"The Tip of My Fingers", also titled "The Tips of My Fingers", is a song written and originally recorded by American country music singer Bill Anderson. First included on his 1962 album Bill Anderson Sings Country Heart Songs, the song was a Top Ten country single for him in 1960.

"The Tip of My Fingers"
Single by Bill Anderson
from the album Bill Anderson Sings Country Heart Songs
B-side"No Man's Land"[1]
ReleasedJune 20, 1960
RecordedMarch 3, 1960
StudioBradley Studios (Nashville, Tennessee)
GenreCountry
Length2:55
LabelDecca #31092[1]
Songwriter(s)Bill Anderson
Producer(s)Owen Bradley
Bill Anderson singles chronology
"Dead or Alive"
(1959)
"The Tip of My Fingers"
(1960)
"Walk Out Backwards"
(1960)

Chart performance

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Chart (1960) Peak
position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[2] 7

Roy Clark version

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"The Tips of My Fingers"
Single by Roy Clark
from the album Roy Clark Sings The Tip of My Fingers
B-side"Spooky Movies"[3]
Released1963
Recorded1963
GenreCountry
Length2:40
LabelCapitol #4956
Songwriter(s)Bill Anderson
Producer(s)Ken Nelson[4]
Roy Clark singles chronology
"Talk About a Party"
(1962)
"The Tips of My Fingers"
(1963)
"Application for Love"
(1963)

In 1963, Roy Clark released a version from his album Roy Clark Sings The Tip of My Fingers, titled "The Tips of My Fingers". It was his first chart single, reaching number 10 on the country charts and number 45 on the pop charts.

Chart performance

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Chart (1963) Peak
position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[5] 10
US Billboard Hot 100[6] 45
Canada (CHUM Chart[7] 29

Eddy Arnold version

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"The Tip of My Fingers"
Single by Eddy Arnold
from the album Somebody Like Me
B-side"Long, Long Friendship"[8]
ReleasedJuly 23, 1966
RecordedApril 19, 1966
GenreCountry
Length3:00
LabelRCA Victor #8869
Songwriter(s)Bill Anderson
Producer(s)Chet Atkins
Eddy Arnold singles chronology
"The Last Word in Lonesome Is Me"
(1966)
"The Tip of My Fingers"
(1966)
"Somebody Like Me"
(1966)

Eddy Arnold recorded the song in 1966 on his album Somebody Like Me. It was the first single from that album, reaching number 3 on the country charts.

Chart performance

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Chart (1966) Peak
position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[9] 3
US Billboard Hot 100[10] 43
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[11] 8
Canadian RPM Top Singles[12] 57

Jean Shepard version

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"The Tip of My Fingers"
Single by Jean Shepard
from the album Poor Sweet Baby...And Ten More Bill Anderson Songs
B-side"Bright Lights and Country Music"[13]
ReleasedFebruary 22, 1975
GenreCountry
Length?
LabelUnited Artists #591
Songwriter(s)Bill Anderson
Producer(s)Larry Butler
Jean Shepard singles chronology
"Poor Sweet Baby"
(1975)
"The Tip of My Fingers"
(1975)
"I'm a Believer (In a Whole Lot of Lovin')"
(1975)

In 1975, Jean Shepard released a rendition of the song as well. Her version was included on Poor Sweet Baby (And Ten Other Bill Anderson Songs), an album comprising cover versions of Anderson's work.

Chart performance

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Chart (1975) Peak
position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[14] 16
Canadian RPM Country Playlist[15] 25

Anita Perras version

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"The Tip of My Fingers"
Single by Anita Perras
from the album Touch My Heart
Released1989
GenreCountry
Length2:48
LabelSavannah #9834
Songwriter(s)Bill Anderson
Producer(s)Mike Francis
Anita Perras singles chronology
"Hello Again"
(1989)
"The Tip of My Fingers"
(1989)
"Touch My Heart"
(1989)

Canadian country music singer Anita Perras covered the song on her 1989 album Touch My Heart. Her version was released as a single and peaked at number 9 on the RPM Country Tracks chart.

