Mary's Boy Child - Oh My Lord
Encyclopedia
"Mary's Boy Child - Oh My Lord" is a 1978 Christmas single for Boney M., a cover of Harry Belafonte
's 1956 hit
, put in medley with the new song "Oh My Lord" (Farian / Jay).
The single was recorded in a hurry early November, included in the group's live set and rushed out at the end of the month, topping the UK charts for four weeks during its eight week stay in the charts, and becoming the second single for the group in the all-time best selling singles charts. The song was later included in the group's Christmas Album
, 1981.
In the United States
, the track reached #85 in the Billboard Hot 100
, Boney M's last of four singles to chart; despite its chart position, the medley is an airplay favorite in the United States during the Thanksgiving
/Christmas holiday season on radio stations which change to temporary all-Christmas music
formats.
) was released shortly before the commercial single which had a new track on the B-side "Dancing in the Streets". Different edits were issued in various countries. In Spain and France, the 3rd verse (Now Joseph and his wife Mary came to Bethlehem that night ...) had been cut out, the French mix of "Oh My Lord" was a different mix. A 4:29 edit surfaced on the 1980 compilation The Magic of Boney M. - 20 Golden Hits, possibly the originally intended single edit. The full-length 6:18 mix appeared as the B-side of the 12" single Dancing in the Streets.
flipped the single and released it with "Dancing in the Streets" on the A-side. The non-album track was sung solely by the group's producer Frank Farian
, singing the chorus in multi-dubbed falsetto vocals and singing the verse in his deep voice. The mix that came out on the B-side of "Mary's Boy Child" in the UK and US was an early version with shriller falsetto vocals and no answer-back chorus vocals in the verses.
Despite the lack of success, the track was chosen as the one to launch Boney M. in the USA which remained the only territory the group had yet to conquer. The group did a promotional tour in April 1979 and also lip-synced the track at important TV shows Soul Train
but the single stalled at #105 in the Pop charts and fared only slightly better in the R&B charts (#75).
12" Single
single by German band Boney M., issued to launch the group's reunion, having been split since their 10th anniversary, 1986. The double-A-side single contained new mixes of the band's two very most successful single releases ever. Although their remix album
sold well, the single failed to chart.
single by German band Boney M., issued to launch a new edition of their Christmas album, The Most Beautiful Christmas Songs of the World
. The Christmas Mega Mix was in fact just another name for a new remix of "Mary's Boy Child - Oh My Lord". In the UK, the new mix was put on the B-side of their "Megamix" single.
7" Single
CD
(Hansa 74321 11933 2-211, Germany)
Harry Belafonte
Harold George "Harry" Belafonte, Jr. is an American singer, songwriter, actor and social activist. He was dubbed the "King of Calypso" for popularizing the Caribbean musical style with an international audience in the 1950s...
's 1956 hit
Mary's Boy Child
"Mary's Boy Child" is a 1956 Christmas song, written by Jester Hairston. With its religious content, it is also widely performed as a Christmas carol....
, put in medley with the new song "Oh My Lord" (Farian / Jay).
The single was recorded in a hurry early November, included in the group's live set and rushed out at the end of the month, topping the UK charts for four weeks during its eight week stay in the charts, and becoming the second single for the group in the all-time best selling singles charts. The song was later included in the group's Christmas Album
Christmas Album (Boney M. album)
Germany7"* "Little Drummer Boy" - 4:27 / "6 Years Of Boney M. Hits " - 4:48 * "Zion's Daughter" - 3:50 / "White Christmas" - 3:15 12"* "6 Years Of Boney M Hits Germany7"* "Little Drummer Boy" - 4:27 / "6 Years Of Boney M. Hits (Boney M. on 45)" (7" Edit) - 4:48 (Hansa Records 103 777-100, 1981)*...
, 1981.
In the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, the track reached #85 in the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, Boney M's last of four singles to chart; despite its chart position, the medley is an airplay favorite in the United States during the Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving (United States)
Thanksgiving, or Thanksgiving Day, is a holiday celebrated in the United States on the fourth Thursday in November. It has officially been an annual tradition since 1863, when, during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of thanksgiving to be celebrated on Thursday,...
/Christmas holiday season on radio stations which change to temporary all-Christmas music
Christmas music
Christmas music comprises a variety of genres of music normally performed or heard around the Christmas season, which tends to begin in the months leading up the actual holiday and end in the weeks shortly thereafter.-Early:...
formats.
The Single
A promotional gatefold single (15 816 AT) backed with "Never Change Lovers in the Middle of the Night" (from Nightflight to VenusNightflight to Venus
Nightflight to Venus is the third album by the band Boney M, and was released in July 1978.The album became a major success in continental Europe, Scandinavia, and Canada, topping most of the album charts during the second half of 1978 and also became their first UK number one album...
