Swing Down Sweet Chariot
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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"Swing Down Sweet Chariot" is a traditional spiritual song, a humorous variation of "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot".
Popularised by the Golden Gate Quartet in the 1940s, it was recorded by Elvis Presley for his 1960 album His Hand in Mine, and was re-recorded for his 1969 film The Trouble with Girls. The 1960 version featured backing vocals by The Jordanaires, and the re-recording featured the Mello Men on backing vocals. The version of the song from The Trouble with Girls was reissued in the 2010 boxed set The Complete Elvis Presley Masters, but this time, it features an all-female group singing background vocals.
The funk band, Rufus, did a version on their 1974 recording, Rags to Rufus, on ABC records. The six band members: Murphy, Fischer, Khan, Stockert, Belfield, Ciner, are credited with composition.
The song's chorus is quoted in the funk song "Mothership Connection (Star Child)", released in 1975 by Parliament.