"Oh Lonesome Me" is a popular song written and recorded in December 1957 by Don Gibson with Chet Atkins[5] producing it for RCA Victor in Nashville. Released in 1958, the song topped the country chart for eight non-consecutive weeks. On what became the Billboard Hot 100, it peaked at No. 7. It was Gibson's only Top 10 hit on the pop chart.[6] Its B-side was "I Can't Stop Loving You", which peaked at No. 7 on the C&W Jockey charts and became a standard song about unrequited love.[7] The vocal backings on both songs were provided by the Jordanaires.
| "Oh Lonesome Me" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Don Gibson | ||||
| from the album Oh Lonesome Me | ||||
| B-side | "I Can't Stop Loving You" | |||
| Written | June 7, 1957[1][2] | |||
| Published | February 17, 1958 Acuff-Rose Publications, Inc.[3] | |||
| Released | December 1957 | |||
| Recorded | December 3, 1957[4] | |||
| Studio | RCA Victor (Nashville, Tennessee) | |||
| Genre | Country | |||
| Length | 2:26 | |||
| Label | RCA Victor | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Don Gibson | |||
| Producer(s) | Chet Atkins | |||
| Don Gibson singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| "Oh Lonesome Me" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by The Kentucky Headhunters | ||||
| from the album Pickin' on Nashville | ||||
| B-side | "My Daddy Was a Milkman" | |||
| Released | May 1990 | |||
| Genre | Country rock, rockabilly, rock and roll, southern rock | |||
| Length | 3:12 | |||
| Label | Mercury | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Don Gibson | |||
| Producer(s) | The Kentucky Headhunters | |||
| The Kentucky Headhunters singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
The Kentucky Headhunters version
editThe song was covered by The Kentucky Headhunters in 1990. Their version went to number 8, which was the band's highest-peaking single.[8]
Chart performance
edit| Chart (1990) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[9] | 19 |
| US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[10] | 8 |
Year-end charts
edit| Chart (1990) | Position |
|---|---|
| US Country Songs (Billboard)[11] | 73 |
Cover versions
edit- 1959: Sacha Distel made a French version "Oh ! Quelle Nuit (Lonesome Me)".[12]
- 1960: Bob Luman's version reached #105 on the U.S. Billboard Pop chart
- 1961: Johnny Cash (went to #13)[13]
- 1962: Ann-Margret on her album On the Way Up
- 1962: Craig Douglas released a cover version in the UK on Decca Records under the production of Bunny Lewis.[14] Douglas' version entered the UK singles chart on October 20, 1962, stayed there for twelve weeks and the best position was at #11[15]
- 1962: Ray Charles for his album Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music Volume Two
- 1963: The Everly Brothers for their album "The Everly Brothers Sing Great Country Hits
- 1966: Bobbi Martin's version reached #134 on the U.S. Billboard Pop chart and #64 Country
- 1970: Neil Young (slower version, on After the Gold Rush)
- 1970: Stonewall Jackson (went to #63)[16]
References
edit- ^ "Don Gibson, 75, Songwriter Known for Country Standards". The New York Times. Associated Press. 2003-11-19. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2021-09-09. Retrieved 2021-09-09.
- ^ Staff 11/18/2003, CMT com. "Acclaimed Songwriter Don Gibson Dies". CMT News. Archived from the original on 2021-09-09. Retrieved 2021-09-09.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Card .0786". vcc.copyright.gov. Archived from the original on 2021-09-08. Retrieved 2021-09-09.
- ^ "78/45 Singles - Don Gibson Discography". patsyclinediscography.com. Archived from the original on 2021-08-18. Retrieved 2021-09-09.
- ^ Gilliland, John (1969). "Show 10 - Tennessee Firebird: American country music before and after Elvis. [Part 2]" (audio). Pop Chronicles. University of North Texas Libraries.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. p. 157. ISBN 978-0-89820-177-2.
- ^ Gillett, Charlie (1996). The Sound of the City: The Rise of Rock and Roll ((2nd Ed.) ed.). New York, N.Y.: Da Capo Press. pp. 108–109. ISBN 978-0-306-80683-4.
- ^ Whitburn, p. 223
- ^ "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 7997." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. August 18, 1990. Retrieved August 23, 2013.
- ^ "The Kentucky Headhunters Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
- ^ "Best of 1990: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 1990. Archived from the original on December 11, 2007. Retrieved August 23, 2013.
- ^ "Discogs.com". Discogs. 1959. Archived from the original on 2024-05-03. Retrieved 2020-08-15. Retrieved August 15, 2020
- ^ Whitburn, p. 84
- ^ "Official Charts - Home of the Official UK Top 40 Charts". Officialcharts.com. Archived from the original on 28 January 2002. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
- ^ "it's been nice | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Archived from the original on 3 May 2024. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
- ^ Whitburn, p. 203
