I scraped the bottom the barrel and came up with one more question for Christmas.
Altogether, the CWG recorded 43 Christmas songs, counting those songs which were recorded more than once. These span from the mid-1950's to the late 1980's, and several different lineups were involved.
However, there was one CWG member who sang on all 43 of the Christmas songs.
Who was this member?
That would be Roy Carter. He sang bass on all of them except on "Going Home For Christmas." On this one, he sang tenor and Jim Carter sang bass.
Another Christmas Question « Result #3 on Dec 22, 2009, 5:49pm »
I scraped the bottom the barrel and came up with one more question for Christmas.
Altogether, the CWG recorded 43 Christmas songs, counting those songs which were recorded more than once. These span from the mid-1950's to the late 1980's, and several different lineups were involved.
However, there was one CWG member who sang on all 43 of the Christmas songs.
If I'm not mistaken, the CWG also recorded a gag song (never intended for release) in the late 1980s, which they made up on the spot, called "Santa's in the Cold, Cold Ground." You told me about this years ago, I think. It was done during the "Old Fashioned Christmas" recording sessions, right? I just thought I would mention this because it's so funny.
Well, LOL, I had totally forgotten about that, althought I don't think it was actually recorded. It was during a break session, and everyone was having fun. It was just being made up on the spot. Unfortunately, I do not remember any of the madeup lyrics.
Joined: Jan 2007 Gender: Male Posts: 122 Location: Decatur, GA
Re: Santa Claus Songs « Result #5 on Dec 21, 2009, 10:18am »
Harold,
If I'm not mistaken, the CWG also recorded a gag song (never intended for release) in the late 1980s, which they made up on the spot, called "Santa's in the Cold, Cold Ground." You told me about this years ago, I think. It was done during the "Old Fashioned Christmas" recording sessions, right? I just thought I would mention this because it's so funny.
Harold, do you think the Gang will ever record another Christmas collection? Seems like I recall this being discussed a few years back shortly before Shaye left.
Yes, it was discussed sometime ago and put aside. It is possible, but has not been discussed in a long time. The main thing is, because it is seasonal, it takes longer to "pay out" financially. It may be a project for the label somewhere down the road.
Re: Santa Claus Songs « Result #7 on Dec 18, 2009, 8:13am »
Those are the three songs. I got the idea for the trivia question a couple of months back while listening to "Put My Little Shoes Away", but decided to wait until the Christmas season.
Actually, at the time I didn't realize "Silver Bells" had the reference to "Santa", but decided I'd better check those six seasonal songs on the second side of "Old Fashioned Christmas-Vol. 2"
Harold, do you think the Gang will ever record another Christmas collection? Seems like I recall this being discussed a few years back shortly before Shaye left.
It's been three days since I posted this question, and 19 people have read it but no one has ventured a guess, so I'll give some hints.
(1) One song is a perennial favorite seasonal Christmas song dating from (I think) the early 1950s, although the CWG didn't record it until the 1980s.
(2) The lyrics of another of these songs were written by someone with a close family connection to the CWG and were set to the tune of a very old Irish folk song.
(3) The third song is not a Christmas song, but has been available on CD within the past dozen years and can be found in the most recent edition of the CWG songbook.
I think #1 would be Silver bells. #2 It's Christmas Time Again, written by Jimmie Davis #3 Put My Little Shoes Away
Re: Santa Claus Songs « Result #9 on Dec 15, 2009, 9:11am »
It's been three days since I posted this question, and 19 people have read it but no one has ventured a guess, so I'll give some hints.
(1) One song is a perennial favorite seasonal Christmas song dating from (I think) the early 1950s, although the CWG didn't record it until the 1980s.
(2) The lyrics of another of these songs were written by someone with a close family connection to the CWG and were set to the tune of a very old Irish folk song.
(3) The third song is not a Christmas song, but has been available on CD within the past dozen years and can be found in the most recent edition of the CWG songbook.
The CWG was accorded a gold record in 1955. There's a picture in the book.
Wasn't this "I'll Shout and Shine"?
If a gold record has to sell a million copies, would this one not have sold 1,000,000?
"I'll Shout and Shine" was not a certified million seller, nor was it a million seller. While certified gold records are the ideal, and presentation of such, there can be other non-certified presentions, not even selling a million records. "I'll Shout And Shine" was was presented in recognition of the Gang's 20 years on Columbia Records.
Another presentation of a gold record was presented to the CWG in the mid 80's in recognition of recording for 50 years.
Was it I'll Fly Away? (backed up on one release by Dream-boat/on another with Looking for a City)
Hi, Sorry for the late response. I've been out of town a few days. Indeed, it was "I'll Fly Away," and it was the original recording, backed with Dream-Boat. Roy told me that to his knowledge this was the only million selling single. Now, if the question is why was it not a gold record, gold records have to sell this million within a certain time frame, to be certified for this.
Here are some other million seller singles. You'll notice that the peers are far out in their own leagues, for the most part.
In the gospel world, the market has always emphasized album sales over singles. However, there are a handful of singles that have managed to sell very well over the years.
