This “Stand Out Single” original Columbia label gave the A-side the historically incorrect spelling “Sink the Bismark,” although the German battleship’s name is properly spelled Bismarck.
Johnny Horton’s “Sink the Bismark” / “The Same Old Tale the Crow Told Me” was issued by Columbia Records as single 4-41568 on January 18, 1960, at a fascinating point in Horton’s career. The record paired one of his most dramatic historical story songs with a lighthearted country novelty number, demonstrating the remarkable range of material he could handle.
This “Stand Out Single” was one of my Mother’s 45s that I kept in my play stack growing up.
Johnny Horton’s 1959 Columbia Records single “The Battle of New Orleans” backed with “All for the Love of a Girl” became one of the defining country-pop releases of its era and helped establish Horton as one of the premier story-song performers in American music. Released on April 6, 1959,
