A Week in a Country Jail

Last updated
"A Week in a Country Jail"
Single by Tom T. Hall
from the album Homecoming
B-side "Flat Footin'-It"
ReleasedNovember 24, 1969
RecordedMarch 4, 1969
Columbia Studio, Nashville, Tennessee
Genre Country
Length3:00
Label Mercury 72998
Songwriter(s) Tom T. Hall
Producer(s) Jerry Kennedy
Tom T. Hall singles chronology
"Homecoming"
(1969)
"A Week in a Country Jail"
(1969)
"Shoeshine Man"
(1969)

"A Week in a Country Jail" is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Tom T. Hall. It was released in November 1969 as the third and final single from his 1969 studio album Homecoming. The song was Hall's fifth release to reach the U.S. country singles chart and the first of seven number-ones. "A Week in a Country Jail" stayed at the top for two weeks and spent a total of thirteen weeks on the chart. [1]

Contents

Content

The song begins with the protagonist being arrested for speeding while standing on red at traffic lights. He spends the night in a jail cell, being served hot bologna, eggs and gravy and, during his prolonged stay, becomes interested in the jailer's wife. After seven days, the inmate is finally lectured on traffic laws by the judge who takes "every nickel he had" and releases him.

Chart performance

Chart (1969–1970)Peak
position
US Hot Country Songs ( Billboard ) [2] 1
Canadian RPM Country Tracks32

Related Research Articles

I Heard It Through the Grapevine 1966 song written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong

"I Heard It Through the Grapevine" is a song written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong for Motown Records in 1966. The first recording of the song to be released was produced by Whitfield for Gladys Knight & the Pips and released as a single in September 1967. It went to number one on the Billboard R&B Singles chart and number two on the Billboard Pop Singles chart and shortly became the biggest selling Motown single to date.

Juan Raoul Davis "Johnny" Rodriguez is an American country music singer. He is a Tejano and Texas country music singer, infusing his music with Latin sounds, and even singing verses of songs in Spanish.

Life Is a Highway 1991 single by Tom Cochrane

"Life Is a Highway" is a song by Canadian musician Tom Cochrane from his second studio album, Mad Mad World (1991). The song became a number-one hit in Cochrane's native Canada in late 1991. "Life Is a Highway" also peaked at number six on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in August 1992 and reached the top three in Australia and New Zealand the same year. The song was covered by Chris LeDoux for his 1998 album One Road Man and Rascal Flatts for the Cars soundtrack.

Harper Valley PTA 1968 single by Jeannie C. Riley

"Harper Valley P.T.A." is a country song written by Tom T. Hall which in 1968 became a major international hit single for country singer Jeannie C. Riley. Riley's record, her debut, sold over six million copies as a single, and it made her the first woman to top both the Billboard Hot 100 and the U.S. Hot Country Singles charts with the same song, a feat that would not be repeated until Dolly Parton's "9 to 5" 13 years later in 1981. It was also Riley's only Top 40 pop hit.

I Cant Stop Loving You 1957 song by Don Gibson

"I Can't Stop Loving You" is a popular song written and composed by country singer, songwriter, and musician Don Gibson, who first recorded it on December 30, 1957, for RCA Victor Records. It was released in 1958 as the B-side of "Oh, Lonesome Me", becoming a double-sided country hit single. At the time of Gibson's death in 2003, the song had been recorded by more than 700 artists, most notably by Ray Charles, whose recording reached No. 1 on the Billboard chart.

Three Times a Lady 1978 single by Commodores

"Three Times a Lady" is a 1978 song by American soul group the Commodores for their album Natural High, written by lead singer Lionel Richie. It was produced by James Anthony Carmichael and the Commodores.

Let It Be Me (The Everly Brothers song)

"Let It Be Me" is a popular song originally published in French in 1955 as "Je t'appartiens" interpreted by Gilbert Bécaud. It became popular worldwide with an English version by the Everly Brothers and later with the duet by Betty Everett and Jerry Butler.

