Put It Off Until Tomorrow

Last updated
"Put It Off Until Tomorrow"
Single by Bill Phillips
from the album Put It Off Until Tomorrow
B-side "Lonely Lonely Boy"
ReleasedJanuary 1966
Genre Country
Length2:30
Label Decca
Songwriter(s)

"Put It Off Until Tomorrow" is a song written by Dolly Parton and Bill Owens, and first recorded by American country music artist Bill Phillips. It was released in January 1966, and Phillips released an album of the same name later that year. The song became his biggest hit, peaking at number 6 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. [1] Parton provided uncredited harmony vocals on the single. The song has been covered by numerous artists, and became a top ten hit for The Kendalls in 1980.

Contents

Background and recording

Dolly Parton and her uncle Bill Owens were signed to Combine Publishing House and to Monument Records in 1965, before Parton had turned 20. [2] "Put It Off Until Tomorrow" was one of the songs they wrote during their frequent trips between Nashville and their home in East Tennessee. They recorded a demo of the song with Owens singing lead and Parton singing the harmony, which they sent to Bill Phillips, a recording artist with Decca Records who had had a few charting singles at that time. Phillips agreed to record the song, and said "Whoever that girl is singing the harmony, I want her on this record." [3] The song received a 1966 Country Music award from BMI. [4]

Although Parton's harmony was uncredited, it generated widespread interest in her singing and songwriting among country radio listeners. [5] Monument Records owner Fred Foster was marketing Parton as a pop act, concerned that her voice was too high for country music. After the success of "Put It Off Until Tomorrow", Foster was convinced that Parton could succeed in country music, and her first country single, "Dumb Blonde", was released the following year, [6] peaking at number 24 on the Billboard country chart. [7]

Parton has recorded the song several times, first on her debut album, Hello, I'm Dolly , released in 1967 on Monument Records. She also recorded a version with Porter Wagoner for their first album as a duo, Just Between You and Me , released in 1968. A duet with Kris Kristofferson was included on the 1982 compilation album The Winning Hand . "Put It Off Until Tomorrow" was also included on Honky Tonk Angels , a 1993 collaborative album with Parton, Loretta Lynn, and Tammy Wynette.

Charts

Chart (1966)Peak
position
US Hot Country Songs ( Billboard ) [1] 6

The Kendalls version

"Put It Off Until Tomorrow"
Single by The Kendalls
from the album Heart of the Matter
B-side "Gone Away"
Released1980
Genre Country
Length2:40
Label Ovation
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Brien Fisher
The Kendalls singles chronology
"I'm Already Blue"
(1980)
"Put It Off Until Tomorrow"
(1980)
"Heart of the Matter"
(1981)

"Put It Off Until Tomorrow" was covered by American country duo, the Kendalls, for the album Heart of the Matter, released in 1979. The song reached number 9 on the Billboard country chart on August 16, 1980, [8] and number 5 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks chart. [9] The song was later included on the album The Best of the Kendalls, released in 1981 on Ovation records. [10]

Charts

Chart (1980)Peak
position
US Hot Country Songs ( Billboard ) [8] 9
Canadian RPM Country Tracks [9] 5

Other notable covers

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Loretta Lynn</span> American singer-songwriter (1932–2022)

Loretta Lynn was an American country music singer and songwriter. In a career spanning six decades, Lynn released multiple gold albums. She had numerous hits such as: "Hey Loretta", "The Pill", "Blue Kentucky Girl", "Love Is the Foundation", "You're Lookin' at Country", "You Ain't Woman Enough", "I'm a Honky Tonk Girl", "Don't Come Home A-Drinkin' ", "One's on the Way", "Fist City", and "Coal Miner's Daughter". The 1980 musical film Coal Miner's Daughter was based on her life.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Islands in the Stream (song)</span> 1983 song by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton

"Islands in the Stream" is a song written by the Bee Gees and recorded by American country music artists Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton. Named after an Ernest Hemingway novel, it was released in August 1983 as the first single from Rogers's album Eyes That See in the Dark. The song was originally written for Diana Ross in an R&B style but later reworked for the duet by Rogers and Parton. The Bee Gees released a live version of the song in 1998 and a studio version in 2001.

