Down in the Valley (Solomon Burke song)

"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.

"Down in the Valley"
Single by Solomon Burke
from the album Solomon Burke's Greatest Hits (1962)
A-side"I'm Hanging Up My Heart For You"
Released1962 (1962)
Recorded1962
GenreR&B, Soul
Length2:33
LabelAtlantic (2147)
Songwriter(s)Bert Berns, Solomon Burke
Producer(s)Bert Berns
Solomon Burke singles chronology
"Cry To Me"
(1961)
"Down in the Valley"
(1962)
"I Really Don't Want to Know"
(1962)

Burke song

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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).[1] For "Down in the Valley", Burke borrowed from a traditional folk song "Down in the Valley", that was written as early as 1800,[2] and sung by The Andrews Sisters in the 1944 film Moonlight and Cactus,[3][4] and by Patti Page in 1951.[5] In August 2008 Burke told Mojo magazine:

I wrote that on the train, 'cos I had no song and I started thinking on old songs that I could do uptempo and I thought, (sings Gospel song pacier, with horn arrangement) so I had to keep that in my head 'til I got to the studio. I said, 'Can I have a tuba like I have in my church?' In my church we got the tuba and the trombones. Got to get that New Orleans sound. They loved it.[6]

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.[7]

Redding rendition

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"Down in the Valley"
Song by Otis Redding
from the album Otis Blue
Released1965 (1965)
Recorded1965
StudioStax, Memphis, Tennessee
GenreSoul
Length3:02
LabelVolt/Atco
Songwriter(s)Bert Berns/Solomon Burke
Producer(s)Steve Cropper

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,[8] and generated income for Cassandra Berns, who inherited the publishing rights from her father, Bert Berns,[9] who was credited as co-writer,[10] along with "Babe" Chivian, and Joseph C. Martin.[11]

Notes

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  1. ^ Atlantic Records Discography: 1962. Jazzdisco.org. Retrieved on 2011-04-07.
  2. ^ For discussion of the song's origins, see Britannica Annals of American History: "Down in the Valley" "Mudcat.org: Lyr Req: Down in the Valley". Archived from the original on 2012-10-24. Retrieved 2012-11-21.
  3. ^ M.H. Orodenker, "On the Records", The Billboard (18 December 1943):67.
  4. ^ Joel Whitburn, Joel Whitburn's Billboard Pop Hits, Singles & Albums, 1940–1954, 2nd ed. (Record Research, 2002):22.
  5. ^ "Public Domain Issues Swamp Pubs, Diskers", Billboard (8 December 1951):23.
  6. ^ Down In The Valley by Solomon Burke Songfacts. Songfacts.com. Retrieved on 2011-04-07.
  7. ^ Down in the Valley (song by Solomon Burke) ••• Music VF, US & UK hits charts. Musicvf.com (1962-05-26). Retrieved on 2011-04-07.
  8. ^ "Soundtracks for 2 Days in the Valley", IMDB.com
  9. ^ Don Waller, "Time Bomb Songs", Billboard (13 December 1997):28.
  10. ^ "Down in the Valley", Lyrics
  11. ^ "DOWN IN THE VALLEY (Legal Title)", BMI Work #337516
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