If I Had a Hammer: Difference between revisions
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==Other versions== |
==Other versions== |
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* French singer [[Claude François]] performed a version of the song in October 1963 titled [[ |
* French singer [[Claude François]] performed a version of the song in October 1963 titled [[Si j'avais un marteau (EP)]] and released on [[Philips Records]], which he also performed on TV. |
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* Italian singer [[Rita Pavone]] performed a version of the song in 1964, titled "Datemi un Martello" ("Give me a Hammer") and released on RCA, which she also performed live on TV.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGIXrziSLCQ|title=Datemi un Martello|website=YouTube}}</ref> |
* Italian singer [[Rita Pavone]] performed a version of the song in 1964, titled "Datemi un Martello" ("Give me a Hammer") and released on RCA, which she also performed live on TV.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGIXrziSLCQ|title=Datemi un Martello|website=YouTube}}</ref> |
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* [[Martha and the Vandellas]] perform it on their 1963 album ''[[Heat Wave (Martha and the Vandellas album)|Heat Wave]].'' |
* [[Martha and the Vandellas]] perform it on their 1963 album ''[[Heat Wave (Martha and the Vandellas album)|Heat Wave]].'' |
Revision as of 09:05, 1 August 2018
This article needs additional citations for verification. (August 2012) |
"If I Had a Hammer" | |
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Song | |
B-side | "Banks of Marble" |
"If I Had a Hammer" | |
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Song | |
B-side | "Gone the Rainbow" |
"If I Had a Hammer" | |
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Song | |
B-side | "Unchain My Heart" |
"If I Had a Hammer (The Hammer Song)" is a song written by Pete Seeger and Lee Hays. It was written in 1949 in support of the progressive movement, and was first recorded by The Weavers, a folk music quartet composed of Seeger, Hays, Ronnie Gilbert, and Fred Hellerman. It was a number 10 hit for Peter, Paul and Mary in 1962 and then went to number three a year later when recorded by Trini Lopez.
The Weavers released the song under the title "The Hammer Song" as a 78 single in March 1950 on Hootenanny Records, 101-A, backed with "Banks of Marble".
Early versions
The song was first performed publicly by Pete Seeger and Lee Hays on June 3, 1949, at St. Nicholas Arena in New York City at a testimonial dinner for the leaders of the Communist Party of the United States, who were then on trial in federal court, charged with violating the Smith Act by advocating the overthrow of the U.S. government.[1] It was not particularly successful in commercial terms when it was first released. It was part of the three songs Seeger played as the warm-up act for Paul Robeson's September 4 concert near Peekskill, New York, which subsequently erupted into a riot.[2]
Hit versions
It fared notably better in commercial terms when it was recorded by Peter, Paul and Mary a dozen years later. Their cover of the song, released in July 1962 off the group's debut self-titled album, became a Top 10 hit, and won the Grammy Awards for Best Folk Recording and Best Performance by a Vocal Group. Trini Lopez's 1963 single went to number three on the same Billboard chart. It was included on his album, Trini Lopez at PJ's (Reprise R/RS 6093).[3]
Other versions
- French singer Claude François performed a version of the song in October 1963 titled Si j'avais un marteau (EP) and released on Philips Records, which he also performed on TV.
- Italian singer Rita Pavone performed a version of the song in 1964, titled "Datemi un Martello" ("Give me a Hammer") and released on RCA, which she also performed live on TV.[4]
- Martha and the Vandellas perform it on their 1963 album Heat Wave.
- The Sam Cooke album Sam Cooke at the Copa (1964) contains a live version of the song.
- It was featured in the 1966 Broadway hit musical Wait a Minim! and included on the cast recording album.
- Johnny Cash released the song on his album Any Old Wind That Blows in 1972. Also released as a single, the song hit number 29 on the US country chart.
- Wanda Jackson released the song as a single in 1969. It was included on her album The Many Moods of Wanda Jackson. It reached number 41 on the US country chart.
- Ross MacManus, father of Elvis Costello, sang the song with the Joe Loss Orchestra on the BBC's Royal Variety Show in 1963.[5]
- In 2018, Jess & Matt covered the song on their album Songs from the Village.
Legacy
The song "If I Had a Hammer" was a freedom song of the civil rights movement.
WikiLeaks chose the song as its "WikiLeaks song".[6]
Charts
Chart (1962) | Peak position |
---|---|
US Billboard Hot 100[7] | 10 |
Chart (1963) | Peak position |
---|---|
UK Singles (OCC)[8] | 4 |
US Billboard Hot 100[9] | 3 |
References
- ^ "Town Talk," The Daily Worker, June 1, 1949
- ^ Frillmann, Karen. "Today in History: Peekskill Riots". WYNC (New York), 4 September 2009. Accessed 25 January 2015.
- ^ Gilliland, John (1969). "Show 21 - Forty Miles of Bad Road: Some of the best from rock 'n' roll's dark ages. [Part 2]" (audio). Pop Chronicles. University of North Texas Libraries. Track 2.
- ^ "Datemi un Martello". YouTube.
- ^ Laing, Dave (December 21, 2011). "Ross MacManus Obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
- ^ "Inspirational Material". WikiLeaks.
- ^ "Peter Paul Mary Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
- ^ "Trini Lopez: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
- ^ "Trini Lopez Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
External links
- 1949 songs
- 1962 singles
- 1963 singles
- Songs written by Pete Seeger
- The Weavers songs
- Peter, Paul and Mary songs
- Pete Seeger songs
- Trini Lopez songs
- Sam Cooke songs
- The Coasters songs
- Johnny Cash songs
- Grammy Award for Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording
- Warner Bros. Records singles
- Columbia Records singles
- Song recordings produced by Albert Grossman
- Song recordings produced by Milt Okun
- Reprise Records singles
- Protest songs
- Children's songs
- Number-one singles in Mexico