<i>Trio</i> (1987 album) 1987 studio album by Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, and Emmylou Harris

Trio is a collaborative album by American singers Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, and Emmylou Harris. It was released on March 2, 1987, by Warner Bros. Records. The album has platinum certification in the U.S. for sales of one million copies, and has total worldwide sales of approximately four million. A second collaborative album, Trio II, was released in 1999.

"I Really Don't Want to Know" is a popular song written by Don Robertson (music) Howard Barnes (lyrics). The song was published in 1953.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coal Miner's Daughter (song)</span> 1970 single by Loretta Lynn

"Coal Miner's Daughter" is a song written and recorded by American singer-songwriter Loretta Lynn. Considered Lynn's signature song, it was originally released as a single in 1970 and became a number one hit on the Billboard country chart. It was later released on an album of the same name. Produced by Owen Bradley, the song tells the story of Lynn's coal-mining father in rural Kentucky during the Great Depression. Lynn, who was born in 1932 and experienced the Great Depression as a child, also describes her childhood and the circumstances she was raised in during those years.

<i>Heartbreaker</i> (Dolly Parton album) 1978 studio album by Dolly Parton

Heartbreaker is the twentieth solo studio album by American singer-songwriter Dolly Parton. It was released on July 17, 1978, by RCA Victor. The album was produced by Gary Klein and Parton with Charles Koppelman serving as executive producer, and was an even more direct aim at the pop charts, with several of its songs verging on disco. The album topped the Billboard Top Country Albums chart for nine consecutive weeks and peaked at number 27 on the Billboard 200. The album produced two number one hits on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, "Heartbreaker" and "I Really Got the Feeling", while "Baby I'm Burnin'" peaked at number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album has been certified Gold in the United States and Canada.

<i>All I Can Do</i> (album) 1976 studio album by Dolly Parton

All I Can Do is the seventeenth solo studio album by American singer-songwriter Dolly Parton. It was released on August 16, 1976, by RCA Victor. The album was co-produced by Parton and Porter Wagoner and would be the last of Parton's solo albums to have any involvement from Wagoner. It was nominated for Best Country Vocal Performance, Female at the 19th Annual Grammy Awards. The album spawned three singles: "Hey, Lucky Lady", "All I Can Do", and "Shattered Image".

<i>Hello, Im Dolly</i> 1967 studio album by Dolly Parton

Hello, I'm Dolly is the debut studio album by American singer-songwriter Dolly Parton. It was released on September 18, 1967, by Monument Records. The album was produced by Fred Foster. It peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. The album spawned two top 40 hits, "Dumb Blonde" and "Something Fishy", which peaked at numbers 24 and 17, respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Here You Come Again (song)</span> 1977 single by Dolly Parton

"Here You Come Again" is a song written by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, and recorded by American entertainer Dolly Parton. It was released as a single in September 1977 as the title track from Parton's album of the same name, topped the U.S. country singles chart for five weeks, and won the 1978 Grammy award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance; it also reached number three on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, representing Parton's first significant pop crossover hit.

<i>Honky Tonk Angels</i> 1993 studio album by Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn and Tammy Wynette

Honky Tonk Angels is a collaborative studio album by Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn and Tammy Wynette. It was released on November 2, 1993, by Columbia Records. The album was certified Gold by the RIAA on January 5, 1994, for sales of 500,000 copies.

"I Forgot More Than You'll Ever Know" is a song, written by Cecil Null.

"Silver Threads and Golden Needles" is a country song written by Dick Reynolds and Jack Rhodes. It was first recorded by Wanda Jackson in 1956. The original lyrics, as performed by Jackson, contain a verse not usually included in later versions, which also often differed in other minor details.

<i>You Aint Woman Enough</i> 1966 studio album by Loretta Lynn

You Ain't Woman Enough is the seventh solo studio album by American country music singer-songwriter Loretta Lynn. It was released on September 12, 1966, by Decca Records. It was Lynn's first No. 1 album on the US Billboard Hot Country Albums chart, as well as her first album to chart on the Billboard Top LPs chart.

"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">Dolly Parton albums discography</span>

The albums discography of American country singer-songwriter Dolly Parton includes 48 studio albums, four collaborative albums, nine live albums, six soundtrack albums, one extended play and approximately 222 compilation albums globally. Popularly referred as the "Queen of Country" by the media, she is also widely recognized as the most honored woman in country music history. She has charted 25 Number One songs, 41 Top 10 country albums and has sold more than 100 million records worldwide, making her one of the best selling female country artist in history. As of January 2022, Parton's catalog has amassed more than 3 billion global streams.

