Subject: The Miracle of the Wheat--Ed McCurdy From: bunnyknsmr@aol.com Date: 15 Jan 99 - 11:24 AM I am trying to help a friend find out as much information as possible about a song he recalls that Ed McCurdy possibly wrote and definitely sang sometime back in the mid-1960s called, "The Miracle of the Wheat". Does anyone know anything about this song at all? Was it on an album, if so, what was the title of the album? Any information would be gratefully appreciated. Thank you very much. Scott |
Subject: RE: The Miracle of the Wheat--Ed McCurdy From: skw@worldmusic.de Date: 22 Jan 99 - 08:21 AM 'Wheat' rings a bell. It's not Malvina Reynolds' 'The Little Red Hen' you're thinking of? A little he found a grain of wheat Said, This looks good enough to eat ... But nobody will help her turn it into bread, so she refuses to let them have a bite when it's done - "and that's why they call her red". I can't remember more now but I've got it at home. Susanne |
Subject: ADD: Little Red Hen (Malvina Reynolds?) From: skw@worldmusic.de Date: 28 Jan 99 - 04:22 AM Here's the Little Red Hen: Chorus: Not I, said the dog and the cat Not I, said the mouse and the rat Well, I will then, said the little red hen And she did, she did just that
A little red hen found a grain of wheat
The sun shone bright, the rain it blew
Then she took it to the miller to grind into flour
Well, the bread looked good, it smelt so fine Susanne |
Subject: ADD: Little Red Hen (Malvina Reynolds) From: Joe Offer Date: 06 Nov 01 - 08:52 PM Here are the "Little Red Hen" lyrics from the Malvina Reynolds "Ear to the Ground" CD. -Joe Offer- THE LITTLE RED HEN (Malvina Reynolds) 1. The little red hen found a grain of wheat, Said "This looks good enough to eat But I'll plant it instead, make me some bread," Said to the other guys down the street, "Who will help me plant this wheat?" CHORUS: "Not I!" said the dog and the cat, "Not I!" said the mouse and the rat, "I will then," said the Little Red Hen, And she did. 2. Well the sun shone bright, the rain it blew, The grain of wheat it grew and grew, It began to sprout, headed out, Till it was ripe enough, Said, "Who will help me harvest this stuff?" CHORUS 3. She lugged it to the miller to grind to flour, Cause the others would offer her no manpower, And at baking time, they all declined To help her with the job; They were a dog gone no-good mob. CHORUS 4. The bread looked good and smelled so fine The others came running and fell in line; "We'll do our part with all our heart To help you eat this chow!" She said, "I do not need you now. "I planted and hoed this grain of wheat, Them that works not, shall not eat, That's my credo," the little bird said, And that's why they called her Red. Words and music by Malvina Reynolds. Copyright Schroder Music Company 1965 |
Subject: RE: The Miracle of the Wheat--Ed McCurdy From: GUEST,Karl Kaucher - kauchers@fuse.net Date: 14 Mar 02 - 11:14 PM Ed McCurdy did indeed sing "The Miracle of the Wheat" perhaps earlier than the '60's. Probably more like the mid-fifties. All I can distinctly remember is a snippet from the chorus: "Hear the glory of the story: the miracle of the wheat" (x2) The morning DJ on WKRC-AM in the mid-sixties was a fellow named Stan Matlock. I remember him saying that he had made a tape from the last source available for Miracle of the Wheat. He used to play it around Christmas - I believe the song had a Christmas theme. Karl |
Subject: RE: The Miracle of the Wheat--Ed McCurdy From: Ron Olesko Date: 15 Mar 02 - 11:54 AM I do have a 45 of Ed singing Miracle of the Wheat. I don't believe it was on any album, at least it isn't on any of Ed's albums in my collection. I am at work right now so I don't have the information handy, but I will get the label information to you. Ron |
Subject: RE: The Miracle of the Wheat--Ed McCurdy From: WFDU - Ron Olesko Date: 15 Mar 02 - 07:47 PM The 45 came out on KAPP (K-128 X) and it featured Ed McCurdy and the Harvesters. The song "Miracle of the Wheat" is credited to Ervin Drake - Jimmy Shurl. The flipside is "Get Along Home Cindy (Tonight is Christmas Eve)". The credits are the same. Ervin Drake wrote a number of songs, including putting English lyrics to a Brazilian tune for "Tico Tico". He also wrote "Good Morning Heartache" which became a standard recorded by artists like Ella Fitgerald, Billie Holliday and others. Of a more contemporary nature, his song "I Believe" was hit for Leann Rimes. More importantly Drake was the former president of the Songwriters Guild of America and helped pass copyright legislation that increased royalty payments to songwriters. Miracle of the Wheat is a cute song for it's time. It tells of a visit from Mary and Joseph to a farm in the Dakota's. The flip side is a Christmas hoedown based on the folk song "Get Along Home".
