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Down in the Valley (Solomon Burke song)
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Wikipedia article
"'Down in the Valley'" is a 1962 R&B song written by Bert Berns and Solomon Burke and originally recorded by Solomon Burke. It was released on Atlantic as a B-side to "I'm Hanging Up My Heart For You". It was covered by Otis Redding on his album 'Otis Blue'. Burke's original version is a classic example of early country soul with booming vocals.
Burke song
During a recording session at Atlantic Record on April 4, 1962, Burke recorded five songs, including "I'm Hanging Up My Heart For You" (#15 R&B; #85 Pop) b/w "Down In The Valley" (#20 R&B; #71 Pop) (Atlantic 2147).[http://www.jazzdisco.org/atlantic-records/discography-1962/#620404 Atlantic Records Discography: 1962]. Jazzdisco.org. Retrieved on 2011-04-07. For "Down in the Valley", Burke borrowed from a traditional folk song "Down in the Valley", that was written as early as 1800,For discussion of the song's origins, see 'Britannica Annals of American History': [http://www.answers.com/topic/down-in-the-valley-2 "Down in the Valley"] and sung by The Andrews Sisters in the 1944 film ' Moonlight and Cactus',M.H. Orodenker, "On the Records", 'The Billboard' (18 December 1943):67.Joel Whitburn, 'Joel Whitburn's Billboard Pop Hits, Singles & Albums, 19401954', 2nd ed. (Record Research, 2002):22. and by Patti Page in 1951."Public Domain Issues Swamp Pubs, Diskers", 'Billboard' (8 December 1951):23. In August 2008 Burke told 'Mojo' magazine:
Burke recalled: "I put my own feelings and words to it, and was lucky enough by the grace of God to capture the song, when it was in P.D., able to have a copyright on it." "Down in the Valley" debuted in the US charts on May 26, 1965, and peaked at #20 in the R&B charts, #71 in the Pop charts, and at #19 in the Adult Contemporary charts.[http://www.musicvf.com/song.php?id=38403 Down in the Valley (song by Solomon Burke) Music VF, US & UK hits charts]. Musicvf.com (1962-05-26). Retrieved on 2011-04-07.
Redding rendition
The song was later covered by Otis Redding on his 1965 album 'Otis Blue', and was featured in the 1996 film '2 Days in the Valley',[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0115438/soundtrack "Soundtracks for 2 Days in the Valley"], IMDB.com and generated income for Cassandra Berns, who inherited the publishing rights from her father, Bert Berns,Don Waller, "Time Bomb Songs", 'Billboard' (13 December 1997):28. who was credited as co-writer,[http://www.answers.com/topic/down-in-the-valley-solomon-burke-song "Down in the Valley"], Lyrics along with "Babe" Chivian, and Joseph C. Martin.[https://archive.today/20120713101522/http://repertoire.bmi.com/title.asp?blnWriter=True&blnPublisher=True&blnArtist=True&keyID=337516&ShowNbr=0&ShowSeqNbr=0&querytype=WorkID "DOWN IN THE VALLEY (Legal Title)"], BMI Work #337516
The song's theme is of a "valley" through which a man passed as he struggled with love for the soul of his woman:
Notes
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