving Mills probably copyrighted it when Cab Calloway recorded it. Most recordings I've seen credit Mills sometimes under another name that he use.  (Can't remember what it was.) 

[Hardbopjazz]

Another one.

"When The Saints Go Marchin' In"

[Big Beat Steve]

Anonymous - is that the one who also goes under the name "P.D." or "Trad."?

Edited May 26, 2017 by Big Beat Steve

[Scott Dolan]

Anonymous also has some of he greatest sayings of all time. 

[Hardbopjazz]

One of Bob Dylan's first albums he recorded "House of the raising sun." He took credit for writing that one. I believe up until that point the song wasn't covered.

[medjuck]

4 hours ago, Hardbopjazz said:

One of Bob Dylan's first albums he recorded "House of the raising sun." He took credit for writing that one. I believe up until that point the song wasn't covered.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_House_of_the_Rising_Sun    Dave van Ronk was pissed at Dylan for stealing his arrangement but it didn't sound that different to me from versions I heard by The Weavers and  Joan Baez.  (I thought I even remembered a version by The Kingston Trio but I think I'm misremembering as I often do.) 

[Scott Dolan]

Yeah, if Dylan wrote that song, he must have been a time traveller since the song is older than New Orleans, which is far older than Dylan...