South of the Border (1939 song)

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"South of the Border Down Mexico Way"
Single by Gene Autry
B-side "Gold Mine in Your Heart"
PublishedMarch 30, 1939 (1939-03-30) by Peter Maurice Music Co., Ltd., London [1]
ReleasedOctober 13, 1939 (1939-10-13) [2]
RecordedSeptember 11, 1939 (1939-09-11) [3]
Studio Stevens Hotel, Chicago
Genre Hillbilly, Country & Western
Length2:48
Label Vocalion 5122 [4]
Composer(s) Michael Carr
Lyricist(s) Jimmy Kennedy
Gene Autry singles chronology
"Back in the Saddle Again"
(1939)		"South of the Border Down Mexico Way"
(1939)		"The Merry-Go-Roundup / I'm Beginning To Care"
(1940)
"South of the Border (Down Mexico Way)"
Song by Shep Fields and His Rippling Rhythm
B-side "It's All Over Town (We're Thru)"
ReleasedAugust 14, 1939 [5]
RecordedAugust 1, 1939 [6]
Studio New York City, New York
Genre Big Band
Label Bluebird B-10376

"South of the Border Down Mexico Way" is a popular song describing a trip to Mexico, written by Jimmy Kennedy and Michael Carr. It was originally released in 1939, with many versions following, including one for the film of the same name sung by star Gene Autry. [7]

Contents

Background

In the lyrics, a man looks back with regret for having left a woman he cannot forget. When he returns much later, she is preparing to wed, presumably to either the church or another man. In the movie, however, she has become a nun to atone for her brother's crimes. [8] Members of the Western Writers of America chose it as one of the Top 100 Western songs of all time. [9]

Recordings

The song was a hit in 1939 for Shep Fields, vocal by Hal Derwin, reaching the No.1 spot for five weeks. [10] Other successful recordings in 1939 were by Guy Lombardo, Gene Autry, Ambrose (vocal by Denny Dennis) and Tony Martin. [11]

Other notable recordings

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References

  1. ↑ Library of Congress. Copyright Office. (1939). Catalog of Copyright Entries 1939 Musical Compositions New Series Vol 34 Pt 3 For the Year 1939. United States Copyright Office. U.S. Govt. Print. Off.
  2. ↑ 78 Record: Gene Autry - South of the Border (Down Mexico Way) (1939) , retrieved 2021-07-31
  3. ↑ Russell, Tony (2004). Country Music Records: A Discography, 1921-1942. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 84. ISBN   0195139895.
  4. ↑ "Vocalion 78rpm numerical listing discography - 5000 series (main sequence)". www.78discography.com. Retrieved 2022-02-04.
  5. ↑ 78 Record: Shep Fields And His Rippling Rhythm - South Of The Border (Down Mexico Way) (1939) , retrieved 2021-07-31
  6. ↑ "Victor matrix BS-041153. South of the border (Down Mexico way) / Hal Derwin ; Shep Fields ; Rippling Rhythm Orchestra - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-08-20.
  7. ↑ Soundtrack: South of the Border (1939). - IMDb.
  8. ↑ Frederick B. Pike, FDR's Good Neighbor Policy: Sixty Years of Generally Gentle Chaos (1995), University of Texas Press. P. 198.
  9. ↑ Western Writers of America (2010). "The Top 100 Western Songs". American Cowboy. Archived from the original on 19 October 2010.
  10. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. Wisconsin, USA: Record Research Inc. p.  157. ISBN   0-89820-083-0.
  11. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. Wisconsin, USA: Record Research Inc. p.  583. ISBN   0-89820-083-0.
  12. ↑ "Frank Sinatra Discography". jazzdiscography.com. Retrieved May 16, 2017.
  13. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. Wisconsin, USA: Record Research Inc. p.  394. ISBN   0-89820-083-0.
  14. ↑ "45worlds.com". 45worlds.com. Retrieved May 16, 2017.
  15. ↑ "45cat.com". 45cat.com. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
  16. ↑ "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
  17. ↑ "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. Retrieved May 16, 2017.
  18. ↑ "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
  19. ↑ "www.allmusic.com". www.allmusic.com. Retrieved July 7, 2024.
  20. ↑ "allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  21. ↑ "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  22. ↑ "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  23. ↑ "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
  24. ↑ "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. Retrieved May 16, 2017.
  25. ↑ "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  26. ↑ "www.discogs.com". discogs.com. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  27. ↑ "www.allmusic.com". www.allmusic.com. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
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  30. ↑ "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  31. ↑ "allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved May 16, 2017.
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