"When the Saints Go Marching In", often referred to as "The Saints", is an American gospel hymn. Though it originated as a Christian hymn, it is often played by jazz bands. This song was famously recorded on May 13, 1938 by Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra. The song is sometimes confused with a similarly titled composition "When the Saints Are Marching In" from 1896 by Katharine Purvis (lyrics) and James Milton Black (music). (More from Wikipedia)
"My Bonnie Lies over the Ocean" is a traditional Scottish folk song that remains popular to this day. Several other songs by the Beatles were recorded at that time; Anthology 1 includes "My Bonnie" (but not "The Saints") plus "Ain't She Sweet" and "Cry for a Shadow" that were made at the same recording session but without Tony Sheridan. On "Ain't She Sweet", John Lennon sings lead; this song was a staple in their shows back in 1961. "Cry for a Shadow" is a rare instrumental by the Beatles and the only recording ever credited to George Harrison and John Lennon as songwriters.
The flip side of this first Beatles single, "When the Saints Go Marching In" could be described as the signature song of New Orleans. The origin of this gospel song is unknown, but it started being played by jazz bands beginning with Louis Armstrong in 1938.
There was a sign on the wall in Preservation Hall about requests (still is, in fact); you could put in a request for $1 or $2 – but if you wanted to hear "Saints", that would cost you $5.
(June 2015)
