William and Versey Smith
| William and Versey Smith | |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Blues and gospel musicians |
| Years active | 1927 |
| Notable work | "When That Great Ship Went Down" |
William and Versey Smith were husband and wife American blues and gospel musicians, thought to have come either from Texas or the Carolinas, who recorded four tracks for Paramount Records in August 1927.[1][2]
Their song "Everybody Help The Boys Come Home" relates to World War I; and "When That Great Ship Went Down" relates to the sinking of RMS Titanic in 1912. Blind Willie Johnson recorded his songs "When the War Was On" and "God Moves on the Water", which relate to those same topics, and which share lyrics and tunes with them, on December 11, 1929. It therefore seems likely that Johnson knew that record. It seems unlikely that the Smiths composed either song: they relate to events ten and more years earlier, and topical songs are usually written soon after the event.
Recordings
- "Everybody Help the Boys Come Home" [3][4][5][6] Paramount 12505 [1]
- "I Believe I'll Go Back Home" [7] Paramount 12516 [1]
- "Sinner, You'll Need King Jesus" [8][9][10][11] Paramount 12516 [1]
- "When That Great Ship Went Down" [12][13][14][15][16][17] Paramount 12505 [1]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Paramount Race Series; 12500–13000 (1927–1930)". 78discography.com. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
- ↑ William and Versey Smith discography at Discogs
- ↑ William & Versey Smith: Everybody Help the Boys Come Home at AllMusic. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
- ↑ Versey Smith / William Smith / William & Versey Smith: Everybody Help the Boys Come Home at AllMusic. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
- ↑ William Smith: Everybody Help the Boys Come Home at AllMusic. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
- ↑ Versey Smith / William Smith / William & Versey Smith: Everybody Help the Boy Come Home at AllMusic. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
- ↑ Versey Smith / William Smith / William & Versey Smith: I Believe I'll Go Back Home at AllMusic. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
- ↑ Versey Smith / William Smith / William & Versey Smith: Sinner You'll Need King Jesus at AllMusic. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
- ↑ William Smith: Sinner You'll Need King Jesus at AllMusic. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
- ↑ Versey Smith / William Smith / William & Versey Smith: Sinner, You'll Need King Jesus at AllMusic. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
- ↑ William & Versey Smith: Sinner You'll Need King Jesus at AllMusic. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
- ↑ Versey Smith / William Smith / William & Versey Smith: When That Great Ship Went Down at AllMusic. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
- ↑ William & Versey Smith: When That Great Ship Went Down at AllMusic. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
- ↑ Versey Smith / William Smith: When That Great Ship Went Down at AllMusic. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
- ↑ Bush, John. Versey Smith / William Smith / William Smith: When That Great Ship Went Down at AllMusic. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
- ↑ William Smith: When That Great Ship Went Down at AllMusic. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
- ↑ William & Versey Smith: When That Great Ship Went Down (The Titanic) at AllMusic. Retrieved July 16, 2015.