Washington Phillips
Encyclopedia
Washington Phillips was a Texan
gospel
singer and musician. Phillips died in 1954 in Teague
, Texas.
. This instrument, which has been variously identified as a Dolceola
, a Celestaphone, two Celestaphones tuned in octaves attached side-by-side, or a Phonoharp (and also is considered by some to be an instrument entirely home-made by Phillips) creates a unique sound on these recordings that makes them immediately recognizable.
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
gospel
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
singer and musician. Phillips died in 1954 in Teague
Teague, Texas
Teague is a city in Freestone County, Texas, United States. The population was 4,557 at the 2000 census.-Settlement:The area was first settled around the time of the Civil War. During the latter...
, Texas.
Biography
Phillips recorded eighteen songs, all between 1927 and 1929, though only sixteen survived. Some of his songs amount to highly specific and detailed gospel sermons, featuring Phillips' voice self-accompanied by an instrument that sounds like a fretless zitherZither
The zither is a musical string instrument, most commonly found in Slovenia, Austria, Hungary citera, northwestern Croatia, the southern regions of Germany, alpine Europe and East Asian cultures, including China...
. This instrument, which has been variously identified as a Dolceola
Dolceola
A dolceola is a musical instrument resembling a miniature piano, but which is in fact a zither with a keyboard. The strings attached look like a harp. It is used in traditional holy blues and has an unusual, angelic, music-box sound...
, a Celestaphone, two Celestaphones tuned in octaves attached side-by-side, or a Phonoharp (and also is considered by some to be an instrument entirely home-made by Phillips) creates a unique sound on these recordings that makes them immediately recognizable.
Posthumous fame
Numerous compilations of Washington Phillips' complete recorded work have been released, such as The Key to the Kingdom on Yazoo Records in 2005. His songs have been covered by a variety of artists:- Ry CooderRy CooderRyland Peter "Ry" Cooder is an American guitarist, singer and composer. He is known for his slide guitar work, his interest in roots music from the United States, and, more recently, his collaborations with traditional musicians from many countries.His solo work has been eclectic, encompassing...
covered Phillips' "Denomination Blues" on his 1971 album Into the Purple ValleyInto the Purple ValleyInto the Purple Valley is the second album by roots rock legend Ry Cooder, released in 1972 .-Track listing:#"How Can You Keep Moving " – 2:25#"Billy the Kid" – 3:45...
and "Tattler" on his album Paradise and LunchParadise and LunchParadise and Lunch is the fourth album by roots rock musician Ry Cooder, released in 1974. The album contains a mix of jazz, blues and roots music led by Cooder's guitar and is considered by many the crowning achievement of Cooder's career...
(1974). - "Denomination Blues" has also been covered by the contemporary Christian groups 2nd Chapter of Acts2nd Chapter of ActsThe 2nd Chapter of Acts was a Jesus Music and early Contemporary Christian Music group composed of sisters Annie Herring and Nelly Greisen and brother Matthew Ward. They began performing in 1973 and enjoyed their period of greatest success during the 1970s...
on their 1975 live album To the BrideTo the BrideTo the Bride, released in 1975, is a two-LP live album featuring Barry McGuire, 2nd Chapter of Acts, and a band called David. The album was culled from four concerts performed in the summer of 1975 and is the first of two live albums that 2nd Chapter of Acts recorded for Myrrh Records, although...
with Barry McGuireBarry McGuireBarry McGuire is an American singer-songwriter best known for the hit song "Eve of Destruction", and later as a pioneering singer and songwriter of Contemporary Christian Music.-Early life:...
, and The 77sThe 77sThe 77s are an American rock band consisting of Michael Roe on vocals/guitar, Mark Harmon on bass, and Bruce Spencer on drums.-Scratch Band:...
on their debut album Ping Pong Over the AbyssPing Pong Over the AbyssThe 77s released their debut album in 1983 on the Exit Records label.One song from that album, "Renaissance Man," was later recorded by The Ocean Blue...
