"Vaya con Dios" (translated as "Go with God") is a popular song written by Larry Russell, Inez James, and Buddy Pepper, and first recorded by Anita O'Day in December 1952. Les Paul and Mary Ford had a no. 1 recording of the song in 1953. Members of the Western Writers of America chose it as one of the Top 100 Western songs of all time.
The most popular version of the song was recorded by Les Paul and Mary Ford. This recording was released by Capitol Records as catalog number 2486 with "Johnny (Is the Boy For Me)" as the flip side in May, 1953. It first reached the Billboard magazine Best Seller chart on June 13, 1953 and lasted 31 weeks on the chart, reaching number one on August 8 and remaining at number one for a total of 11 weeks. The song also reached number one on the Cash Box chart where it remained at no. 1 for five weeks.
The Les Paul and Mary Ford single reached no. 7 in the UK backed with the Les Paul instrumental composition "Deep in the Blues" as the flip side.
In 2005, the 1953 Les Paul and Mary Ford recording was inducted in the Grammy Hall of Fame.
The song has been recorded by:
Emile Ford and his band The Checkmates on his 1961 album "Emile".
Pat Boone (1959) On duet album Pat & Shirley Boone Side By Side
Chuck Berry (1965) On album Fresh Berrys
Bing Crosby - on his album Bing Sings the Hits (1954)
Doris Troy (1970) On Apple album Doris Troy. Song produced by Troy and Beatle George Harrison who also played guitar on it.
The McGuire Sisters (1966)
Wingy Manone (1953)
Bob London (1953)
Larry Clinton (1953)
Jairo (1982)
Roberto Alagna
Desi Arnaz (who used it comically on the "Home Movies" episode of I Love Lucy)
Chet Atkins
Gene Autry
Rico Barr & the Jump 'n' Jive Review, with Kate Davis, vocals (on the soundtrack for Disney's The Finest Hours) (2016)
Jeff Beck with Imelda May (2011)
The Beverley Sisters (1953)
The Cats (1968 on album The Cats and in 1972 on single)
Rocky Burnette
Carole Carr with orchestra cond. by Hill Bowen. Recorded in London on September 13, 1953. It was released by EMI on the His Master's Voice label as catalog number B 10570.
Richard Clayderman
Nat King Cole (in Spanish)
The Drifters (1964)
Chiemi Eri (in Japanese)
Freddy Fender (1976)
Inez & Charlie Fox
Connie Francis (Spanish: 1960, German: 1966)
Don Gibson
Harry James – Harry James & His Western Friends (Dot DLP 3735 and DLP 25735)
Julio Iglesias – in 1976 Spanish version, in 2005 French version "C'est Votre Histoire Et La Mienne"
Pedro Infante (1953 in Spanish)
Los Panchos
Joni James
Gloria Jones
Andrea Jürgens (1990)
Kitty Kallen
Byron Lee
The Lennon Sisters
Julie London
Al Martino (1978)
Miguel Aceves Mejía
Millican & Nesbitt (1973)
Bob Moore (1967)
Nana Mouskouri
Chico O'Farrill
Tony Orlando & Dawn (1972)
Les Paul & Mary Ford (1953)
Jim Reeves
Semprini with Rhythm Accompaniment. Recorded in London on October 13, 1953 as the first melody of the medley "Dancing to the piano (No. 22) – Hit medley of waltzes" along with "My Love, My Love" and "The Melba Waltz". The medley was released by EMI on the His Master's Voice label as catalog number B 10592.
Hank Snow
Sylvia Syms (1968)
Mel Tormé
Jerry Vale
Johnny Ventura
Slim Whitman
Dyango in his 1977 album Contigo en la Distancia
Roger Whittaker
Anne Murray (2002)
Sunshine Quartett
The Popes
Rob & Gilly Bennett (1993)
Manu Dibango
Giorgio Consolini in Italian
Ginette & Raymond Lavoie in French
Julie Daraîche in French
Lily Berglund (in Swedish)
Roy Black (in German)
Peter Alexander (in German)
