Rate-O-Rama #34: When the Saints Go Marching In
Rate-O-Rama #34
Are you ready to have fun? Let’s play Rate-O-Rama!
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Check out the disco-thumpin' funked out Rate-O-Rama theme song here!!!
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About Rate-O-Rama
Rate-O-Rama is a reader participation game.
Every other Wednesday, I publish an article featuring three songs. Your task is to listen to the provided music videos, then rate each song in the comments section.
*** Rate-O-Rama #35 will be published on Wednesday June 11, 2025 ***
(Note: You must be a Vocal Media member to comment. If you’re not a member, you can join for free! You’ll never have to pay unless you choose to upgrade your membership.)
How to Rate
The rating method is simple:
- Rate each song from 1 to 100 (the more you like it, the higher the rating).
- If possible, leave a brief comment sharing your thoughts on each song.
After two weeks (on Monday evening), I will tally the ratings. In the next Rate-O-Rama post, I’ll announce the average rating each song received.
*** Voting for the 34th Edition of Rate-O-Rama closes on Monday June 9, 2025 ***
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The Results of The Thirty Third Edition of Rate-O-Rama
🥉Third Place: “Morning Dance” by Spyro Gyra 91.2 point average
🥈Second Place: “Rise” by Herb Alpert 91.9 point average
🥇First Place: “Feels So Good” by Check Mangione 98 point average
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The Thirty-Fourth Edition: “When the Saints Go Marching In”
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🎺 Louis Armstrong (1938/1965)
“When the Saints Go Marching In” often referred to as simply "The Saints", is a traditional black spiritual which originated as a Christian hymn. The first known recorded version of the song was by the Paramount Jubilee singers recorded in 1923. Throughout the 1920s several other black gospel vocal ensembles recorded the song. But it was Louis Armstrong’s joyful 1938 recording that made the song famous.
Armstrong's 1938 recording was added to the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress in 2021.
Armstrong re-recorded the song in 1965 for his album Louis. His recognizable trumpet playing and one of a kind gruff yet festive voice brought the song to the forefront again. The video included here is the 1965 rendition.
🎺 Trivia:
What does Louis Armstrong refer to himself as in the opening of “When the Saints Go Marching In”?
- Brother Satchmo
- Reverend Satchmo
- Father Satchmo
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🎸Bill Haley and His Comets (1956)
Haley and his Comets recorded a rock and roll version of the song titled "The Saints Rock 'N' Roll". In this rock and swing rendition Bill Haley sings with enthusiasm and plays a mean guitar.
Haley learned the song from his mother when he was a youngster. He composed the new arrangement and adaptation with record innovative producer/songwriter Milt Garbler. Gabler also wrote the additional lyrics in Haley’s rendition. Gabler is Billy Crystal’s uncle.
Some sources say that Haley and his band took the song to number 18 in the US while other sources say number 44. However, the song did reach number five in the UK where it was a huge hit.
🎸 Trivia:
Which member of Haley’s Comets is not mentioned in the song “The Saints Rock N Roll”
- Franny
- Johnny
- Rudy
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🎤 Lady Gaga (2024)
Gaga recorded the song for her concept album Harlequin in which she continued her role as Harley Quinn created for the film Joker: Folie à Deux. The album was populated with mostly jazz standards and two original jazz tunes.
🎺 Trivia:
Who co-wrote the additional lyrics for "Oh, When the Saints” with Lady Gaga?
- Michael Polansky
- David Campbell
- Brian Newman
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My Thoughts
🎺 Louis Armstrong: I am a longtime fan of Louis Armstrong. I love his voice and in my humble viewpoint he is the greatest horn player to ever live. My Rating: 100
🎸 Bill Haley and His Comets: I enjoy the early rock and roll treatment of the song. I’m a big fan of 1950s rock. Adding a hint of swing finds favor with me plus Haley’s guitar solo is a tasty treat. My Rating: 91
🎙️ Lady Gaga: Gaga sings the song well but without the soulful joy it deserves. The musical production is excellent but it seems to be a cookie cutter arrangement. While technically the song is good it lacks a deeper emotion and loses me halfway through. My Rating: 87
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Trivia Answers
- Louis Armstrong refers to himself as Reverend Satchmo. The nickname "Satchmo" comes from a shortened version of "Satchelmouth." He was known for his large mouth, which reminded people of a bag or satchel. He was never an ordained minister but for the sake of this well-known black spiritual he used the title Reverend. It was common for gospel musicians to use the title "Reverend" when singing gospel tunes, particularly in the United States.
