The Seventh Son
| "The Seventh Son" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SinglebyWillie Mabon | ||||
| B-side | "Lucinda" | |||
| Released | 1955 | |||
| Recorded | Chicago, 1955 | |||
| Genre | Rhythm and blues | |||
| Length | 3:01 | |||
| Label | Chess | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Willie Dixon | |||
| Producer(s) | ||||
| Willie Mabonsingles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"The Seventh Son"(also listed as"Seventh Son") is arhythm and bluessong written byWillie Dixon.The title refers to theseventh son of a seventh sonof folklore, which Dixon referenced previously in his "Hoochie Coochie Man".The lyrics include:
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 Mabonwas the first to record it. The jazz pianist and singerMose Allisonreleased it as a single in 1959 and on an album in 1964, calling it one of his "featured numbers".[1]Johnny Riversrecorded the song as the lead track for his albumMeanwhile Back at the Whisky à Go Goin 1965. Also released as a single, "The Seventh Son" was one of Rivers most popular singles.
Willie Mabon song
[edit]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 Recordsreleased the song as a single with "Lucinda" as theB-side,however, it did not reach the record charts.[3]
Johnny Rivers rendition
[edit]| "The Seventh Son" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SinglebyJohnny Rivers | ||||
| from the albumMeanwhile Back at the Whisky a Go Go | ||||
| B-side | "Un-Square Dance" | |||
| Released | 1965 | |||
| Recorded | 1965 | |||
| Venue | Whisky a Go Go,West Hollywood, California | |||
| Genre | Rock | |||
| Length | 2:45 | |||
| Label | Imperial | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Willie Dixon | |||
| Producer(s) | Lou Adler | |||
| Johnny Riverssingles chronology | ||||
| ||||
In the early 1960s,Johnny Riversrecorded several albums at theWhisky a Go Go,a popular music venue in West Hollywood, California.[4]"The Seventh Son" was included as the opening track on Rivers' 1965 releaseMeanwhile Back at the Whisky à Go Go.In anAllMusicalbum 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 toppedRPMmagazine's Top Singles chart.[6]
References
[edit]- ^Sullivan, Steve (2017).Encyclopedia of Great Popular Song Recordings,p. 264.Rowman & Littlefield.
- ^ab Dixon, Willie;Snowden, Don (1989).I Am the Blues.Da Capo Press.pp. 23, 87.ISBN0-306-80415-8.
- ^Dahl, Bill."Willie Mabon – Biography".AllMusic.RetrievedApril 12,2021.
- ^ab Eder, Bruce."Johnny Rivers:Meanwhile Back at the Whiskey A-Go-Go– Review ".AllMusic.RetrievedApril 12,2021.
- ^ "Johnny Rivers: Chart History – Hot 100 'Seventh Son'".Billboard.RetrievedMarch 19,2019.
- ^ "RPMMagazine Top Singles – Volume 3, No. 21 ".July 19, 1965.RetrievedMarch 31,2004– viaLibrary and Archives Canada.
