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Laura (What's He Got That I Ain't Got)

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"Laura"
Song
B-sideWith the Help of the Wine[1]

"Laura (What's He Got That I Ain't Got)" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music singer Leon Ashley. Recorded in 1967 and released on his own Ashley Records label, the song became his only No. 1 single that September. Frankie Laine and Brook Benton took cover versions to the pop and Adult Contemporary charts that year, while Claude King, Marty Robbins and Kenny Rogers charted their own versions on the country charts.

Background

Ashley had previously released several singles on the Goldband and Imperial record labels, but none of his singles were successful. Then, in 1967, Ashley founded his own label, Ashley Records. That year, he recorded a song he co-wrote with his wife, Margie Singleton: "Laura (What's He Got That I Ain't Got)." Released that July, "Laura" went on to become a No. 1 smash on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart by the end of September.


Plot

The song is told from the perspective of Laura's husband, and depicts a confrontation the two are having regarding an apparently crumbling marriage.

In the first verse, the husband has Laura touch, hold and caress various parts of his body, such as his lips, ears, hair and hands. Later, he reminds her of the various things he did for her and gave her during their marriage, such as building a home, and buying fancy items such as satin pillows, dresses and curtains; he also demands that she read their names on their checks, which sit in her handbag.

Each refrain calls Laura out, saying he is aware that she is having an affair with another man. The husband demands to know "what's he got that I ain't got," bemoaning the fact that it "must be something I was born without." Just before each refrain, he warns that he has grown angry and gone crazy as a result of this affair and not knowing why she has turned to another man. In the first verse, he warns that "you took an awful chance to be with another man." The warning before the second refrain turns noticeably darker, warning of violence with the lyric "And if there's time before I pull this trigger." It is not known or stated where the barrel of the gun is targeted — at the singer himself, who may be contemplating suicide; at Laura, as a direct consequence for her infidelity; or at the "other man," should the singer have walked in on him and Laura "in flagrante delicto."

Cover versions

Following Ashley's original, the song has been covered several times. Frankie Laine and Brook Benton concurrently released their own versions of the song in September 1967. These versions debuted on the Easy Listening (now Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks) charts in the same week, and both made the lower regions of the Billboard Hot 100.

Three other country music covers charted as well. Claude King sent a version to #50 on the country singles chart in 1967 shortly after Ashley's version fell from Number One. Marty Robbins also recorded a cover version in 1973, taking it to #60 on the Hot Country Singles chart, and Kenny Rogers took his 1977 cover to #19 from his self-titled album. Other covers include Tommy Collins, Tommy Overstreet, David Houston, Hank Locklin and The Newbeats.[2]

Charts

Leon Ashley

Chart (1967) Position
U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles[1] 1
U.S. Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100[1] 20
Canadian RPM Country Tracks 7
Preceded by Billboard Hot Country Singles number one single
September 30, 1967 		Succeeded by

Frankie Laine

Chart (1967) Position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 63
U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks 23

Brook Benton

Chart (1967) Position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 78
U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks 37

Claude King

Chart (1967) Position
U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles[3] 50

Marty Robbins

Chart (1973) Position
U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles[4] 60
Canadian RPM Country Tracks 44

Kenny Rogers

Chart (1976) Position
U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles[5] 19
Canadian RPM Country Tracks 39

References

  1. ^ a b c Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. p. 33. ISBN 0-89820-177-2.
  2. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Leon Ashley biography". Allmusic. Retrieved 2009-08-07.
  3. ^ Whitburn, p. 225
  4. ^ Whitburn, p. 355
  5. ^ Whitburn, p. 360
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