When did the Blackwood Brothers record “I’m Winging my Way Back Home?”
The song is featured in the closing scene of Oliver Stone’s “W.” and is, amazingly, on the soundtrack for the movie, which is a George W. Bush biopic.
As I walked out of the theatre, I could identify James Blackwood and Bill Shaw’s voices for sure, the baritone sounded more like Cecil than RW, and the bass was either an early JD or John Hall.
BTW, the movie was surprisingly sympathetic… it did not make Dubya into a buffoon as the trailers have been edited to suggest. I voted for Dubya twice, and I loved the movie. Hearing the Blackwood Brothers singing as the credits started rolling was an unexpected bonus for an SG fanatic/Republican like myself.
I have a record from probably around 1967 with John Hall singing bass…I think it’s called “Campmeeting” or something like that and it has the song on it. They may have recorded it also at another time, don’t know. Very basic accompaniment and vocal arrangments; I guess the album is meant to sound old.
Chris Becker - 20 October 2008 10:19 PM
When did the Blackwood Brothers record “I’m Winging my Way Back Home?”
The song is featured in the closing scene of Oliver Stone’s “W.” and is, amazingly, on the soundtrack for the movie, which is a George W. Bush biopic.
As I walked out of the theatre, I could identify James Blackwood and Bill Shaw’s voices for sure, the baritone sounded more like Cecil than RW, and the bass was either an early JD or John Hall.
BTW, the movie was surprisingly sympathetic… it did not make Dubya into a buffoon as the trailers have been edited to suggest. I voted for Dubya twice, and I loved the movie. Hearing the Blackwood Brothers singing as the credits started rolling was an unexpected bonus for an SG fanatic/Republican like myself.
The very first recording was in 1946 with Roy Blackwood Tenor, James Lead, RW Baritone, Bill Lyles Bass, and my Dad Hilton Griswold as the pianist. Bill hadn’t been with the group very long when they recorded that one. Of course, this was on a 78 record that sold for $1!!!!!
I am Phil Shepard
I played piano and organ for the blackwood brothers also managed blackwood brothers music store in memphis for james and cecil before the plaza was built there was a small house next door that they used for temp music store upstairs bundy brewster the bus driver built a recording studio that is where all day singing was made john hall was there for the most of it but left before album was finised so the rest of the album was m ade with london paris billy blackwood was on drums ron ham guitar dave weston piano phil shepard organ
I have a record from probably around 1967 with John Hall singing bass…I think it’s called “Campmeeting” or something like that and it has the song on it. They may have recorded it also at another time, don’t know. Very basic accompaniment and vocal arrangments; I guess the album is meant to sound old.
Chris Becker - 20 October 2008 10:19 PM
When did the Blackwood Brothers record “I’m Winging my Way Back Home?”
The song is featured in the closing scene of Oliver Stone’s “W.” and is, amazingly, on the soundtrack for the movie, which is a George W. Bush biopic.
As I walked out of the theatre, I could identify James Blackwood and Bill Shaw’s voices for sure, the baritone sounded more like Cecil than RW, and the bass was either an early JD or John Hall.
BTW, the movie was surprisingly sympathetic… it did not make Dubya into a buffoon as the trailers have been edited to suggest. I voted for Dubya twice, and I loved the movie. Hearing the Blackwood Brothers singing as the credits started rolling was an unexpected bonus for an SG fanatic/Republican like myself.
It is from the album ALL-Day Singing on the Skylite label
I saw the commercial for this movie on TV and it looked like an ax job on the President, but if you say it’s OK I guess it is.
I guess if you are a movie goer you probably know that a Blackwood Brothers recording was used in “Walk The Line” also, I’m not sure if I have the title exact but It’s the song that goes ” I was There When It Happened and I guess I Ought To Know”
When did the Blackwood Brothers record “I’m Winging my Way Back Home?”
The song is featured in the closing scene of Oliver Stone’s “W.” and is, amazingly, on the soundtrack for the movie, which is a George W. Bush biopic.
As I walked out of the theatre, I could identify James Blackwood and Bill Shaw’s voices for sure, the baritone sounded more like Cecil than RW, and the bass was either an early JD or John Hall.
BTW, the movie was surprisingly sympathetic… it did not make Dubya into a buffoon as the trailers have been edited to suggest. I voted for Dubya twice, and I loved the movie. Hearing the Blackwood Brothers singing as the credits started rolling was an unexpected bonus for an SG fanatic/Republican like myself.
It sounded to me like they might have enhanced the recording a bit, although I’m not certain. I did recognize the voices you mentioned, but I kept hearing some additional singers and instrumentation it seemed…of course hearing it over the theater’s sound system probably added a lot as I used to listen to the Blackwoods on an old 45rpm record player.
There was also an instrumental version earlier in the movie.
Of course right after the Blackwoods song they played Bob Dylan’s “With God on Our Side” ...quite possibly the first time those two songs have been on the same program back to back.
It was an interesting movie, btw. I don’t know if the President Bush as portrayed in the movie is like the real President Bush…it’s an Ollie Stone movie after all…but it was sympathetic and made Bush appear to be a man og strong principle, personal faith and conviction. The other characters played too much off the media stereotypes, imo.
It was an interesting movie, btw. I don’t know if the President Bush as portrayed in the movie is like the real President Bush…it’s an Ollie Stone movie after all…but it was sympathetic and made Bush appear to be a man og strong principle, personal faith and conviction. The other characters played too much off the media stereotypes, imo.
It’s a comedy based on stereotypes. I didn’t mind the portrayal of George W., but I sure didn’t like the characterization they made of Barbara Bush.
That was just nasty of Stone.
As for the rest, I thought it was funny how they made Brolin look as close to Bush as possible, but all those around him looked like sinister versions of their real life counterparts. How did you like the trollish guy who played Karl Rove, for example? Or the dumb looking Condi Rice?
As for the rest, I thought it was funny how they made Brolin look as close to Bush as possible, but all those around him looked like sinister versions of their real life counterparts. How did you like the trollish guy who played Karl Rove, for example? Or the dumb looking Condi Rice?
Yeah, I agree. All the supporting characters seemed very one dimensional, almost like caricatures. I think they missed Rove and Rice completely…especially Rice who I think will be remembered as one of the brightest players in team Bush.
I got the feeling Stone… for reasons I can only guess at… tried to shift the blame for some of the unpopular Bush policies away from Bush to those that worked in his administration. I doubt it captured much of reality, but hey it’s Ollie Stone.
It is fortunate that we still have my friend Phil Shepard around to set the record straight. I have found him to be a treasure trove of information about the Blackwood Brothers and many other individuals and groups.
