The Seventh Son

Last updated
"The Seventh Son"
Single by Willie Mabon
B-side "Lucinda"
Released1955 (1955)
RecordedChicago, 1955
Genre Rhythm and blues
Length3:01
Label Chess
Songwriter(s) Willie Dixon
Producer(s)
Willie Mabon singles chronology
"Come On, Baby"
(1955)
"The Seventh Son"
(1955)
"Knock on Wood"
(1956)

"The Seventh Son" (also listed as "Seventh Son") is a rhythm and blues song written by Willie Dixon. The title refers to the seventh son of a seventh son of folklore, which Dixon referenced previously in his "Hoochie Coochie Man". The lyrics include:

Contents

Now everybody's talkin' about the seventh son
But in the whole round world, there is only one
I'm the one, yes, I'm the one
I'm the one they call the seventh son

In 1955, Willie Mabon was the first to record it. The jazz pianist and singer Mose Allison released it as a single in 1959 and on an album in 1964, calling it one of his "featured numbers". [1] Johnny Rivers recorded the song as the lead track for his album Meanwhile Back at the Whisky à Go Go in 1965. Also released as a single, "The Seventh Son" was one of Rivers most popular singles.

Willie Mabon song

In his autobiography, Dixon described writing several tunes for Mabon, including "The Seventh Son". [2] He noted that Mabon stuck to his arrangement, unlike others who recorded the song, and commented on its background:

The Seventh Son is kind of a historical idea. In New Orleans and Algiers, Louisiana, they have these people calling themselves born for good luck because they're the seventh sister or seventh brother or the seventh child. The world has made a pattern out of this seven as a lucky number. Most people think the seventh child has the extra wisdom and knowledge to influence other people. [2]

Chess Records released the song as a single with "Lucinda" as the B-side, however, it did not reach the record charts. [3]

Johnny Rivers rendition

"The Seventh Son"
Single by Johnny Rivers
from the album Meanwhile Back at the Whisky a Go Go
B-side "Un-Square Dance"
Released1965 (1965)
Recorded1965
Venue Whisky a Go Go, West Hollywood, California
Genre Rock
Length2:45
Label Imperial
Songwriter(s) Willie Dixon
Producer(s) Lou Adler
Johnny Rivers singles chronology
"Mountain of Love"
(1964)
"The Seventh Son"
(1965)
"Where Have All the Flowers Gone"
(1965)

In the early 1960s, Johnny Rivers recorded several albums at the Whisky a Go Go, a popular music venue in West Hollywood, California. [4] "The Seventh Son" was included as the opening track on Rivers' 1965 release Meanwhile Back at the Whisky à Go Go . In an AllMusic album review, Bruce Eder noted, "[On] the opening track, 'Seventh Son' Rivers takes an approach that manages to intersect with swamp rock, white soul, and garage punk, all neatly wrapped up in three minutes so potent that it shot to the Top Ten on the Billboard Hot 100." [4] The single version peaked at number seven on July 2, 1965, [5] and topped RPM magazine's Top Singles chart. [6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Willie Dixon</span> American blues musician (1915–1992)

William James Dixon was an American blues musician, vocalist, songwriter, arranger and record producer. He was proficient in playing both the upright bass and the guitar, and sang with a distinctive voice, but he is perhaps best known as one of the most prolific songwriters of his time. Next to Muddy Waters, Dixon is recognized as the most influential person in shaping the post–World War II sound of the Chicago blues.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A Boy Named Sue</span> Song by Shel Silverstein, Johnny Cash

"A Boy Named Sue" is a song written by humorist, children's author, and poet Shel Silverstein and made famous by Johnny Cash. Cash recorded the song live in concert on February 24, 1969, at California's San Quentin State Prison for his At San Quentin album. Cash also performed the song in December 1969 at Madison Square Garden. The live San Quentin version of the song became Cash's biggest hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and his only top ten single there, spending three weeks at No. 2 in 1969, held out of the top spot by "Honky Tonk Women" by The Rolling Stones. The track also topped the Billboard Hot Country Songs and Easy Listening charts that same year and was certified Gold on August 14, 1969, by the RIAA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johnny Rivers</span> American rock musician

