The Seventh Son (song)
Encyclopedia
"The Seventh Son", also recorded as "Seventh Son", is a song written by Willie Dixon
. It was released as a single by Willie Mabon
on Chess Records
in 1955. It has also been recorded by artists such as Johnny Rivers
(on his album Meanwhile Back at the Whisky a Go Go
), John Mellencamp
(on the 2005 reissue of Rough Harvest
), Billy "Crash" Craddock (on the album You Better Move On
), Mose Allison
, Sting, Georgie Fame
, Climax Blues Band
, the Soul Agents, Long John Baldry
, and George Thorogood
.
, Illinois
. The exact personnel on the session is not known for sure but is most likely Willie Mabon (vocals
, piano
), Bill Martin (trumpet
), Herbert Robinson (tenor saxophone
), Willie Dixon (bass
), and Oliver Coleman (drum
s). The song was paired for release as a single
with "Lucinda" as its b-side
and was released in October.
in Hollywood, California
and released it on Meanwhile Back at the Whisky à Go Go
in 1965 and released it as a single. The single version of the song peaked at #7 on Billboard
magazine's Hot 100
singles chart. Johnny Rivers' version also topped RPM
magazine's Top Singles chart.
Willie Dixon
William James "Willie" Dixon was an American blues musician, vocalist, songwriter, arranger and record producer. A Grammy Award winner who was proficient on both the Upright bass and the guitar, as well as his own singing voice, Dixon is arguably best known as one of the most prolific songwriters...
. It was released as a single by Willie Mabon
Willie Mabon
Willie Mabon was an American R&B singer, songwriter and pianist.-Career:Born Willie James Mabon, and brought up in Hollywood, Memphis, Tennessee, he had become known as a singer and pianist by the time he moved to Chicago in 1942. He formed a group, the Blues Rockers, and in 1949 began recording...
on Chess Records
Chess Records
Chess Records was an American record label based in Chicago, Illinois. It specialized in blues, R&B, soul, gospel music, early rock and roll, and occasional jazz releases....
in 1955. It has also been recorded by artists such as Johnny Rivers
Johnny Rivers
Johnny Rivers is an American rock and roll singer, songwriter, guitarist, and record producer. His styles include folk songs, blues, and revivals of old-time rock 'n' roll songs and some original material...
(on his album Meanwhile Back at the Whisky a Go Go
Meanwhile Back at the Whisky à Go Go
Meanwhile Back at the Whisky à Go Go was Johnny Rivers's fourth official album, and like all his prior albums it was recorded live at the Whisky a Go Go in Los Angeles...
), John Mellencamp
John Mellencamp
John Mellencamp, previously known by the stage names Johnny Cougar, John Cougar, and John Cougar Mellencamp, is an American rock singer-songwriter, musician, painter and occasional actor known for his catchy, populist brand of heartland rock that eschews synthesizers and other artificial sounds...
(on the 2005 reissue of Rough Harvest
Rough Harvest
Rough Harvest is a collection of alternate, acoustic arrangements of John Mellencamp's favorite tracks, as well as several covers. Recorded mostly in 1997 , the album fulfilled Mellencamp's contractual obligation with Mercury Records.-Track listing:# "Love And Happiness" -...
), Billy "Crash" Craddock (on the album You Better Move On
You Better Move On
You Better Move On is a country album by Billy "Crash" Craddock. It was originally released in 1971 on Cartwheel Records. It was reissued in 1973 on ABC Records.-Track listing:#"You Better Move On"...
), Mose Allison
Mose Allison
Mose John Allison, Jr. is an American jazz blues pianist and singer.-Biography:...
, Sting, Georgie Fame
Georgie Fame
Georgie Fame is a British rhythm and blues and jazz singer and keyboard player. The one-time rock and roll tour musician, who had a string of 1960s hits, is still a popular performer, often working with contemporaries such as Van Morrison and Bill Wyman.-Early life:Fame took piano lessons from the...
, Climax Blues Band
Climax Blues Band
Climax Blues Band was formed in Stafford, England in 1968. The original members were guitarists Peter Haycock and Derek Holt; keyboardist Arthur Wood; bassist Richard Jones; drummer George Newsome; and vocalist and harmonica player, Colin Cooper.In 1970, the group shortened its name to the Climax...
, the Soul Agents, Long John Baldry
Long John Baldry
John William "Long John" Baldry was an English and Canadian blues singer and a voice actor. He sang with many British musicians, with Rod Stewart and Elton John appearing in bands led by Baldry in the 1960s. He enjoyed pop success in the UK where Let the Heartaches Begin reached No...
, and George Thorogood
George Thorogood
George Thorogood is an American blues rock vocalist/guitarist from Wilmington, Delaware, United States, known for his hit song "Bad to the Bone" as well as for covers of blues standards such as Hank Williams' "Move It On Over" and John Lee Hooker's "House Rent Boogie/One Bourbon, One Scotch, One...
.
Original version
Willie Mabon recorded "the Seventh Son" on June 1, 1955 in ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. The exact personnel on the session is not known for sure but is most likely Willie Mabon (vocals
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
), Bill Martin (trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
), Herbert Robinson (tenor saxophone
Tenor saxophone
The tenor saxophone is a medium-sized member of the saxophone family, a group of instruments invented by Adolphe Sax in the 1840s. The tenor, with the alto, are the two most common types of saxophones. The tenor is pitched in the key of B, and written as a transposing instrument in the treble...
), Willie Dixon (bass
Double bass
The double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2...
), and Oliver Coleman (drum
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
s). The song was paired for release as a single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
with "Lucinda" as its b-side
A-side and B-side
A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
and was released in October.
Johnny Rivers version
Johnny Rivers recorded his version of "the Seventh Son" live at the Whisky a Go GoWhisky a Go Go
The Whisky a Go Go is a nightclub in West Hollywood, California, United States. It is located at 8901 Sunset Boulevard, on the Sunset Strip.-History:...
in Hollywood, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and released it on Meanwhile Back at the Whisky à Go Go
Meanwhile Back at the Whisky à Go Go
Meanwhile Back at the Whisky à Go Go was Johnny Rivers's fourth official album, and like all his prior albums it was recorded live at the Whisky a Go Go in Los Angeles...
in 1965 and released it as a single. The single version of the song peaked at #7 on Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
magazine's Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
singles chart. Johnny Rivers' version also topped RPM
RPM (magazine)
RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,...
magazine's Top Singles chart.