Walking in Memphis

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"Walking in Memphis"
Single by Marc Cohn
from the album Marc Cohn
Released 1991
Format 7" single, CD maxi
Recorded 1991
Genre Rock
Length 4:18
Label Atlantic
Writer(s) Marc Cohn
Producer Marc Cohn, Ben Wisch
Marc Cohn singles chronology
"Walking in Memphis"
(1991)		 "Silver Thunderbird"
(1991)

"Walking in Memphis" is the signature song of American singer-songwriter Marc Cohn, from his self-titled 1991 album. The song became Cohn's biggest hit, peaking at #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and, after being re-released in fall 1991, reached #22 on the UK chart. The popularity of this song helped Cohn win the Grammy for Best New Artist in 1992.

Contents

[edit] Content

The song is about a spiritual awakening (according to Marc Cohn). The reference to "Blue Suede Shoes" is not about Elvis Presley, but about Carl Perkins who recorded the song in Memphis for Sam Phillips at Sun Records. Perkins' ill luck in a car wreck stopped him touring to promote the record, allowing Elvis' cover version to become a massive hit. Presley's copy was done at RCA studios in Nashville. It also helped Elvis' version that he substituted for Carl Perkins on Ed Sullivan and sang the song. The narrator tells of seeing "The ghost of Elvis on Union Avenue" and following him up to the gates of Graceland. Sam Phillips' studios were called Memphis Recording Service and were at 706 Union Avenue.

[edit] Track listings

7" single
  1. "Walking in Memphis" — 4:18
  2. "Dig Down Deep" — 5:08
7" single
  1. "Walking in Memphis" — 4:18
  2. "Silver Thunderbird" (live) — 5:26
CD maxi
  1. "Walking in Memphis" — 4:18
  2. "Dig Down Deep" — 5:08
  3. "Saving the Best for Last" — 5:31

[edit] Charts

Chart (1991-1992) Peak
position
Australian ARIA Singles Chart[1] 11
Dutch Mega Top 100[1] 56
French SNEP Singles Chart[1] 45
German Singles Chart[2] 25
Irish Singles Chart[3] 7
UK Singles Chart[4] 22
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[5] 13
U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks[5] 12
U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks[5] 74
U.S. Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks[5] 7

[edit] Cover versions

[edit] Skott Freedman version

In 2003, indie singer-songwriter Skott Freedman released a solo piano cover of the song on his album "Some Company". The song remains one of the most popular downloaded versions of "Memphis" on iTunes.

[edit] Scooter version

In 1996, German hard dance band Scooter released a cover entitled "I'm Raving" as a single from their album Wicked!. The single went gold in Germany and peaked at number 4 on the German charts.

"Walking in Memphis"
Single by Cher
from the album It's a Man's World
Released October 13, 1995
Recorded 1995
Genre Pop rock
Length 3:59
Label WEA
Writer(s) Marc Cohn
Producer Christopher Neil
Cher singles chronology
"Love Can Build a Bridge"
(1995)		 "Walking in Memphis"
(1995)		 "One by One"
(1996)
Audio sample
file info · help

[edit] Cher version

"Walking in Memphis" is the first European single by American singer-actress Cher from her twenty-second studio album, It's a Man's World. It was released in the end of 1995 by WEA. The song was performed in some shows in Europe, and in her tours since the Do You Believe? Tour.

[edit] Song information

The song peaked at #11 on the British charts. This version is noteworthy in that it is reversed in regard to gender, replacing the line "but I'm as blue as a boy can be" with "but I'm as blue as a girl can be", Muriel with Gabriel, "they brought me down to see her" with "they brought me down to see him", "she said: tell me, are you a Christian?" with "he said: tell me, are you a Christian?" and "ma'am, I am tonight" with "man, I am tonight". The Cher version of the song was a notable part of the conclusion of The X-Files episode "The Post-Modern Prometheus". Also it was performed in "Finding the Graceland" movie.

[edit] Live performances

Cher performed the song on the following concert tours:

[edit] Formats and track listings

These are the formats and track listings of all single releases of "Walking in Memphis".

