“Amazing Grace” existed in print form for several decades before the invention of recording devices. The song has been recorded thousands of times, and sung countless more. In fact, one biographer has estimated the song is performed 10 million times annually.
So, who recorded “Amazing Grace” first? We’ll get to that, but first, some background.
The original lyrics for “Amazing Grace” were composed by converted slave trader John Newton in Buckinghamshire, England in 1772 and subsequently published in 1779 as part of a songbook titled Olney Hymns. It is thought the lyrics were first presented at a public church meeting on January 1, 1773. At that point, no particular melody was associated with the “Amazing Grace” text. The lyric was essentially a poem written in “common meter” (8 syllables followed by 6 syllables twice, or 8.6.8.6). The words could be paired with any suitable melody that followed the same pattern. This was a standard practice at the time. Tunes were assigned names separate from lyrics.
Several decades later in the following century, in 1835 to be more precise, Newton’s lyrics were paired with an American melody called “New Britain.” Twelve years later in 1847, the “Amazing Grace” lyric and the “New Britain” melody appeared for the first time together in print in an American hymnbook titled Southern Harmony, published by William Walker.
Thomas Edison invented the phonograph in 1877. The earliest known recording of “Amazing Grace” was made in July 1922. (Given the popularity of the hymn, it’s definitely possible that an earlier recording was made, but it’s the earliest example we can find.)
The performers on the 1922 recording are credited as The Original Sacred Harp Choir. Research indicates the choir probably consisted of a choir of Sacred Harp singers from Georgia and Texas who traveled to New York to record several hymns. A total of eleven songs were recorded during the sessions. Eight of those were released on four Brunswick label singles (#s 5146, 5147, 5150, 5151).
Click HERE to hear the earliest known recording of “Amazing Grace/New Britain.” This recording has been preserved in the Library of Congress and since it was released in 1922, it’s in the public domain.
John Newton wrote a total of six verses, but only four of those are presented by The Original Sacred Harp Choir. John P. Rees is often credited as the author of an additional verse that begins “When we’ve been there…”, but there is some debate as to whether Rees was the true author. The verse became associated with “Amazing Grace” after Harriett Beecher Stowe included two of Newton’s verses followed by the “When we’ve been there” verse in her 1852 novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin.
“When we’ve been there…” is positioned as the final stanza in most modern hymnbooks, while two or three of Newton’s original verses are typically excluded. Here are Newton’s six original verses followed by the familiar final verse.
Amazing grace! (how sweet the sound)
That sav’d a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears reliev’d;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believ’d!
Thro’ many dangers, toils, and snares,
I have already come;
‘Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promis’d good to me,
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures.
Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease;
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who call’d me here below,
Will be forever mine.
When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we’d first begun.
