The Seventh Son
| "The Seventh Son" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Willie Mabon | ||||
| B-side | "Lucinda" | |||
| Released | October 1955[1] | |||
| Format | 7-inch 45 rpm record | |||
| Recorded | Chicago, June 1, 1955[1] | |||
| Genre | Rhythm and blues | |||
| Label | Chess | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Willie Dixon | |||
| Producer(s) | Leonard Chess, Phil Chess | |||
| Willie Mabon singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"The Seventh Son" (also listed as "Seventh Son") is a blues song written by Willie Dixon. The title refers to the seventh son of a seventh son of folklore, which Dixon referenced previously in his "Hoochie Coochie Man". In 1955, Willie Mabon was the first to record it, which was released as a single by Chess Records.[2][3] Johnny Rivers recorded the song as the lead track for his album Meanwhile Back at the Whisky à Go Go (1965), which was also one of his most popular singles.
Recording and release
Willie Mabon recorded "The Seventh Son" on June 1, 1955, in Chicago, Illinois. The exact personnel on the session is not known for sure but is most likely Willie Mabon (vocals, piano), Bill Martin (trumpet), Herbert Robinson (tenor saxophone), Willie Dixon (double bass), and Oliver Coleman (drums). The song was paired for release as a single with "Lucinda" as the B-side and was released in October.[1]
Johnny Rivers rendition
Johnny Rivers recorded his version of "The Seventh Son" supposedly at the Whisky a Go Go in Hollywood, California and released it on Meanwhile Back at the Whisky à Go Go in 1965 and released it as a single. Most, if not all, of these 'live' Whisky tracks were studio recordings with audience noise added, however. The single version of the song peaked at number seven on Billboard magazine's Hot 100 singles chart.[4] Johnny Rivers' version also topped RPM magazine's Top Singles chart.[5]
Recordings by other artists
"The Seventh Son" has been recorded by a variety of artists, including Bill Haley & His Comets (released on their 1999 greatest-hit compilation), John Mellencamp (on the 2005 reissue of Rough Harvest), Billy "Crash" Craddock (on the album You Better Move On), Mose Allison, Sting, Georgie Fame, Climax Blues Band, the Soul Agents, Long John Baldry, George Thorogood and, as with many of his own songs, by Willie Dixon.
References
- 1 2 3 George R. White; Robert L. Campbell; Tom Kelly. "The Chess Label Part II (1953–1955)". Robert Campbell. Clemson, South Carolina: Clemson University. Retrieved March 20, 2011.
- ↑ Hanson, Karen (2007). Today's Chicago Blues. Lake Claremont Press. p. 66. ISBN 9781893121195.
- ↑ Dahl, Bill; 610CKTM. "Willie Mabon biography".
- ↑ "Johnny Rivers: Charts & Awards – Billboard Singles". Allmusic. United States: Rovi Corporation. Retrieved March 20, 2011.
- ↑ "RPM Magazine Top Singles – Volume 3, No. 21, July 19 1965" (PHP). Library and Archives Canada. March 31, 2004.