Chain Gang (song)
"Chain Gang" | ||||
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Single by Sam Cooke | ||||
from the album Swing Low | ||||
B-side | "I Fall in Love Every Day" | |||
Released | July 26, 1960 | |||
Recorded | January 25, 1960 | |||
Studio | RCA Victor, New York City | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 2:34 | |||
RCA Victor | ||||
Songwriter(s) | Sam Cooke, Charles Cook Jr.[2] | |||
Producer(s) | Hugo & Luigi | |||
Sam Cooke singles chronology | ||||
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"Chain Gang" is a song by American singer-songwriter Sam Cooke, released as a single on July 26, 1960.
Background
This was Cooke's second-biggest American hit, his first hit single for
Chart history
The song became one of Cooke's most successful singles, peaking at number two on the
Chart (1960) | Peak position |
---|---|
U.K. Singles Chart | 9 |
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 2 |
U.S. Billboard Hot R&B Sides | 2 |
Jim Croce medley
"Chain Gang Medley: Chain Gang/He Don't Love You/Searchin" | ||||
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Single by Jim Croce | ||||
from the album Down the Highway | ||||
B-side | "Stone Walls" | |||
Released | December 1975[7] | |||
Genre | Folk rock | |||
Length | 4:37 | |||
Label | Lifesong | |||
Songwriter(s) | Sam Cooke, Charles Cook, Jr., Jerry Butler, Curtis Mayfield, Calvin Carter, Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller | |||
Producer(s) | Terry Cashman, Tommy West | |||
Jim Croce singles chronology | ||||
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Jim Croce had his last Hot 100 hit in 1976 when Lifesong Records released "Chain Gang Medley", a medley which included this song as well as "He Don't Love You (Like I Love You)" and "Searchin'." The medley reached a peak of No. 63 on the Billboard Hot 100 after spending 9 weeks on the chart.
Chart (1975–1976) | Peak position |
---|---|
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[8] | 63 |
U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary | 22[9] |
U.S. Cash Box Top 100 | 56[10] |
Canadian RPM Top Singles | 29[11] |
Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary | 20[12] |
Other versions
American rhythm and blues/soul singer Jackie Wilson together with jazz pianist Count Basie released their version as a single in 1968, from the album Manufacturers of Soul. The song peaked at No. 84 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 37 on the Billboard R&B chart.[13][14]
References
- ^ a b Molanphy, Chris (March 23, 2021). "Don't Know Much About History Edition". Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia (Podcast). Slate. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
- ^ "discogs.com". discogs.com. July 1960. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
- ^ Kreps, Daniel; Stone, Rolling (May 12, 2014). "Between the Bars: 20 Great Songs About Prison". Rolling Stone.
- ^ "Top 100 Songs | Billboard Hot 100 Chart". Billboard. October 3, 1960. Retrieved June 30, 2019.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004. Record Research. p. 134.
- ^ "SAM COOKE | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Official Charts.
- ^ Strong, Martin Charles & John Peel Great Rock Discography
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2013). Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012. Record Research. p. 203.
- ^ "Chain Gang Medley (song by Jim Croce) ••• Music VF, US & UK hits charts". Musicvf.com. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
- ^ "Cash Box Top 100 2/07/76". cashboxmagazine.com. Archived from the original on December 13, 2010.
- ^ "Top Singles – Volume 24, No. 21, February 21 1976". Archived from the original on October 21, 2012. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary – Volume 24, No. 20, February 14 1976". Archived from the original on October 21, 2012. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
- ^ "Jackie Wilson Chart History - Hot 100". Billboard.
- ^ "Jackie Wilson Chart History - Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs". Billboard.