Houston (song)

Last updated
"Houston"
Single by Dean Martin
from the album Houston
B-side "Bumming Around"
Released 1965
Genre Country pop
Length2:38
Label Reprise
Songwriter(s) Lee Hazlewood
Producer(s) Jimmy Bowen
Dean Martin singles chronology
"(Remember Me) I'm the One Who Loves You"
(1965)		"Houston"
(1965)		"I Will"
(1965)

"Houston" is a song written by Lee Hazlewood and first recorded in 1964 by Sanford Clark. [1] [2]

Contents

Background

The lyrics are from the perspective on a down-on-his-luck drifter who describes himself as "a walkin' case of the blues". The verses describe his many misfortunes ("I found a dollar yesterday, but the wind blew it away"), each ending with the repeated refrain "Going back to Houston, Houston, Houston ...". The mood lightens on the final verse when the narrator reveals that despite his woes, he has a girlfriend waiting for him in the titular city. However, the narrator clarifies this by saying "at least, she said she'd be". Musically, the song is orchestrated country pop with a medium tempo and strolling rhythm, with a brief harmonica solo. Sources differ as to how the distinctive percussive sound at the beginning and end of the song was created.

Dean Martin recording

"Houston" was a hit in 1965 when recorded by Dean Martin. Dean Martin's daughter, Deana Martin, has recounted her father telling her that the percussive sound was created by tapping an empty Coca-Cola bottle with a spoon, [3] while Hal Blaine once stated that he created the sound by tapping a glass ash tray with a triangle wand. [4] [5]

Chart performance

Martin's version spent 9 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at No. 21, [6] while reaching No. 2 on Billboard 's Easy Listening chart, [7] [8] and No. 11 on Canada's CHUM Hit Parade. [9]

Chart (1965)Peak
position
US Billboard Hot 10021
US Billboard Easy Listening2
Canada — CHUM Hit Parade11

Cover versions

The English post-punk group The Fall recorded a version of the song on The Real New Fall LP (Formerly Country on the Click) (2003). Apart from a harsh electronic introduction and minor changes to the lyrics, e.g., chasing a £10 note rather than a dollar, The Fall interpretation is faithful to the original's melody and basic structure.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Strangers in the Night</span> 1966 single by Frank Sinatra and covered by Charles Singleton and Eddie Snyder

"Strangers in the Night" is a song composed by Bert Kaempfert with English lyrics by Charles Singleton and Eddie Snyder. Kaempfert originally used it under the title "Beddy Bye" as part of the instrumental score for the movie A Man Could Get Killed. The song was made famous in 1966 by Frank Sinatra.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me</span> Song written and composed by Harry Noble

"Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me" is a song written by Harry Noble and originally performed by Karen Chandler in 1952. It has been re-recorded several times since then, the most notable covers being by Mel Carter in 1965 and Gloria Estefan in 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ramblin' Rose</span> 1962 single by Nat "King" Cole

"Ramblin' Rose" is a 1962 popular torch song written by brothers Noel Sherman (words) and Joe Sherman (music) and popularized by Nat King Cole. The recording by Nat King Cole reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1962.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Everybody Loves Somebody</span> 1947 song by Sam Coslow, Irving Taylor and Ken Lane; 1964 hit by Dean Martin

"Everybody Loves Somebody" is a song written in 1947 by Irving Taylor and pianist Ken Lane, and made famous by Dean Martin who recorded and released his version in 1964.

"You're Nobody till Somebody Loves You" is a popular song written by Russ Morgan, Larry Stock, and James Cavanaugh and published in 1944. The song was first recorded by Morgan and was a hit for him in 1946, reaching the No. 14 spot in the charts. The best known version was Dean Martin's, which was released in 1960 and reissued in 1964.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">To Know Him Is to Love Him</span> 1958 single by The Teddy Bears

"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.

"Ringo" is a popular song written by Don Robertson and Hal Blair. It was a hit single for Canadian-born actor Lorne Greene in 1964. It reached #1 on the U.S. Billboard charts on December 5, 1964, as well as garnering the same spot on the "Easy Listening" chart, where it retained the position for six weeks. The single also peaked at #21 on the Hot Country Singles chart. In Canada, it hit #1 on the RPM top singles chart on December 7, 1964.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Just One Look (song)</span> 1963 single by Doris Troy

"Just One Look" is a song co-written by American R&B singers Doris Troy and Gregory Carroll. The recording by Doris Troy was a hit in 1963. The Hollies, Anne Murray, Linda Ronstadt and Iain Matthews each achieved great success with the song. There have also been many other versions.

