Our good friend, I-), entranced by the melancholy tones of Ra's 1961 classic, decided to do a little research on the the arc of this mid-century pop tune. He was kind enough to share his thoughts and findings with us below.
Ever since first hearing it years ago on 'The Futuristic Sounds of Sun Ra' album, I have always had a 'thing' for 'China Gates'. The melancholy vocals by Ricky Murray, the orientally-keyed piano, those percussive effects that sound like a light breeze rippling beaded curtains and glass wind chimes... it evokes that imagery for me. Seeing two non-Arkestra associated names - Young and Adamson - credited with the authorship, was always a puzzler. If you think about it, this is kind of strange for Sun Ra, as he did not perform that many works written by others.
'China Gates' has a rather interesting and at times a seemingly 'odd' story. For one, the correct title is 'China Gate'. Victor Young, the composer of the piece, was a well-known composer and arranger for Hollywood movie scores. 'China Gate' was the last score that he composed, and it was for the 1957 film 'China Gate'. He passed away before finishing the movie score, and Max Steiner finished it. Harold Adamson wrote the lyrics to fit the rather intriguing musical theme. The film, directed by Samuel Fuller, stars Gene Barry, Angie Dickinson, Nat 'King' Cole, and Lee Van Cleef. Barry and Cole are Korean War vets, now in the French Foreign Legion and taking part in the first Indochina War. Angie Dickinson plays the love interest and Lee Van Cleef is the commander of an ammunition dump that they are planning to blow up. The song appears twice in the film. In the first instance, Nat 'King' Cole sings 'China Gate' as he walks through a bombed out village back to his group. This short video includes those scenes from the movie (approx. 18:33 to 20:32 in the movie).
The second time the song is heard is when he sings the song at the end of film (at approx. 92:24 to 94:51 with the reprise until 95:08). The song is used as a theme through out the movie.
The movie trailer gives you some idea of what the movie is about. The person who posted that trailer has replaced the original audio with the Nat 'King' Cole version of 'China Gate'. Another video of 'China Gate' incorporates 'gately' imagery more appropriate to the song. it is also more complete, in that the ending does not have the announcement that the version used for the movie trailer does have. Both of those versions of 'China Gate' are taken from the album release.
'China Gate' (2:46) next appears on the b-side of 'When Rock and Roll Come to Trinidad.' The single, Capitol Records F3702, was released in 1957. 'China Gate' is credited as being from the film of the same name and features the music of the well-known composer and conductor Nelson Riddle.
'The Futuristic Sounds of Sun Ra' was recorded at the Medallion studio in Newark, New Jersey on October 10, 1961, four years after the movie was released. Included on the album is that wonderfully evocative version of 'China Gates,' the title slightly misspelled but properly credited. Its inclusion on the album does raise the question - where did Sun Ra hear it first? Did he see the 'China Gate' film? or did he hear the Nat 'King' Cole single? The version here seems to be closer to the movie version than the single release. There is a slight lyrics change. In the second verse, although the word is 'dreams,' it sounds like Ricky Murray sings 'moons.'
The Nat 'King' Cole album 'To the Ends of the Earth' includes 'China Gate.' Released in the mid 1960s in Europe on the Emidisc label, the album is a 'greatest hits' collection of songs performed by Cole. 'China Gate' is listed as being from 1965.
In 1965, the Nat 'King' Cole album 'Nat 'King' Cole Sings his Songs from Cat Ballou and Other Motion Pictures' is released on the Capitol label (ST 2340) in the USA, and on the EMI label in Europe. The album includes 'China Gate'.
Pianist Ramsey Lewis is the next one to perform this song, releasing it on several albums. In 1966, he released 'The Movie Album.'
The album is on the Cadet label (lps 782), a subsidiary of Chess Records in Chicago. 'China Gate' from that album is also released as a single (2:43), Cadet Records 5565, with 'Saturday Night at the Movies' as the B-side.
One can listen to it here:
In 1967, Lord Cody and the Corlalites release their album 'Sail Out' (Elite Records (10) ñ LPOES 19). This calypso style 'China Gate' (3:14) appears on side 2 as the third track.
A few years later, in 1972, the double LP album 'Inside Ramsey Lewis' is released as Cadet 2ca-60018 (now part of GRT) in the USA.
