"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.
| "Cool Water" | |
|---|---|
| Single by the Sons of the Pioneers | |
| B-side | So Long to the Red River Valley[1] |
| Written | 1936 |
| Published | 1936[2] |
| Released | April 1941 |
| Recorded | March 27, 1941[3] |
| Studio | Chicago, Illinois |
| Genre | Country (Hillbilly) |
| Label | Decca 5939 |
| Songwriter(s) | Bob Nolan |
Charting versions
editIt 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
edit- 1945 Along the Navajo Trail – sung by Bob Nolan and the Sons of the Pioneers.
- 1945 Saddle Serenade – performed by Jimmy Wakely and the Riders of the Purple Sage
- 1946 Ding Dong Williams – performed by Bob Nolan and the Sons of the Pioneers.
- 2011 Rango – performed by Hank Williams.
- 2018 The Ballad of Buster Scruggs – sung by Tim Blake Nelson
Charts
editFrankie Laine version
| Chart (1955) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom (NME)[9] | 2 |
| United Kingdom (Record Mirror)[10] | 1 |
References
edit- ^ "Decca 5939 (10-in. double-faced) - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2021-08-18.
- ^ "BMI | Songview Search". repertoire.bmi.com. Retrieved 2021-08-18.
- ^ "Decca matrix 93632. Cool water / Sons of the Pioneers - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2021-08-18.
- ^ "The Online Discographical Project". 78discography.com. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. Wisconsin, USA: Record Research Inc. p. 400. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
- ^ a b Whitburn, Joel (1973). Top Pop Records 1940-1955. Record Research.
- ^ a b "78 RPM - Sons of the Pioneers - Cool Water/Stars And Stripes On Iwo Jima". 45worlds.com. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
- ^ "Best Selling Popular Retail Records, Week Ending October 1". books.google.com. 9 October 1948. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
- ^ "Artist Chart History Details: Frankie Laine". The Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 August 2010.
- ^ 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.