Hey Joe (Carl Smith song)
"Hey Joe" is a 1953 popular song written by Boudleaux Bryant. It was recorded by Carl Smith for Columbia Records on 19 May 1953 and spent eight weeks at #1 on the U.S. country music chart.[1] Later in 1953, Kitty Wells recorded an answer record also titled "Hey Joe" which hit number eight on the Jukebox Country & Western chart.[2]
[edit] Cover versions
A cover version, sung by Frankie Laine and produced by Mitch Miller, reached number one in the UK Singles Chart in October 1953.[3]
It was Laine's second UK chart topper but, in direct contrast to his greatly longlasting "I Believe", only stayed in the chart for eight weeks, having reached number one in its second week on the chart.[3] That week Laine had three singles in the chart, which consisted only of a Top 12.[3] The following week, Laine's third number one hit in the UK, "Answer Me" entered the chart, giving Laine one third of all records on the listing; a feat that is never likely to be equalled in these days of a Top 75 chart make-up.[3]
Moe Bandy and Joe Stampley recorded a version in the 1980s with a modified title: "Hey Moe, Hey Joe".
"Hey Joe" is not the same song as the one that gave Jimi Hendrix his first UK hit in 1967—"Hey Joe".[3] It was, however, the first number one written by Bryant, whose main success was to come writing songs with his wife Felice for The Everly Brothers.[3]
[edit] References
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 318.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 376.
- ^ a b c d e f Rice, Jo (1982). The Guinness Book of 500 Number One Hits (1st ed.). Enfield, Middlesex: Guinness Superlatives Ltd. pp. 8. ISBN 0-85112-250-7.
| Preceded by "It's Been So Long" by Webb Pierce |
Country & Western National Best Sellers number one single by Carl Smith August 22, 1953 |
Succeeded by "A Dear John Letter" by Jean Shepard and Ferlin Husky |
| Preceded by "Look at That Girl" by Guy Mitchell |
UK Singles Chart Number 1 single Frankie Laine 23 October 1953 for 2 weeks |
Succeeded by "Answer Me" by David Whitfield |
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