Each article in The Originals series highlights the first recorded version of a popular Southern Gospel song.
“I’ll Fly Away” was written by Albert E. Brumley in 1929 while picking cotton. The song was inspired by a song titled “If I Had The Wings Of An Angel.” When speaking of his motivation for writing the song, Brumley said, “I was dreaming of flying away from that cotton field!”
The song was first published in 1932 by the Hartford Music Company in a collection of songs titled Wonderful Message.
In 1949 and 1950, Columbia Records released the Chuck Wagon Gang’s recording of “I’ll Fly Away” initially as a B-side for their single “Dream Boat” and then as an A-side with “Looking For A City” as the B-side. The Chuck Wagon Gang had the first “commercially licensed version of the song” according to their history. It sold over a million copies.
The song was recorded earlier by at least one group, however. In 1941, the Selah Jubilee Singers recorded “I’ll Fly Away” as a B-side on their Decca Records single “Hide Me In Thy Bosom.” This is the earliest known recording of “I’ll Fly Away.”
I’m not aware of any musicologists or historians who have verified the claim to be 100% accurate, but some writers have stated that “I’ll Fly Away” is now the most recorded Gospel song of all time. Just guessing, I’d say “Amazing Grace” might have been recorded more frequently, but there’s little doubt that “I’ll Fly Away” ranks near the top when it comes to all-time best selling songs. It has appeared on multiple million selling projects over the years starting with the Chuck Wagon Gang single as noted above. In more recent years, it appeared on Alan Jackson’ million selling Precious Memories collection of classic gospel songs. The soundtrack for the movie O Brother, Where Art Thou? featured an Allison Krauss/Gillian Welch rendition, and it sold over eight million copies.
Here are a few dozen Southern Gospel artists who have recorded “I’ll Fly Away” over the years. The links will take you to MusicScribe’s sister website, SGHistory.com.
- Agape Singers (1977 Agape Country)
- Akins (2009 The Akins; 2011 Live In Concert)
- Amy Lambert (2012 The Seeker)
- Anthony Burger (1992 Burnin’ It Up)
- Bill Baize (1977 Jesus Let Me Write You A Song)
- Bill Gaither Trio (1970 At Home…In Indiana)
- Blackwood Brothers (1967 More Grand Old Gospel; 1972 Mighty Clouds Of Joy; 1980 Until Then; 1985 Jesus Now; 2007 Live In Cape Coral)
- Blackwood Quartet (2011 The Legend Lives On)
- Blackwood Singers (1968 On Higher Ground)
- Blue Ridge (1991 Live)
- Blue Ridge Quartet (1967 He Cares For You; 1974 You Can’t Be A Beacon If Your Light Don’t Shine; 1975 Little Jimmy Dickens With The Blue Ridge Sings Hymns Of The Hour)
- Browns (2009 Heritage Hymn Collection, Volume 1)
- Calvarymen Quartet (???? Presents The Very Best Of Irv Wadlington)
- Cathedral Quartet (1976 The Cathedral Quartet Sings Albert E. Brumley Classics)
- Chosen Few (1993 The Classics)
- Chuck Wagon Gang (1949 on 78 single; 1950 on 78 single; 1950 Favorite Country Hymns; 1957 Sacred Songs; 1960 Perfect Joy; 1978 Old Fashioned Singing – 20 Greatest Hits; 1983 16 Gospel Favorites; 1984 A Golden Legacy; 2001 Gospel Classics Hall Of Fame Series Volume 3; 2002 America’s Popular Family Quartet; 2004 I’ll Fly Away; 2004 Live in Branson; 2005 Wagon Tracks Live; 2009 Live at 1957 & 1959 National Quartet Convention;)
- Cumberland Quartet (1981 Sing The Glory Down; 1997 Canada Live; 2000 Renewal)
- Dixie Echoes (1975 Today; 1996 Rock Solid)
- Dixie Melody Boys (1973 Together; 2001 Request Time; 2004 Historic Journey Volume 2; 2010 Hits Live)
- Doug Oldham (1973 To God Be The Glory; 1975 Doug Oldham And The Speers Live!)
- Easter Brothers (1977 We’re Going Home)
- Eldridge Fox (1999 Family Bible)
- Florida Boys (???? Sing Your Concert Requests)
- Fox Brothers (1976 Anywhere Everywhere And All The Time)
- Freedom (2010 Hymns Of Freedom)
- Gaither Vocal Band 2014 Hymns
- Gary McSpadden And Chosen (2000 Southern Gospel Classics)
- Gold City (1986 Your Favorite Hymns; 1990 Instrumentals Volume One)
- Gold City & Kingsmen Quartet (1993 King’s Gold 2; 1994 Kings Gold 3)
- Gospel Brass (1979 Camp Meeting Time; 1986 Solo Flight)
- Gospel Harmony Boys (1989 Harmony…Our Middle Name)
- Harvesters (1963 At Home)
- Hemphill Band (1989 Band Of Light)
- Hemphills (1975 One Live Family)
- Homeland Quartet (1989 The Tradition Lives On)
- Hoppers (1970 A New Life)
- Hovie Lister (1975 I’m Gonna Keep On!)