"To Know Him Is to Love Him" is a song written by Phil Spector, inspired by words on his father's tombstone, "To Know Him Was to Love Him." It was first recorded by the only vocal group of which he was a member, the Teddy Bears. Their recording spent three weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1958, while reaching No. 2 on the UK's New Musical Express chart. Peter & Gordon and Bobby Vinton later had hits with the song, with its title and lyrics changed to "To Know You Is to Love You". In 1987, the song was resurrected by Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, and Emmylou Harris, whose Trio recording topped the U.S. country singles chart. The song is in 12/8 time. The tune is essentially a slowed-down version of the 1926 hit "When the Red, Red Robin ".

Im Moving On (Hank Snow song) Country standard written by Hank Snow

"I'm Moving On" is a 1950 country standard written by Hank Snow. It is Snow's most recorded song.

Little Bitty 1996 single by Alan Jackson

"Little Bitty" is a song recorded by American country music artist Alan Jackson. It was released in October 1996 as the lead-off single to Jackson's fifth studio album Everything I Love. The song reached the top of the U.S. Billboard country music charts in December of that year, becoming his fourteenth Number One on that chart. It also reached number-one on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks and peaked at number 58 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, making it a minor crossover hit.

Its Now or Never (song)

"It's Now or Never" is a song recorded by Elvis Presley and released as a single in 1960.

Any Day Now (Burt Bacharach song)

"Any Day Now" is a popular song written by Burt Bacharach and Bob Hilliard in 1962. It has been recorded by numerous artists over the years, including notable versions by Chuck Jackson in 1962, Alan Price in 1965, Elvis Presley in 1969, and Ronnie Milsap in 1982. The lyrics of this song predict the eventual demise of a romantic relationship the lyricist is in with an unnamed person whom the lyricist believes will get away one day and leave the lyricist with feelings of sadness and emptiness for the rest of his/her life.

Dont Take Your Guns to Town 1958 single by Johnny Cash

"Don't Take Your Guns to Town" is a song written and recorded by American singer Johnny Cash. It was released in December 1958 as the first single from the album The Fabulous Johnny Cash.

She Thinks I Still Care

"She Thinks I Still Care" is a country song written by Dickey Lee and Steve Duffy. The song was recorded by multiple artists, including George Jones, Connie Francis, Anne Murray, Elvis Presley and Patty Loveless.

"The Door" is a song written by Billy Sherrill and Norro Wilson, and recorded by American country music artist George Jones. It was released in October 1974 as the first single from the album The Best of George Jones. "The Door" was George Jones' sixth number one on the country chart as a solo artist. The single stayed a single week at number one and would spend a total of ten weeks on the country chart.

"I Care" is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Tom T. Hall. It was released in December 1974 as the only single from the album, Songs of Fox Hollow. "I Care" was Hall's sixth number one on the U.S. country singles chart. The single had a one-week stay at number one and remained on the chart for a total of ten weeks.

"Lady Lay Down' is a song written by Rafe Van Hoy and Don Cook, and recorded by American country music artist John Conlee. It was released in October 1978 as the second single from the album Rose Colored Glasses. The song was Conlee's second country hit and his first of seven number ones on the country chart. The single stayed at number one for one week.

Here We Go Again (Ray Charles song) 1967 song by Ray Charles

"Here We Go Again" is a country music standard written by Don Lanier and Red Steagall that first became notable as a rhythm and blues single by Ray Charles from his 1967 album Ray Charles Invites You to Listen. It was record producer by Joe Adams for ABC Records/Tangerine Records. To date, this version of the song has been the biggest commercial success, spending twelve consecutive weeks on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at number 15.

"That's How I Got to Memphis" is a country music standard written by Tom T. Hall. The song tells a man's story of coming to Memphis to look for a former lover who probably does not want to be found. The song first appeared on Hall's 1969 album Ballad of Forty Dollars & His Other Great Songs. It has been widely covered, most notably by Bobby Bare in 1970, Deryl Dodd in 1996, and Charley Crockett in 2018.

"Jail" is a song by American rapper Kanye West from his tenth studio album, Donda (2021). The song includes a guest verse by rapper Jay-Z. Towards the end of the album, another version of the song titled "Jail pt 2" appears, which includes vocals from rapper DaBaby and singer Marilyn Manson.

References

  1. Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 149.
  2. "Tom T. Hall Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.