Oh Happy Day
Oh Happy Day ( German: O beautiful day ) is the title of a 1969 published by the Edwin Hawkins Singers gospel songs, which reached the international charts and gospel music opened up to a wider audience.
He is not to be confused with the Doo Wop title of Don Howard ( November 1952; Rank 4). This was in January 1953 by the Four Knights ( Rank 8 ) and Lawrence Welk (Rank 5) successfully gecovert.
Genesis
Gospel music is based on textual content of the Old and New Testaments. This is also true for the English Pastor Philip Doddridge (* June 26, 1702 in London, † October 26, 1751 in Lisbon ), originally titled Oh Happy Day, That Fixed My Choice -written text. This gospel song was 1755 - so posthumously - published by his friend Job Orton in a 370 hymns comprehensive collection. Who wrote the music, is controversial. Their origin is traced back to a 1704 Composed by Johann Anastasius Freylinghausen version, which was included in his Freyling house 's hymnal. The chorus is Edward Francis Rimbault ( born June 13, 1816 in Soho / London, † September 26, 1876 in London) attributed, who had taken up the song in 1854.
Version of the Edwin Hawkins Singers
The 46 people ( 17-25 years old) full gospel choir Northern California State Choir was founded in May 1967 by Edwin Hawkins and Betty Watson and needed money for a trip to the "Annual Youth Congress of the Churches of God in Christ" (annual Youth Church Congress ) in June 1968 in Washington, DC Therefore, the choir asked Century Record Productions to make a recording of their choruses. With saved $ 1800 they financed the recording of gospel LP Let Us Go Into the House of the Lord in the church Ephesian Church of Christ in Berkeley with an edition of 500 pieces. Using an outdated Ampex two-track tape (modern eight-track machines were ) were added 8 hymns only with piano, bass and drums May 1968, lead singer Dorothy Combs Morrison sings with throaty alto empathic. Among them was the long mean free tracks Oh Happy Day.
Publication and success
LaMont Bench belonged to the small record label Pavilion Records in Oakland; she was given permission to press 1,000 additional copies for commercial sale. 600 copies of these were sold. One of the copies came in February 1969 in the hands of the radio DJ Abe " Voco " Keshishian at KSAN (FM) in San Francisco. The station was known as the Underground station, but decided to give an intense airplay " Kesh ," Oh Happy Day. Also, the transmitter KOIT in San Francisco took over the song in his playlist. Neil Bogert of Buddah Records heard the record on the radio and signed a distribution agreement with Pavilion Records. With an advance of $ 80,000 of the Gospel Choir of Buddah Records was sold and renamed the Edwin Hawkins Singers. Oh Happy Day was anticipated coupled out of the LP as a single and in April 1969 as Oh Happy Day / Jesus, Lover of My Soul ( Pavilion 20001 ) published. The single was a top 20 recommendation in the Billboard issue dated 19 April 1969. She arrived as a massive crossover hit both the U.S. Rhythm & Blues ( Rank 2 ) and the U.S. pop singles chart (Rank 4) and sold within two weeks of the publication one million copies. Following the release in the UK on May 18, 1969 she reached there Rank 2 of the hit parade. The gold record was awarded to her by the RIAA on June 3, 1969, is the first certified single in the gospel sector. A total of 7 million records were sold and awarded 4 Grammy Awards in the United States around the world. In Germany and in Switzerland, he was even at rank 1 of the national charts. Oh Happy Day made it to the list of Songs of the Century.
Cover versions and Statistics
The LP Let Us Go Into the House of the Lord came on 14 June 1969 and on rank 5 of the R & B LP charts. The song was a one- hit wonder and paved the way for the commercialization of gospel music. Overall, there are at least 42 cover versions. Elvis Presley took him on August 7, 1970, the The Four Seasons on their LP Half & Half (May 1970). The German text is by Carl Ernst Margaret. Oh Happy Day is coming in the movie Sister Act 2 ( U.S. Premiere: December 10, 1993) with singer Lauryn Hill; in one of the last scenes of a gospel choir sings the song at a school play.