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Subject: RE: The Miracle of the Wheat--Ed McCurdy From: E.T. Date: 15 Mar 02 - 10:14 PM Roberts & Barrand did a rendition of "King Pharim" on Nowell Sing We Clear (copyright 1981). Thought it might be that. But now, we want to hear YOURS! (Jesus to farmer sowing his corn - british for what we would call "WHEAT") Turn back then said Jesus, throw all your seed away And carry home your ripened corn, that you've been sowing this day. (up ride King Pharim's men) inquiring if jesus had passed by.. "Well the truth it must be spoken, the truth it must be known, for Jesus he passed this way, just as my seed was sown. But now I have it ripened and some laid in my wain, ready to fetch and carry into my barn again." So Pharim was deceived, by the work of God's own hand, no further he proceeded into the holy land. ET |
Subject: RE: The Miracle of the Wheat--Ed McCurdy From: raredance Date: 15 Mar 02 - 10:52 PM Dakotas? Gotta have it! rich r |
Subject: RE: The Miracle of the Wheat--Ed McCurdy From: GUEST,rj Date: 11 Mar 04 - 08:48 PM if you are interested in selling it, I have a buyer rj |
Subject: RE: The Miracle of the Wheat--Ed McCurdy From: Joe Offer Date: 12 Mar 04 - 01:07 AM The Cincinnati Enquirer has this story about the song: Long-lost 'Miracle' is part of city's on-air heritageThe city stopped when the man on the radio played "The Miracle of the Wheat." The man was Stan Matlock. He ruled Cincinnati's AM airwaves. A holiday staple on Matlock's morning show, the recording of "The Miracle of the Wheat" was long out of print. So, when he'd play the tune, people would stop what they were doing to get it on tape. It was 40 years ago. But Cincinnatians still remember that song and its Christmas message. For the better part of a decade, oldies maven Dusty Rhodes has been fielding requests to play the song on his holiday radio shows. Hamilton County's record-spinning auditor has "never found a copy of the thing or even heard it." Ed McCurdy recorded "The Miracle of the Wheat" in 1958. The American folk singer delivers the lyrics in a robust baritone voice. Intoning every word, he sounds if he were Dickens' ghost of Christmas present. The "Miracle" takes place on a farm "in Dakota" on a frigid Dec. 24. A farmer whose wheat crop has failed hears a knock at his door. Two travelers, "I am Joseph, with my good wife, and Mary is her name," need a place to stay. The farmer shows them to the barn. In the night, he hears an infant cry. At dawn, he awakes to find a field of golden wheat. He runs to the barn to spread the news of the miracle. But the travelers are gone. They've left a Bible with a passage circled: "Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." Ed McCurdy died in 2000. His widow, Beryl, has "not come across" the recording at her home in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Stan Matlock died in 2001 in Melbourne, Fla. His widow, Louise, has been unable to find his recording of "The Miracle." Even the song's co-composer, Ervin Drake, doesn't own a copy. "I have nothing here on file," Drake said from his Great Neck, N.Y., home. Drake is in the Songwriters Hall of Fame for composing, among other things, the Frank Sinatra hit, "It was a Very Good Year," and Billie Holiday's classic, "Good Morning Heartache." He penned "The Miracle" with collaborator, Jimmy Shirl. They copyrighted it in 1951. "We were aiming for a song about Jesus' birth under different circumstances," Drake said. "We thought we had a good yarn." Good yarn. But little commercial appeal. No one else recorded the piece. It became a lost song. Until now. "The Miracle of the Wheat" turned up during a search of the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts' Rodgers and Hammerstein Archives of Recorded Sound (www.nypl.org or (212) 870-1661). Copies can be obtained - within strict guidelines - for around $33 per CD or $23 per cassette. Often, when this type of search ends in success, the good fortune is attributed to hard work, serious sleuthing and luck. For this one, it also took a miracle. I wonder if we could talk Ron Olesko into transcribing the song... |
