Uploaded July 2023 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
The seldom heard second version of the novelty record "Pardon Me Ray" about then Tennessee governor Ray Blanton.
Blanton was involved in a very large scandal at the time when just before leaving office in 1979 pardoned 52 state prisoners, many of them convicted murderers. One notable pardon was that of Roger Humphreys, a man convicted of killing his ex-wife and one of her friends. Roger was also the son of one of Blanton's political allies. Besides outrage over which people Blanton pardoned, the Blanton administration had only two years prior been involved with another scandal involving pardons when it was found that prisoners Blanton had pardoned had bribed state officials to get them. After finding out Blanton planned to pardon more prisoners before leaving office, Tennessee's House Speaker and Lieutenant Governor found a way to swear in the winner of the 1978 election, future senator Lamar Alexander, three days early in an effort to prevent further damage to the state's reputation.
The song was performed by future CNN anchor Brian Christie, presumably during his time at WKRN-TV in Nashville. The song is a parody of Chattanooga Choo-Choo, particularly a disco version that was popular at the time. The original version, which can be heard here: youtube.com/watch?v=-U79j8Ck7O0, was deemed too similar to the disco version, so the track was rerecorded.
Pardon (heh heh) the iffy quality, the record player I have is a bit crummy.
The seldom heard second version of the novelty record "Pardon Me Ray" about then Tennessee governor Ray Blanton.
Blanton was involved in a very large scandal at the time when just before leaving office in 1979 pardoned 52 state prisoners, many of them convicted murderers. One notable pardon was that of Roger Humphreys, a man convicted of killing his ex-wife and one of her friends. Roger was also the son of one of Blanton's political allies. Besides outrage over which people Blanton pardoned, the Blanton administration had only two years prior been involved with another scandal involving pardons when it was found that prisoners Blanton had pardoned had bribed state officials to get them. After finding out Blanton planned to pardon more prisoners before leaving office, Tennessee's House Speaker and Lieutenant Governor found a way to swear in the winner of the 1978 election, future senator Lamar Alexander, three days early in an effort to prevent further damage to the state's reputation.
The song was performed by future CNN anchor Brian Christie, presumably during his time at WKRN-TV in Nashville. The song is a parody of Chattanooga Choo-Choo, particularly a disco version that was popular at the time. The original version, which can be heard here: youtube.com/watch?v=-U79j8Ck7O0, was deemed too similar to the disco version, so the track was rerecorded.
Pardon (heh heh) the iffy quality, the record player I have is a bit crummy.
