My Bucket's Got a Hole in It

Last updated
"My Bucket's Got a Hole in It"
Single by Hank Williams With His Drifting Cowboys
B-side "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry"
ReleasedNovember 8, 1949
RecordedAugust 30, 1949 [1]
Studio Herzog Studio, Cincinnati
Genre Honky-tonk, blues, rockabilly
Length2:30
Label MGM 10560
Songwriter(s) Clarence Williams
Hank Williams With His Drifting Cowboys singles chronology
"Mind Your Own Business"
(1949)		"My Bucket's Got a Hole in It"
(1949)		"I Just Don't Like This Kind of Living"
(1949)

"My Bucket's Got a Hole in It" is a song widely attributed to Clarence Williams, who obtained a copyright in 1933, although the melody was recorded under various names years earlier. The song became popular performed by Hank Williams for MGM and reached number 4 on the country chart in 1949. [2]

Contents

Origins

A rendering (1927) by Tom Gates and his Orchestra (on Gennett 6184) as "The Bucket's Got A Hole In It" gives writing credit to musicians Lee Blevins and Victor Sells. This version predates the C. Williams copyright. The original melody evolved from the second theme of "Long Lost Blues" published in 1914 by J. Paul Wyer and H. Alf Kelley. The "Long Lost Blues" theme was a variation of "Bucket's Got a Hole in It", a motif that appears in several versions of "Keep A-Knockin". This tune later became the basis for several versions of the song, "You Can't Come In" recorded by multiple artists. However, "Bucket's Got a Hole in It" has also been attributed to Buddy Bolden, which would date it before 1906. [3] As one critic noted, Hank Williams "could have been given this ditty to record, [but] he may have been familiar with this ditty from previous recordings or had heard it while growing up in Alabama." [4] [ self-published source ]

Tom Gates version

Tom Gates and his Orchestra performed the earliest known recording of this song on July 25, 1927 (Gennett 6198-A Champion 15307) in St. Paul, Minnesota as "The Bucket's Got a Hole in It." [5] Band members included the composers, Lee N. Blevins on trombone and Victor Sells on trumpet. Also playing were Earl Clark, Frank Cloustier (piano, musical director), Bob Gates, Tom Gates, Tracy "Pug" Mama, Nevin Simmons (alto saxophone and vocals), and Harold Stoddard. Even in this early recording, the melody had already been used by the New Orleans Rhythm Kings in their "She's Crying For Me Blues" (1925 - Victor), also by Louis Dumaine's Jazzola Eight in 1927 as "To-Wa-Bac-A-Wa-Yale Blues".[ citation needed ]

Washboard Sam version

Washboard Sam, aka Robert Brown, released a version of this song on Bluebird B-7906 known as "Bucket's Got A Hole In It." This recording was made in 1937 as one of "several historic blues recording sessions [that] took place on the top floor of the Leland Hotel located in downtown Aurora, Illinois. Lester Melrose, a freelance A&R man, and record producer, put together those recording sessions for the Bluebird label. Melrose brought together a small group of artists from St. Louis, and some of Chicago's finest blues artists of the time, and over the course of the next 20 months, recorded over 300 tracks. [6] " Featured in this series of recordings are the performers Tampa Red, Washboard Sam, Big Bill Broonzy, Walter Davis, John Lee “Sonny Boy” Williamson, Big Joe Williams, Henry Townsend, Robert Lee McCoy, Speckled Red, Merlene Johnson, Addie “Sweet Peas” Spivey, Bill “Jazz” Gillum and One Arm Slim, amongst many others. [6]

Hank Williams playing guitar in Montgomery, Alabama in 1938 HankWilliams1938-Cropped.jpg
Hank Williams playing guitar in Montgomery, Alabama in 1938

Hank Williams version

Williams likely first heard "My Bucket's Got a Hole in It" from Rufus Payne, nicknamed "Tee Tot," a black street singer who taught a young Hank to play blues guitar. [7] In the essay to the 1990 Polygram box set Hank Williams: The Original Singles Collection, Colin Escott quotes Williams in an interview with Ralph Gleason in 1952: "I was shinin' shoes and sellin' newspapers and following this old Nigrah around to get him to teach me how to play the git-tar. I'd give him 15 cents or whatever I could get ahold of for a lesson." Understandably, producer Fred Rose was wary of the song's commercial potential; as country music historian Escott notes, "Fred Rose's opposition to the song had a lot to do with the fact that it mentioned beer, and probably had something to do with the fact that Acuff-Rose didn't publish it." In addition, Williams originally had a couplet mentioning a Ford automobile ("Me an' my baby, we got a Ford/Now we change the gears from the running board") and Rose demanded that, if Williams did record it, the reference be dropped because if Hank endorsed Ford, "then deejays sponsored by GM, Chrysler, and Studebaker wouldn't spin his record." [8] Williams recorded the song on August 30, 1949, at Herzog Studio in Cincinnati, Ohio, (the same session that produced the B-side "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry"). He is backed by members of the Pleasant Valley Boys — Zeke Turner (lead guitar), Jerry Byrd (steel guitar), and Louis Innis (rhythm guitar) — as well as Tommy Jackson (fiddle) and Ernie Newton (bass). [9]