Subject: RE: The Miracle of the Wheat--Ed McCurdy From: WFDU - Ron Olesko Date: 12 Mar 04 - 10:30 AM I'm a little swamped at the moment with another project that I am working on, but I will get to it. IF there is someone who has some time and would like to transcribe it, I will be happy to e-mail an MP3 of the song. PM me if you are interested. Speaking of that article, the writer of that piece has been in touch with me. I'm amazed that this 45, which I picked up for $5 on e-bay a few years ago, is so rare. If the song was so popular in Cincinnati, I'm surprised it didn't sell more copies. Kapp was a rather large label, and McCurdy was well known at the time of the release as his "Dalliance" series was a hot seller. I'm really shocked that my copy is one of the few that has been found. |
Subject: RE: The Miracle of the Wheat--Ed McCurdy From: GUEST,modestly anon Date: 12 Mar 04 - 01:06 PM That is fascinating. I try to save everything and this story proves the value of doing so. I only wish I had room to live between all that I've saved!!!!! -modestly anon. |
Subject: RE: The Miracle of the Wheat--Ed McCurdy From: GUEST,usmcvet@insightbb.com Date: 13 Mar 04 - 11:32 AM Ron My wife has been looking for Miracle of the Wheat for years. She would be happy to transcribe it if you could email us an MP3 file. Many thanks! Dave Schulte Walton, KY |
Subject: RE: The Miracle of the Wheat--Ed McCurdy From: GUEST,GUEST,mommer1@hotmail.com Date: 13 Mar 04 - 03:50 PM I have been trying for years to get a copy of this song for my father. Every time it seems I get close to getting a copy of it, another obstacle comes up. I'm not very computer-literate, (I'm not sure what an MP3 is),but I would be willing to purchase a copy of the song. Thank you so much! M. Ridenour |
Subject: RE: The Miracle of the Wheat--Ed McCurdy From: GUEST,firemantim59@hotmail.com Date: 13 Mar 04 - 04:27 PM My wife has also been looking for a copy of "The Miracle of the Wheat" for many years. If you could email us an MP3 of the song, I know she will be happy to transcribe it for you. Thank you very much! Tim |
Subject: RE: The Miracle of the Wheat--Ed McCurdy From: Jim Dixon Date: 13 Mar 04 - 09:11 PM Here are two stories that might have inspired the songwriters: Copied from http://www.catholic.org/featured/headline.php?ID=138
In the time of St. Nicholas, people prospered or failed with the bounty of their wheat crops. Before they could fill their own storehouses at harvest, though, they had to deliver a portion to the emperor in taxes. When there was a drought or some disease in the fields, the emperor still got his portion first. Many people starved under this injustice, just as they do today in the poorest parts of the world. Once when famine fell over the land of Lycea, Archbishop Nicholas learned that a fleet of ships loaded with wheat had arrived at the docks in Myra. He went and begged the mariners to feed his people. Fearing severe punishment for arriving at the emperor's docks without their full cargo, the mariners refused the request. The holy bishop then promised them a miracle. If they would feed his people, he said, he promised them their holds would be full when the fleet arrived across the Mediterranean at Alexandria. Sure enough, this came to pass, and the mariners praised God for the miracle. Nicholas, for his part, distributed the wheat to every family in need. There was so much that it supplied the men, women and children for two years, with enough left over to sow a new crop!