- Johnny Grande, Haley’s keyboardist was not mentioned. Franny Beecher (lead guitarist) and Rudy Pompilli (tenor sax) were both mentioned.
- Lady Gaga’s fiance, Michael Polansky, co-wrote the additional lyrics for “Oh, When the Saints” with Lady Gaga. To date the entrepreneur and venture capitalist has co-written 12 songs with her.
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Now it’s your turn to rate the songs and share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Musically your, RHC 🎶
About the Creator
Rick Henry Christopher
Writing fulfills my need for intellectual stimulus, emotional release, and soothing the bruises of the day.
I’m an open book. I’m not afraid to show my face or speak my mind
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Comments (13)
Louis Armstrong: What a classic of classics and what a voice! I always loved his music and style. Music with a big M: 100 Bill Haley and his Comets: ohh super fan of the music of the times when music was fun and there was great dancing, even though it was way before my existence. I will give this one 95 Lady Gaga: hurts my delicate ears: 00 I am being generous, I actually didn’t like at all, rubbish in my book, she made cheap rubbish of a great classic) in fact, I give this 00 (previously 10)
Louis is the man. Loved his voice. Makes me wonder what his speaking voice sounded like. 100 Bill Haley kept it fun and engaging. 90 I didn't mind Lady Gs version. I did like what she did with the music toward the end. Could have done without the video. It did nothing to enhance the song. 85 And I got 1 of 3 for the Trivia. They were all guesses but I guessed Michael Polanski correct, lol.
We need the saints to come marching in these days for sure. Here are my vote: 1st place Bill Haley, 2nd place Lady Gaga and 3rd place Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong gets 100. Lady Gaga gets 100 for a modern version. Her voice is absolutely amazing. Bill Haley and the Comets get 98. Just cause My favorite are all but Gaga and Louis just have a special light when they sing
This Rate-O-Rama game sounds like a blast! I'm definitely gonna check out the music videos for the upcoming edition. It's cool to see the results from the last one. I wonder what makes a song like "Feels So Good" get such a high rating. And how do you think different versions of a song, like the ones of "When the Saints Go Marching In", will affect the ratings this time?
Can't say its my favorite song with its repetitive melody in C major (or so deepseek tells me) but I do find the armstrong version has enough variation to make it fun. Armstrong/ Halley/ Gaga 85,75,75
Rick, it's almost impossible to give each a grade because they were all in their own lanes on this one. They all represented the song worthy of the era in which they live, sparking it to life in a unique way. But I think the one that I would have to give the most credit to, the only one iconic and which captured the heart and soul of New Orleans, MUST belong to Louis (100%.) I enjoyed it because each instrument was given importance and its due. To the others, I give each 75%.
Bill Haley & the Comets: not a big fan of this particular rendition - 80 Gaga: polished, full sound, though I have to admit you're right, not as much soul or joy; still, always gotta love me some Ga - 95 Satchmo: always incomparable - 100
Louis Armstrong: 100. I can't not give it to him. He's more than earned his place in musical canon and I just love listening to him. Bill Haley and his Comets: 95. Love the 50s rock and roll vibes and I was dancing along to it at my desk. Lady Gaga: 79. I love Gaga and she does sing the song well, but yeah it doesn't have much depth. Also it's really hard to divorce the Harlequin album from how much I dislike that Joker movie and its version of Harley Quinn.
Louis has such fun when he performs---i feel his soul- 100 Haley makes my feet dance- 95 Gaga's video was a turnoff for me...but she sang well. 90. Oh happy day.
Louis Armstrong's voice is angelic
Rick, this is one of the most enjoyable ones yet. Feel good all night long. 1- Louis all the way at 100. He is the coolest of the cool and every song he sings is filled with emotion. 2- Tougher. I will go with Lady Gaga at 94. Her voice is just too damn good, and unlike you I liked it through and through. Although adding sax would have been a great touch. 3- Bill Haley, real close with 93. I didn’t get that emotional feel. But he did have the sax and it did start to rock from the middle onward.
They all brought it in my opinion. Louie A is the bomb! So talented with an animated personality. 100 Bill Haley & The Comets. Stylistically I enjoyed the sound of this cover. 95 Lady Gaga I really like her voice! 93 The trivia is a fun addition to this series! Well done! 🌸