These recordings seem to have been made in the late 1940s. The group's website says that the recording of I'll Fly Away was made in December 1948 - it was the first commercial recording of that classic number.
This is a very early Columbia LP. I'm sure it originally had a cover, but I found it in this Columbia Transcriptions sleeve.
Update (2019): I now have a cover for the LP - see above. Although I'll Fly Away and Looking for a City are from 1948, the other songs are from very early in their career - 1936-40.
VERSION WITH REPITCHED 'A BEAUTIFUL LIFE' 2023
15 comments:
Many years ago, I recorded a Chuck Wagon Gang Christmas record. I hated it. I played it for my father, and with the first strum of a guitar (which if I remember was the same on every song), he knew exactly who it was and loved it. I don't think I can even bring myself to listen to this, but I'll point my Dad in this general direction. :)
Ernie,
Ha! The first thing you will hear should you subject yourself to this record is the sound of a guitar arpeggio, on every tune. It's their thing! You need to try I'll Fly Away, which is truly spectacular. Or it is to me, but then I have the taste for this kind of thing.
I do have that Christmas album, too.
First of all, I like the Chuck Wagon Gang, especially this album. You're right about "I'll Fly Away", Buster; it's one of my favorites anyway and this is a fine rendition. [As is their "Church in the Wildwood", one of the sweetest gospel tunes ever written.]
I also like the CWG version of "I've Found a Hiding Place", but still prefer this one:
http://blogfiles.wfmu.org/LG/CoolAndStrange/26_-_The_Humbards_with_the_four_year_old_twins_Drusilla_and_Susanna_-_I_ve_Found_a_Hiding_Place.mp3
Continued thanks.
Chris
I should have pointed out that my link above was meant "tongue-in-cheek". :-)
Chris,
In the strange coincidences dept, I was looking at another site tonight and came across this reference to the twins Drusilla and etc. -
http://thatsallritemama.blogspot.com/2009/02/humbards-come-home-it-suppertime.html. Not sure if this is the source of the WFMU link.
This was the origin of the songs's "revival":
http://www.wfmu.org/365/2003/131.shtml
Otis Fodder sums up its madness-invoking potential, yet it's kind of grown on me over the years (like a fungus).
Thanks for the link.
How do I unarchive the downloaded file?It has a .7z extension.
Thanks,
Dennis
P.S. I love your site.
@ Dennis,
You can unzip the file with freeware called 7-Zip -
www.7-zip.org
Thanks I will have to get a friend to help. I am running on a G4 Mac OSX box.
Buster,
Have always loved the gang, especially this particular group. Of course, they assumed the name the CWG, via their WBAP sponsor, two different stories there. Is this actually a ten-incher? I ask, because it has eight songs. A Beautiful Life, I'll Fly Away and Looking For A City, were released later in mono (and with added echo) on the Columbia reissue, Sacred Songs, while I Found a Hiding Place, was reissued on The Chuck Wagon Gang's Best, in mono and with no echo added. Also, Every record/cut of A Beautiful Life I've ever heard from them, is in B-flat, while this one appears to be in the key of A. Is that due to turntable variation? Thanks again, prayin' for ya.
Romans 11:33-36 KJB
Josh
Church Podcast: https://www.sermonaudio.com/pleasantviewky
Personal Podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/show/back-to-the-old-paths
TIBPF Podcast: https://www.tibpf.sermon.net
Hi Josh - Yes, this is a 10-inch record. I transferred this record many years ago, and I don't recall the details. But it would not surprise me if the record company either got the pitch wrong or even changed it! These old transfers to early LPs are particularly dodgy. Let me take a look at this one again and see what I can see.
Josh - I found the original OKeh 78 on Internet Archive and it's about a quarter-tone off. My guess is that I corrected it to A rather than B-flat! It probably sounded better that way to my tin ears. Let me fiddle with the pitch and I'll post another version as soon as I can.
Thanks, Buster. I actually came back, because I have an update, then I saw your reply. Going on album pictures and other's memories thereof (can't see the pics myself), The Chuck Wagon Gang's Best was released in (probably) 1956 in mono (don't know when the "stereo" version was released) and Sacred Songs was released (just confirmed online) in 1957, with only one cut thereof being new. Said new cut (When I Looked Up), was also released on an all-new-song EP, 45. Both of the aforementioned albums were twelve-inch LPs.
Romans 11:33-36 KJB
Josh
Church Podcast: https://www.sermonaudio.com/pleasantviewky
Personal Podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/show/back-to-the-old-paths
TIBPF Podcast: https://www.tibpf.sermon.net
Looks like you and I, were posting replies about the same time LOL. Roger on that, thanks.
I've added a new link with a repitched version of 'A Beautiful Life' to the post itself.
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