S.O.D. "One Tin Soldier" by Coven

3/17/2015     This tells the story of two neighboring clans and a hidden treasure.  The peaceful Mountain People possess a treasure buried under a stone and the warlike Valley People, through a message demand to have this treasure.  Although the Mountain People are willing to share the treasure, the Valley People want it all for themselves and take it by force, killing all the Mountain People.  When the Valley People reach the stone and unveil the treasure they find but a simple message: "Peace on Earth".  

     First recorded by Canadian group, "The Original Caste," the song reached #6 on the RPM Magazine charts and #1 on CHUM AM in Toronto.  In 1971 the group Coven composed a successful version that was featured in the film Billy Jack.  Lead vocalist for Coven, Jinx Dawson actually sang the song with the film's orchestra but asked that her band be credited on the recording and film and not her name as a solo artist.  

     The American Radio Broadcasters Association named Coven's version the #1 all-time requested song in 1971 and 1973.  The two versions are quite different between The Original Caste and Coven.  The Original Caste being a folk-pop group and Coven an American metal band.  In the late 60s they toured with Vanilla Fudge, Alice Cooper and Jimmy Page's Yardbirds among others.  Lead singer Jinx Dawson was the survivor of a difficult delivery of twins in which the other died in the womb. Because of this her mother named her after the doctor that delivered her, Dr. Jinks.