Down Yonder
| "Down Yonder" | |
|---|---|
| Song | |
| Published | 1921 |
| Writer(s) | L. Wolfe Gilbert |
"Down Yonder" is a popular song with words and music by L. Wolfe Gilbert. It was first published in 1921. It was introduced in 1921 at the Orpheum Theatre in New Orleans.[1]
Gilbert had written the lyrics for the 1912 song "Waiting for the Robert E. Lee" (for which Lewis F. Muir wrote the music). In "Down Yonder," Gilbert brought back four of the characters from the earlier song—Daddy, Mammy, Ephram and Sammy. However, the lyrics of "Down Yonder" are relatively obscure because the song has usually been performed as an instrumental.
Versions
Versions which charted in 1951 included those by Del Wood, by Joe ´Fingers´ Carr, by Champ Butler, by Lawrence (Piano Roll) Cook, by the Freddy Martin orchestra, by the Frank Petty Trio, and by Ethel Smith.
The recording by Del Wood was released by Tennessee Records as catalog number 775. It first reached the Billboard magazine Best Seller chart on August 24, 1951 and lasted 25 weeks on the chart, peaking at #4.[2]
The recording by Joe ´Fingers´ Carr was released by Capitol Records as catalog number 1777. It first reached the Billboard magazine Best Seller chart on October 12, 1951 and lasted 17 weeks on the chart, peaking at #14.[2]
The recording by Champ Butler was released by Columbia Records as catalog number 39533. It first reached the Billboard magazine Best Seller chart on September 21, 1951 and lasted 16 weeks on the chart, peaking at #18.[2]
The recording by Lawrence (Piano Roll) Cook was released by Abbey Records as catalog number 15053. It first reached the Billboard magazine Best Seller chart on September 21, 1951 and lasted 2 weeks on the chart, peaking at #23.[2]
The recording by the Freddy Martin orchestra was released by RCA Victor Records as catalog number 20-4267. It first reached the Billboard magazine Best Seller chart on October 12, 1951 and lasted 4 weeks on the chart, peaking at #24.[2]
The recording by the Frank Petty Trio was released by MGM Records as catalog number 11057. It first reached the Billboard magazine Best Seller chart on November 9, 1951 and lasted 1 weeks on the chart, peaking at #26.[2]
On the Cash Box charts, where all versions were combined, naturally the song got even higher, making #1 on one week, December 15, 1951.
An instrumental version of the song was recorded by Johnny and The Hurricanes in 1960 and released on Bigtop Records as catalog number 45-3036, backed with "Sheba". The record charted 48 on Billboard and number 81 in the UK.
Other covers of the song include one done by Willie Nelson's sister Bobbie for his album The Red-Headed Stranger, released in 1975.
References
- ↑ Shaw, Arnold (1987). The Jazz Age: Popular Music in the 1920's. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 113. ISBN 0195038916.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Whitburn, Joel (1973). Top Pop Records 1940-1955. Record Research.
- Bibliography
- Shaw, Arnold (1987). The Jazz Age: Popular Music in the 1920's. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0195038916.
| Preceded by (It's No) Sin |
Cash Box magazine best selling record chart #1 record December 15, 1951 |
Succeeded by (It's No) Sin |