Single:
Black and Blue entered the Australian singles chart* on 22 February 1971 and peaked at #12. The song was #89 on the Top 100 of 1971.
Album:
The song is on Toward the Blues which entered the Australian albums chart* on 20 September 1971 and peaked at #6.
Songwriters:
Barry Harvey, Phil Manning, Barry Sullivan, Matt Taylor
Producer:
Chain
Record label of Australian release:
Infinity
*Kent Music Report / Australian Chart Book. See About.
Milesago:
By the time of Toward The Blues in 1971, Chain had settled into the lineup of Barry Harvey (drums), Phil Manning (guitar, vocals), Barry Sullivan (bass) and Matt Taylor (vocals, harmonica). Warren Morgan had gone off to join The Aztecs and Glyn Mason went to the UK.
In 1971 Chain was attracting the attention of Michael Gudinksi who became the band’s manager and later, in 1973, recorded on his new Mushroom label.
Black and Blue recalled the traditional Afro-American “work-song” motif, and heralded the solid, blueswailing body of songs featured on Toward The Blues, Chain’s first album for Festival’s “progressive” Infinity imprint.
Read more: www.milesago.com/artists/chain.htm
Lyrics:
You work me so hard that my back’s near broke (we’re groanin’)
My brow is wet and my throat’s a-choke (we’re groanin’)
You send me here for 10 long years (we’re groanin’)
I miss my whisky and I miss my beer (we’re groanin’)
Click for full lyrics
This song is also on our Spotify playlist Bang a Gong – the 70s
Also on Bang a Gong: a version of Black and Blue by Manfred Mann’s Earth Band
Find more songs to enjoy: Bang a Gong song finder
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