WADE IN THE WATER

 

"Wade In The Water" is a spiritual that was written in 1901 by brothers Frederick J, and John Wesley Work Jr. and was first published as "New Jubilee Songs as Sung by the Fisk Jubilee Singers."

 

The Sunset Four Jubilee Singers made the first commercial recording in 1925.

It was then recorded three more times in the next six years by the Lincoln Four Quartette, the Birmingham Jubilee Quartet, and the Famous Blue Jay Singers of Birmingham.

 

 Since then, the song has been recorded by a diverse group of musicians in all kinds of styles.

Ramsey Lewis recorded a version in 1966 that made it to #19 on The Billboard Hot 100. 

 

 Herb Alpert And The Tijuana Brass did a version in 1967.

 

The Staple Singers did a version also in 1967.

 

 

The list goes on and on with artists like Marlena Shaw, Little Sonny, Big Mama Thornton, The Graham Bond Organization, Clover, The Rivets, Pacific Gas & Electric, Ian & The Zodiacs, etc, etc, but I think my favorite one is this very creative version from Harvey Mandel's first solo album in 1968 titled "Cristo Redentor."

 When Mick Taylor quit The Rolling Stones in 1974, Harvey Mandel was one of the guitarists that tried out for the job, and his guitar playing can be heard on two of the songs from their 1976 album "Black And Blue," "Hot Stuff" and "Memory Motel."

 Harvey lost out, and the job went to Ron Wood.

HARVEY MANDEL - "Wade In The Water"