"I Will" is a song written by Dick Glasser.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roses Are Red (My Love)</span> 1962 single by Bobby Vinton

"Roses Are Red (My Love)" is a popular song composed by Al Byron and Paul Evans. It was recorded by Bobby Vinton, backed by Robert Mersey and his Orchestra, in New York City in February 1962, and released in April 1962, and the song was his first hit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Only Love Can Break a Heart</span> 1962 single by Gene Pitney

"Only Love Can Break a Heart" is a popular song from 1962, performed by the American singer-songwriter Gene Pitney. The song was written by Hal David (words) and Burt Bacharach (music) and appears on Pitney's second album Only Love Can Break a Heart.

"Old Rivers" is a country music song written by Cliff Crofford which tells the story of a man recalling a childhood friendship with an elderly farmer. The song was most famously recorded as a recitation by actor and recording artist Walter Brennan.

"The Door Is Still Open to My Heart" is a 1955 song written by Chuck Willis and originally performed by the Baltimore-based R&B vocal group, The Cardinals. In the US, the original version peaked at number four on the R&B playlist and number ten in R&B sales charts. Later in 1955, Don Cornell recorded the song and released it as the B-side to his hit, "Most of All". The Hilltoppers had a moderate hit with this song the same year.

"Return to Me" is a song with music by Carmen Lombardo and lyrics by Danny Di Minno. The song was released in 1958 by Dean Martin. Martin recorded the song again in 1961 for his album Dino: Italian Love Songs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rain Rain Go Away (Bobby Vinton song)</span> 1962 single by Bobby Vinton

"Rain Rain Go Away" is a song released by Bobby Vinton in August 1962.

"Our Winter Love" is an instrumental composition by Johnny Cowell, which was a hit single for Bill Pursell. Pursell's version was recorded in 1962, and was released as a single in January 1963.

"Somewhere There's a Someone" is a song written by Baker Knight, which was released in 1966 by Dean Martin. The song spent 8 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at No. 32, while reaching No. 2 on Billboard's Easy Listening chart. In Canada, the song reached No. 44 on the RPM 100, No. 9 on RPM's "GMP Guide", and No. 17 on the CHUM Hit Parade.

"Come Running Back" is a song written by Dick Glasser, which was released in 1966 by Dean Martin. The song spent 7 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at No. 35, while reaching No. 4 on Billboard's Easy Listening chart. In Canada, the song reached No. 74 on the RPM 100 and No. 16 on the CHUM Hit Parade.

"A Million and One" is a song written by Yvonne Devaney, which was a hit single for Billy Walker, Dean Martin, and Vic Dana in 1966.

"Nobody's Baby Again" is a song written by Baker Knight, which was released in 1966 by Dean Martin. The song spent 6 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at No. 60, while reaching No. 6 on Billboard's Easy Listening chart. In Canada, the song reached No. 48 on the RPM 100 and No. 17 on the CHUM Hit Parade.

References

  1. ↑ Erlewine, Michael (1997). All Music Guide to Country: The Experts' Guide to the Best Recordings in Country Music , Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 90. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
  2. ↑ Leszczak, Bob (2014). Who Did It First?: Great Rock and Roll Cover Songs and Their Original Artists , Rowman & Littlefield. p. 63. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
  3. ↑ Hoekstra, Dean. "Dean's daughter proves Martin is 'Forever Cool'", Chicago Sun-Times , November 25, 2007. PressReader.com. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
  4. ↑ Instrument , Chronicle Books, p. 108. October 5, 2011. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
  5. ↑ Young, Robin and Jeremy Hobson. "The musicians behind the great bands that got the credit", Here and Now , WBUR-FM, April 20, 2012. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
  6. ↑ Dean Martin — Chart History — The Hot 100, Billboard.com. Accessed August 14, 2016.
  7. ↑ Dean Martin — Chart History — Adult Contemporary, Billboard.com. Accessed August 15, 2016.
  8. ↑ "Billboard Top 40 Easy Listening", Billboard , September 18, 1965. p. 20. Accessed August 14, 2016.
  9. ↑ "CHUM Hit Parade — Week of September 20, 1965". Archived from the original on November 7, 2006. Retrieved 2016-08-15.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) Chart No. 445. CHUM.


This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.