"A Hundred Pounds of Clay" is a song written by Kay Rogers, Luther Dixon, and Bob Elgin and performed by Gene McDaniels. The song was produced by Snuff Garrett.Gene McDaniels, "A Hundred Pounds Of Clay" Single Release Retrieved January 1, 2014 Earl Palmer played drums on the song.Scherman, Tony, Backbeat: The Earl Palmer Story, foreword by Wynton Marsalis, Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington D.C., 1999 p. 175 The song appeared on McDaniels' 1961 album 100 Lbs. Of Clay!Gene McDaniels, 100 Lbs. Of Clay Retrieved January 1, 2014
Chart performance The song reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart and No. 11 on the R&B chart in 1961.Gene McDaniels, "A Hundred Pounds Of Clay" Chart Positions Retrieved January 1, 2014 The song peaked at No.3 in New Zealand https://web.archive.org/web/20210208152241/http://www.flavourofnz.co.nz/index.php?qpageID=Lever%20hit%20parades&qyear=1961&qmonth=Jun&qweek=15-Jun-1961#n_view_location and peaked at No.2 in Australia.
Other versions Craig Douglas's cover version went to #9 on the UK Singles Chart in 1961.Craig Douglas, "A Hundred Pounds of Clay" Chart Position Retrieved January 1, 2014 (See "song controversy" below.) Dalida released a French version of the song in 1961 entitled "Avec Une Poignée De Terre".Dalida, L' Intégrale Des Années Barclay Retrieved January 1, 2014 Arthur Alexander released a version on his 1962 debut album for Dot Records You Better Move On. The Impressions released a version on their 1967 album, The Fabulous Impressions.The Impressions The Fabulous Impressions Retrieved January 1, 2014 Dickie Goodman sampled the song in his 1973 novelty song, "The Touchables In Brooklyn".Dickie Goodman, The Original Flying Saucers Retrieved January 1, 2014 Gary Lucas released a version on his 1998 album, Busy Being Born.Gary Lucas, Busy Being Born Retrieved January 1, 2014 The Belmonts released a version on their 2009 album, The Belmonts Anthology Vol. 1 Featuring A Hundred Pounds of Clay.The Belmonts, The Belmonts Anthology Vol. 1 Featuring A Hundred Pounds of Clay Retrieved January 1, 2014 Dee Dee Sharp released a version on her It's Mashed Potato Time album, changing the lyrics to "two hundred pounds" and dedicating the song to Chubby Checker. Enrique Guzman released a version in México, named "Cien kilos de barro" in 1962.
Song controversy In the early 1960s, the BBC banned the song and wouldn't allow British radio stations to play it. The BBC censors, believing that the song suggested that women were created only to be sexual beings, regarded it as blasphemous.
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