) was released shortly before the commercial single which had a new track on the B-side "Dancing in the Streets". Different edits were issued in various countries. In Spain and France, the 3rd verse (Now Joseph and his wife Mary came to Bethlehem that night ...) had been cut out, the French mix of "Oh My Lord" was a different mix. A 4:29 edit surfaced on the 1980 compilation The Magic of Boney M. - 20 Golden Hits, possibly the originally intended single edit. The full-length 6:18 mix appeared as the B-side of the 12" single Dancing in the Streets.
Dancing in the Streets
After Christmas, Hansa RecordsHansa Records
Hansa Records was a record label founded in the 1960s based in Berlin, Germany....
flipped the single and released it with "Dancing in the Streets" on the A-side. The non-album track was sung solely by the group's producer Frank Farian
Frank Farian
Frank Farian , is a German record producer and songwriter. He started out as a trained cook before moving into the music industry...
, singing the chorus in multi-dubbed falsetto vocals and singing the verse in his deep voice. The mix that came out on the B-side of "Mary's Boy Child" in the UK and US was an early version with shriller falsetto vocals and no answer-back chorus vocals in the verses.
Despite the lack of success, the track was chosen as the one to launch Boney M. in the USA which remained the only territory the group had yet to conquer. The group did a promotional tour in April 1979 and also lip-synced the track at important TV shows Soul Train
Soul Train
Soul Train is an American musical variety show that aired in syndication from October 1971 to March 2006. In its 35-year history, the show primarily featured performances by R&B, soul, and hip hop artists, although funk, jazz, disco, and gospel artists have also appeared.As a nod to Soul Trains...
but the single stalled at #105 in the Pop charts and fared only slightly better in the R&B charts (#75).
Releases
7" Singles- "Mary's Boy Child / Oh My Lord" (5:29) / "Dancing in the Streets" (Farian) (3:57)(Hansa Int. 100 075-100, Germany)
- "Mary's Boy Child / Oh My Lord" (5:29) / "Dancing in the Streets" (3:43) (Atlantic K 11221, UK) (Sire 1036, USA)
- "Dancing in the Streets" (3:57) / "Mary's Boy Child / Oh My Lord" (5:29) (Hansa Int. 100 075-100, Germany)
- "Dancing in the Streets" (3:57) / "Motherless Child" (Farian / Mitchell) (4:33) (Durium DE 3047, Italy)
- "Dancing in the Streets" (3:55) / "Never Change Lovers in the Middle of the Night" (5:01) (Sire 1038, USA)
12" Single
- "Dancing in the Streets" (6:18) / "Mary's Boy Child / Oh My Lord" (6:18) (Hansa Int. 600 009-212, Germany)
- "Dancing in the Streets" (6:18) / "Never Change Lovers in the Middle of the Night" (5:01) (Sire SRD 1040, USA)
1988 Remix
"Rivers of Babylon" / "Mary's Boy Child / Oh My Lord" is a 1988 remixRemix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
single by German band Boney M., issued to launch the group's reunion, having been split since their 10th anniversary, 1986. The double-A-side single contained new mixes of the band's two very most successful single releases ever. Although their remix album
Greatest Hits of All Times - Remix '88
Greatest Hits of All Times - Remix '88 is a remix album by Boney M. released in 1988. Boney M.'s new manager at the time, Simon Napier-Bell, succeeded in persuading the four original members to briefly reunite and promote this remix album...
sold well, the single failed to chart.
Christmas Mega Mix
"Christmas Mega Mix" is a 1992 remixRemix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
single by German band Boney M., issued to launch a new edition of their Christmas album, The Most Beautiful Christmas Songs of the World
The Most Beautiful Christmas Songs of the World
The Most Beautiful Christmas Songs of the World is a compilation/remix album by Boney M. released simultaneously with greatest hits package Gold - 20 Super Hits in November 1992. The album is a slightly re-edited and remixed version of 1986's The 20 Greatest Christmas Songs...
. The Christmas Mega Mix was in fact just another name for a new remix of "Mary's Boy Child - Oh My Lord". In the UK, the new mix was put on the B-side of their "Megamix" single.
7" Single
- Mary's Boy Child/Oh My Lord (Radio Version) - 3:58 / Zion's Daughter - 3:50 (Hansa 74321 11933 7-100, Germany)
CD
- 1. Mary's Boy Child/Oh My Lord (Radio Version) - 3:58 / 2. Zion's Daughter - 3:50 / 3. When A Child Is Born - 3:19 / 4. Mary's Boy Child/Oh My Lord (Long Version) - 5:09
(Hansa 74321 11933 2-211, Germany)
Sources
- http://www.musiclange.com
- http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/boney_m_
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary%27s_Boy_Child
- Hit Christmas Lyrics of Mary´s Boy Child Original Lyrics sung to original video presentation by Boney M.!