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Amen (gospel song)
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Wikipedia article
"'Amen'" is a traditional gospel song that was popularized by The Impressions with their 1964 version.
It was recorded earlier, in June 1948, and released in January 1949 by the Wings Over Jordan Choir.Second Hand Songs, [http://www.secondhandsongs.com/performance/123896/versions covers of Amen]Encyclopedia of American Gospel Music, [https://books.google.nl/books?id=EViMAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA429#v=onepage&q&f=false Wings Over Jordan], page 429-430
Background
The song was arranged by Jester Hairston, for the Sidney Poitier film 'Lilies of the Field' (1963), which popularized the song. Curtis Mayfield said "I'd gone to see 'Lilies of the Field,' and the song in it, 'Amen,' was very inspiring for me as was the movie . . . Of course, I'd decided to do a version of it. We put it together in the studio starting off with a musical 'swing low sweet chariot', and then we fell into that particular song with somewhat of a marching rhythm."Robert Pruter, Curtis Mayfield & The Impressions, The Anthology, 19611977, liner notes The song was the first Impressions' hit that Mayfield did not write. Mayfield inserted the title of the song "Keep on Pushing", which was recorded by the Impressions, in-between the lyrics of the song.
The song went to number one on 'Cashbox' Magazine's R&B chart for three weeks and reached #7 on the 'Billboard' Hot 100 singles chart in 1964. The B-side, "Long, Long Winter", peaked at #35 on the Cashbox R&B chart. A new version was released by The Impressions in 1969 under the title "Amen (1970)", reaching #44 on the 'Billboard' Best Selling Soul Singles chart in January 1970.
Cover versions
* Prior to the Impressions' version, Marv Meredith's "Salvation Rock" (essentially a version of "Amen") reached the 'Music Vendor' national Top 100 (December 1960).
* Johnny Cash recorded a version with a choir for his 1965 album 'Orange Blossom Special'.
* Also a minor chart hit for Lloyd Price and Erma Franklin in 1964 (Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles at #124)
* In 1968, Otis Redding had a posthumous hit with his version of the song, reaching #15 on the R&B chart.
* In 1969, The Winstons recorded an instrumental funk cover, which included the widely sampled "Amen break".
* Elvis Presley would often perform "Amen" as part of a medley with "I Got A Woman" in his live performances from 1972-77.
* James Booker recorded the song on his album 'Classified' (1982).
References
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