New York Mining Disaster 1941
Encyclopedia
"New York Mining Disaster 1941" was the first song to be released by the Bee Gees
in the United States
(released 1967), and their first song to hit the charts in the US or UK. At the time, rumours circulated that the Bee Gees
were the Beatles recording under a pseudonym (the Bee Gees' name was supposedly code for "Beatles Group"), in part because the record referenced NEMS Enterprises (Brian Epstein
's management agency, which had just been joined by Bee Gees' manager Robert Stigwood
).
(1990), this song was inspired by the 1966 Aberfan mining disaster in Wales
.
The song's lyrics do not contain the song's title. However, some copies were pressed with the title "New York Mining Disaster 1941 (Have You Seen My Wife, Mr. Jones?)", and the bracketed subtitle does appear in the lyrics of the song. In the second and third verses, the lyrical lines get slower and slower, as to indicate that life is about to expire for the miners.
In the movie Cucumber Castle
- the movie that the Bee Gees starred in minus Robin Gibb
- Maurice's character begins to sing this song while playing the banjo, only to end abruptly when a pie is thrown at his face.
Maurice Gibb recalled in an interview with Mojo
magazine: "The opening chord doesn't sound like a conventional A minor. Barry was using the open D tuning he'd been taught when he was nine, and I was playing it in conventional tuning. It gives an unusual blend. People went crazy trying to figure out why they couldn't copy it."
recordered a version of this song for their self-titled debut album from 1969.
The Sorrows
recorded this song in early 1969 as part of a demo album that was prepared before the release of their second album Old Songs New Songs; however, the song remained unreleased until it was included in a two-CD reissue of that album by Wooden Hill in 2009.
David Essex
recorded another version of this song for his 1993 covers album Cover Shot. British anarchist band Chumbawamba
recorded an minimalist version for their 2000 album, WYSIWYG
, and The Levellers
covered the song as a B-side to their single Bozos. It has also been performed by folksinger Martin Carthy
. In 2008 singer songwriter Trevor Tanner
released a version entitled Mr. Jones on his album Eaten By The Sea.
Veruca Salt
recorded a song called "New York Mining Disaster 1996" for their 1996 EP Blow It Out Your Ass It's Veruca Salt
but this song is not a cover and has no resemblance to the original Bee Gees song.
Bee Gees
The Bee Gees are a musical group that originally comprised three brothers: Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb. The trio was successful for most of their 40-plus years of recording music, but they had two distinct periods of exceptional success: as a pop act in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and as a...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
(released 1967), and their first song to hit the charts in the US or UK. At the time, rumours circulated that the Bee Gees
Bee Gees
The Bee Gees are a musical group that originally comprised three brothers: Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb. The trio was successful for most of their 40-plus years of recording music, but they had two distinct periods of exceptional success: as a pop act in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and as a...
were the Beatles recording under a pseudonym (the Bee Gees' name was supposedly code for "Beatles Group"), in part because the record referenced NEMS Enterprises (Brian Epstein
Brian Epstein
Brian Samuel Epstein , was an English music entrepreneur, and is best known for being the manager of The Beatles up until his death. He also managed several other musical artists such as Gerry & the Pacemakers, Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas, Cilla Black, The Remo Four & The Cyrkle...
's management agency, which had just been joined by Bee Gees' manager Robert Stigwood
Robert Stigwood
Robert Stigwood is an impresario and entertainment entrepreneur who relocated to England in 1954...
).
Bee Gees version
The song recounts the story of a miner trapped in a cave-in. He is sharing a photo of his wife with a colleague ("Mr. Jones") while they hopelessly wait to be rescued. According to the liner notes for their box-set Tales from the Brothers GibbTales from the Brothers Gibb
**On releases of Tales outside North America, three Barry Gibb solo tracks were added to Chapter IV from the "Hawks" soundtrack right after Robin Gibb's "Toys": "My Eternal Love", "Where Tomorrow Is" and "Letting Go"....
(1990), this song was inspired by the 1966 Aberfan mining disaster in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
.
The song's lyrics do not contain the song's title. However, some copies were pressed with the title "New York Mining Disaster 1941 (Have You Seen My Wife, Mr. Jones?)", and the bracketed subtitle does appear in the lyrics of the song. In the second and third verses, the lyrical lines get slower and slower, as to indicate that life is about to expire for the miners.
