The Singing Chapmans Redeemed: When I Wake Up

 

    When I Wake Up To Sleep No More is the 3rd song on Side One of The Singing Chapmans "Redeemed By The Crucified One" album.  I'm not sure how they handled copyrights back in the 60's and early 70's.  The album doesn't mention copyrights, or have author credits.  Years later, my uncle Freil mentioned that he had to pay an amazing amount to record certain songs, so I'm working on the premise that they had to obtain permissions, but not necessarily print it as such on the cover.

    For what it's worth, the song is written by Marion W. Easterling, and copyrighted in 1944.  Easterling was a pretty prolific writer, composing over 300 southern gospel songs.  One of his mentors, Dad Speer, is sometimes credited with writing at least one of the songs on this album (He's Mine and I'm His).  Easterling also has the distinction of a Guiness Book of World Records listing, for his 39 years of programming the gospel radio show, "America's Favorites."  You can find a bit more about him, and his music, at Hymnary.org.  

    I had hoped to post this yesterday, in keeping with trying to post once a day until all the songs from the Chapmans record albums have been acknowledged.  The plan was to write it after spending the day with my parents (and great-nieces).  It's a one-hour drive each way, and driving is not something I'm comfortable with.  By the time I got back, my mind and body were both worn out... wound up giving up early, reading a bit, then calling it a night.  

    Monique and I usually sit outside for a while, by the front door.  We gather up the dogs, sit in our rocking chairs, and talk about our day.  It's a good time to share our thoughts, and the dogs love it.  We Piper and Luna have 15-foot leashes, so they can freely wander the yard, or just sit in our laps.  They smell the night air, watch as the occasional car or person goes by.  If they're lucky, sometimes one of the neighborhood cats saunter by.  A good time is had by all.  :^)

    We both had pretty big days.  Monique made a batch of Macarons for an event a friend is attending.  She rarely makes them, but this is her second time recently.  I believe she plans on making them at least one more time, with a friend.  And I told her all about my day with family, what everybody did and said.  Sometimes we'll sit quietly for a while.  We didn't stay outside long.  It was a lot colder than we expected.  

The Singing Chapmans: He's Mine and I'm His

 

More from The Singing Chapmans, featuring the 2nd song from their "Redeemed By The Crucified One" album.  For the filename, and the Youtube title, I didn't use contractions.  I'm old enough to remember the days you could only use alpha and numeric characters.  At least here, it's done properly... He's Mine and I'm His.  

I looked it up, but couldn't find much.  It seems to be credited to G. T. Speer, but his song title reverses this one (I am His and He Is Mine), and the lyrics he's usually credited with don't match this one.  It feels like there are two songs with a similar title, but nobody else is linked to this one that I can find.  

It's not really pertinent here, since post is celebrating The Singing Chapmans, and especially my uncle, Freil Thrift.  It would be nice, though, to give credit where it's due.  I'd like to know the song's history, and who actually wrote this version's melody and lyrics.

Changing the subject a bit, or at least veering off on a different tangent, tomorrow is Saturday and I'm on my way to see my folks.  Looking forward to seeing Mom and Dad, and my great-nieces.  There's also a bit of serendipity to the trip.  My sister will be there too, and she plans to bring her original album of the first record Freil recorded with the Chapmans.  She's willing to loan it to me... as long as I return it posthaste.

That's perfectly fine, as I only need it long enough to digitize the songs.  I'm excited to hear that album again, and to get those songs on Youtube as well.  There's only two albums I know of that had Freil playing.  I miss him.  It's going to be great to hear again.  As with the other album, it's been 50 (or more) years since the last time I heard it.  

That's going to keep me busy. Between posting all the songs from the "Redeemed by the Crucified One" album, then borrowing Karen's album and sharing them, it should keep me busy for a while.  And... if I get really ambitious, there's a chance I have a Hi-8 video of him and I playing a duet... and if it still plays, might even have an old tape recording in a box in the shed.  Now I just have to find the energy to go through all those boxes!!

Not to mention, I'll need something to play them on.  We certainly have tape players around the house.  With luck, one with a headphone jack so I can transfer the audiotape onto computer.  The tough one is going to be a Hi-8 player.  Not so sure about that.  It's been years since mine broke.  My options are either a mail service that will transfer it for me, or finding a cheap player on eBay...  Guess I'll close up here and start researching.  

The Singing Chapmans: Redeemed By The Crucified One

 It took some work, but all 12 song tracks from the Chapmans "Redeemed" album are uploaded to Youtube now.  I'm going to post them here, also.  Not all at once, but over time.  Starting with the title song, Redeemed By The Crucified One:

    

    I was too young to know much about the Chapmans.  Freil was a rock star to me with his amazing piano playing.  I knew Aunt Elsie May, obviously, and the twins, Odell and Othell.  The others were just adults.  They weren't in my circle, and I never got the chance to get to know them.  According to ChatGPT, The Singing Chapmans were based out of Tennessee.  Since Monique found this particular record album on eBay, and it was being sold from Tennessee, that seems like a connecting link.

    The group included father, Walter Chapman, and his sons, daughters, and a son-in-law.  I can't verify, but it seems likely Freil was the mentioned son-in-law.  If not with that generation, then probably with the succeeding generation after that.  They're credited with other records, radio and tv work, including an appearance on the "Old Time Gospel Hour" with Jerry Falwell.  Falwell was still near the height of his fame in my early 20's, which would put them all together in the right time frame.

    That doesn't sound like a lot of information, but it's more than I'd found previously.  The small amount of corroboration I could find was mainly from a record album of theirs, "Six Hours On The Cross."  I don't know much about it, but the song list includes some songs Aunt Elsie May was known for singing as church specials.  I especially remember her singing "Love Will Roll The Clouds Away."

    In other exciting news, my sister told me today she still has the other Chapman album that Freil was in (not sure of the title, but she called it "the green album."  It was the first one, and if I remember right (it WAS 50 years ago), it had more of my favorite songs.  Not certain, it's just a vague memory of playing the first one, over and over and over.

    Anyway, I'll be visiting family this weekend, and she plans to bring it for me.  To borrow... not to keep.  But that's perfect, I'll digitize it just like with this one, and be able to listen to all the music from both albums.  Plus share it on Youtube so many other old-time fans can hear their music again.