UK CD Maxi-Single Pt 1 (WEA 021 CD1)[6] [7]

  1. "Walking in Memphis"
  2. "Angels Running"
  3. "Walking in Memphis" (Shut Up & Dance Instrumental)

UK CD Maxi-Single Pt 2 (WEA 021 CD2)[8] [9]

  1. "Walking In Memphis" (Shut Up & Dance Vocal)
  2. "Walking In Memphis" (Shut Up & Dance Instrumental)
  3. "Walking In Memphis" (Rated P.G. Mix)
  4. "Walking In Memphis" (Baby Doc Mix)

UK 2 x 12" Vinyl (0630-13100-0)[10] [11]

Same tracklist of the UK CD Maxi-Single Pt 2. [12]

UK 12" Vinyl (WEA032T)[13] [14]

  • A1. "One By One" (Junior's Club Vocal)
  • B1. "Walking In Memphis" (Shut Up And Dance Vocal Mix)
  • B2. "Walking In Memphis" (Baby Doc Mix)

US 12" Vinyl Promo (PRO-A-8428)[15] [16]

  • A1. "One By One" (Junior's Pride Mix)
  • A2. "One By One" (Bonus Beats)
  • A3. "One By One" (Piano Dub)
  • B1. "Walking In Memphis" (Shut Up And Dance Mix)
  • B2. "Walking In Memphis" (Rated PG Mix)

[edit] Official versions

  • Main Version (3:59)
  • Rated P.G. Mix (7:25)
  • Baby Doc Mix (7:11)
  • Shut Up & Dance Vocal (5:05)
  • Shut Up & Dance Vocal Edit (3:40)
  • Shut Up & Dance Instrumental (5:10)

[edit] Charts

Chart (1995) [17] Peak
position
Austrian Singles Chart 17
Dutch Singles Chart 44
European Singles Chart 36
German Singles Chart 63
Swedish Singles Chart 13
Turkish (Airplay) Singles Chart 2
UK Singles Chart[18] 11

[edit] Lonestar version

"Walking in Memphis"
Single by Lonestar
from the album From There to Here: Greatest Hits
Released August 11, 2003
Genre Country
Length 3:50
Label BNA
Writer(s) Marc Cohn
Producer Dann Huff
Lonestar singles chronology
"My Front Porch Looking In"
(2003)		 "Walking in Memphis"
(2003)		 "Let's Be Us Again"
(2004)

American country music band Lonestar also released a cover version of the song. The song, which reached #8 on the Hot Country Songs chart and #61 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2003, can be found on their album From There to Here: Greatest Hits.

[edit] Music video

The music video was directed by Milton Lage and premiered in late 2003.

[edit] Chart positions

"Walking in Memphis" debuted at number fifty-nine on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks for the week of August 16, 2003.

Chart (2003) Peak
position
US Country Songs (Billboard)[19] 8
US Billboard Hot 100[20] 61

[edit] Franz Goovaerts version

From the Album "This is the Moment for "Walking in Memphis" 2012.

Walking in Memphis

[edit] Franz Goovaerts

One of the "World's Greatest Elvis Tribute Show" sing that song for the first time in Memphis Tennessee, at the "Elvis Week 2007"

That song became like a "Signature" for the the Belgian Elvii in the King's World.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c "Walking in Memphis", in various singles charts Lescharts.com (Retrieved January 2, 2009)
  2. ^ German Singles Chart Charts-surfer.de (Retrieved January 2, 2009)
  3. ^ Irish Single Chart Irishcharts.ie (Retrieved January 2, 2009)
  4. ^ UK Singles Chart Chartstats.com (Retrieved January 2, 2009)
  5. ^ a b c d Billboard allmusic.com (Retrieved January 2, 2009)
  6. ^ Cher - Walking in Memphis
  7. ^ "Walking In Memphis Single". https://sites.google.com/site/cherjukebox/discography/it-s-a-man-s-world/walking-in-memphis. 
  8. ^ Cher - Walking in Memphis
  9. ^ "Walking In Memphis Single". https://sites.google.com/site/cherjukebox/discography/it-s-a-man-s-world/walking-in-memphis. 
  10. ^ Cher - Walking in Memphis
  11. ^ "Walking In Memphis Single". https://sites.google.com/site/cherjukebox/discography/it-s-a-man-s-world/walking-in-memphis. 
  12. ^ "Walking In Memphis Single". https://sites.google.com/site/cherjukebox/discography/it-s-a-man-s-world/walking-in-memphis. 
  13. ^ Cher - One By One
  14. ^ "Walking In Memphis Single". https://sites.google.com/site/cherjukebox/discography/it-s-a-man-s-world/walking-in-memphis. 
  15. ^ Cher - One By One/Walking In Memphis
  16. ^ "Walking In Memphis Single". https://sites.google.com/site/cherjukebox/discography/it-s-a-man-s-world/walking-in-memphis. 
  17. ^ "Walking in Memphis", in Austrian, Swedish, and Dutch, Singles Chart Lescharts.com (Retrieved February 19, 2009)
  18. ^ UK Singles Chart [1] . Retrieved October 31, 2010.
  19. ^ "Lonestar Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Country Songs for Lonestar. Prometheus Global Media.
  20. ^ "Lonestar Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Hot 100 for Lonestar. Prometheus Global Media.
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