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Cool Water (song)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Cool Water"
Single by the Sons of the Pioneers
B-sideSo Long to the Red River Valley[1]
Written1936
Published1936[2]
ReleasedApril 1941
RecordedMarch 27, 1941[3]
StudioChicago, Illinois
GenreCountry (Hillbilly)
LabelDecca 5939
Songwriter(s)Bob Nolan

"Cool Water" is a song written in 1936 by Bob Nolan. It is about a parched man and his mule traveling a wasteland tormented by mirages. Members of the Western Writers of America chose it as No. 3 on the Top 100 Western songs of all time.

Charting versions

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It was first recorded by The Sons of the Pioneers on March 27, 1941, for Decca Records (catalog 5939)[4] and this briefly charted in 1941 with a peak position of No. 25.[5] On August 8, 1945, The Sons of the Pioneers cut a new recording, this time for RCA Victor (catalog 20-1724).[6][7] This version was re-released in 1947 on the Victor Smart Set album P-168 "Cowboy Classics."[7] However, the best-selling recorded version was done by Vaughn Monroe and The Sons of the Pioneers in 1948. The recording was released by RCA Victor as catalog number 20-2923. The record was on the Billboard chart for 13 weeks beginning on August 6, 1948, peaking at No. 9.[6][8]

Frankie Laine and The Mellomen took it to No. 2 on the British charts in 1955.

Film appearances

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Charts

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Frankie Laine version

Chart performance for "Cool Water"
Chart (1955) Peak
position
United Kingdom (NME)[9] 2
United Kingdom (Record Mirror)[10] 1

References

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  1. ^ "Decca 5939 (10-in. double-faced) - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2021-08-18.
  2. ^ "BMI | Songview Search". repertoire.bmi.com. Retrieved 2021-08-18.
  3. ^ "Decca matrix 93632. Cool water / Sons of the Pioneers - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2021-08-18.
  4. ^ "The Online Discographical Project". 78discography.com. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  5. ^ Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. Wisconsin, USA: Record Research Inc. p. 400. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
  6. ^ a b Whitburn, Joel (1973). Top Pop Records 1940-1955. Record Research.
  7. ^ a b "78 RPM - Sons of the Pioneers - Cool Water/Stars And Stripes On Iwo Jima". 45worlds.com. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
  8. ^ "Best Selling Popular Retail Records, Week Ending October 1". books.google.com. 9 October 1948. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
  9. ^ "Artist Chart History Details: Frankie Laine". The Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 August 2010.
  10. ^ McAleer, Dave. "Every No.1 in the 1960s is listed from all the nine different magazine charts!". Dave McAleer's website. Archived from the original on 10 May 2011. Retrieved 4 November 2010.
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