Here’s a list of artists who have recorded “Amazing Grace” over the years from our sister site, SGHistory.com.
- Agape Singers (1976 What America Needs Most)
- Akins (2014 Vintage)
- Amber Thompson (2000 Amber Thompson & Friends)
- Anchormen (1991 Backstage Pass; 1996 Southern Gospel Favorites Vol. 2)
- Andrew Ishee (2010 Quiet Hymns)
- Anthony Burger (1983 Piano Classics Featuring The Old Ship Of Zion; 1991 Precious Memories; 2001 The Story Continues; 2007 The Kingsmen Years; 2008 Hymns)
- Archie Watkins (2009 Amazing Grace)
- Ball Brothers (2012 Vocalized 2)
- Bill Baize (1979 For The Joy)
- Bill Gaither Trio (1990 Hymn Classics)
- Blackwood Brothers (1959 The Stranger of Galilee; 1967 Surely Goodness and Mercy; 1971 Amazing Grace; 1971 Put Your Hand In The Hand; 1978 Lift Up the Name of Jesus; 2000 Beulah Land; 2007 Rock Of Ages Hymns Of The Faith)
- Blackwood Quartet (1998 Classic Collection; 2011 The Legend Lives On)
- Blackwood Singers (1967 Time Has Made A Change; 1973 The Exciting; ???? Over Today)
- Blue Ridge Quartet (1967 America’s 12 Favorite Hymns)
- Booth Brothers (1999 Pure And Simple, Vol. 1; 2012 The Best of The Booth Brothers)
- Branhams (1986 Heaven On My Mind)
- Brian Free And Assurance (2002 Timeless Hymns & Classics)
- Buddy Liles (???? Thanks Friends)
- Calvarymen Quartet (???? Live! A Celebration; ???? Our Favorite Hymns)
- Calvarymen Quartet Of West Virginia (1978 With Dad Parsons)
- Carroll Roberson (???? His Hand In Mine)
- Cathedral Quartet (1964 Beyond The Sunset; 1971 Right On; 1976 The Best Of The Cathedral Quartet)
- Cecil Blackwood (1966 Songs You Requested)
- Charlotte Ritchie (1999 Charlotte Ritchie)
- Chestnut Grove Quartet (???? The Light On The River; ???? Where No Cabins Fall)
- Chosen Few (1993 The Classics)
- Chronicle 1991 Chronicle Live)
- Chuck Wagon Gang (1983 16 Gospel Favorites; 2010 30 Country Gospel Favorites)
- Collingsworth Family (2001 Silver And Ivory)
- Couriers 1959 Southern Style Gospel Music; 1962 Dedicated to the Hymns; 1976 Ovation – Live)
- Coy Cook And The Senators (1970 This Is Our Land)
- Crabb Family (2001 Living Out The Dream; 2005 Live At Brooklyn Tabernacle; 2009 Grand Finale – The Ultimate Concert Experience)
- Cumberland Quartet (1983 Presenting Opryland’s Gospel Quartet II; 2006 Acoustic Hymns – Volume 1)
- Dennis Gwizdala (2009 Power; 2011 The Blues Project)
- Dixie Echoes (1976 Sing Back The Memories)
- Dixie Four (1947 78RPM Single)
- Dixie Melody Boys (1972 Just For You; 1978 Favorite Hymns; 2001 Request Time; 2004 Historic Journey Volume 2)
- Dixie Melody Boys Band (1990 The Dixie Melody Boys Band Featuring Larry)
- Donnie Sumner (2000 Classic Southern)
- Easter Brothers (1982 Forever On My Knees; 199? Songs That Will Never Grow Old)
- Eddie Crook (???? Country Hymns; ???? Blessed Assurance)
- Elvis Presley (1972 He Touched Me)
- Florida Boys (1960 13th Anniversary; 1967 Singing Through Life; ???? Sing Gospel Hits: Volume III)
- Foundations (???? Ole Time Remedy)
- Fox Brothers (2000 Sincerely Yours)
- Freedom (2010 Hymns Of Freedom)
- Freemans (1999 Memory Lane Scrapbook; 2006 Live 2)
- Gaither Homecoming Series (1992 Reunion; 1993 Old Friends; 1994 Precious Memories; 1996 Heaven Is My Home; 1996 Sunday Meetin’ Time; 1997 Best Of Homecoming Volume 1; 1998 Down By the Tabernacle; 2000 Harmony in the Heartland; 2002 God Bless America; 2007 Amazing Grace; 2008 Country Bluegrass Homecoming, Volume One)
- Gaither Vocal Band 2014 Hymns
- Gary McSpadden (1979 Higher Purpose; 2002 Simply The Best Of Gary McSpadden)
- George Beverly Shea (1971 Amazing Grace)