Gnome-mime-sound-openclipart.svg
"My Bucket's Got a Hole in It" (Hank Williams version)
Hank Williams' 1949 recording of the song
Problems playing this file? See media help.

The song is significant for featuring the only guitar solo Williams ever recorded:

"Hank came into the studio with the guitar solo already worked out. He played it twice as he demo'd it for the band, then reprised it on the record, and while it didn't break new ground, it was loose and swinging and wonderfully bluesy. The entire record had a compelling swing that showed just how deeply Hank was immersed in black music." [8]

The blues influence is evident in other Williams songs, such as "Move It on Over," "Mind Your Own Business," and "Honky Tonk Blues," but "My Bucket's Got a Hole in It" remains the song that displays the influence most prominently.

Other versions

"My Bucket's Got a Hole in It"
Single by Ricky Nelson
B-side "Believe What You Say"
ReleasedMarch 10, 1958
Genre Rock and roll
Length2:00
Label Imperial Records 5503
Songwriter(s) Clarence Williams
Ricky Nelson singles chronology
"Stood Up"
(1957)		"My Bucket's Got a Hole in It"
(1958)		"Poor Little Fool"
(1958)

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clarence Williams (musician)</span> American jazz pianist, composer, producer, and publisher

Clarence Williams was an American jazz pianist, composer, promoter, vocalist, theatrical producer, and publisher.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hank Williams</span> American singer, songwriter, and musician (1923–1953)

HiramKing "Hank" Williams was an American singer-songwriter. He is regarded as one of the most significant and influential American singers and songwriters of the 20th century. Williams recorded 55 singles that reached the top 10 of the Billboard Country & Western Best Sellers chart, five of which were released posthumously, and 12 of which reached No.1.

"Jambalaya (On the Bayou)" is a song written and recorded by American country music singer Hank Williams that was first released in July 1952. It is Williams' most recorded song. Named for a Creole and Cajun dish, jambalaya, it spawned numerous recordings and has since achieved popularity in several different music genres.

"Half as Much" is an American pop standard song written by Curley Williams in 1951. It was recorded by country music singer Hank Williams in 1952 and reached number two on the Billboard Country Singles chart.

"Cold, Cold Heart" is a country music and pop song written and first recorded by Hank Williams. This blues ballad is both a classic of honky-tonk and an entry in the Great American Songbook.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hey, Good Lookin' (song)</span> 1951 song written and recorded by Hank Williams

"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. In 2003, CMT voted the Hank Williams version No. 19 on CMT's 100 Greatest Songs of Country Music. Since its original 1951 recording it has been covered by a variety of artists.

"I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" is a song written and recorded by American country music singer-songwriter Hank Williams in 1949. The song has been covered by a wide range of musicians.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lovesick Blues</span> 1949 single by Hank Williams

"Lovesick Blues" is a Tin Pan Alley song, composed by Cliff Friend, with lyrics by Irving Mills. It first appeared in the 1922 musical "Oh, Ernest", and was recorded that year by Elsie Clark and Jack Shea. Emmett Miller recorded it in 1925 and 1928, followed by country music singer Rex Griffin in 1939. The recordings by Griffin and Miller inspired Hank Williams to perform the song during his first appearances on the Louisiana Hayride radio show in 1948. Receiving an enthusiastic reception from the audience, Williams decided to record his own version despite initial push back from his producer Fred Rose and his band.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kaw-Liga</span> 1952 song by Hank Williams and Fred Rose

"Kaw-Liga" is a country music song written by Hank Williams and Fred Rose.

"Ramblin' Man" is a song written in 1951 by Hank Williams. It was released as the B-side to the 1953 number one hit "Take These Chains from My Heart", as well as to the 1976 re-release of "Why Don't You Love Me". It is also included on the 40 Greatest Hits, a staple of his CD re-released material.

"Honky Tonk Blues" was a hit country and western song written and performed by Hank Williams. The original 1952 recording was a major hit, and it later became a hit for Charley Pride.

"You Win Again" is a 1952 song by Hank Williams. In style, the song is a blues ballad and deals with the singer's despair with his partner. The song has been widely covered, including versions by Ray Charles, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison, the Grateful Dead, Charley Pride, Bob Dylan, and the Rolling Stones.