Edwin Hawkins Singers - "Oh Happy Day" (1969" 7 million*** Whitney Houston - "Jesus Loves Me"/"I'll Always Love You Too" (1992 4 million Candi Staton - "You Got The Love" (1991) 2.4 million** Mahalia Jackson - "Move On Up A Little Higher" (1948) 2 million* Staple Singers - "I'll Take You There" (1972) 2 million* Marian Anderson - "Ave Maria" (1937) 1 million* Louis Armstrong - "When The Saints Go Marching In" (1948) 1 million Carter Family - "Will The Circle Be Unbroken?" (1935) 1 million Chuck Wagon Gang - "I'll Fly Away"/"Dream-Boat" 1948 1 million Clara Ward Singers - "Packing Up" (1957" 1 million* Clara Ward Singers - "Surely, God Is Able" (1955) 1 million* Thomas Dorsey/Marion Williams - "Precious Lord" (1973) 1 million* Fairfield Four - "Don't Let Nobody Turn You Around" (1947) 1 million* Fisk Jubilee Singers - "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" (1909) 1 million* Whitney Houston - "My Love Is Your Love" (1999) 1 million Impressions - "People Get Ready" (1965) 1 million Staple Singers - "Uncloudy Day" (1957) 1 million Sister Rosetta Tharpe - "Strange Things Happening" (1945) 1 million Mahalia Jackson - "Dig A Little Deeper" (1949) 500,000* MC Hammer - "Pray" (1990) 500,000 Staple Singers - "Respect Yourself" - (1972) 500,000 Staple Singers - If Your Ready, Come Go With Me" 500,000
All songs are based on RIAA figures, except where noted.
* Many independent labels did not allow the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA to audit their sales figures before the 1970s. Therefore, many records that are accepted to having sold half a million or more copies have never been officially certified. These songs with one asterisk fall into that category.
** Documented by Warner Chappel Music in London.
*** Various renditions of the Edwin Hawkins adaptation of the song have accounted for accumulated sales total of over 18 million copies.
SOURCE: Book, Uncloudy Days: The Gospel Music Encyclopedia, page 479. Authors: Bill Carpenter, Edwin Hawkins, Mavis Staples
CWG's Only Certified Million Selling Single?? « Result #17 on Nov 30, 2009, 2:18am »
The Chuck Wagon Gang sold nearly 40 million recordings for Columbia records as of the mid-70's. This includes all mediums such as single 78's, 45's, EP's, albums, CDs, 8-tracks, cassettes, etc.
In the Gospel world, the market has emphasized album sales over single sales, but there are a handfull of gospel/religions singles by several artists that have sold quite well through the years.
Of the 40 Million records sold on Columbia by the Chuck Wagon Gang, one single sold a million records. To my knowledge, the CWG only had one single certified by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) as a million seller single.
Re: Four-time CWG Members « Result #18 on Nov 18, 2009, 11:20am »
Yep, those are the two. Originally, I was only thinking of Ronnie, but then I thought about Roy leaving the group in Aug, 1967, to go back to teaching school, and then counting the group Roy put together in the mid-1990s to officially retire the CWG, that made 4 stints he'd done with the group.
To summarize all this:
Ronnie Page was an official CWG member from (1) 1962-1963, (2) 1966-1968, (3) 1978-1980, and (4) 2003-2006. (The years are approximate in some cases--I don't know the exact dates he signed on with the group and left.) During stint (2), Ronnie moved down from tenor to bass when Roy left in 1967, but no recordings were made with him in this capacity.
Roy was a CWG member from: (1) 1952-1958, (2) 1962-1967, (3) 1968-1991, (4) 1994-1996. Roy was not an official CWG member from summer, 1967 through late 1968, but due to contractual agreements with Columbia, he did sing on an album recorded in April, 1968 (Revival Time).
Beginning with a recording session in November, 1968, shortly after the CWG had retired from full-time touring, Roy moved up to tenor and Ernest (Jim) returned to sing bass. Jim passed away in early 1971, and Roy moved back to the bass part while Eddie sang tenor on the remaining Columbia albums.
The CWG from 1994-1996 was Roy's attempt to park the old Chuck Wagon for good with a Farewell Tour which lasted about 2 years, and in which 2 albums were recorded. Happily, as we all know now, that wasn't the end of the CWG.
Re: Four-time CWG Members « Result #20 on Nov 17, 2009, 8:48am »
No one's taken a nibble yet, so I'll give a clue.
Both of the CWG members under consideration, at different times, sang two different harmony parts. Also, one of these was a CWG member for a total of about 7-8 years, while the other was a CWG member for about 34 years.
Four-time CWG Members « Result #21 on Nov 14, 2009, 9:17pm »
What two former CWG members served four different "stints" with the group? That is, after they left the first time, they came back as an official group member three more times.
Re: Most Recorded Songs « Result #22 on Nov 5, 2009, 6:23pm »
My guess would have been Anna, since she recorded one more album than Rose (The recently re-issued Old Fashioned Singing). However, I totalled them up, and actually Roy recorded more songs than either Rose or Anna.
The totals I got were: Rose - 394, Anna - 413, and Roy - 435.
But if you count the extra takes made of all the songs at the first four recording sessions, then Anna's count would be 466, which I think would be on top. From the time Roy joined the group and onward, there were very few songs that were recorded twice at the same session.
Re: "Glory" Songs « Result #25 on Nov 2, 2009, 7:28am »
"In to the Choir" was on the album (for which the group won a Grammy I think) entitled "Still Rolling". It was recorded around late 1991 or early 1992. The CWG consisted at that time of:
Soprano - Debby Trusty Alto - Cathy Watson Tenor - Pat McKeehan Bass - Grady Robinson Keyboard - Harold Timmons
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