First recorded by The Carpenters (JPN #21 1972).
First hit version by Lynn Anderson (C&W #2 1973).
Other hit version by The Carpenters (US #1/UK #5/CAN #1/IRE #3 1973).
From the wiki: “‘Top of the World’ is a 1972 song by The Carpenter originally recorded for and released on the duo’s 1972 studio album A Song for You. Co-written by Richard Carpenter with lyricist John Bettis (‘Human Nature’, ‘Slow Hand’), ‘Top of the World’ was intended to be only an album cut for the Carpenters. The original album recording was released as a single in Japan in 1972, where it peaked at #21 on the Orion music chart. Soon after its album release, Country singer Lynn Anderson covered the song and was the first to release it as a US single.
Written and first recorded by Rodney Crowell (1978).
Hit version by The Dirt Band (US #13/C&W #58/CAN #3/AUS #35 1980).
From the wiki: “‘An American Dream’ is a song written by Rodney Crowell. He recorded it under the title ‘Voilá, An American Dream’ on his 1978 album Ain’t Living Long Like This with a backing vocal by Emmylou Harris, and released it as the B-side to that album’s single ‘(Now and Then There’s) A Fool Such as I’.
“‘An American Dream’ was later recorded by The Dirt Band (née Nitty Gritty Dirt Band). It was released in November 1979 as the only single and title track from the album An American Dream. The Dirt Band’s version features a backing vocal from Linda Ronstadt. The single charted Top-20 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking the group’s last appearance at that level on the Billboard chart.”
First recorded by Jerry Lee Lewis (1967).
Hit version by The First Edition (US #5 1968).
Also recorded by Mickey Newbury, writer (1968); Kenny Rogers, solo (1978).
From the wiki: “‘Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)’ is a counterculture-era song written by Mickey Newbury (‘An American Trilogy’). Said to reflect the LSD experience, the song was intended to be a warning against the danger of using LSD. First recorded in 1967 by Jerry Lee Lewis for the album Soul My Way (he rejected its release as a single), the song became a hit for The First Edition (with Kenny Rogers on lead vocals) in 1968.
“It was the First Edition’s first Top 10 appearance on the Billboard charts, and got the group their first national TV audience on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. The song (as recorded by The First Edition) is also featured in a dream sequence from the Coen Brothers’ 1998 film, The Big Lebowski.”
First hit version recorded by Marty Robbins (US #17/C&W #1 1956).
Other hit versions by Guy Mitchell (US #1/R&B #4/UK #1 1956), Tommy Steele (UK #1 1957), Dave Edmunds (UK #28 1980), Gail Davies (C&W #17 1983), Daniel O’Donnell (UK #23 1994), The Kentucky Headhunters (C&W #70 1997).
From the wiki: “Composed and first recorded by Melvin Endsley, ‘Singing the Blues’ holds a unique record in the UK: It was the first and, in half a century and more of its existence, the only song in the history of the UK Singles chart to knock itself off the top spot twice! Guy Mitchell’s version topped the UK Singles chart at the start of January 1957, and was replaced the following week by the Tommy Steele version. The following week, the Mitchell version again replaced the Steele version at #1.
First recorded by Paul Davis (1961).
Hit versions by Dave Dudley (US #32/C&W #2 1963), Steve Earle (C&W #29 1988), Sawyer Brown (C&W #13 1997).
From the wiki: “‘Six Days on the Road’ is an American song written by Earl Green and Muscle Shoals Sound Studio songwriter Carl Montgomery, made famous by country music singer Dave Dudley. The song was first offered to Louisiana cajun singer Jimmy C. Newman but he turned it down. Paul Davis (not of 1970s ‘I Go Crazy’ fame) was the first artist to record the song, and Billboard magazine first mentioned this original version in September 1961 although Davis’ recording would have no chart impact.
Co-written and first recorded (as a demo) by Margaret Lewis (1965, released 1995).
Hit versions by Johnny Adams (US #28/R&B #8 1969), Ray Pillow (C&W #38 1969), John Wesley Ryles (#39 1971), Narvel Felts (US #67/C&W #2 1975).
From the wiki: “‘Reconsider Me’ is a Country/Soul ballad written by Margaret Lewis and Mira Smith, and first recorded as a demo by Lewis in 1965. It was finally released in 1995 on the Ace Records compilation album Shreveport Stomp – Ram Records, Vol. 1.
