Distant Drums (song)
Encyclopedia
"Distant Drums" is the title of a song which provided US singer Jim Reeves
with his only UK number one hit – albeit posthumously – in the United Kingdom
in 1966, some two years after his death in a plane crash on 31 July 1964. The song remained in the UK charts for 45 weeks. The single also topped the US country chart for four weeks, becoming his most successful posthumous single.
had recorded the song in 1963, it is Reeves' version of "Distant Drums" which has endured over the years.
During its time at the top of the UK charts the song beat off stiff competition from several major (and living) artists of the day including The Beatles
and the Small Faces. This was an unexpected achievement for a song which Reeves had recorded for its composer, Cindy Walker
, under the impression it was for her private use only and had been earlier dismissed by both the RCA
record company and Chet Atkins
(a noted guitarist and record producer who worked with Reeves) as unsuitable for wider public release. This may have explained the lower than usual sound quality heard on the original recording of the song. However, following Reeves' death, the track was overdubbed with an orchestral backing and released to the general public as the version which later climbed up the music charts in both the United States and the UK.
It is now generally accepted the song began attracting attention around 1966 due to the continuation of hostilities in the Vietnam War
and an increased public awareness (both in the UK and the US) of the difficult conditions faced by U.S. armed personnel fighting in that particular conflict. This is due to the lyrics implying the wishes of a soldier who wants to marry his beloved (called "Mary" in the song) before he answers the call of battle in some far away land; the "Distant Drums" which make up the song's title.
"Distant Drums" first entered the UK Singles Chart
during the summer of 1966 before reaching the number-one position on 22 September, where it remained for five weeks. It was named the UK's "song of the year" and Reeves became the first overseas performer to receive this special award.
The song features prominently on several of Reeves' albums which have been released down the years.
Jim Reeves
James Travis Reeves , better known as Jim Reeves, was an American country and popular music singer-songwriter. With records charting from the 1950s to the 1980s, he became well-known for being a practitioner of the Nashville sound...
with his only UK number one hit – albeit posthumously – in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in 1966, some two years after his death in a plane crash on 31 July 1964. The song remained in the UK charts for 45 weeks. The single also topped the US country chart for four weeks, becoming his most successful posthumous single.
Legacy
Although Roy OrbisonRoy Orbison
Roy Kelton Orbison was an American singer-songwriter, well known for his distinctive, powerful voice, complex compositions, and dark emotional ballads. Orbison grew up in Texas and began singing in a rockabilly/country & western band in high school until he was signed by Sun Records in Memphis...
had recorded the song in 1963, it is Reeves' version of "Distant Drums" which has endured over the years.
During its time at the top of the UK charts the song beat off stiff competition from several major (and living) artists of the day including The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
and the Small Faces. This was an unexpected achievement for a song which Reeves had recorded for its composer, Cindy Walker
Cindy Walker
Cindy Walker was a prolific American songwriter, as well as a country music singer and dancer. As a songwriter Walker was responsible for a large number of popular and enduring songs recorded by many different artists. She adopted a craftsman-like approach to her songwriting, often tailoring...
, under the impression it was for her private use only and had been earlier dismissed by both the RCA
RCA
RCA Corporation, founded as the Radio Corporation of America, was an American electronics company in existence from 1919 to 1986. The RCA trademark is currently owned by the French conglomerate Technicolor SA through RCA Trademark Management S.A., a company owned by Technicolor...
record company and Chet Atkins
Chet Atkins
Chester Burton Atkins , known as Chet Atkins, was an American guitarist and record producer who, along with Owen Bradley, created the smoother country music style known as the Nashville sound, which expanded country's appeal to adult pop music fans as well.Atkins's picking style, inspired by Merle...
(a noted guitarist and record producer who worked with Reeves) as unsuitable for wider public release. This may have explained the lower than usual sound quality heard on the original recording of the song. However, following Reeves' death, the track was overdubbed with an orchestral backing and released to the general public as the version which later climbed up the music charts in both the United States and the UK.
It is now generally accepted the song began attracting attention around 1966 due to the continuation of hostilities in the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
and an increased public awareness (both in the UK and the US) of the difficult conditions faced by U.S. armed personnel fighting in that particular conflict. This is due to the lyrics implying the wishes of a soldier who wants to marry his beloved (called "Mary" in the song) before he answers the call of battle in some far away land; the "Distant Drums" which make up the song's title.
"Distant Drums" first entered the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
during the summer of 1966 before reaching the number-one position on 22 September, where it remained for five weeks. It was named the UK's "song of the year" and Reeves became the first overseas performer to receive this special award.
The song features prominently on several of Reeves' albums which have been released down the years.
Roy Orbison
| Chart (1963) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian ARIA Chart | 3 |
Jim Reeves
| Chart (1966) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 45 |
| Canadian RPM Top Singles | 27 |
| UK Singles Chart | 1 |
| Norway Singles Chart | 2 |