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Subject: RE: The Miracle of the Wheat--Ed McCurdy From: GUEST Date: 29 Mar 04 - 01:27 PM I talked to Stan Matlock prior to his death and he had lost his copy of "Miracle of the Wheat" a number of years ago. |
Subject: RE: The Miracle of the Wheat--Ed McCurdy From: GUEST Date: 30 Mar 04 - 12:43 PM I've talked to the New York Library and they have a copy of the recording, but aren't allowed to copy it. You have to listen to it on premesis. |
Subject: RE: The Miracle of the Wheat--Ed McCurdy From: GUEST,Mack Date: 19 Sep 04 - 07:57 AM Ron, I have been looking for this song for over 15 years. Please e-mail me a copy to havok@fuse.net. Thank you very much! Mack |
Subject: Lyr Add: THE MIRACLE OF THE WHEAT (Drake & Shirl) From: GUEST,Mack Date: 20 Sep 04 - 06:08 PM The Miracle of the Wheat (Ervin Drake and Jimmy Shirl) (recorded by Ed McCurdy) (Chorus) (Hear the Glory of a story the Miracle of the Wheat) (Hear the Glory of a story the Miracle of the Wheat) In a farmhouse in dakota one December twenty-fourth While the earth lay cold and barren 'neath the snowdrifts of the north On this night there sat a farmer with his loved ones all about There was sadness for the wheat crop had withered in the drought Chorus As the farmer sat despairing came a knock upon the door Then before him stood two travelers looking weary, sick, and sore "There was no room" said one traveler "at the inn from which we came." "I'm Joseph with my good wife and Mary is her name." Chorus Then the farmer made them welcome and he shared his meager bread In his barn he gave them shelter out of straw he made their bed When he left them looking eastward a new star lit up the sky Even stranger in his slumber he heard an infant cry Chorus When he wakened in the morning what a wonder he did meet For before him where the snow laid stood a field of golden wheat "See the wonder! See the marvel!" he ran shouting to the barn But the farmer found it empty the travelers were gone As the good man all bewildered looked around him at a loss Then the sunlight on the manger cast a shadow of a cross Then he found an open Bible with a passage circled deep "Whatsoever a man sow'eth that shall he also reap." 1/2 Chorus Click to play |
Subject: RE: The Miracle of the Wheat--Ed McCurdy From: Barbara Date: 20 Sep 04 - 06:30 PM Ron, if you want to PM me here, I'll give transcribing it a go. I regularly do this for Mudcat, so let's give it a shot. Blessings, Barbara |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Miracle of the Wheat--Ed McCurdy From: Joe Offer Date: 02 Oct 04 - 07:54 PM MIDI posted, thanks to Ron Olesko and Blessings Barbara. -Joe Offer- Click to play |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Miracle of the Wheat--Ed McCurdy From: WFDU - Ron Olesko Date: 02 Oct 04 - 10:31 PM Just a note - Ed McCurdy recorded the song, but he did not write it. The song was written by Ervin Drake and Jimmy Shirl. I recently picked up another copy of the 45. I am amazed that so many people have been searching for this song. Assuming that it was popular in Cincinnati, I would assume that there were many 45's sold.
