ReneHall/A Change Gone Come

Few people have ever heard of Rene Hall. The only ones who really know him are fans of doo wop music of the 1950’s and 1960’s, or what was called Chitlin’ Circuit music, or what I like call brown liquor music. Most of it is not in the lyrics of the songs but the instrumental part that gets the blood pumping. His first recording was as a banjo player with Joseph Robichaux in New Orleans in 1933. He began traveling around the country as a musician and arranger with orchestras from Earl Hines, to the big band orchestras of Ernie Fields. (https://www.amazines.com/Rene_Hall_related.html)


The song, A Change Gone Come may have been a hit with just the empowering words and a piano. However, what makes it a song that has stood the test of time is the musical arrangement by Rene Hall. Hall is not just an arranger he played a jazz guitar, a banjo and was a vocalist. He did session work and has had his own groups in the 50‘s and 60’s. Hall has played and arranged music for some of the biggest names of Motown, such as the Impressions and Marvin Gaye. He was the featured guitarist on “La Bamba” by Richie Valens.

If it had not been for his arrangement on “A Change Gone Come”, it may not have become the classic that it is. Hall wrote the arrangement as if he was composing a big movie score, with symphonic overture for strings, kettledrum and French horn, each in separate movements. The French horn is what so dramatic and gives the song that mournful sound. The orchestral arrangement matches the dignity of the words to song. You have to listen to the song to hear the way that the words blend so perfect with the arrangement. Sit back and listen the way that the orchestration of the music takes over. It is like a good glass of wine it is just smooth.

You have more than likely heard Rene Hall’s music and not knew it. Listen to Bitter Wind or Slipping and Sliding. If you ever watched and Annette Funcello and Frankie Avalon beach movie you have heard his music. Some people will never be as passionate as I am about this song and arrangement. It has so much empowerment for me. Thanks to Rene Hall’s arrangement, it makes me look at music differently.

https://www.amazines.com/Rene_Hall_related.html
http://www.last.fm/music/Sam+Cooke
http://www.rhapsody.com/rene-hall
http://www.last.fm/music/Ritchie+Valens/_/La+Bamba