| Strange Things Happening Every Day | |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Sister Rosetta Tharpe |
| Released: | 1944 |
| Recorded: | September 1944 |
| Length: | 3:38 |
| Label: | Decca |
"Strange Things Happening Every Day" is an African American spiritual that was most famously, and influentially, recorded by Sister Rosetta Tharpe in 1944. Released as a single by Decca Records, Tharpe's version featured her vocals and electric guitar, with Sammy Price (piano), bass and drums. It was the first gospel record to cross over and become a hit on the "race records" chart, the term then used for what later became the R&B chart, and reached #2 on the Billboard "race" chart in April 1945.[1] [2]
Originally a traditional spiritual, Tharpe recorded the song in 1944 in response to backlash from black religious leaders, who had criticized her for performing and recording gospel music for a secular audience.[3]
The recording has been cited as both an important precursor of rock and roll,[4] and also considered by some to be a contender for the title of first rock and roll record.[5] A National Public Radio article commented that "Rock 'n' roll was bred between the church and the nightclubs in the soul of a queer black woman in the 1940s named Sister Rosetta Tharpe".[6]
. Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Joel Whitburn . 2004 . Record Research . 440.