"Mule Train" is a popular song written by Johnny Lange, Hy
Heath, and Fred Glickman. It is a novelty cowboy song,
supposedly sung by an Old-West wagon driver spurring on his
mules as he recites the goods he is delivering to far-flung
mail-order customers.
Charting versions were recorded by Frankie Laine, Bing
Crosby, Tennessee Ernie Ford, and Vaughn Monroe.
The Frankie Laine recording was recorded on October 2, 1949,
and released by Mercury Records as catalog number 5345.The
record first reached the Billboard magazine charts on November
4, 1949 and lasted 13 weeks on the chart, peaking at #1.
Laine's recording of the song was produced by Mitch Miller. It
featured a bellowed vocal delivery (like that of a real driver
shouting to be heard) and studio-created gimmicks such as
whipcracking sound effects. It is often cited as an outstanding
early example of studio production techniques.
The Bing Crosby recording was recorded on October 26, 1949,
and released by Decca Records as catalog number 24798. The flip
side was "Dear Hearts and Gentle People." The record first
reached the Billboard magazine charts on November 25, 1949 and
lasted 16 weeks on the chart, peaking at #2. This recording was
featured in an episode of the NBC radio network radio program
Lassie Showentitled Mule Train, which aired on
12/17/1949.
The Tennessee Ernie Ford recording was recorded on October
18, 1949, and released by Capitol Records as catalog number
40258. The record first reached the Billboard magazine charts
on November 25, 1949 and lasted 9 weeks on the chart, peaking
at #10. Ford's version also charted on the
Billboardcountry charts, reaching No. 1 in December.
The Vaughn Monroe recording was released by RCA Victor
Records as a 78rpm single (catalog number 20-3600) and a 45rpm
single (catalog number 47-3106). The record first reached the
Billboard magazine charts on November 18, 1949 and lasted 9
weeks on the chart, peaking at #10. Monroe also sang the song
in the 1950 Republic Western "Singing Guns." He played an
outlaw who became town marshal with the intent of stealing a
shipment of gold, and sang the song while at the reins of what
appeared to be a stagecoach.
Woody Herman and The King Cole Trio, along with Irving
Ashby, Joe Comfort and Gene Orloff, made a recording of "Mule
Train" on November 7, 1949 in New York City, as well as the
track "My Baby Just Cares For Me", which were both released by
Capitol Records as a single, catalog number 787, which gave
label credit to Herman for "Mule Train" and to the trio for "My
Baby Just Cares For Me".
Gordon MacRae made a recording on October 1, 1949, which was
released by Capitol Records in the United States as the flip
side of the single "Dear Hearts and Gentle People" (which he
recorded on October 21, 1949) as catalog number 777, and in
England as catalog number CL 13226.
Les Welch and his Orchestra made a recording in Australia in
February, 1950, which was released by Pacific Records (in
Australia) as catalog number 10-0019.
The song was subsequently recorded in England by Frank
Ifield in the 1960s.
In 1950, a satirical version of the song, "Chinese Mule
Train," was recorded by Spike Jones with Fladdy Morgan singing
(RCA Victor 20-3741).
A reggae version was recorded by Count Prince Miller in 1971
and then again with Sly and Robbie in the 1980s.