Lonesome 7-7203
| "Lonesome 7-7203" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Hawkshaw Hawkins | ||||
| B-side | "Everything Has Changed" | |||
| Released | March 2, 1963[1] | |||
| Format | 7" | |||
| Recorded | 1962 | |||
| Genre | Country | |||
| Length | 2:45 | |||
| Label | King | |||
| Writer(s) | Justin Tubb | |||
| Producer(s) | Ray Pennington | |||
| Hawkshaw Hawkins singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"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.
History
"Lonesome 7-7203" was Hawkins's first chart entry since "Soldier's Joy" in 1959. It spent twenty-five 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 can't 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, Jean Shepard, who is Hawkins' widow, explained that she had recorded the song for Capitol Records about a year before Hawkins recorded it for King; however, for some unknown reason, 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.
Chart performance
Hawkshaw Hawkins
| Chart (1963) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 1[2] |
| U.S. Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 | 8[2] |
| Preceded by "Still" by Bill Anderson "Still" by Bill Anderson "Act Naturally" by Buck Owens |
Billboard Hot Country Singles number-one single May 4, 1963 June 1-June 8, 1963 June 22, 1963 |
Succeeded by "Still" by Bill Anderson "Act Naturally" by Buck Owens "Act Naturally" by Buck Owens |
Burl Ives
| Chart (1967) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 72[4] |
Tony Booth
| Chart (1972) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 16[5] |
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 7[6] |
Darrell Clanton
| Chart (1983-1984) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 24[7] |
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 21[8] |
References
- ↑ "Forgotten Artists: Hawkshaw Hawkins (1921-1963) - Engine 145". Engine 145. Retrieved 5 March 2011.
- 1 2 3 4 Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. p. 184. ISBN 0-89820-177-2.
- 1 2 "Justin Tubb-Lonesome 7-7203". YouTube. 2008-12-14. Retrieved 2016-09-27.
- ↑ Whitburn, pp. 200-201
- ↑ Whitburn, p. 56
- ↑ "RPM Country Tracks listing for December 2, 1972". RPM. Retrieved 27 March 2010.
- ↑ Whitburn, p. 94
- ↑ "RPM Country Tracks listing for February 4, 1984". RPM. Retrieved 25 March 2010.