(1983). - Will OldhamWill OldhamWill Oldham , better known by the stage name Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, is an American singer-songwriter and actor. From 1993 to 1997, he performed and recorded under variations of the Palace name, including the Palace Brothers, Palace Songs, and Palace Music...
covered Phillips' "I Had a Good Father and Mother" on the Palace Brothers album There Is No-One What Will Take Care of YouThere Is No-One What Will Take Care of YouThere Is No-One What Will Take Care of You is the first album by the Palace Brothers. It was released in 1993 on Drag City. It is Will Oldham's debut album, and also features several members of Louisville rock band Slint....
(1993). Gillian WelchGillian WelchGillian Welch is an American singer-songwriter. She performs with her musical partner, guitarist David Rawlings. Their sparse and dark musical style, which combines elements of Appalachian music, Bluegrass, and Americana, is described by The New Yorker as "at once innovative and obliquely...
also covered this song on her 2003 album entitled Soul JourneySoul JourneySoul Journey is the fourth studio album by Gillian Welch. As with all of her previous releases, it is a collaboration with David Rawlings....
. - The Be Good Tanyas covered "What are They Doing in Heaven Today" on Hello Love.
- Sport Murphy covered Phillips' "What Are They Doing in Heaven Today?" on his 2003 Kill Rock StarsKill Rock StarsKill Rock Stars is an independent record label founded in 1991 by Slim Moon and based in both Olympia, Washington and Portland, Oregon. The label has released a variety of work in different genres, making it difficult to pigeonhole as having any one artistic mission...
album 'UncleUncleAn uncle is a type of familial relationship.Uncle may also refer to:* Uncle , by J. P. Martin* U.N.C.L.E., a fictional organization in the TV series The Man from U.N.C.L.E....
.' - "What Are They Doing in Heaven Today" was used in a scene in the movie ElizabethtownElizabethtown (film)Elizabethtown is a 2005 American comedy-drama film written and directed by Cameron Crowe starring Orlando Bloom and Kirsten Dunst. Alec Baldwin has a small role as a CEO of an athletic shoe company and Susan Sarandon appears as a grieving widow...
where the main character visits The Survivor Tree in Oklahoma. - Mamie Minch dedicated her song, "Lift Him Up That's All" under the same title of Phillips' song but with different lyrics.
- PhishPhishPhish is an American rock band noted for its musical improvisation, extended jams, and exploration of music across genres. Formed at the University of Vermont in 1983 , the band's four members – Trey Anastasio , Mike Gordon , Jon Fishman , and Page McConnell Phish is an American rock band...
has covered "Paul and Silas in Jail" on 78 occasions. This song became a relatively common part of their live performance from 1990 to 1993, but has been played on occasion since. - Phillips' "I Am Born To Preach the Gospel" features on the soundtrack of Werner HerzogWerner HerzogWerner Herzog Stipetić , known as Werner Herzog, is a German film director, producer, screenwriter, actor, and opera director.He is often considered as one of the greatest figures of the New German Cinema, along with Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Margarethe von Trotta, Volker Schlöndorff, Werner...
's 2009 film My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done?. - Ralph Stanley covered Phillips' "Lift Him Up, That's All" on his 2011 album "A Mother's Prayer".
- In 2009, Atlas SoundAtlas SoundBradford James Cox is an American musician best known as the lead singer and guitarist of Atlanta, Georgia-based psychedelic and ambient band Deerhunter. He also pursues a solo career under the moniker Atlas Sound. Cox formed Deerhunter with drummer Moses Archuleta in 2001. The band has released...
sampled the Phillip's "Lifted Him Up That's All" for the song "Washington School" on the LogosLogos (album)Logos is the second studio album from ambient experimental project Atlas Sound. It was released on October 19, 2009, in Europe by 4AD, and on October 20 in the US by Kranky Records. The album features guest contributions from Noah Lennox and Stereolab's Laetitia Sadier...
album.
List of recordings
- Lift Him Up That's All
- Paul and Silas in Jail
- Mother's Last Word to Her Son
- The Church Needs Good Deacons
- Jesus Is My Friend
- A Mother's Last Word to Her Daughter
- I Had a Good Father and Mother
- I Am Born to Preach the Gospel
- Take Your Burden to the Lord and Leave It There
- Denomination Blues - Part 1
- Denomination Blues - Part 2
- What Are They Doing in Heaven Today
- I've Got the Key to the Kingdom
- Train Your Child
- You Can't Stop a Tattler - Part 1
- You Can't Stop a Tattler - Part 2