“Lewis first came to public notice in the late 1950s as a performer on the Louisiana Hayride radio program, where she also met Smith, a local musician who happened to own her own record label – Ram Records – one of the first women in the recording industry to do so. After Ram closed down in the early 1960s, Lewis and Smith concentrated on songwriting, eventually moving to Nashville and signing with noted producer Shelby Singleton as songwriters for his SSS International and Plantation Records labels. Between them, Lewis and Smith composed more than 100 songs, including ‘Mountain of Love’ (David Houston), ‘I Almost Called Your Name’ (Margaret Whiting), ‘The Girl Most Likely’ (Jeannie C. Riley), and their signature success,’Reconsider Me’ (Johnny Adams).
First recorded by Freddy Fender (1959).
Hit version by Freddy Fender (US #8/C&W #1/NZ #1 1974).
Also recorded by Texas Tornados (1999).
From the wiki: “Freddy Fender wrote and first recorded ‘Wasted Days and Wasted Nights’ as a smoky rhythm & blues ballad during the early stages of his career. He was in the process of perfecting his mesh of Rockabilly and Tejano, and the song showcased his new style. First released in 1959 on the small Duncan Records label, the song became a minor national hit in 1960 (Cashbox Magazine #82) on the more widely-distributed Imperial label. But, Fender was arrested on charges of marijuana possession and, in May 1960, he was convicted and jailed. The popularity of the song, along with Fender’s own popularity, plummeted.
“Flash-forward to 1975: With the help of record producer Huey P. Meaux (‘Talk to Me‘, Sir Douglas Quintet), Fender re-recorded ‘Wasted Days and Wasted Nights’. This time, the song became a major Country and Pop hit, topping the Billboard magazine Hot Country Singles chart in August 1975 and peaking at #8 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Written and first recorded (as a demo) by Stevie Nicks with Don Henley (ca. 1980).
Hit version by Stevie Nicks & Don Henley (US #6/MOR #10/CAN #12 1981).
‘I wrote this song because Waylon Jennings called me up and asked me to write a song called ‘Leather and Lace.’ It was to be a duet for him and his then-wife (Jessi Colter), and I worked very hard trying to explain what it was like to be in love with someone in the same business, and how to approach dealing with each other. It’s probably the hardest thing in the world to do because it falls out of your hands and into the hands of the world, which tends to want you to not be able to handle it.
First recorded by Duane Dee (C&W #44 1968).
Also recorded by Jerry Lee Lewis (1969).
Other hit versions by Linda Martell (C&W #33 1970), Freddy Fender (US #1/C&W #1 1975).
From the wiki: “‘Before the Next Teardrop Falls’ was written in the late 1960s by Vivian Keith and Ben Peters, and had been recorded more than two dozen times – achieving modest success in versions by various performers (the original version by Duane Dee reached #44 on the Billboard country chart in early 1968; Linda Martell sent her version to #33 in early 1970) before becoming a chart-topping hit for Freddy Fender.
Inspired by “Thrills That I Can’t Forget” by ‘John Ferguson’ (1925).
Inspired by “I’m Thinking Tonight of My Blue Eyes” by The Carter Family (1929).
Inspired by “Great Speckled Bird” by Roy Acuff (1936).
First recorded (as “Wild Side of Life”) by Jimmie Heap & The Melody Masters (1951).
Hit versions by Hank Thompson (C&W #1 1952), Burl Ives & Grady Martin & His Slew Foot Five (US #30/C&W #6 1952), Tommy Quickly & The Remo 4 (UK #33 1964), Freddy Fender (C&W #13 1976), Status Quo (UK #9 1976).
From the wiki: “‘The Wild Side of Life’ carries one of the most distinctive melodies of early country music, used in ‘Thrills That I Can’t Forget’ (recorded by Welby Toomey, using the pseudonym ‘John Ferguson’ in 1925), ‘I’m Thinking Tonight of My Blue Eyes’ (by the Carter Family in 1929), and ‘Great Speckled Bird’ (by Roy Acuff in 1936). That, along with the song’s story of a woman shedding her role as domestic provider to follow the night life, combined to become one of the most famous country songs of the early 1950s when recorded as ‘Wild Side of Life’, first by Jimmie Heap & the Melodie Masters and, then, a #1 hit by Hank Thompson.
