old/obscure version of "one tin soldier"

[eagl]

I'm looking for an old version of "One tin soldier" my parents used to have on 8-track.  No way to find the original artist from the cartridge since it's long gone, but this was from back in the mid-late '70s.  It is NOT the version that amazon seems to have a bazillion copies of, by "the original caste" or from the legend of billy jack.  The one I am looking for has a more orchestral feel, with trumpets and more than just one female singer.

Anyone know which one I'm talking about?  Darned if I can find it.

[SIK1]

You might want to take a look here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Tin_Soldier

Looks like you are looking for the original version by Coven.

From Wikipedia;

"Jinx Dawson of the band Coven sang the song at a 1971 session with the film's orchestra as part of the soundtrack for the Warner Brothers movie Billy Jack. Jinx asked that her band, Coven, be listed on the recording and film, not her name as a solo artist. This Warner release, titled as "One Tin Soldier: The Legend of Billy Jack," reached #26 on Billboard's Hot 100 in fall 1971, only to be pulled from the charts by the Billy Jack film producers as it was moving up due to legal squabbles over the rights to the recording.

The full Coven band then reluctantly re-recorded the song for their MGM album. Thus the MGM album containing a second version of this song displayed their whited-out faces on the cover, contrived again by the film's producer Tom Laughlin. The recording then hit the charts again in both 1973 and 1974 after the end of the Vietnam War but before the release of the film The Trial of Billy Jack. The Coven recording was named Number One All Time Requested Song in 1971 and 1973 by the American Radio Broadcasters Association. A slightly different version recorded by Guy Chandler (titled "One Tin Soldier (The Legend of Billy Jack)") charted in summer 1973."

[Old Sport]

Maybe this?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2zzybffXZI
Or this?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vMzeQgu1Yc&feature=related

[eagl]

The voice I remember was deeper than the ones I can find on amazon.  Maybe it is the one by coven since the arrangement I found on Amazon is similar but only "in the style of coven".

[danny76]

My best mate fought in Rhodesia in the 80's, a finer man you'll not meet, (bronze cross of Rhodesia, wounded very badly in both legs and back by AT mine yet still work full time held together with metal calipers ). there is quite a collection of songs from the period including 'Little Tin Soldier' can be ffound on the new Rhodesian Broadcasting Corporation website. Might not be what what you are looking for, if not still definately worth a peek IMHO

[Rich52]

I dont remember the mid-'70s very well.

[ozrocker]

LOL those of us who grew up in the 70's. If you DO remember the 70's,
you didn't LIVE in the 70's. What a decade


                                                                                                  Oz

[Heater]

The original was done by a group called The Original Caste,

here is one of the youtube links...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLMhelLWde4&feature=related

[SIK1]

The only reason I said it looks like it might be the original version by Jinx Dawson, and Coven is that wiki says it was done with the films orchestra, and you had said it had a more orchestral feel. The down side to that the films producers pulled the song due to legal issues over the recording rights, so finding a copy may be a bit tough.