- Gerald Wolfe (2011 Hymns You Asked For)
- Gold City (1981 We Believe; 1990 Chartbreakers Volume Three; 2000 Amazing Grace: A Hymns Collection)
- Gold City and Kingsmen Quartet (1992 Kings Gold)
- Gordon Jensen (1994 Treasures From The Hymnbook)
- Gospel Brass (1972 Skylite Presents The Gospel Brass)
- Gospel Enforcers (2003 Getting It Together)
- Gospel Harmony Boys (1961 It’s Gospel Harmony Time; 1969 Inspirational Relaxation)
- Greater Vision (1996 The Church Hymnal Series Vol. 1; 2008 Favorites From The Church Hymnal Series)
- Guy Penrod (2012 Hymns)
- Happy Goodmans (2000 50 Years)
- Harvesters (1960 The Harvesters)
- Hee Haw Gospel Quartet (1994 Hee Haw Gospel Quartet)
- Hemphill Band (1989 Band Of Light)
- Henry Slaughter (1994 Great Hymns Of Our Time)
- Homeland Quartet (1989 The Tradition Lives On)
- Homesteaders (2006 Happy Trails)
- Hoppers (1967 5th Anniversary; 1974 Sing Gospel Classics)
- Inheritance (2007 Requests)
- Inspirations (1966 Our Pioneer Heritage; 1971 Our Inspiration; 1976 Nite of Inspiration; 1980 Singing In The Smokies; 1999 All Their Best; 2008 How Great It Is)
- Isaacs (2003 Songs Of The Faith)
- J D Sumner And The Stamps (1988 Inspirational Hymns; 1991 The Best Of J.D. Sumner & The Stamps – Volume Two)
- Jack Holcomb (1961 Gospel Songs That Touch The Heart; 1963 Sings Your Favorites)
- James S Wetherington (1969 Big Chief Jim Wetherington)
- Jay Parrack And Vocal Event (2013 Strictly Southern)
- Jeff And Sheri Easter (1987 A New Tradition)
- Jeff Stice (2011 Me And A Piano)
- Jerry And The Goffs (1974 Our Heritage; 1978 Spirit-Filled Six-Pack)
- Jim McClintock (1977 There’ll Come A Day)
- Jimmie Davis (1968 Amazing Grace)
- Jimmy Jones (1981 Amazing Grace)
- Jimmy Swaggart (1999 He Was Nailed To The Cross For Me; ???? This Is Just What Heaven Means To Me)
- John Hall (1974 Live At Melodyland)
- John Mathews Family (1972 All God’s Children Gotta’ Sing!)
- Johnny Cook (1976 The Voice)
- Jordanaires (1961 To God Be the Glory; 1985 Will The Circle Be Unbroken; 1992 Sing Gospel; 2005 Believe…A Collection Of Blue Grass Hymns)
- Jubilee Quartet (1963 Are You Sincere)
- Karen Peck And New River (2004 Faith, Hope & Love)
- Ken Turner (1984 Ken Turner Of The Blackwood Brothers Presents The Multi-talented Turner Family)
- Keystone Quartet (1973 Hymns)
- Kingdom Heirs (1986 Heirlooms; 1987 Favorites; 1993 Timeless; 1997 Christian Family; 2001 Shadows Of The Past; 2008 From The Redbook Volume One)
- King’s Heralds (1961 Sing…With Us; 1973 Amazing Grace; 1979 Golden Jubilee; 1983 Favorites – Through The Years)
- Kingsmen Quartet (1959 What Love; 1971 America’s Favorite Hymns; 1985 Better In Person; 1985 Hymns Of Your Choice; 1992 Walking With Jesus; 1993 27 Great Gospel Songs; 1995 Kingsmen Klassics Vol. 6)
- Klaudt Indian Family (1968 The Highest Hill)
- Lancers (???? These Are the Lancers)
- Lari Goss (1987 20 Piano Hymns; 1988 40 Piano Hymns)
- LeFevre Quartet (2006 Requests Volume 2 – Hymns)
- LeFevres (1963 Rainbow Of Love)
- Legacy Five (2002 Heritage Volume II)
- Lesters (2012 Foundation)
- Levoy Dewey (1975 Levoy Dewey And The Statesmen Quartet)
- Liberty Quartet (2004 Timeless Treasured Hymns)
- London Parris And The Apostles (1973 Because He Lives)
- Martins (1992 Martins Live)
- Masters V (1985 The Master’s Hymns)
- McGruders (1996 Plugged In Live)
- Melody Masters Quartet (???? Hymnal Harmony)
- Music City Singers (196? The Inspirations Sing Something Old Something New)
- Nelons (1984 The Best And A Whole Lot More; 1990 The Best Of Times; 2008 You Are God)
