Saturday, March 09, 2013

Record #0292: Sixteen Tons / You Don’t Have To Be a Baby To Cry – TENNESSEE ERNIE FORD



Capitol F3262 (original) USA, Oct. 1955
Words & Music by:  Side AMerleTravis; Side BBob Merrill, Terry Shand
Musicians: Ernie Ford (vocals), Bobby Gibbons (guitar), Rolly Bundock (bass), Roy Harte (drums), Charlie Parlato (trumpet), George Burns (trombone), Red Mandel (clarinet), Darol Rice (bass clarinet)
Recording sessions: Capitol Recording Studio, Hollywood, CA, Sep. 20, 1955
Highest chart positions:  US #1, US Country #1, UK #1

This was definitely Ford’s peak of success and a huge hit. “Sixteen Tons” held US Country #1 position for ten weeks before crossing over to the pop charts and holding US #1 for eight weeks.

The original was recorded by Merle Travis in 1946.

List price:  Very Good+ is $7.50, Near Mint is $15

No comments:

Post a Comment