In the movie Cucumber Castle
Cucumber Castle (film)
Cucumber Castle is a British comedy film starring The Bee Gees that aired on BBC1 on 26 December 1970.-Overview:The plot revolves around two heirs, Prince Frederick and his brother Prince Marmaduke , and their dying father...
- the movie that the Bee Gees starred in minus Robin Gibb
Robin Gibb
Robin Hugh Gibb, CBE is a British singer and songwriter. He is best known as a member of the Bee Gees, co-founded with his twin brother Maurice , and elder brother Barry....
- Maurice's character begins to sing this song while playing the banjo, only to end abruptly when a pie is thrown at his face.
Maurice Gibb recalled in an interview with Mojo
Mojo (magazine)
MOJO is a popular music magazine published initially by Emap, and since January 2008 by Bauer, monthly in the United Kingdom. Following the success of the magazine Q, publishers Emap were looking for a title which would cater for the burgeoning interest in classic rock music...
magazine: "The opening chord doesn't sound like a conventional A minor. Barry was using the open D tuning he'd been taught when he was nine, and I was playing it in conventional tuning. It gives an unusual blend. People went crazy trying to figure out why they couldn't copy it."
Chart performance
| Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|
| South Africa | 2 |
| New Zealand | 3 |
| Netherlands | 4 |
| Germany | 10 |
| Australia | 11 |
| United Kingdom | 12 |
| United States | 14 |
| France | 31 |
| Canada | 34 |
Cover versions
Ashton, Gardner and DykeAshton, Gardner and Dyke
Ashton, Gardner and Dyke were a power rock trio, most popular in the early 1970s. They are best remembered for their song, "Resurrection Shuffle", a transatlantic Top 40 success in 1971...
recordered a version of this song for their self-titled debut album from 1969.
The Sorrows
The Sorrows
The Sorrows are considered perhaps to be the archetypal freakbeat band. They were formed in 1963 in Coventry, Warwickshire, England by Pip Whitcher.-Career:...
recorded this song in early 1969 as part of a demo album that was prepared before the release of their second album Old Songs New Songs; however, the song remained unreleased until it was included in a two-CD reissue of that album by Wooden Hill in 2009.
David Essex
David Essex
David Essex OBE is an English musician, singer-songwriter and actor. Since the 1970s, Essex has attained nineteen Top 40 singles in the UK , and sixteen Top 40 albums...
recorded another version of this song for his 1993 covers album Cover Shot. British anarchist band Chumbawamba
Chumbawamba
Chumbawamba is a British musical group who have, over a career spanning nearly three decades, played punk rock, pop-influenced music, world music, and folk music...
recorded an minimalist version for their 2000 album, WYSIWYG
WYSIWYG (album)
WYSIWYG is a 2000 album by anarcho-punk band Chumbawamba. Released after the massive success of their previous effort, Tubthumper, it commented on various aspects of the pop culture the band had inadvertently become a part of...
, and The Levellers
Levellers (band)
The Levellers are an English rock band, founded in 1988 and based in Brighton, England. Their musical style is said to be influenced by punk and traditional English music.-1988-1990:...
covered the song as a B-side to their single Bozos. It has also been performed by folksinger Martin Carthy
Martin Carthy
Martin Carthy MBE is an English folk singer and guitarist who has remained one of the most influential figures in British traditional music, inspiring contemporaries such as Bob Dylan and Paul Simon and later artists such as Richard Thompson since he emerged as a young musician in the early days...
. In 2008 singer songwriter Trevor Tanner
Trevor Tanner
Trevor Tanner is a British musician and composer, best known as the singer and guitarist of post-punk/gothic rock band The Bolshoi during the 1980s...
released a version entitled Mr. Jones on his album Eaten By The Sea.
Veruca Salt
Veruca Salt (band)
Veruca Salt is an alternative rock band founded in 1993 in Chicago, Illinois. Since its inception, the band's line-up has included vocalist-guitarist Louise Post. Guitarist Stephen Fitzpatrick has been with the band since 1999 and drummer Kellii Scott has worked with the group on and off since 1999...
recorded a song called "New York Mining Disaster 1996" for their 1996 EP Blow It Out Your Ass It's Veruca Salt
Blow It Out Your Ass It's Veruca Salt
Blow It Out Your Ass It's Veruca Salt is an EP by Veruca Salt released in 1996. It followed the band's hit album American Thighs . The EP contains four songs, two by Nina Gordon and two by Louise Post....
but this song is not a cover and has no resemblance to the original Bee Gees song.
External links
- History of the song
- Rolling Stone Review
- [ AMG Review]