Lonesome 7-7203

Last updated
"Lonesome 7-7203"
Single by Hawkshaw Hawkins
B-side "Everything Has Changed"
ReleasedMarch 2, 1963 [1]
Recorded1962
Genre Country
Length2:45
Label King
Songwriter(s) Justin Tubb
Producer(s) Ray Pennington
Hawkshaw Hawkins singles chronology
"Soldier's Joy"
(1959)
"Lonesome 7-7203"
(1963)

"Lonesome 7-7203" is a 1963 single by Hawkshaw Hawkins, written by Justin Tubb. It was the final single release of his career, released in 1963 on the King label.

Contents

History

"Lonesome 7-7203" was Hawkins's first chart entry since "Soldier's Joy" in 1959. It spent 25 weeks on the Billboard Hot Country Singles charts, peaking at No. 1 on the chart dated for May 4, 1963. [2]

Three days after its release, Hawkins died in an airplane crash which also killed Patsy Cline and Cowboy Copas. Two weeks after Hawkins' death, the song reached No. 1 for a four-week run. [2]

The song, a heartbreak ballad, is from a man who keeps receiving phone calls for his ex. He cannot bear the constant calls (not for him) that remind him of her so he has gotten a new phone number, which he will only reveal to her, that she can call to get back in touch with him (and presumably, resume the relationship). The song is the means that he uses to give out the new number.

In a 1997 episode of Country's Family Reunion, Hawkins' widow, Jean Shepard, explained that she had recorded the song for Capitol Records about a year before Hawkins recorded it for King; however, for unknown reasons, Capitol chose not to release it at that time. Shepard went on to say that Hawkins finally told her "If they're not going to release that Justin Tubb song, I'm gonna record it". [3]

On the same program, Justin Tubb said "I gave it to Jean (Shepard). And I still think it's a Girl's song. Because, when a Husband and Wife break up, it's usually the guy that has to leave, and the wife stays home and keeps the house and the furniture". [3]

Cover versions

Following Hawkins' version, three others charted on the country singles charts with cover versions: Burl Ives, Tony Booth and Darrell Clanton, in 1967, 1972 and 1983, respectively.

In the Netherlands and Belgium, a Dutch language version titled "Draai dan 797204" was a massive hit for Will Tura in 1964. However, it turned out that the number was an active one and its Amsterdam-based owner received thousands of calls from fans.

Chart performance

Hawkshaw Hawkins

Chart (1963)Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles1 [2]
U.S. Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 1008 [2]

Burl Ives

Chart (1967)Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles72 [4]

Tony Booth

Chart (1972)Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles16 [5]
Canadian RPM Country Tracks7 [6]

Darrell Clanton

Chart (1983-1984)Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles24 [7]
Canadian RPM Country Tracks21 [8]

Related Research Articles

"Slow Poke" is a 1951 popular song.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Act Naturally</span> 1963 single by Buck Owens and the Buckaroos

"Act Naturally" is a song written by Johnny Russell, with a writing credit given to Voni Morrison and publishing rights transferred to Buck Owens. It was originally recorded by Buck Owens and the Buckaroos, whose version reached number one on the Billboard Country Singles chart in 1963, his first chart-topper. In 2002, Shelly Fabian of About.com ranked the song number 169 on her list of the Top 500 Country Music Songs.

"Be My Life's Companion" is a popular song. It was written by Bob Hilliard (lyricist) and Milton De Lugg (composer) and published in 1951.

Harold Franklin "Hawkshaw" Hawkins was an American country music singer popular from the 1950s into the early 1960s. He was known for his rich, smooth vocals and music drawn from blues, boogie and honky tonk. At 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 m) tall, Hawkins had an imposing stage presence, and he dressed more conservatively than some other male country singers. Hawkins died in the 1963 plane crash that also killed country stars Patsy Cline and Cowboy Copas. He was a member of the Grand Ole Opry and was married to country star Jean Shepard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jean Shepard</span> American singer-songwriter

Ollie Imogene "Jean" Shepard was an American honky-tonk singer-songwriter who is often acknowledged as a pioneer for women in country music. Shepard released a total of 73 singles to the Hot Country Songs chart, one of which reached the number-one spot. She recorded a total of 24 studio albums between 1956 and 1981, and became a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 1955.

"Ruby Baby" is a song written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. It was originally recorded by the Drifters. Their version was released as a single by Atlantic Records in 1956. It peaked at No. 10 on the US Hot R&B chart.

"Young Love" is a popular song, written by Ric Cartey and Carole Joyner, and published in 1956. The original version was recorded by Ric Cartey with the Jiva-Tones on November 24, 1956. It was released in 1956 by Stars Records as catalog number 539 and one month later by RCA Records as catalog number 47-6751. Cartey's version never charted.

