Chain Gang
Written By: Sam Cooke and Charles Cooke
[Abkco Music Ltd. 1960]
Studio Version
Recorded January 25, 1960 in RCA Studio A in New York
Information
- As Luigi explained
to Rolling Stone, when Sam was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall
of Fame in 1985, "We made one record with him and nothing happened. Then we
said, 'Listen, Sammy, you write some things and bring them in the next time we
do a session.' So he did. He came by and played several things. Not everything
he wrote was good. We just said, 'That's nice, what else have you got?' He said,
'Well, I'm working on a thing and it goes like, 'Uh, ah, uh, ah, I hear the
sound of the men working on the chain gang.' So we postponed the session, he
finished that, and of course 'Chain Gang' was a smash for him." (From
the booklet of the Hits! CD)
- The inspiration came when Sam and Charles saw a chain gang in one of the
Carolinas. The brothers gave them a few cartons of cigarettes.
- It was his first single on RCA that really sold
well.
- Theola Kilgore recorded an answer-song
called 'Chain Gang (The Sound Of My Man)'
Produced by: Hugo Peretti and Luigi Creatore
Orchestra Conducted By: Glenn Osser
Billboard Review: Cooke has been hot with "Wonderful
World" on his former label, and the new Victor coupling can move him right
up again. "Chain Gang" is a smart, rhythmic side that can go (August
1, 1960)
Charts
- #2 in both the American Pop
and R&B charts
- UK #9
EP's
- RCA 20030 - RCA 47146 with
Another Saturday Night, Cupid and It's Got The Whole World Shakin'
- RCA 49872 with Wonderful World, Cupid and A Change Is Gonna
Come
- RCA LPC 126: "Sam Cooke Sings"
with 'If You Were The Only Girl', 'Teenage Sonata' & 'You Understand Me'
Singles
- b/w Cupid: RCA 0576 - RCA
61034
- b/w Farewell My
Darling: RCA 7783
- RCA 1202 b/w I Fall In Love Every
Day, U.K. 1960:
- with You Send Me
and Another Saturday Night: RCA 2256
- with
Wonderful World - RCA 49871-51455
- PD 49455, CD-Single from April
1987
- HMV Pop 574 with
Wonderful World / Cupid / A Change Is Gonna Come (12", March 86)
Albums:
Live Version
Albums:
Lyrics / Chords
(hooh! aah!) 4x
(Well, don't you know)
That's the sound of the men working on the chain gang
That's the sound of the men working on the chain gang
All day long they're singing (hooh! aah! 4x)
(Well, don't you know)
That's the sound of the men working on the chain gang
That's the sound of the men working on the chain gang
All day long they work so hard
'till the sun is going down
Working on the highway and byways
and wearing, wearing a frown
You hear them moaning their live away
Then you hear somebody say
That's the sound of the men working on the chain gang
That's the sound of the men working on the chain gang
Can't you hear them saying
Mm, I'm going home one of these days
I'm going home see my woman
Whom I love so dear
But meanwhile I got to work right here
(Well, don't you know)
That's the sound of the men working on the chain gang
That's the sound of the men working on the chain gang
All day long they're singing
my, my, my, my, my , my, my work is so hard
Give me water, I'm thirsty
FADE
My work is so hard
Covered By:
- The Chaperals --- a
capella
- Jim Croce**
- Rick Danko
- Winston Francis ---
reggea
- Ted Hawkins ---
acoustic
- King Curtis --- sax
instrumental
- Ladysmith Black Mombasa
- The Nylons
- Vel Omarr
- on 'Here's My Soul'
- Lou Rawls
- Otis Redding
- Robert Reich
- Showaddywaddy
- The Supremes
- they had to change the
lyrics somewhat on the "We Remember Sam Cooke"
album
- Howard Tate
- Texas Chainsaw Orchestra*
--- industrial version with chainsaw sounds
- Jackie Wilson