Johnny Rivers is an American musician. He enjoyed success throughout the 1960s and 1970s as a singer and guitarist, characterized as a versatile and influential artist. Rivers is best known for his 1960s output, having popularized the mid-60s discotheque scene through his live rock and roll recordings at Los Angeles' Whiskey a Go Go nightclub, and later shifting to a more orchestral, soul-oriented sound during the latter half of the decade. These developments were reflected by his most notable string of hit singles between 1964 and 1968, many of them covers. They include "Memphis", "Mountain of Love", "The Seventh Son", "Secret Agent Man", "Poor Side of Town", "Baby I Need Your Lovin'", and "Summer Rain". Ultimately, Rivers landed 9 top ten hits and 17 top forty hits in the American charts from 1964 to 1977.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Supremes discography</span>

American girl group The Supremes have released 29 studio albums, four live albums, two soundtrack albums, 32 compilation albums, four box sets, 66 singles and three promotional singles. The Supremes are the most successful American group of all time, and the 26th greatest artist of all time on the US Billboard charts; with 12 number-one songs on the Billboard Hot 100 and three number-one albums on the Billboard 200. The Supremes were the first artist to accumulate five consecutive number-one singles on the US Hot 100 and the first female group to top the Billboard 200 albums chart with The Supremes A' Go-Go (1966). In 2017, Billboard ranked The Supremes as the number-one girl group of all time, publishing, 'although there have been many girl group smashes in the decades since the Supremes ruled the Billboard charts, no collective has yet to challenge their, for lack of a better word, supremacy.' In 2019, the UK Official Charts Company placed 7 Supremes songs—"You Can't Hurry Love" (16), "Baby Love" (23), "Stop! In the Name of Love" (56), "Where Did Our Love Go?" (59), "You Keep Me Hangin' On" (78), "Come See About Me" (94) and "Stoned Love" (99)—on The Official Top 100 Motown songs of the Millennium chart, which ranks Motown releases by their all-time UK downloads and streams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rock and Roll Music (song)</span> 1957 song by Chuck Berry

"Rock and Roll Music" is a song by American musician and songwriter Chuck Berry, written and recorded by Berry in May 1957. It has been widely covered and is one of Berry's most popular and enduring compositions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)</span> 1988 single by the Proclaimers

"I'm Gonna Be " is a song written and performed by Scottish duo the Proclaimers, and first released in August 1988 by Chrysalis as the lead single from their second album, Sunshine on Leith (1988). The song reached number 11 in the UK Singles Chart on its initial release and topped the charts of Australia, Iceland, and New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)</span> 1965 single by the Four Tops

"I Can't Help Myself" is a 1965 song recorded by the Four Tops for the Motown label.

"Always on My Mind" is a ballad written by Wayne Carson, Johnny Christopher, and Mark James, first recorded by Brenda Lee and first released by Gwen McCrae in March 1972. Lee's version was released three months later in June 1972. The song has been a crossover hit, charting in both the country and western and pop categories. Elvis Presley's recording was the first commercially successful version of the song.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">True Love (Cole Porter song)</span> 1956 song by Cole Porter

"True Love" is a popular song written by American songwriter Cole Porter, published in 1956. The song was introduced by Bing Crosby and Grace Kelly in the musical film High Society. "True Love" was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song. Kelly's contribution on the record is relatively minor, duetting with Crosby on only the final chorus. Nonetheless, the single is co-credited to her.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'm on Fire</span> 1985 single by Bruce Springsteen

"I'm on Fire" is a song written and performed by American rock performer Bruce Springsteen. Released in 1985, it was the fourth single from his album Born in the U.S.A.

"By the Time I Get to Phoenix" is a song written by Jimmy Webb. Originally recorded by Johnny Rivers in 1965, it was reinterpreted by American country music singer Glen Campbell on his album of the same name. Released on Capitol Records in 1967, Campbell's version topped RPM's Canada Country Tracks, reached number two on Billboard's Hot Country Singles chart, and won two awards at the 10th Annual Grammys. Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) named it the third most performed song from 1940 to 1990. The song was ranked number 20 on BMI's Top 100 Songs of the Century. Frank Sinatra called it "the greatest torch song ever written." It was No. 450 on Rolling Stone magazine's Top 500 Songs of All Time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hoochie Coochie Man</span> Blues standard written by Willie Dixon

"Hoochie Coochie Man" is a blues standard written by Willie Dixon and first recorded by Muddy Waters in 1954. The song makes reference to hoodoo folk magic elements and makes novel use of a stop-time musical arrangement. It became one of Waters' most popular and identifiable songs and helped secure Dixon's role as Chess Records' chief songwriter.