"Honky Tonkin'" is a 1947 country music song, written and recorded by Hank Williams. His song went to #14 on the Billboard country music chart in 1948. In 1982, it became the sixth chart topping single for Williams' son, Hank Williams Jr.

"Mind Your Own Business" is a 1949 song written and originally performed by Hank Williams.

"Lost Highway" is a country music song written and recorded by blind country singer-songwriter Leon Payne in 1948. It was released in October 1948 on Nashville-based Bullet label.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Can't Help It (If I'm Still in Love with You)</span> 1951 single by Hank Williams with His Drifting Cowboys

"I Can't Help It (If I'm Still in Love with You)" is a song written and originally recorded by Hank Williams on MGM Records. It hit number two on the Billboard country singles chart in 1951. In his autobiography, George Jones printed the first six lines of the song and stated, "Its lyrics couldn't be more simple - or profound."

"Wedding Bells" is a song written by Claude Boone and recorded by Hank Williams on MGM Records. It peaked at No. 2 on the Best Selling Retail Folk chart in 1949.

"My Son Calls Another Man Daddy" is a song written by Jewell House and made famous by country star Hank Williams, who released the song in 1950.

<i>Moanin the Blues</i> (album) 1952 album by Hank Williams

Moanin' the Blues is the second album by American country musician Hank Williams, released on MGM Records in 1952.

"Beyond the Sunset" is a song written by Blanche Kerr Brock, Virgil P. Brock, and Albert Kennedy Rowswell. It was released as a single by Hank Williams under the pseudonym Luke the Drifter in 1950.

References

  1. ↑ "Hank Williams 45rpm Issues". Hankwilliamsdiscography.com. Retrieved 2021-08-19.
  2. ↑ "My Bucket's Got a Hole in It : Hank Williams : Chart positions". Musicvf.com. Retrieved 2016-07-27.
  3. ↑ "Joop's Musical Flowers: You Can't Come In ..." Jopiepopie.blogspot.com. 2014-10-12. Retrieved 2014-10-12.
  4. ↑ Bratkovich, Colin (2014). Just Remember This. Xlibris Xorporation. p. 690. ISBN   9781483645179.
  5. ↑ "Tom Gates and his Orchestra". Redhotjazz.com. 2014-10-12. Retrieved 2014-10-12.
  6. 1 2 "The Leland Bluebird Sessions". Thelelandbluebirdsessions.stevesalmostfamous.com. 12 November 2014. Retrieved 2014-11-12.
  7. ↑ David Brackett (2000-10-25). Interpreting Popular Music: With a new preface by the author. University of California Press. p. 98. ISBN   9780520925700 . Retrieved 2016-07-27.
  8. 1 2 Escott, Merritt & MacEwen 2004, p. 126.
  9. ↑ Escott, Merritt & MacEwen 2004, p. 332.
  10. ↑ "My Bucket's Got a Hole in It : T. Texas Tyler : Chart positions". Musicvf.com. Retrieved 2016-07-27.
  11. ↑ "Sonny Burgess - My Bucket's Got A Hole In It / Sweet Misery - Sun - USA - 285". 45cat.com. Retrieved 2016-07-27.
  12. ↑ "Ken Colyer's Jazzmen - Wabash Blues / My Bucket's Got A Hole In It - Tempo - UK - A 126". 45cat.com. Retrieved 2016-07-27.
  13. ↑ "My Bucket's Got a Hole in It : Ricky Nelson : Chart positions". Musicvf.com. Retrieved 2016-07-27.
  14. ↑ "Country Meets the Blues - Ramsey Lewis | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic . Retrieved 2016-07-27.
  15. ↑ "Bob Dylan - The Basement Tapes Complete: The Bootleg Series Vol. 11 - Amazon.com Music". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2016-07-27.
  16. ↑ "Chris Spedding - My Bucket's Got A Hole In It / I Can't Boogie - Island - UK - WIP 6225". 45cat.com. Retrieved 2016-07-27.
  17. ↑ William Ruhlmann. "La Booga Rooga - Andy Fairweather Low | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic . Retrieved 2017-03-03.
  18. ↑ Stephen Thomas Erlewine (2001-10-16). "Good Rockin' Tonight: The Legacy of Sun Records - Various Artists | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic . Retrieved 2016-07-27.
  19. ↑ Thom Jurek (2006-03-07). "Pay the Devil - Van Morrison | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic . Retrieved 2016-07-27.
  20. ↑ Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "Two Men with the Blues - Willie Nelson,Wynton Marsalis | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic . Retrieved 2016-07-27.

Sources

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.