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Down by the Riverside and When the Saints Go Marchin' In

Rating:
2.7 / 5

Words & Music: Bill Giant Bernie Baum Florence Kaye

Let's snap our fingers clap our hands
Down by the riverside, down by the riverside, down by the riverside
Let's give 'em what the song demands
Down by the riverside, down by the riverside

We'll hear them playing keep that beat
Down by the riverside, down by the riverside, down by the riverside
Let's get together what a treat
Down by the riverside, down by the riverside

Strike up the band, start the parade
Don't let that grand old rhythm fade
Just play that drum, play that number
When the saints come marchin' in

Shake tambourines, play that cornet
Crank up that horn you won't forget
Your heart will hum to that number
When the saints come marchin' in

The cymbals clang, just pound that beat
Sounds like a hundred marching feet
It's fun to join in that number
When the saints come marchin' in

See banners wave, oh hear that ring
We all feel prouder than a king
'Cause everyone, everyone loves that number
When the saints come marchin' in

Recordingdate: 1965/05/12, first released on: Frankie and Johnny (album)

Musicians

Musicians who contributed to the first recording of Down by the Riverside and When the Saints Go Marchin' In:

(guitar)
(guitar)
(guitar)
(bass)
(drums)
(drums)
(piano)
(harmonica)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(trombone)
(trumpet)
(tuba)
(tuba)

Availability

Find available albums with Down by the Riverside and When the Saints Go Marchin' In.

bastiaanvinke wrote on February 04, 2010
I could live without this one.
Deano1 wrote on March 11, 2010
Just like "The Yellow Rose Of Texas/The Eyes Of Texas" from "Viva Las Vegas", this one works well in the movie ("Frankie And Johnny"), but is not overly exciting on record. 2 1/2 stars
Monster wrote on May 11, 2010
A perfect example of how indifferent Elvis was to his recording career this pint (the movioe side of things at least). Here is a song we know he liked because he sang it in 56 at the Million Dollar session and obviously enjoyed it. Here, nearly ten years later someone brings him the same song and he could hardly sound more bored. It's a very tame affair which could have otherwise been a rousing, fun number but he just didn't care enough to try. Shame that.
TCB1974 wrote on September 02, 2011
The coloring of his voice does not work out well on this recording, although on its own a classic, this is probably the only song that Elvis recorded and I actually prefer recordings by other artists such as Louis Armstrong. Two stars from me.
Steve V wrote on September 02, 2011
Boring
dgirl wrote on September 02, 2011
Elvis sounded totally disinterested, and thus, so was I.
rai wrote on September 02, 2011
Both are good songs but Elvis just wasn't interested in giving it a best shot. Too bad. The version he sang shouldn't have been released. It just shows that even The King have no interest in certain songs. Sounds like he's forcing himself!!
sugartummy wrote on March 02, 2013
Elvis knew how to tackle a song like this, his producers didn't. Elvis didn't care. The Million Dollar Q. version is vast superior.
JerryNodak wrote on August 05, 2019
1. I don't hear the disinterest. 2. It's not boring. 3. This medley works a lot better outside of the movie than the "Texas" fiasco in VLV. 4. I can't remember the last time I listened to anything from the MDQ session. Decades I'm sure.
Gorse wrote on August 05, 2019
Comparing this medley with its brother in VLV shows the actual recording being slightly sharper and less flatter in VLV. He shows equal interest in both medleys but both are strictly film fodder and fully serve that purpose.
Milky White Way wrote on April 19, 2022
First heard this song when purchasing my first Elvis record (after receiving Elvis 40 greatest as a Christmas present in 74). It was Elvis sings hits from his movies. I liked it then and still do now. I was only 9 and didn’t care about the Beatles and Stones etc. I didn’t understand poorly produced records and career damaging soundtracks. So it has some nostalgia attached. But I do see it as for what it is, a simple movie song that fits the movie better than the record. It’s better than Petunia the gardeners daughter though imo. I don’t often play FAJ soundtrack nowadays
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