"Susie Q" is a rockabilly song co-written and performed by American musician Dale Hawkins released in 1957. The song was a commercial success, and became a classic of the early rock and roll era being recorded by many other performers in subsequent years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Little Red Rooster</span> Blues standard credited to Willie Dixon

"Little Red Rooster" is a blues standard credited to arranger and songwriter Willie Dixon. The song was first recorded in 1961 by American blues musician Howlin' Wolf in the Chicago blues style. His vocal and slide guitar playing are key elements of the song. It is rooted in the Delta blues tradition and the theme is derived from folklore. Musical antecedents to "Little Red Rooster" appear in earlier songs by blues artists Charlie Patton and Memphis Minnie.

<i>I Am the Blues</i> 1970 studio album by Willie Dixon

I Am the Blues is the sixth studio Chicago blues album released in 1970 by the well-known bluesman Willie Dixon. It is also the title of Dixon's autobiography, edited by Don Snowden.

"Brown Eyed Handsome Man" is a rock and roll song written and recorded by Chuck Berry, originally released by Chess Records in September 1956 as the B-side of "Too Much Monkey Business." It was also included on Berry's 1957 debut album, After School Session. The song title was also used as the title of a biography of Berry.

<i>Meanwhile Back at the Whisky à Go Go</i> 1965 live album by Johnny Rivers

Meanwhile Back at the Whisky à Go Go was Johnny Rivers's fourth official album, and was his third recorded live at the Whisky a Go Go in Los Angeles. The album was on the Billboard charts for 21 weeks reaching #21 on August 30, 1965. Rivers' version of "Seventh Son" peaked on the Billboard charts at #7.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Willie and the Hand Jive</span> 1958 single by Johnny Otis

"Willie and the Hand Jive" is a song written by Johnny Otis and originally released as a single in 1958 by Otis, reaching #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and #5 on the Billboard R&B chart. The song has a Bo Diddley beat and was partly inspired by the music sung by a chain gang Otis heard while he was touring. The lyrics are about a man who became famous for doing a dance with his hands, but the song has been accused of glorifying masturbation, though Otis always denied it. It has since been covered by numerous artists, including The Crickets, The Strangeloves, Eric Clapton, Cliff Richard, Kim Carnes, George Thorogood, The Bunch, and in live performances by The Grateful Dead. Clapton's 1974 version was released as a single and reached the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 26. Thorogood's 1985 version reached No. 25 on the Billboard Rock Tracks chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Little Queenie</span> 1959 single by Chuck Berry

"Little Queenie" is a song written and recorded by Chuck Berry. Released in March 1959 as a double A-side single with "Almost Grown", it was included on Chuck Berry Is on Top (1959), Berry's first compilation album. He performed the song in the movies Go, Johnny Go! (1959) and Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll (1987). One year earlier, Berry had released "Run Rudolph Run", a Christmas song with the same melody.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Let's All Go Down to the River</span> 1972 single by Jody Miller and Johnny Paycheck

"Let's All Go Down to the River" is a song originally recorded as a duet by American singers Jody Miller and Johnny Paycheck. It was written by Earl Montgomery and Sue Richards. The song reached the top 20 of the American and Canadian country charts after being released as a single in 1972.

References

  1. Sullivan, Steve (2017). Encyclopedia of Great Popular Song Recordings, , p. 264. Rowman & Littlefield.
  2. 1 2 Dixon, Willie; Snowden, Don (1989). I Am the Blues. Da Capo Press. pp. 23, 87. ISBN   0-306-80415-8.
  3. Dahl, Bill. "Willie Mabon Biography". AllMusic . Retrieved April 12, 2021.
  4. 1 2 Eder, Bruce. "Johnny Rivers: Meanwhile Back at the Whiskey A-Go-Go Review". AllMusic . Retrieved April 12, 2021.
  5. "Johnny Rivers: Chart History – Hot 100 'Seventh Son'". Billboard.com . Retrieved March 19, 2019.
  6. "RPM Magazine Top Singles – Volume 3, No. 21". July 19, 1965. Retrieved March 31, 2004 via Library and Archives Canada.