Charting Versions
Charting versions were recorded by Frankie Laine, Bing Crosby, Tennessee Ernie Ford, and Vaughn Monroe.
The Frankie Laine recording was recorded on October 2, 1949, and released by Mercury Records as catalog number 5345.The record first reached the Billboard magazine charts on November 4, 1949 and lasted 13 weeks on the chart, peaking at #1. Laine's recording of the song was produced by Mitch Miller. It featured a bellowed vocal delivery (like that of a real driver shouting to be heard) and studio-created gimmicks such as whipcracking sound effects. It is often cited as an outstanding early example of studio production techniques.
The Bing Crosby recording was recorded on October 26, 1949, and released by Decca Records as catalog number 24798. The flip side was "Dear Hearts and Gentle People" which peaked at #2. The record first reached the Billboard magazine charts on November 25, 1949 and lasted 16 weeks on the chart, peaking at #4. This recording was featured in an episode of the NBC radio network radio program Lassie Show entitled Mule Train, which aired on 12/17/1949.
The Tennessee Ernie Ford recording was recorded on October 18, 1949, and released by Capitol Records as catalog number 40258. The record first reached the Billboard magazine charts on November 25, 1949 and lasted 9 weeks on the chart, peaking at #10. Ford's version also charted on the Billboard country charts, reaching No. 1 in December, becoming the first song to top the component "Country & Western Records Most Played By Folk Disk Jockeys" chart (on December 10, 1949). Like Laine's version, Ford's version contained whipcracking sound effects and shouting by the driver as he spurs on the mules.
The Vaughn Monroe recording was released by RCA Victor Records as a 78rpm single (catalog number 20-3600A) and a 45rpm single (catalog number 47-3106) (in USA). It was released by EMI on the His Master's Voice label as catalog number B 9836. The record first reached the Billboard magazine charts on November 18, 1949 and lasted 9 weeks on the chart, peaking at #10. Monroe also sang the song in the 1950 Republic Western "Singing Guns." He played an outlaw who became town marshal with the intent of stealing a shipment of gold, and sang the song while at the reins of what appeared to be a stagecoach.
Read more about this topic: Mule Train
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