Is My Living in Vain

Last updated
"Is My Living in Vain"
Single by The Clark Sisters
from the album Is My Living in Vain
Released1980
Genre Contemporary gospel
Length3:18
Label Sound of Gospel Records
Songwriter(s) Elbernita Clark

"Is My Living in Vain" is an American gospel song written by Elbernita "Twinkie" Clark and performed by the Clark Sisters, which first appeared on their 1980 live album, Is My Living in Vain, and released as a single the same year. The Clark Sisters recorded the song and album live at Bailey Cathedral Church of God in Christ in Detroit, Michigan. The song proved to be the first big hit for the quintet, propelling them to national exposure.

Contents

The lyrics are a series of rhetorical questions asking if the singers' actions are in vain. [1] Each sister sings a line of the song, vocally declaring that their dedication to Christ is not a useless effort.

The song has since been covered and sampled by a number of singers.

The singer Bilal names the song's LP among his 25 favorite albums, calling it one of the Clark Sisters' best and "an incredible gospel album". [2]

On August 31, 2018, the Clark Sisters performed the song live at Aretha Franklin's funeral in Detroit. [3]

In 1993, American group Xscape covered "Is My Living in Vain" for their debut album Hummin' Comin' at 'Cha . [4] [5] In 2006, the song was again covered by Zie'l. [6] [7] The song is sampled in the 2017 song "Talking to God, Pt. 2" by rapper Deante' Hitchcock. [8] [9]

Chart performance

Chart (2018)Peak
position
US Gospel Digital Song Sales [10] 3

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aretha Franklin</span> American singer (1942–2018)

Aretha Louise Franklin was an American singer, songwriter and pianist. Honored as the "Queen of Soul", Rolling Stone magazine twice named her as the greatest singer of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Erma Franklin</span> American gospel and soul singer (1938–2002)

Erma Vernice Franklin was an American gospel and soul singer. Franklin recorded the original version of "Piece of My Heart", written and produced by Jerry Ragovoy and Bert Berns in 1967, for which she was nominated for a Grammy Award. A cover version of the same song was recorded the following year by Big Brother and the Holding Company, with lead vocals by Janis Joplin. Franklin was the elder sister of American singer/musician Aretha Franklin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CeCe Winans</span> American gospel singer (born 1964)

Priscilla Marie Winans Love, known professionally as CeCe Winans, is an American gospel singer who has garnered 15 Grammy Awards, the most for any female gospel singer; 31 GMA Dove Awards, 19 Stellar Awards, 7 NAACP Image Awards, 1 Billboard Music Award along with many other awards and honors to her credit including being one of the inaugural inductees into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame in Atlanta, Georgia. Known as the "Queen of Gospel Music", Winans is the best-selling and most awarded female gospel singer of all time, and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and Music City Walk of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Cleveland</span> American musician (1931–1991)

James Edward Cleveland was an American gospel singer, musician, and composer. Known as the "King of Gospel," Cleveland was a driving force behind the creation of the modern gospel sound by incorporating traditional black gospel, soul, pop, and jazz in arrangements for mass choirs.

The Clark Sisters are an American gospel vocal group originally consisting of five sisters: Jacky Clark Chisholm, Denise "Niecy" Clark-Bradford, Elbernita "Twinkie" Clark, Dorinda Clark-Cole, and Karen Clark Sheard. The Clark Sisters are the daughters of gospel musician and choral director Dr. Mattie Moss Clark. They are credited for helping to bring gospel music to the mainstream and are considered pioneers of contemporary gospel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Davis Sisters</span> Musical artist

The Davis Sisters of Philadelphia, PA were an American gospel group founded by Ruth Davis and featuring her sisters Thelma, Audrey, Alfreda and Edna. Imogene Greene joined the group in 1950, and was later replaced by Jackie Verdell when Greene left to join the Caravans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tramaine Hawkins</span> American gospel singer (born 1951)

Tramaine Aunzola Richardson, known professionally as Tramaine Hawkins, is an American award-winning Gospel singer whose career spans over five decades. Since beginning her career in 1966, Hawkins has won two Grammy Awards, two Doves, and 19 Stellar Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Karen Clark Sheard</span> American gospel singer (born 1960)

Karen Valencia Clark Sheard is an American gospel singer and songwriter. Clark-Sheard is the youngest member of gospel group the Clark Sisters, which was formed in 1973. She is also the mother of contemporary gospel singer and actress Kierra "Kiki" Sheard, with whom she frequently collaborates. She has released five solo albums and 17 with the Clark Sisters.

Elbernita "Twinkie" Dionne Clark is an American Grammy Award-winning gospel singer, songwriter, composer, record producer, musician, and evangelist. Clark is best known as the chief executive writer and member of the American gospel singing group the Clark Sisters. Often called the "Mother of Contemporary Gospel Music"; Clark possesses an incredible 6 octave vocal range spanning from Bass and Baritone notes to High Soprano and whistle register notes. NPR named her one of the 50 Great Voices. Known for her use of the Hammond Organ, she is often referred to as the "Queen of the B3 Hammond Organ", and was inducted into the Hammond Hall of Fame in 2014. Clark is principally credited as the originator of "The C.O.G.I.C. Shout Sound". She is a BMI Gospel Trailblazer honoree, the recipient of multiple Grammy Awards, and continues to inspire generations of artists today. Artists such as Beyonce, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, Faith Evans and also her sister, Karen Clark-Sheard have cited Clark as a major influence on their singing and vocal style and have also sampled her music in various songs of their own.

