A Hundred Pounds of Clay - Misplaced Pages

"A Hundred Pounds of Clay" is a song written by Kay Rogers, Luther Dixon, and Bob Elgin and performed by Gene McDaniels. The song was produced by Snuff Garrett. Earl Palmer played drums on the song. The song appeared on McDaniels' 1961 album 100 Lbs. Of Clay!

Chart performance

The song reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart and No. 11 on the R&B chart in 1961.

Other versions

Craig Douglas's cover version went to #9 on the UK Singles Chart in 1961.
Dalida released a French version of the song in 1961 entitled "Avec Une Poignée De Terre".
Arthur Alexander released a version on his 1962 debut album for Dot Records You Better Move On.
The Impressions released a version on their 1967 album, The Fabulous Impressions.
Dickie Goodman sampled the song in his 1973 novelty song, "The Touchables In Brooklyn".
Gary Lucas released a version on his 1998 album, Busy Being Born.
The Belmonts released a version on their 2009 album, The Belmonts Anthology Vol. 1 Featuring A Hundred Pounds of Clay.
Dee Dee Sharp released a version on her It's Mashed Potato Time album, changing the lyrics to "two hundred pounds" and dedicating the song to Chubby Checker.
Enrique Guzman released a version in México, named "Cien kilos de barro" in 1962.

Song controversy

In the early 1960s, the BBC banned the song and wouldn't allow British radio stations to play it. The controversy arose not from the fact that it was a religious song, but because the censors interpreted the song as suggesting women were created simply to be sexual beings, and the BBC felt something that was considered blasphemous.

References

"Search Results for 'a hundred pounds of clay' | SecondHandSongs". SecondHandSongs.
Gene McDaniels, "A Hundred Pounds Of Clay" Single Release Retrieved January 1, 2014
Scherman, Tony, Backbeat: The Earl Palmer Story, foreword by Wynton Marsalis, Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington D.C., 1999 p. 175
Gene McDaniels, 100 Lbs. Of Clay Retrieved January 1, 2014
Gene McDaniels, "A Hundred Pounds Of Clay" Chart Positions Retrieved January 1, 2014
Craig Douglas, "A Hundred Pounds of Clay" Chart Position Retrieved January 1, 2014
Dalida, L' Intégrale Des Années Barclay Retrieved January 1, 2014
The Impressions The Fabulous Impressions Retrieved January 1, 2014
Dickie Goodman, The Original Flying Saucers Retrieved January 1, 2014
Gary Lucas, Busy Being Born Retrieved January 1, 2014
The Belmonts, The Belmonts Anthology Vol. 1 Featuring A Hundred Pounds of Clay Retrieved January 1, 2014
Simmons, Rick. "The Story Behind: Gene McDaniels, "A Hundred Pounds of Clay"". www.rebeatmag.com. Retrieved 2024-03-31.

v t e Gene McDaniels
Albums	Headless Heroes of the Apocalypse
Singles	"Green Door" "A Hundred Pounds of Clay" "Take Good Care of Her" "Tower of Strength" "Chip Chip"
B-Sides	"Are You Sincere" "Another Tear Falls" "Emily"

v t e The Impressions
Fred Cash Sam Gooden Reggie Torian Jerry Butler Curtis Mayfield Richard Brooks Arthur Brooks Leroy Hutson
Studio albums	The Impressions (1963) The Never Ending Impressions (1964) Keep On Pushing (1964) People Get Ready (1965) One by One (1965) Ridin' High (1966) The Fabulous Impressions (1967) We're a Winner (1968) This Is My Country (1968) The Versatile Impressions (1969) The Young Mods' Forgotten Story (1969) Three the Hard Way (1975)
Compilation albums	The Impressions' Greatest Hits (1965)
Singles	"For Your Precious Love" "Gypsy Woman" "It's All Right" "Keep On Pushing" "Amen" "People Get Ready" "We're a Winner" "Choice of Colors" "Finally Got Myself Together (I'm a Changed Man)"
Other songs	"A Hundred Pounds of Clay" "I'm Still Waiting"
Related	Discography

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