"Big Wheel Cannonball" (sometimes rendered as Big Wheel Cannon Ball) is a song written by Vaughn Horton. It follows the same melody as "Wabash Cannonball" by The Carter Family, but its lyrics eulogise trucks and truckers rather than trains.
"Big Wheel Cannonball" | ||||
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Single by Dick Curless | ||||
from the album Hard, Hard Traveling Man | ||||
B-side | "I Miss a Lot of Trains" | |||
Released | March 1970 | |||
Genre | Country | |||
Length | 2:28 | |||
Label | Capitol 2780 | |||
Songwriter(s) | Vaughn Horton | |||
Producer(s) | George Richey | |||
Dick Curless singles chronology | ||||
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It was originally released in 1967 by veteran Canadian singer Dick Todd, backed by the Appalachian Wildcats, on the small Peer-Southern Records label; this was shortly afterwards re-released on a national basis by Decca, and the Decca release rose to number 52 on the Billboard US Country charts, making it Todd's final chart entry.
In 1970, a cover version by American country singer Dick Curless was released. This version charted higher than Todd's original on Billboard, and also made the Canadian country charts.
Lawton Williams released a further cover in 1971 on his album Between Truck Stops.
Chart performance (Curless's version)
editChart (1970) | Peak position |
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U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 27 |
Cash Box | 30 |
Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 18 |