Hey, Good Lookin' (song)

"Hey, Good Lookin'"
Song

"Hey Good Lookin'" is a 1951 song written and recorded by Hank Williams, and his version was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2001. Since its original 1951 recording, it has been covered by a variety of artists.

Content

"Hey Good Lookin'" is a moderate up-tempo in C Major. Its narrator is a male, attempting to attract the attention of a female by use of a catchy pick-up line: "Hey good lookin', whatcha got cookin / How's about cookin' something up with me?"

The narrating character promises to stop seeing all other women, and invites the female object of his desire to 'go steady' with him, professing his lack of desire for anyone other than her. He humorously attempts to lure her with his car, money, and other promises of a general 'good time'.

Cole Porter wrote the original version of this song in 1943. It was sung by Ethel Merman in the Broadway Musical, "Something For The Boys".

Eight years later, in 1951, Hank Williams wrote a variation, and has since received all the credit for Hey, Good Lookin'.

Selective list of recorded versions

• 1943 Ethel Merman, Cole Porter composition for Broadway Musical, "Something for the Boys". In 1985, the Original Cast Recording was released on the AEI Records label derived from long lost transcriptions made for shortwave radio transmission.
• 1951 Hank Williams, the country original
• 1951 Jo Stafford & Frankie Laine, US top ten pop hit duet
• 1957 Johnny Cash, released on his 1960 Sings Hank Williams album
• 1958 Gene Vincent, on his album , A Gene Vincent Record Date, Capitol Records
• 1962 Ray Charles, on his album Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music
• 1974 Elvin Bishop, on his album Let It Flow
• 1975 Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, on their album Symphonion Dream
• 1977 Dave Edmunds, on his album Get It
• 1979 The Cole Porter version of the title song was recorded by Ethel Merman for her infamous Ethel Merman Disco Album in 1979.
• 1990 Buckwheat Zydeco (as part of a collaboration with Dwight Yoakam and David Hidalgo of Los Lobos), on his album Where There's Smoke, There's Fire
• 1992 The Mavericks on their self-titled debut album; #74 US Country
• 1993 C. C. DeVille of Poison with Spike from the Quireboys for the soundtrack for the film Son in Law

Jimmy Buffett version

"Hey, Good Lookin'"
Song

In 2004, Jimmy Buffett recorded a version for his License to Chill album. Clint Black, Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, Toby Keith and George Strait were all featured on this rendition, which peaked at #8 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs) charts in 2004. It was also the last Top Ten country hit for both Buffett and Black. This rendition was made into a music video, directed by Trey Fanjoy and Stan Kellam.

Chart positions

Chart (2004)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs	8
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	63
Canadian Country Singles Chart	2