- Inheritance (2007 Requests)
- Isaacs (2003 Songs Of The Faith)
- J D Sumner And The Stamps (1991 Southern Gospel Classics)
- Jack Veazey (1976 Wait For Me, Jesus)
- Jake Hess (1968 The Incomparable Jake Hess; 1998 Nothing But Fine: 40 Years And Counting)
- Jerry And The Goffs (1971 The King’s Children Present… Majestic Music)
- Jim Brady (2008 Hymns And Spiritual Songs)
- Jim Murray (1996 Walk With Me)
- Jimmie Davis (2005 SGMA Hall Of Fame Legends Volume One)
- Jimmy Swaggart (1972 The Golden Gospel Piano Of Jimmy Swaggart; 1974 Jesus Is The Sweetest Name I Know)
- Jody Brown Indian Family (2003 Life Is Good)
- Jordanaires (2005 Believe…A Collection Of Blue Grass Hymns)
- Ken Turner (1975 Gospel With A Touch Of Country; ???? Ken Turner Live With Bruce Moses And The Ozarks)
- Kingdom Heirs (1984 Special Edition; 1989 From The Heart; 1990 Live At Dollywood; 2001 Shadows of the Past; 2008 From The Redbook Volume One)
- Kingdom Heirs Band (2004 Lyrics Not Included)
- Kingsboys (1982 Go Jonah)
- Kingsmen Quartet (1960 New Jerusalem; 1972 Mayday; 1991 Classic Hymns; 1993 Kingsmen Band: Men of Music; 1993 27 Great Gospel Songs; 1998Men Of Music: Randy Miller And Andrew Ishee)
- LeFevre Quartet (2006 Requests Volume 2 – Hymns)
- Lesters (1975 The Lester Family Sings; 2012 Foundation)
- Lewis Family (1971 Lewis Country)
- London Parris And The Apostles (1975 Wall To Wall Gospel)
- Masters V (1983 Live at the Joyful Noise)
- McGruders (1997 Hymns And Favorites)
- McKeithens (1985 Silver & Gold)
- Melody Boys Quartet (1992 Requests)
- Melody Masters Quartet (???? University Live; ???? Classic Style)
- Messengers (1971 Death Will Not Hold Me Down)
- Oak Ridge Boys (1997 Revival Volume II)
- Paynes (1981 A Payne Family Tradition)
- Pfeifers (1994 Stand Strong)
- Rambos (1974 Alive And Live At Soul’s Harbor)
- Sego Brothers And Naomi (1964 The Best Of; 1970 Featuring W.R. Sego; 1971 Golden Hits)
- Senators (1974 Where Could I Go)
- Singing Americans (197? The Old Rugged Cross; 1981 Hymntime; 1992 On Stage)
- Singing Cookes (1980 Live)
- Singing Echoes (1979 You Can’t Hide From God)
- Smitty Gatlin Trio (1968 The Best Of Albert Brumley)
- Songfellows Quartet (1995 Legends In Song; 1996 Love That Gospel Music)
- Speer Family (1975 Doug Oldham And The Speers Live!; 1981 60th Anniversary Celebration)
- Statesmen (1959 I’ll Meet You By the River; 1968 Standing on the Promises; 1974 Precious Memories)
- Statler Brothers (1992 Gospel Favorites)
- Talleys (2000 Encore)
- Teddy Huffam And The Gems (1978 Black Gold)
- Telestials (1978 Experience Live)
- Thrasher Brothers (1969 Sincerely Yours)
- Triumphant Quartet (2006 Treasures)
- Various Artists (1986 All Night Singin’ With The Gospel Greats; 1990 Indiana Live; 1996 Anthony Burger’s Pianorama-Recorded Live At The National Quartet Convention)
- Vicksburg Quartet (1977 Track No. 19)
- Wendy Bagwell And The Sunliters (1968 The Gospel Truth)
- Whitey Gleason (1975 Mister Piano Plays For You)
- Won By One (1995 Another Hallelujah)
Add a few other artists. Bobby Bare This I Believe 1966. George Jones Old Brush Arbors 1966.
I liked the Selah Singers “first recorded” version. The quartet has a good, coordinated, “interplay” sound–a bit like the Mills Brothers with the strummed guitar accompaniment–and I enjoyed the upbeat tempo.
David, thanks for this series and for the earliest recordings. Great musicological research and interesting sounds!