"Take My Hand, Precious Lord" is a gospel song. The lyrics were written by Thomas A. Dorsey, who also adapted the melody.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves</span> 1985 single by Eurythmics and Aretha Franklin

"Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves" is a song by British pop duo Eurythmics and American singer Aretha Franklin. A modern feminist anthem, it was written by Eurythmics members Annie Lennox and David A. Stewart and featured on both Eurythmics' Be Yourself Tonight (1985) and Franklin's Who's Zoomin' Who? (1985) albums. The duo originally intended to perform with Tina Turner, who was unavailable at the time and so they flew to Detroit and recorded with Franklin instead. The track also features three of Tom Petty's Heartbreakers: Stan Lynch on drums, Benmont Tench on organ, and Mike Campbell on lead guitar, plus session bassist Nathan East.

Dorinda Grace Clark-Cole is an American Grammy Award-winning gospel singer, songwriter, musician, talk show host, and evangelist. Clark–Cole is best known as a member of family vocal group The Clark Sisters and as a daughter of pioneering choral director Mattie Moss Clark. As a member of The Clark Sisters, Clark–Cole has won two Grammy Awards. She is known to the music world as the Rose of Gospel Music.

Jacqueline Lenita Clark-Chisholm, known professionally as Jacky Clark-Chisholm, is an American Grammy Award-winning gospel singer, songwriter, and licensed practical nurse who is best known as the eldest member of the American gospel singing group The Clark Sisters.

Thomas Anthony Whitfield was an American gospel singer, songwriter, arranger, pianist, choir director and producer best known for helping to shape the fabric of contemporary gospel music with his elaborate choral arrangements and the merging of musical styles ranging from jazz to classical into traditional gospel foundations. This style earned him the respectable title of "Maestro" by many of his colleagues and supporters. He was best known for organizing one of the popular contemporary gospel choirs of all time, the Thomas Whitfield Company, and for producing best-selling records for Vanessa Bell Armstrong, Shirley Caesar, Yolanda Adams, Douglas Miller, Keith Pringle, Paul Morton and for Aretha Franklin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rock Steady (Aretha Franklin song)</span> 1971 single by Aretha Franklin

"Rock Steady" is a song written and performed by American singer-songwriter Aretha Franklin, released in October 1971 from her eighteenth album, Young, Gifted and Black (1972). The single reached the #9 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 charts that same year. It also peaked at #2 on the Best Selling Soul Singles chart. The original A-side, a rendition of the song "Oh Me Oh My ", peaked at #73 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #9 on the Best Selling Soul Singles chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kierra Sheard</span> Musical artist

Kierra Valencia "Kiki" Sheard-Kelly is an American gospel singer and evangelist. She is the daughter of gospel singer Karen Clark-Sheard and COGIC Presiding Bishop J. Drew Sheard and the granddaughter of gospel choral director Mattie Moss Clark. After appearing on her mother's and aunt's albums, Sheard debuted to the music scene with the release of her debut album I Owe You in 2004. Her hit single "You Don't Know" was inspired by her mother almost losing her life in 2001 to a fatal blood clot. Sheard portrayed her mother in the hit Lifetime movie, The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel.

"Ain't No Way" is a song written by singer-songwriter Carolyn Franklin and sung by her elder sister Aretha Franklin as the B-side to her 1968 hit, "(Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You've Been Gone". This song should not be confused with a different song of the same title, recorded by Aretha Franklin on her 2003 CD So Damn Happy: "Ain't No Way" by Barry J. Eastmond and Gordon Chambers.

<i>Live – One Last Time</i> 2007 live album by The Clark Sisters

Live – One Last Time is a live album released by Christian gospel quartet The Clark Sisters. The concert was recorded on July 8, 2006. The album was produced by EMI Gospel and released on April 10, 2007. The album won three Grammys.

"Total Praise" is a song written by Richard Smallwood, first recorded by Richard Smallwood with Vision on the 1996 album, Adoration: Live in Atlanta. It has subsequently become one of his most popular songs.

Theodore Richard White was an American businessman, songwriter, music manager and producer from Detroit, Michigan.

References

  1. Williams, Kimberley Denise (July 22, 2018). "We Need To Put More Respect On The Clark Sisters' Names". Vibe . Retrieved September 1, 2019.
  2. Simmons, Ted (February 26, 2013). "Bilal's 25 Favorite Albums". Complex . Archived from the original on January 4, 2021. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
  3. Izadi, Elahe; Butler, Bethonie; Rao, Sonia (August 31, 2018). "'She gave us pride and a regal bar to reach': Everything that happened at Aretha Franklin's 8-hour funeral". The Washington Post . Retrieved September 1, 2019.
  4. "Robert Christgau: Consumer Guide Nov. 23, 1993: Turkey Shoot".
  5. "Xscape's 'Is My Living in Vain?' - Discover the Original Song".
  6. "Zie'l's 'Is My Living in Vain' - Discover the Original Song".
  7. "Zie'l - Genesis". 31 July 2007.
  8. "Deante' Hitchcock - Samples, Covers and Remixes".
  9. "Deante' Hitchcock - Talking to God Pt. 2 (Prod. By Brandon Phillips Taylor)".
  10. "Is My Living In Vain Chart History - Billboard". Billboard.com . Retrieved April 22, 2020.