“According to Country music historian Bill Malone, ‘Wild Side’ co-writer William Warren was inspired to create the song after his experiences with a young woman he met when he was younger — a honky-tonk angel, as it were — who ‘found the glitter of the gay night life too hard to resist.’
First recorded by Johnny Duncan (1960).
Hit version by Rick Nelson (US #9/UK #2 1961).
From the wiki: “‘Hello Mary Lou’ was written by Gene Pitney (‘Pretty Flamingo‘) and Father Cayet Mangiaracina, first performed and recorded by Johnny Duncan in 1960, and later recorded by Rick Nelson in 1961. Duncan’s recording took place at Norman Petty Studio, in Clovis, NM – where Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison, Buddy Knox, Waylon Jennings and others had also recorded – with Petty producing.
“Nelson’s recording features an influential guitar solo by James Burton (who is often cited as an influence by later guitarists such as Queen’s Brian May), and appeared on the Rick is 21 album (1961) – the first album to credit his first name as ‘Rick’; previous albums were credited to ‘Ricky Nelson’ … as was the promotional single.”
First recorded and released (as a B-side) by Juice Newton (1975).
Hit versions by Dottsy (C&W #86 1976), Juice Newton (re-recording US #7/C&W #1 1982).
From the wiki: “‘The Sweetest Thing (I’ve Ever Known)’ was originally recorded and released in 1975 on Juice Newton’s debut album, Juice Newton and Silver Spur. The 1975 version was not, however, issued as a single, although it was the B-side of two other Newton singles. In the meantime, Dottsy (Dottsy Brodt Dwyer) recorded her version ‘The Sweetest Thing’ in 1976 and took it to #86 on the Country music charts, and used it as the title track to her album The Sweetest Thing. Newton re-recorded the song on her 1981 album, the career-launching Juice.
Written and first recorded by Jim Weatherly (1972).
Hit versions by Bob Luman (C&W #7 1973), Gladys Knight & The Pips (US #2/R&B #1/UK #31 1973), David Sanborn (R&B #56 1983).
From the wiki: “‘Neither One of Us’ was written and first recorded by Jim Weatherly, found on his 1972 album Weatherly. Weatherly was an All-American quarterback at the University of Mississippi before choosing songwriting over a football career. Bob Luman charted first with ‘Neither One of Us’, making it into the Top 10 Country in 1973.
First recorded by The Monkees (1968, released 1990).
Hit version by The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (US #64/CAN #56 1972).
Also recorded by The Stone Poneys (1968), Michael Nesmith (1973).
From the wiki: “‘Some of Shelly’s Blues’ was written by Michael Nesmith, of The Monkees, and first recorded by the group in 1968. The recording went unreleased until the 1990 publishing of Missing Links 2.
“The Stone Poneys (feat. Linda Ronstadt), who had earlier covered ‘Different Drum‘ by Nesmith in 1967, were the first to cover ‘Some of Shelley’s Blues’, in 1968. It was a non-charting single from the group’s third album, Linda Ronstadt, Stone Poneys and Friends, Vol. III.
“The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band charted in 1972 with their cover. Songwriter Nesmith also recorded a version for his 1973 album, Pretty Much Your Standard Ranch Stash.”
First recorded (as “Jail House Blues”) by Whistler & His Jug Band (1924).
Also recorded by Earl McDonald’s Original Louisville Jug Band (1927), Jim Jackson (1928), Tim Blake Nelson (2000).
Popular versions by Jimmie Rodgers (US #14 1928), Webb Pierce (C&W #1 1955), Johnny Cash (C&W #8 1962), Sonny James (C&W #15 1977), Willie Nelson & Webb Pierce (C&W #72 1982).
From the wiki: “‘In The Jailhouse Now’ is an American novelty Blues song originally found in vaudeville performances from the early 20th century. In 1924, Whistler’s Jug Band from Louisville, Kentucky, recorded it under the title ‘Jail House Blues’. In 1927, Earl McDonald’s Original Louisville Jug Band made another recording of the song; in January 1928, Jim Jackson recorded ‘Jailhouse’ and established the first song’s first copyright titled as ‘In the Jailhouse Now’ although the song is usually now credited to Jimmie Rodgers. Rodgers recording of ‘In the Jailhouse Now’ was recorded February 15, 1928, in Camden, New Jersey, and features Rodgers’ famous yodel throughout the song. In 1938, Gene Autry and his side-kick, Smiley Burnette (as ‘Frog’), sang the Jimmie Rodgers version in the movie Prairie Moon.