-Joe Offer- |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Miracle of the Wheat--Ed McCurdy From: GUEST,Charles in Cincinnati Date: 22 Oct 04 - 08:41 PM I would like an MP3 of The Miracle of the Wheat. I taped it on my 8 track many years ago off Stan Matlock's radio show. I am now trying to figure out how to make an MP3 from my tape (it may not be posible). If someone already has it please send me a copy. My E-mail is CTALKIE@cinci.rr.com |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Miracle of the Wheat--Ed McCurdy From: GUEST,Mack Date: 25 Nov 04 - 09:18 AM Make it easier for everyone. e-mail me for a copy in mp3 format. It's not the greatest at 96k audio but it's only 1.9 mB. Mack |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Miracle of the Wheat--Ed McCurdy From: GUEST,bobcarr@fuse.net Date: 26 Nov 04 - 10:40 AM Can you email a copy of Miracle of the wheat? I will gladly pay for it. Bob C |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Miracle of the Wheat--Ed McCurdy From: GUEST Date: 26 Nov 04 - 01:32 PM I am sure that somebody owns the rights to the recording and won't be happy with people sending MP3's to each other. Even obsure recordings like this have rights for artists, composers and record labels. The composer is still alive. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Miracle of the Wheat--Ed McCurdy From: GUEST,eyes_of_a_child@address.com Date: 03 Dec 04 - 06:46 AM ron olesko ... you say you have a copy ... how much for a copy of it? |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Miracle of the Wheat--Ed McCurdy From: WFDU - Ron Olesko Date: 07 Dec 05 - 09:39 AM I am still amazed. I continue to receive e-mails about this song. it surprises me that a song that was this popular is so hard to find! I actually own two copies, but before anyone asks - they are not for sale. I will air the song on December 18, 2005 as part of my Christmas special on WFDU-FM's TRADITIONS. The program airs between 3 and 6pm ET and can be heard on the internet at www.wfdu.fm . Speaking of Ed McCurdy, I was cleaning out my basement the other day and came across a box of papers from my radio show. It was copies of playlists and other material that I have not looked at in over 20 years. I found a flyer from Speakeasy, a great club that used to be run by the Fast Folk group in NYC during the 80's. The flyer was for a performance by Ed McCurdy, and his opening act was Shawn Colvin and Lucy Kaplansky. I remember it well! I also found original sheet music from the Weaver's "Good Night Irene" and "On Top of Old Smoky". I need to clean my basement more often! |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Miracle of the Wheat--Ed McCurdy From: Tannywheeler Date: 07 Dec 05 - 10:11 AM Happy Pearl Harbor Day, folks. Since there are so many folks in this Cafe who know stuff like this, who owns rights to this piece? Are there plans (Dick G.?) to have a Mudcat Christmas album?? What would it cost to include a copy of the Ed McCurdy recording on such an album??? Enquiring minds obviously want to know. Tw |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Miracle of the Wheat (from Ed McCurdy) From: GUEST,bob barket Date: 08 Apr 06 - 09:08 AM I remember Stan Matlock's "Magazine of the Air" very well, and you knew it was the holiday's when this song was played Would it be possible for you to send an MP3 file of Miracle of the Wheat? This song defined Christmas for my mother, I've searched high and low but can't find any recording of it at all. I appreciate any help or info I can get. R_barket@msn.com |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Miracle of the Wheat--Ed McCurdy From: WFDU - Ron Olesko Date: 23 Dec 06 - 09:55 AM I still receive e-mails, usually from people in the Cincinnati area, requesting this song. It is a real phenomenon and I am very surprised the song is so rare and so popular. I will be airing it during my annual Christmas special, which will air on 12/24 from 3 to 6pm ET and can be heard through our live stream at www.wfdu.fm . I plan on playing the song during the 4pmET hour (which I believe is 3pm in the Cincinnati