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If you noticed blunt omissions, mis-interpretations or even out-and-out errors,
please let me know:
Arnold Rypens
Rozenlaan 65
B-2840 Reet (Rumst)
Artist: Rev. J.M. Gates
Author: traditional
Label: Vocalion
Year: 1926
As a sermon based upon the storyline of the book Ezekiel (37:1-4), where he dwells in a valley full of bones and God reasures him he can reconnect them all to the body they belong to. Popular among black preachers in the southern US, always in seach of good Bible storylines to build up on in a climax. Ezekiel mentions this bone connection in one mere line, but these preachers connected bone to bone, from toe bone to head bone. Soon music was added, mostly credited to James W. Johnson and his brother J. Rosmond Johnson.
Covers:
Fairview Jubilee Singers [as Them Bones Walking Around]
Famous Myers Jubilee Singers [as Ezekiel Prophesied To The Dry Bones]
Four Gospel Singers [as Dry Bones]
Carolinians [idem]
Fats Waller [first secular version, not mentioning God or even Ezekiel]
Delta Rhythm Boys [idem for Decca; introduced the gimmick to raise up their voices the higher the bone described: bass for the toe bone, falsetto for the head bone; their most memorable version in '47 for RCA; their bass man Jimmy Ricks later joined The Ravens, the first bird group]
Elder Charles Beck [swing version]
Fred Waring [with Spike Jones-alike percussion effects; version used in TV series The Singing Detective]
Louis Armstrong [as Ezekiel Saw De Wheel, with the Sy Oliver Choir]
Four Lads [as Dem Bones]
Shirley Caesar [with Rev. Claude Jeter]
Parliament [part of the lyrics in Dr. Funkenstein]
Sons Of Andros [from the Bahamas; all as Dry Bones]
EFX [part of the lyrics in They Want EFX]
Gregory Porter [Them bones, them bones, them dry bones-part copied in his Dry Bones]
Dry Bones became standard repertoire during school trips by bus or as a walking song for kids.You can make it as long and as dirty as there are bones in the human body, while time flies (the main reason).
If you noticed blunt omissions, mis-interpretations or even out-and-out errors,
please let me know:
Arnold Rypens
Rozenlaan 65
B-2840 Reet (Rumst)