- Oak Ridge Boys (1967 Songs For The Soul; 1974 Hymns; 1997 Revival Volume II; 2005 Common Thread; 2005 From The Heart; 2008 The Gospel Collection; 2008 Favorites; 2009 The Boys Are Back)
- Paid In Full (2003 Sounds Of Home)
- Palmetto State Quartet (1997 Hymns Of Gold)
- Perfect Heart (1991 Live!; 1996 Relives The Good Ole Days; 1997 Hymn Time)
- Perry Sisters (1993 Songs That Warm The Heart)
- Perrys (1976 I Won’t Walk Without Jesus; (1990 Little Thunder Live In Alabama)
- Pfeifers (1985 I Claim The Blood; 1995 Free Me Up)
- Pine Ridge Boys (1966 The Pine Ridge Boys; ???? Lonesome Road; ???? Singing At Church)
- Plainsmen (1962 The World’s Greatest Gospel Songs; 1965 Gospel Songs For Country Folks; 1971 He’s The Lilly Of The Valley)
- Prophets (1965 I Gotta Tell It; 1969 Victory In Jesus)
- Rambos (1974 Yours, Until He Comes; 1974 Alive And Live At Soul’s Harbor)
- Rebels (1961 What Then)
- Rhythm Masters (1961 Hymns And Spirituals By The Rhythm Masters; 198? Love Will Roll The Clouds Away)
- Rick Strickland (1993 When I’m Weak, He Is Strong)
- Robbie Hiner (1976 Sings The Old Time Gospel)
- Roger Bennett (1998 Midnight Meditations)
- Rosie Rozell And The Searchers (1972 Ovation)
- Sego Brothers And Naomi (1964 The Best Of)
- Singing Americans (197? Sunrise With Twin Trumpets; 197? Amazing Grace; 1981 Hymntime; 1988 Chartbreakers; 1994 Sing The Old Songs)
- Singing Echoes (???? Think I’m Excited…Live)
- Sisters (2009 Renewed; 2013 Classics Collection)
- Songfellows Quartet (1960 The Full Sound; 2008 Hymns Of The Homeland)
- Sons Of Harmony (1963 Songs Of Harmony)
- Sons Of Song (1959 Riverboat Jubilee)
- Speer Family (1967 Hymns Of Joy And Peace; 1973 Gospel Melodies)
- Spencers (1983 Heritage “Old Time Gospel Without Music”)
- The Stamps Quartet (1964 Sing Along With The Stamps Quartet; 1965 Hymns Of The Old Rugged Cross)
- Statesmen (1974 Precious Memories)
- Statler Brothers (1986 Radio Gospel Favorites; 1992 Gospel Favorites)
- Tall Men Quartet (1967 Walk Talk And Sing)
- Talleys (1999 Life Story; 2009 Songs You Know By Heart; 2011 He’s Alive)
- Thrasher Brothers (1977 The Spirit Of The Dove; 19?? Pick’n And A Grin’n)
- Trey Ivey (2011 It Is Well)
- Triumphant Quartet (2003 Smoky Mountain Hymns; 2012 Hymns Collection)
- Various Artists (1963 The National Gospel Quartet Convention; 1986 20 Great Gospel Quartet Greats Vol. 2; 1996 Anthony Burger’s Pianorama-Recorded Live At The National Quartet Convention)
- Vern Jackson (1992 Higher Than I’ve Ever Been)
- Vicksburg Quartet (1966 Songtime At The Old Country Church; 1977 Track No. 19)
- Weatherfords (1960 God Is The Answer; 1964 Time For The Hymns)
- Wendy Bagwell And The Sunliters (1964 Family Bible)
- Wilburns (1986 Listen To The Stones; 2002 Dedicated)
- Williamsons (2012 Sunday Best)
- Wills Family (???? Keep A Happy Heart; ???? Wills Family Inspirational Time)
- Won By One (2000 Classic Hymns Vol. 1)
That’s the first time I can recall hearing the chord pattern go to the 5 chord on “sound.” I’ve always heard it move back to 1 at that point.
What’s interesting to note is that “Amazing Grace” also fits well to other melodies. Have you heard it done to “House Of Rising Sun”?
It was written as a 5 in _Southern Harmony_.
Charity’s Children recorded it using the tune of “House Of The Rising Sun.” If I could have found out for certain they were the first to match the two, I’d have mentioned it in this article.
Read the description under this article.
https://www.popsike.com/CHARITYS-CHILDREN-RARE-7-EP-33-13rpm-Record-IMPACT-GOSPEL-SOUL-HEAR/172416986606.html