In Canada it is released as Cadet Records 9035-60018. 'China Gate' (2:43) is the opening track on the album.
The Ramsey Lewis version of 'China Gate' (2:36) also appears on a two CD compilation made in 1998. Produced by the Belgian radio station 'Radio Donna', the release is entitled 'Popcorn Oldies: The Great Singers' (paradiso PA 25 536).
In 1979, 'China Gate' gets recorded again, this time by the reggae group Guardian Angel. It is released in the UK as the A-side of a single on the Laser Records label (LAS 5 T), with 'Gerrard Street' as the B-side.
In 1979, their version appears on the album 'Reggae Fever' (WEA 58 076) on side 2 as track 2 'China Gate' (3:07).
Guardian Angel re-releases 'China Gate' as an extended play 12 inch single, backed by the extended dub version of 'Gerrard Street'. This appears on the Matumbi label (MM 7001).
Towards the end of 'Gerrard Street' is a short segment featuring a squeaky door. One gets the unmistakable feeling that they had listened to at least some Sun Ra.
The most recent appearance of 'China Gate', sung by Nat 'King' Cole, is in 2006. It appears on the 11 CD German release (Bear Family Records BCD 16342 KL) entitled: 'Stardust: The Complete Capitol Recordings 1955-1959.'
For what seems to be a rather obscure song, it certainly has been around.
If you are interested in the film, there is a version to be found here (AVI):
Bonus! An anonymous visitor was kind enough to direct us to another rendition of China Gate performed by a band with which I am not familiar, Cul de Sac.
From Wikipedia:
Cul de Sac are a rock music group formed in 1990 in Boston, Massachusetts and led by guitarist Glenn Jones. Their music is primarily instrumental. Jones and keyboardist Robin Amos have been the only constant members.
They have been classified by some as post rock, but Jones has expressed some discomfort with the term. He states that Cul de Sac is the most "musically satisfying" group he's been involved with; a group that is the "closest to being the band I'd dreamed of forming. It allows me to combine my love of open-tuned guitar, played fingerstyle, with my love for electronics and noise, all placed within a rhythmic rock framework."[1] Jones occasionally plays "The Contraption," a prepared lap steel guitar.
Cul de Sac have collaborated with guitarist John Fahey and with Can singer Damo Suzuki.
Glenn Jones has also recorded three solo albums, This Is the Wind That Blows It Out (2004), Against Which the Sea Continually Beats (2007), Barbecue Bob in Fishtown (2009), and The Wanting (2011).
China Gates - The Futuristic Worlds of Sun Ra
China Gate (live) - Music From Tomorrows World
'China Gates' has a rather interesting and at times a seemingly 'odd' story. For one, the correct title is 'China Gate'. Victor Young, the composer of the piece, was a well-known composer and arranger for Hollywood movie scores. 'China Gate' was the last score that he composed, and it was for the 1957 film 'China Gate'. He passed away before finishing the movie score, and Max Steiner finished it. Harold Adamson wrote the lyrics to fit the rather intriguing musical theme. The film, directed by Samuel Fuller, stars Gene Barry, Angie Dickinson, Nat 'King' Cole, and Lee Van Cleef. Barry and Cole are Korean War vets, now in the French Foreign Legion and taking part in the first Indochina War. Angie Dickinson plays the love interest and Lee Van Cleef is the commander of an ammunition dump that they are planning to blow up. The song appears twice in the film. In the first instance, Nat 'King' Cole sings 'China Gate' as he walks through a bombed out village back to his group. This short video includes those scenes from the movie (approx. 18:33 to 20:32 in the movie).
The second time the song is heard is when he sings the song at the end of film (at approx. 92:24 to 94:51 with the reprise until 95:08). The song is used as a theme through out the movie.
The movie trailer gives you some idea of what the movie is about. The person who posted that trailer has replaced the original audio with the Nat 'King' Cole version of 'China Gate'. Another video of 'China Gate' incorporates 'gately' imagery more appropriate to the song. it is also more complete, in that the ending does not have the announcement that the version used for the movie trailer does have. Both of those versions of 'China Gate' are taken from the album release.
'China Gate' (2:46) next appears on the b-side of 'When Rock and Roll Come to Trinidad.' The single, Capitol Records F3702, was released in 1957. 'China Gate' is credited as being from the film of the same name and features the music of the well-known composer and conductor Nelson Riddle.