First recorded (as “Don’t Tell My Heart”) by The Marcy Brothers (1991).
Hit versions by Billy Ray Cyrus (US #4/C&W #1/CAN #4/UK #1/AUS #1/NZ #1 1992), Alvin & the Chipmunks (C&W #71/UK #53 1993).
From the wiki: “‘Achy Breaky Heart’ was written by Don Von Tress. Originally titled ‘Don’t Tell My Heart’ and performed by The Marcy Brothers in 1991, its name was later changed to ‘Achy Breaky Heart’ and performed by Billy Ray Cyrus on his 1992 album Some Gave All. Cyrus’ recording became a crossover hit on both pop and country radio, peaking at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topping the Hot Country Singles chart, becoming the first country single to be certified Platinum since Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton’s ‘Islands in the Stream‘ in 1983.
“The song was initially to be recorded by The Oak Ridge Boys in the early 1990s but the group decided against recording it after lead singer Duane Allen said that he did not like the words ‘achy breaky’.
Originally recorded by Don Gibson (US #81/C&W #7/NOR #2 1957).
Other hit versions by Kitty Wells (C&W #3 1958), Ray Charles (US #1/MOR #1/R&B #1/UK #1/AUS #1 1962), Conway Twitty (C&W #1 1972).
Also recorded by Count Basie & His Orchestra (1963).
From the wiki: “‘I Can’t Stop Loving You’ was written by country singer-songwriter and musician Don Gibson, who first recorded it in 1957. It was released in 1958 as the B-side of ‘Oh, Lonesome Me’ (itself a C&W chart topper and Top-10 Hot 100 hit for Gibson), becoming a double-sided country hit single. Kitty Well’s 1958 cover charted even higher on the Country Singles chart.
“The song was most famously covered by Ray Charles in 1962, included on Charles’ Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music album and released as a single. Charles’ recording reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1962, for 5 weeks and would also top the U.S. R&B and Easy-Listening charts. (The song, a ‘Country-politan’ ballad with lush, cushioned arrangements, was placed at the 11th spot in the album track listing, assumed by Sid Feller to be the album’s weakest song. After becoming the album’s top-selling single, Charles was disappointed with him, as Feller was in charge of sequencing for the album).
“The Count Basie Orchestra’s 1963 cover recording, a Quincy Jones arrangement for Basie’s This Time by Basie! album, won the 1964 Grammy Award for ‘Best Performance by a Band for Dancing’. Conway Twitty covered ‘I Can’t Stop Loving You’ a decade later, in 1972, topping the Country Singles chart.
“‘I Can’t Stop Loving You’ was ranked #164 on Rolling Stone magazine’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time and #49 on CMT’s 100 Greatest Songs in Country Music.”
First recorded by Eddy Arnold (C&W #10 1956).
First released by Jerry Vale (US #14 1956).
Other hit versions by Ray Charles (US #2/MOR #1/R&B #5/UK #9 1962), Mickey Gilley (C&W #1 1981).
From the wiki: “‘You Don’t Know Me’ is a song written by Cindy Walker based on a title and storyline given to her by Eddy Arnold in 1955 and was first recorded by Arnold (who is credited as co-writer) that year, then released by him as a single in September 1956.
“However, the first recording of the song to make the Billboard charts was Jerry Vale’s single release in July 1956, peaking at #14 on the Billboard Hot 100. That was followed by Arnold’s version, charting two months later, backed with ‘The Rockin’ Mockin’ Bird’. Arnold’s recording reached #10 on the Billboard Country chart.
Written and first recorded by Mac Davis (US #117/MOR #25 1971).
Other hit versions by Helen Reddy (AUS #2 1971), Gallery (US #22/MOR #12 1972).
Also recorded by Donny Hathaway (1971).
From the wiki: “‘I Believe in Music’ was written and first recorded, in 1971, by Mac Davis. His recording made a minor dent in the pop charts, ‘bubbling under’ the Billboard Hot 100 but peaking at #25 on the MOR song chart. Helen Reddy and Donny Hathaway also recorded versions of ‘I Believe in Music’ in 1971. Reddy’s recording peaked at #2 on the Australian music chart; Hathaway’s production was not released as a single but appeared on his 1971 self-titled album, Donny Hathaway.