"Sing a Sad Song" is a song written by Wynn Stewart. It was recorded notably by Merle Haggard in 1963, whose version became his first major hit. It was later recorded by Stewart himself. In 1976, Stewart's own version became a major hit as well.

"A Dear John Letter", or "Dear John" is a popular country music song written by Billy Barton, Fuzzy Owen and Lewis Talley. It was popularized by Ferlin Husky and Jean Shepard, and was a crossover country-pop hit in 1953.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oh Lonesome Me</span> 1957 song by Don Gibson

"Oh Lonesome Me" is a popular song written and recorded in December 1957 by Don Gibson with Chet Atkins producing it for RCA Victor in Nashville. Released in 1958, the song topped the country chart for eight non-consecutive weeks. On what became the Billboard Hot 100, it peaked at No. 7. It was Gibson's only Top 10 hit on the pop chart. Its B-side was "I Can't Stop Loving You", which peaked at No. 7 on the C&W Jockey charts and became a standard song about unrequited love. The vocal backings on both songs were provided by the Jordanaires.

<i>Loretta Lynn Sings</i> 1963 studio album by Loretta Lynn

Loretta Lynn Sings is the debut studio album by American country singer-songwriter Loretta Lynn. It was released on December 9, 1963 via Decca Records and was produced by Owen Bradley. The album contained songs recorded shortly after she had signed with the Decca label. In total, four singles were released from the album. Two of these singles became major hits on the Billboard country chart. This included "Success", which became Lynn's first top ten hit. The album was received positively by critics and writers alike.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Justin Tubb</span> American singer-songwriter

Justin Wayne Tubb was an American country music singer and songwriter. Born in San Antonio, Texas, United States, he was the oldest son of country singer Ernest Tubb, known for popular songs like "Walking the Floor Over You".

"The Tip of My Fingers", also titled "The Tips of My Fingers", is a song written and originally recorded by American country music singer Bill Anderson. First included on his 1962 album Bill Anderson Sings Country Heart Songs, the song was a Top Ten country single for him in 1960.

Darrell Puckett, known professionally as Darrell Clanton, is an American country music artist. In the mid-1980s, he recorded for Audiograph and Warner Bros. Records, charting three singles on the Billboard country charts. The highest of the three was "Lonesome 7-7203," which reached No. 24 on the country charts in 1984.

"I Love You Because" is a song written and recorded by country music singer and songwriter Leon Payne in 1949. The song has been covered by several artists throughout the years, including hit cover versions by Al Martino in 1963 and Jim Reeves in 1964.

"Making Believe" is a country music song written by Jimmy Work. Kitty Wells recorded a chart-topping version in 1955. The song is on many lists of all-time greatest country music songs and has been covered by scores of artists over the past fifty years, including Thorleifs, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Don Gibson, Roy Acuff, Lefty Frizzell, Wanda Jackson, Connie Francis, Ray Charles, Anita Carter, Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, Merle Haggard, Ernest Tubb, Skeeter Davis, The Haden Triplets, Social Distortion and Volbeat. The song is occasionally called "Makin' Believe".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Wouldn't Be a Man</span>

"I Wouldn't Be a Man" is a song written by Mike Reid and Rory Bourke. Originally recorded by Don Williams, it has also been covered by Billy Dean and Josh Turner. Williams's version of the song was a Top Ten country hit in late 1987–early 1988, while versions by Dean and Turner also charted.

Ramon Daniel Pennington was an American country music singer, songwriter, and record producer. He is known for writing the song "I'm a Ramblin' Man", and for founding the independent Step One Records label.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">But It's Alright</span> 1966 single by J. J. Jackson

"But It's Alright" is a song co-written by J. J. Jackson and Pierre Tubbs that became a hit on the pop and soul charts in both 1966 and 1969.

References

  1. "Forgotten Artists: Hawkshaw Hawkins (1921-1963) - Engine 145". Engine 145. Archived from the original on 18 December 2014. Retrieved 5 March 2011.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. p. 184. ISBN   978-0-89820-177-2.
  3. 1 2 "Justin Tubb-Lonesome 7-7203". YouTube. 2008-12-14. Retrieved 2016-09-27.[ dead YouTube link ]
  4. Whitburn, pp. 200-201
  5. Whitburn, p. 56
  6. "RPM Country Tracks listing for December 2, 1972". RPM . Retrieved 27 March 2010.
  7. Whitburn, p. 94
  8. "RPM Country Tracks listing for February 4, 1984". RPM. Archived from the original on 13 October 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2010.