Cool Water (song)

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"Cool Water"
Single by the Sons of the Pioneers
B-side So Long to the Red River Valley [1]
Written1936
Published1936 [2]
ReleasedApril 1941
RecordedMarch 27, 1941 [3]
Studio Chicago, Illinois
Genre Country (Hillbilly)
Label Decca 5939
Songwriter(s) Bob Nolan

"Cool Water" is a song written in 1936 by Bob Nolan. It is about a parched man and his mule traveling a wasteland tormented by mirages. Members of the Western Writers of America chose it as No. 3 on the Top 100 Western songs of all time.

Contents

Charting versions

It was first recorded by The Sons of the Pioneers on March 27, 1941, for Decca Records (catalog 5939) [4] and this briefly charted in 1941 with a peak position of No. 25. [5] On August 8, 1945, The Sons of the Pioneers cut a new recording, this time for RCA Victor (catalog 20-1724). [6] [7] This version was re-released in 1947 on the Victor Smart Set album P-168 "Cowboy Classics." [7] However, the best-selling recorded version was done by Vaughn Monroe and The Sons of the Pioneers in 1948. The recording was released by RCA Victor as catalog number 20-2923. The record was on the Billboard chart for 13 weeks beginning on August 6, 1948, peaking at No. 9. [6] [8]

Frankie Laine and The Mellomen took it to No. 2 on the British charts in 1955.

Film appearances

Charts

Frankie Laine version

Chart performance for "Cool Water"
Chart (1955)Peak
position
United Kingdom ( NME ) [9] 2
United Kingdom (Record Mirror) [10] 1

References

  1. ↑ "Decca 5939 (10-in. double-faced) - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2021-08-18.
  2. ↑ "BMI | Songview Search". repertoire.bmi.com. Retrieved 2021-08-18.
  3. ↑ "Decca matrix 93632. Cool water / Sons of the Pioneers - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2021-08-18.
  4. ↑ "The Online Discographical Project". 78discography.com. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  5. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954 . Wisconsin, USA: Record Research Inc. p.  400. ISBN   0-89820-083-0.
  6. 1 2 Whitburn, Joel (1973). Top Pop Records 1940-1955. Record Research.
  7. 1 2 "78 RPM - Sons of the Pioneers - Cool Water/Stars And Stripes On Iwo Jima". 45worlds.com. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Best Selling Popular Retail Records, Week Ending October 1". books.google.com. 9 October 1948. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
  9. ↑ "Artist Chart History Details: Frankie Laine". The Official Charts Company . Retrieved 4 August 2010.
  10. ↑ McAleer, Dave. "Every No.1 in the 1960s is listed from all the nine different magazine charts!". Dave McAleer's website. Archived from the original on 10 May 2011. Retrieved 4 November 2010.
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