“Gallery’s 1972 recording of ‘I Believe in Music’ was the second of three singles released from their Nice to Be with You album, peaking at #22 on the Billboard Hot 100.”
Written and first recorded (as a demo) by Willie Nelson (1961).
Hit version by Patsy Cline (US #9/C&W #2/UK #14 1961).
From the wiki: “Willie Nelson wrote ‘Crazy’ in early 1961. At the time he was a journeyman singer-songwriter working at the time under the name of Hugh Nelson. Nelson originally wrote the song for country singer Billy Walker who turned it down for the same reason Roy Drusky turned down ‘I Fall to Pieces’ the previous year – that it was ‘a girl’s song’. The song’s eventual success helped launch Nelson’s career as a performer as well as a songwriter. (On an episode of VH1’s Storytellers, Nelson revealed that ‘Crazy’ was originally titled ‘Stupid’.)
First recorded by Don Cherry (1962).
Also recorded by J.D. Loudermilk, writer (1967).
Hit versions by The Casinos (US #6/UK #28/CAN #57 1967), Eddy Arnold (C&W #1 1968), Glen Campbell (recorded as “Don’t Pull Your Love/Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye” US #27/MOR #1/C&W #4 1976), Neal McCoy (C&W #4 1996).
From the wiki: “‘Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye’ was written by John D. Loudermilk (‘Indian Reservation‘, ‘Tobacco Road‘). It was first released in 1962 by Don Cherry, as a country song, without any chart impact.
“In 1967, ‘Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye’ was recorded in a doo-wop style by the pop vocal group The Casinos. Their arrangement became a US Top-10 and a UK Top-30 hit. Country crooner Eddy Arnold, in 1968, returned the song to the Country Singles chart with his #1 arrangement.
First recorded by Rodney Crowell (1980).
Also recorded by Guy Clark, songwriter (1981), George Strait (1982), The Marshall Tucker Band (1982).
Hit version by Ricky Skaggs (C&W #1/CAN #1 1982).
From the wiki: “‘Heartbroke’ was written by Guy Clark, and originally recorded by Rodney Crowell on his 1980 album But What Will the Neighbors Think. Clark, the following year, included his version of ‘Heartbroke’ on the album, The South Coast of Texas. Guests on that album included Crowell (as both performer and producer) , Ricky Skaggs, Rosanne Cash, and Vince Gill as well as numerous other well-known session players.
“The following year, ‘Heartbroke’ would be covered solo by Skaggs and released by him in July 1982 as the first single from his album Highways & Heartaches, becoming Skaggs’ third #1 on the US Country chart.
First recorded by Crazy Horse (1972).
Hit versions by Rod Stewart (US #46/UK #1 1977), Everything But The Girl (UK #3 1988), Rod Stewart (rerecording MOR #2 1989).
From the wiki: “‘I Don’t Want to Talk About It’ was written by Danny Whitten, and first recorded and released by Whitten’s band (and Neil Young’s backup group), Crazy Horse, on their 1971 eponymous album.
“In 1975, Rod Stewart recorded the song at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Sheffield, Alabama, for his album Atlantic Crossing. Released as a promotional single in 1977, Stewart’s arrangement topped the UK Singles chart, although peaking at only #46 on the Billboard Hot 100. In 1988, the UK duo Everything but the Girl released their cover version, from the Idlewild album, as a single which peaked in the UK at #3 but did not chart in the US.
“Stewart recorded a new arrangement of ‘I Don’t Want to Talk About It’ in 1989, for the album Storyteller – The Complete Anthology: 1964–1990. This arrangement did not chart on the Hot 100 but did peak at #2 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.”
First recorded by Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs & The Foggy Mountain Boys (C&W #21 1960).
Hit version by Ricky Skaggs (C&W #1 1982).
From the wiki: “‘Crying My Heart Out Over You’ was co-written by Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs, and originally recorded in 1960 by Flatt & Scruggs, whose version peaked at #21. It was covered in 1982 by Ricky Skaggs, his third Country hit and the first of eleven #1 hits for him on the Country chart.”
