Black Water (song)

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"Black Water"
Single by The Doobie Brothers
from the album What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits
B-side "Song to See You Through"
Released November 15, 1974
Format 7" single
Recorded 1973
Genre Roots Rock
Length 4:18
Label Warner Brothers
Writer(s) Patrick Simmons
Producer Ted Templeman
The Doobie Brothers singles chronology
"Nobody (re-issue)"
(1974)
"Black Water"
(1974)
"Take Me in Your Arms (Rock Me)"
(1975)

"Black Water" is a song by the American music group The Doobie Brothers from the album What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits. Released in 1974, it features Patrick Simmons on lead vocals.

Introducing a bluegrass sound to traditional rock, "Black Water" hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on 15 March 1975. The song was originally released in early 1974 as the B-side to "Another Park, Another Sunday" but according to Tom Johnston in the Live at Wolftrap DVD, radio stations withdrew "Another Park, Another Sunday" from airplay because of the words ".. radio brings me down .. ", and "Black Water" ultimately became the more popular song.[1]

The song is characterized by the melodious a cappella section, with lyrics that are perhaps the most well-known in the entire song, which sing: "I'd like to hear some funky Dixieland/Pretty mama, come and take me by the hand." These lines are also featured in the Train song, "I Got You" (from Save Me San Francisco). That acapella idea came from Ted producer, Ted Templeton, the former lead singer of Harper's Bizarre, who's song "Feelin' Groovy" featured an acapella section with harmonies. "The song "Black Water" is also noted for its instrumental violin section.

The song is one of several performed by the Doobie Brothers during the band's two episode appearance in 1978 on the ABC sitcom What's Happening!![2]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Morse, Tim. Classic Rock Stories: The Stories Behind the Greatest Songs of All Time. St. Martin's Griffin, New York. p. 19. ISBN 0-312-18067-5. 
  2. ^ "Doobie or Not Doobie (Parts 1 and 2)". Sally Wade (writer); Mark Warren (director). What's Happening!!. ABC. 1978-01-28 & 1978-02-04. No. 16 & 17, season 2.
Preceded by
"Have You Never Been Mellow" by Olivia Newton-John
Billboard Hot 100 number one single
March 15, 1975
Succeeded by
"My Eyes Adored You" by Frankie Valli


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