"Chain Gang" is a song by American singer-songwriter Sam Cooke, released as a single on July 26, 1960.

Background

This was Cooke's second-biggest American hit, his first hit single for RCA Victor after leaving Keen Records earlier in 1959, and was also his first top 10 hit since "You Send Me" from 1957, and his second-biggest pop single. The song was inspired after a chance meeting with an actual chain gang of prisoners on a highway, seen while Cooke was on tour.

Chart history

The song became one of Cooke's most successful singles, peaking at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and the Hot R&B Sides chart. Overseas, "Chain Gang" charted at number nine on the UK Singles Chart, becoming Cooke's first top-ten single there.

Jim Croce medley

Jim Croce had his last Hot 100 hit in 1976 when Lifesong Records released "Chain Gang Medley", a medley which included this song as well as "He Don't Love You (Like I Love You)" and "Searchin'." The medley reached a peak of No. 63 on the Billboard Hot 100 after spending 9 weeks on the chart.

Other versions

In 1966, Otis Redding released a version of the song for his fourth studio album, The Soul Album. In addition, American rhythm and blues/soul singer Jackie Wilson together with jazz pianist Count Basie released their version as a single in 1968, from the album Manufacturers of Soul. The song peaked at No. 84 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 37 on the Billboard R&B chart.