I'm Casting My Lasso Towards the Sky
"I'm Casting My Lasso Towards the Sky" | ||||
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Single by Slim Whitman | ||||
A-side | "I'm Casting My Lasso Towards the Sky" "I'll Do as Much for You Someday" | |||
Released | April 1949 | |||
Label | RCA Victor | |||
Songwriter(s) |
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Slim Whitman singles chronology | ||||
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Slim Whitman singles chronology | ||||
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Slim Whitman UK singles chronology | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Billboard | satisfactory[1] |
"I'm Casting My Lasso Towards the Sky" is a song written by Lee "Lasses" White and Jimmy Wakely.[2]
It is a Western-flavored[3][4][5] yodeling song.[6]
Slim Whitman recorded it as his debut single in April 1949 for RCA Victor.[7] It was released as a single, with "I'll Do as Much for You Someday" on the b-side[2]
Lyrical and musical analysis
Lyrically, is a romantic cowboy song.[8]
Timothy E. Wise in his book Yodeling and Meaning in American Music states that while Whitman didn't strictly fit the Western genre, "I'm Casting My Lasso Towards the Sky" is one of those songs of his that had a "vague Western feel" to its theme. He also observes that it combines "elements of Western-style bravura yodeling and Western imagery" with religious elements: the song imagines heaven as a range in the sky where people ride. "Imagining heaven as range riding in the sky is not too dissimilar from imagining the West generally as a kind of paradise, as it is depicted in so many romantic Western songs," he adds.[6]
History
In 1948, Slim Whitman signed with RCA Victor.[9] It was his wife Jerry who suggested this song for his first recording session at the label[10] that took place somewhere in 1948[9] or 1949.[7] It was released as a single, with "I'll Do as Much for You Someday" on the flip side, in April 1949.[2]
Billboard in its April 30 issue reviewed the single and rated it as "satisfactory", choosing "I'm Casting My Lasso Towards the Sky" as the better of the two sides. The comment on the song read: "Western yodellng and warbling with lively ork backing. Tune is not likely to appeal widely."[1]
The song was a moderate success[7] and became Whitman's theme song.[10][11] It is now considered one of his classics.[12]
After the singer hit it big on Imperial, RCA Victor hastily issued several singles with his old recordings for the label to cash off of his popularity.[13][14] The 1953 RCA Victor single "I'm Casting My Lasso Towards the Sky" was even coupled with the same song as the then-latest Whitman's single for Imperial.[13]
Track listing
- Ed G. Nelson
- Ed Nelson Jr.
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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1. | "I'm Casting My Lasso Towards the Sky" | ||
2. | "There's a Rainbow in Ev'ry Teardrop" |
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No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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1. | "I'm Casting My Lasso Towards the Sky" | ||
2. | "There's a Love Knot in My Lariat" |
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References
- ^ a b "Billboard". Nielsen Business Media, Inc. April 30, 1949 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b c d "Tracks on I'm Casting My Lasso Towards the Sky - Slim Whitman (April 1949)". SecondHandSongs. Retrieved 2023-03-15.
- ^ Carlin, R. (2014). Country Music: A Biographical Dictionary. Women's and Gender History. Taylor & Francis. p. 428. ISBN 978-1-135-36104-4. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
- ^ Richard Carlin (1995). The Big Book of Country Music: A Biographical Encyclopedia. Penguin. p. 491. ISBN 978-0-14-023509-8.
- ^ American Folklore Society (1968). Memoirs of the American Folklore Society. American Folklore Society. p. 228. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
- ^ a b Wise, T.E. (2016). Yodeling and Meaning in American Music. American Made Music Series. University Press of Mississippi. p. 182. ISBN 978-1-4968-0583-6. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
- ^ a b c Larkin, Colin (27 May 2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Omnibus Press. ISBN 9780857125958.
- ^ Malone, Bill C.; Laird, Tracey (4 June 2018). Country Music USA: 50th Anniversary Edition. University of Texas Press. ISBN 9781477315354.
- ^ a b Souza, Charlie; Wilkins, Keith (2 March 2020). Tampa Bay Music Roots. Arcadia. ISBN 9781439669211.
- ^ a b Gibble, Kenneth L. (1982). Mr. Songman: The Slim Whitman Story. Brethren Press. ISBN 9780871785879.
- ^ "Billboard". Nielsen Business Media, Inc. August 29, 1953 – via Google Books.
- ^ No Depression. No Depression. 2000. p. 101. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
- ^ a b Billboard. 29 August 1953.
- ^ "Billboard". Nielsen Business Media, Inc. December 12, 1953 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Slim Whitman – I'm Casting My Lasso Towards The Sky / There's A Rainbow In Ev'ry Teardrop (1953, Vinyl)". 1953 – via Discogs.
- ^ "Slim Whitman - I'm Casting My Lasso Towards The Sky / There's A Love Knot In My Lariat". 1956 – via www.discogs.com.
- v
- t
- e
- Slim Whitman Sings (1957)
- Slim Whitman Sings (1958)
- Slim Whitman Sings (1959)
- I'll Walk with God
- Slim Whitman Sings Million Record Hits
- Just Call Me Lonesome
- Once in a Lifetime
- Slim Whitman Sings Annie Laurie
- Forever
- Slim Whitman Sings (1962)
- Heart Songs & Love Songs
- I'm a Lonely Wanderer
- Irish Songs the Slim Whitman Way
- Love Song of the Waterfall
- Reminiscing
- More than Yesterday (More Country Songs & City Hits)
- God's Hand in Mine
- A Travelin' Man
- 15th Anniversary Album
- Country Memories
- In Love the Whitman Way
- Happy Street
- Tomorrow Never Comes
- Guess Who (a.k.a. Snowbird)
- It's a Sin to Tell a Lie
- Happy Anniversary
- Everything Leads Back to You
- Red River Valley
- Home on the Range
- Ghost Riders in the Sky
- Songs I Love to Sing
- Christmas with Slim Whitman
- "I'm Casting My Lasso Towards the Sky" / "I'll Do as Much for You Someday"
- "Birmingham Jail"
- "Love Song of the Waterfall"
- "Bandera Waltz"
- "Indian Love Call" / "China Doll"
- "An Amateur in Love" / "By the Waters of the Minnetonka"
- "Keep It a Secret" / "My Heart Is Broken in Three"
- "Danny Boy"
- "North Wind"
- "Secret Love"
- "Rose Marie"
- "Beautiful Dreamer"
- "Singing Hills"
- "The Cattle Call"
- "I'll Never Stop Loving You"
- "Tumbling Tumbleweeds"
- "I'm a Fool" / "Serenade"
- "The Whiffenpoof Song"
- "There's a Love Knot in My Lariat" (UK)
- "Smoke Signals"
- "Careless Love"
- "I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen"
- "Careless Hands"
- "A Fool Such as I"
- "Just Call Me Lonesome"
- "I Remember You"
- "My Happiness"
- "It's a Sin to Tell a Lie"
- "Happy Anniversary" (UK)
- "Red River Valley"
- "Can't Help Falling in Love with You"