'The Futuristic Sounds of Sun Ra' was recorded at the Medallion studio in Newark, New Jersey on October 10, 1961, four years after the movie was released. Included on the album is that wonderfully evocative version of 'China Gates,' the title slightly misspelled but properly credited. Its inclusion on the album does raise the question - where did Sun Ra hear it first? Did he see the 'China Gate' film? or did he hear the Nat 'King' Cole single? The version here seems to be closer to the movie version than the single release. There is a slight lyrics change. In the second verse, although the word is 'dreams,' it sounds like Ricky Murray sings 'moons.'
china gate, china gate, china gate, china gate
many moons and many hearts you separate.
like two arms
open wide
some you welcome in and some must stay outside.
bowl of rice
bitter tea
is this all the good earth has to offer me?
will i find
peace of mind?
does my true love wait behind the china gate?
china gate, china gate, china gate.
In 1965, the Nat 'King' Cole album 'Nat 'King' Cole Sings his Songs from Cat Ballou and Other Motion Pictures' is released on the Capitol label (ST 2340) in the USA, and on the EMI label in Europe. The album includes 'China Gate'.
Pianist Ramsey Lewis is the next one to perform this song, releasing it on several albums. In 1966, he released 'The Movie Album.'
In 1967, Lord Cody and the Corlalites release their album 'Sail Out' (Elite Records (10) ñ LPOES 19). This calypso style 'China Gate' (3:14) appears on side 2 as the third track.
A few years later, in 1972, the double LP album 'Inside Ramsey Lewis' is released as Cadet 2ca-60018 (now part of GRT) in the USA.
The Ramsey Lewis version of 'China Gate' (2:36) also appears on a two CD compilation made in 1998. Produced by the Belgian radio station 'Radio Donna', the release is entitled 'Popcorn Oldies: The Great Singers' (paradiso PA 25 536).
Guardian Angel re-releases 'China Gate' as an extended play 12 inch single, backed by the extended dub version of 'Gerrard Street'. This appears on the Matumbi label (MM 7001).
The most recent appearance of 'China Gate', sung by Nat 'King' Cole, is in 2006. It appears on the 11 CD German release (Bear Family Records BCD 16342 KL) entitled: 'Stardust: The Complete Capitol Recordings 1955-1959.'
For what seems to be a rather obscure song, it certainly has been around.
If you are interested in the film, there is a version to be found here (AVI):
They have been classified by some as post rock, but Jones has expressed some discomfort with the term. He states that Cul de Sac is the most "musically satisfying" group he's been involved with; a group that is the "closest to being the band I'd dreamed of forming. It allows me to combine my love of open-tuned guitar, played fingerstyle, with my love for electronics and noise, all placed within a rhythmic rock framework."[1] Jones occasionally plays "The Contraption," a prepared lap steel guitar.
Cul de Sac have collaborated with guitarist John Fahey and with Can singer Damo Suzuki.
Glenn Jones has also recorded three solo albums, This Is the Wind That Blows It Out (2004), Against Which the Sea Continually Beats (2007), Barbecue Bob in Fishtown (2009), and The Wanting (2011).
Yotte,
ReplyDeleteCul De Sac also cover it (twice, briefly) on their '95 album China Gate. What a great blog you've created! Thank you.
Merci Yotte, I didn't know a hint on the story behind this wonderful Ra piece.
ReplyDeleteThank you, thank you! Laughed out loud at this post, i`ve
ReplyDeletewondered about this track for decades!!
thanks for the comments, and the find of yet another version of 'china gate'!
ReplyDeleteI-)
i had some second thoughts about my original comment:
ReplyDelete> Towards the end of 'Gerrard Street' is a
> short segment featuring a squeaky door.
> One gets the unmistakable feeling that they
> had listened to at least some Sun Ra.
when i wrote that, i was referring to the 'strange strings' album, where sun ra plays that squeaky door. however, that 'squeaky door' sound that was used by guardian angel may represent just a gate, slowly opening or closing, squeaking as it does so, a literal china gate?
I-)
it turns out that 'china gate' appears twice on that cul de sac album:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBKPoht5IOA Cul De Sac - China Gate
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqQJZnqAcy8 Cul De Sac - China Gate (reprise)
I-)