area, central time?) Ron Olesko Producer/Host WFDU-FM's TRADITIONS |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Miracle of the Wheat (Ed McCurdy) From: GUEST,Pam In Perry Date: 06 May 07 - 09:13 AM I can't believe I found others that remember this song. This song is burned in my brain from December mornings in the early 60's........I would be getting ready for school, as was my mother a 2nd grade teacher. She would have the old radio in the bathroom tuned to WLW (I think) in Cincinnati blaring this song and singing at the top of her lungs. Now some 40 years later I find myself still humming it and wondering what in the world it is. Thanks to you guys, now I know. I hope to somehow play this for my mother and we can relive those moments. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Miracle of the Wheat (Ed McCurdy) From: GUEST,Dave Walters Date: 29 Oct 08 - 02:41 PM I also love the song - I heard it years ago - can an MP3 be emailed to dgwalters45223@yahoo.com Thanks Dave |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Miracle of the Wheat (Ed McCurdy) From: GUEST,Katie Date: 09 Dec 08 - 10:55 AM My mother recorded this song off a 45 and we now have it on tape, but I know that she would love to be able to keep listening to it on CD and what a great Christmas gift that would be. If there's any way I could also get this mp3, I would be forever grateful. hoeper.3@osu.edu Thank you! Katie |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Miracle of the Wheat (Ed McCurdy) From: WFDU - Ron Olesko Date: 09 Dec 08 - 11:31 AM There are some questions about the legality of making copies of this as an MP3. Even though it is long out of print, the recording is owned by the licensee who purchased Kapp Records. I will be broadcasting the song on my show on 12/21/08 between 3 and 6pm. You can listen online at www.wfdu.fm . |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Miracle of the Wheat (Ed McCurdy) From: GUEST,Rachael Date: 15 Dec 08 - 07:12 PM "The Miracle fo the Wheat" is my grandfather's favorite Christmas song, but he hasn't heard it in years. I would love to play it for him this Christmas! If anyone has the MP3, PLEASE e-mail it to RachaelSpreen@yahoo.com. THANK YOU! Rachael |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Miracle of the Wheat (Ed McCurdy) From: GUEST Date: 22 Oct 09 - 07:14 PM does anyone have this song availiable. I am trying to get for my moms funeral in cincinnati on monday morning. I know she loved it. paul wilbur 6142677285 pdwcolumbus@hotmail.com dont even know if this is going anywherer. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Miracle of the Wheat (Ed McCurdy) From: Barbara Date: 23 Oct 09 - 06:54 PM Sent email. no response yet. Blessings, Barbara |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Miracle of the Wheat (Ed McCurdy) From: open mike Date: 30 Nov 09 - 04:17 PM http://consciousevolution.com/LindaGoodmanForums/userfiles/1170.mp3 |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Miracle of the Wheat (Ed McCurdy) From: open mike Date: 21 Jul 13 - 04:25 AM http://consciousevolution.com/LindaGoodmanForums/ubbthreads.php/topics/162846/Miracle_of_the_Wheat |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Miracle of the Wheat (Ed McCurdy) From: Thomas Stern Date: 23 Jul 13 - 03:19 PM McCurdy had two discs released by KAPP, one issued on 78rpm and 45rpm, 2nd appears to be only on 45rpm. If anyone has contrary information, it would be much appreciated. Details listed below. Can anyone identify who the accompanying vocal/instrumental personnel are ??? Thanks, Thomas. KAPP K-128 10"-78rpm 1956 KAPP K-128-X 7"-45rpm 1956 ED McCURDY and The Harvesters F9OB/F9OW-9392-1 GET ALONG HOME CINDY (Tonight Is Christmas Eve) (Ervin Drake, Johnny Shirl) 2:02 Garland-ASCAP F9OB/F9OW-9391-4 THE MIRACLE OF THE WHEAT(Ervin Drake, Johnny Shirl) 2:40 Garland-ASCAP KAPP K-168 X 7"-45rpm 1957 ED McCURDY and The Boomers with Jim Cribarri G09W-436-2 ROGER BOOM(Bob Hilliard) 2:40 G09W-437-1 RED HAIR AND GREEN EYES(Bob and Jacqueline Hilliard) 2:20 [Christmas] |
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