"Fuel to the Flame" is a song written by Dolly Parton and her uncle, Bill Owens. It was recorded and released as a single in 1967 by American country artist, Skeeter Davis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Loretta Lynn singles discography</span> Single discography of American singer-songwriter Loretta Lynn

American country artist Loretta Lynn released 86 singles, two B-sides and 14 music videos. Her debut single was "I'm a Honky Tonk Girl" (1960) via Zero Records. Promoting the song with her husband by driving to each radio station, the effort paid off when it peaked at number fourteen on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. Arriving in Nashville, Tennessee, that year, she signed a recording contract with Decca Records. In 1962, "Success" reached the sixth position on the country songs chart, starting a series of top ten hits including "Wine Women and Song" and "Blue Kentucky Girl". She began collaborating with Ernest Tubb in 1964 and recorded four hit singles with him, including "Mr. and Mrs. Used to Be". Lynn's popularity greatly increased in 1966 when she began releasing her own compositions as singles. Among the first was "You Ain't Woman Enough " which reached the second position on the country songs list. She then reached the number one spot with "Don't Come Home A-Drinkin' " (1967). This was followed by "Fist City" (1968) and "Woman of the World " (1969).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Loretta Lynn albums discography</span> Album discography of American singer-songwriter Loretta Lynn

The discography of American country music singer-songwriter Loretta Lynn includes 50 studio albums, 36 compilation albums, two live albums, seven video albums, two box sets and 27 additional album appearances. Briefly recording with the Zero label, she signed an official recording contract with Decca Records in 1961, remaining there for over 20 years The first under the label was her debut studio album Loretta Lynn Sings (1963). It peaked at number two on the Billboard Top Country Albums survey. Lynn would issue several albums a year with her growing success, including a duet album with Ernest Tubb (1965), a gospel album (1965), and a holiday album (1966). Her seventh studio album You Ain't Woman Enough (1966) was her first release to top the country albums chart and to chart within the Billboard 200. Other albums to reach number one during this period were Don't Come Home a Drinkin' (1967) and Fist City. Don't Come A'Drinkin would also become Lynn's first album to certify gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wouldn't It Be Great (song)</span>

"Wouldn't It Be Great" is a song written and first recorded by American country artist Loretta Lynn. It was originally released as a single in 1985, becoming a minor hit on the national country charts following its release. It was then released on Lynn's 1985 album. In 2018, it was re-recorded and re-released as a single, becoming the title track for her 2018 studio album.

William Earl "Bill" Owens was an American country music songwriter. He was the uncle of Dolly Parton. Over the course of his career, he wrote or co-wrote more than 800 songs, including “Put It Off Until Tomorrow," which he co-wrote with Parton. The song won the 1966 BMI Song of the Year award.

References

  1. 1 2 Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 267.
  2. "Special Presentation: Dolly Parton Timeline". Library of Congress. April 8, 2010. Retrieved March 5, 2023.
  3. Parton, Dolly; Oermann, Robert K. (2020). Songteller: My Life in Lyrics. Chronical Books. p. 50.
  4. "2003 BMI Country Music Awards: Dolly Parton bio". November 3, 2003. Retrieved March 5, 2023.
  5. "Dolly Parton Discography". Library of Congress. April 8, 2010. Retrieved March 5, 2023.
  6. West, Lacey (December 4, 2022). ""19-Year-Old Dolly Parton Was Originally Pitched As A Bubblegum Pop Singer, But Wrote Her Way Into Country"". Whiskey Riff. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
  7. Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 260.
  8. 1 2 Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 187.
  9. 1 2 Item: 236 - Library and Archives Canada (bac-lac.gc.ca)
  10. "The Best of the Kendalls". AllMusic . Retrieved March 6, 2023.
  11. "Loretta Lynn Chart History - Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  12. "Cashbox – September 24, 1966" (PDF). Cashbox. Retrieved 6 March 2023 via American Radio History.
  13. "I'll Take the Dog". Allmusic . Retrieved March 6, 2023.
  14. "Ru-beeeee". AllMusic . Retrieved March 6, 2023.
  15. "Sweet Temptation". AllMusic . Retrieved March 6, 2023.