Chart performance

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Chart (1989) Peak
position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[16] 9

Year-end charts

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Chart (1989) Position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[17] 45

Steve Wariner version

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"The Tips of My Fingers"
Single by Steve Wariner
from the album I Am Ready
B-side"When Will I Let Go"[18]
ReleasedFebruary 8, 1992
GenreCountry
Length3:39
LabelArista Nashville #12393
Songwriter(s)Bill Anderson
Producer(s)Scott Hendricks
Tim DuBois
Steve Wariner singles chronology
"Leave Him Out of This"
(1991)
"The Tips of My Fingers"
(1992)
"A Woman Loves"
(1992)

The most recently charted cover version was by Steve Wariner, on his 1991 album I Am Ready. It was his twenty-fourth Top Ten country hit, also peaking at number 3. Wariner's rendition was also titled "The Tips of My Fingers". Wariner's version features backing vocals from Vince Gill.[19]

Chart performance

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Chart (1992) Peak
position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[20] 19
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[21] 3

Year-end charts

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Chart (1992) Position
US Country Songs (Billboard)[22] 54

Other recorded versions

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  • Nick Noble recorded a version of the song which was released on Coral 9-62213 in 1960.[23] It debuted on the Cash Box Top 100 Singles chart on the week ending August 6, 1960.[24] It peaked at no. 85 on the week ending August 20,[25] and held that position for another week.[26][27]
  • It was recorded by UK singer Karl Denver in 1966, however it did not chart.
  • Dean Martin recorded the song in 1970 for his album My Woman My Woman My Wife
  • Barbara Fairchild recorded it on her album Barbara Fairchild live in concert
  • UK singer Des O'Connor recorded it in 1970 where it reached number 15 in the UK singles chart.[28]

References

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  1. ^ a b Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. p. 24. ISBN 978-0-89820-177-2.
  2. ^ "Bill Anderson Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  3. ^ Whitburn, p. 94
  4. ^ "Roy Clark - The Tip Of My Fingers (Vinyl, LP, Album) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2016-09-26.
  5. ^ "Roy Clark Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  6. ^ "Roy Clark Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  7. ^ "CHUM Hit Parade - August 5, 1963".
  8. ^ Whitburn, p. 32
  9. ^ "Eddy Arnold Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  10. ^ "Eddy Arnold Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  11. ^ "Eddy Arnold Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
  12. ^ "RPM Top 100 Singles - September 12, 1966" (PDF).
  13. ^ Whitburn, p. 379
  14. ^ "Jean Shepard Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  15. ^ "RPM Country Playlist - April 12, 1975" (PDF).
  16. ^ "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 6559." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. October 23, 1989. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
  17. ^ "RPM Top 100 Country Tracks of 1989". RPM. December 23, 1989. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
  18. ^ Whitburn, p. 448
  19. ^ Smith, Lisa; Hoelzle, Cyndi (January 24, 1992). "Reviews" (PDF). Gavin Report: 16.
  20. ^ "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 2114." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. May 2, 1992. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
  21. ^ "Steve Wariner Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  22. ^ "Best of 1992: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 1992. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
  23. ^ Second Hand Songs - COVER$, The Tip of My Fingers by Nick Noble
  24. ^ Tropical Glen - CASH BOX Top 100 Singles, Week ending AUGUST 6, 1960, TW 100, LW _, 2WK _, 3WK _, WKS 1
  25. ^ Tropical Glen - CASH BOX Top 100 Singles, Week ending AUGUST 20, 1960, TW 85, LW 88, 2W 100, 3W _, WKS 3
  26. ^ TRopical Glen - CASH BOX Top 100 Singles, Week ending AUGUST 27, 1960, TW 85, LW 85, 2W 88, 3W 100, WKS 4
  27. ^ TRopical Glen - CASH BOX Top 100 Singles, Week ending SEPTEMBER 3, 1960, TW 100, LW 85, 2W 85, 3W 88, WKS 5
  28. ^ "officialcharts.com". officialcharts.com. Retrieved July 14, 2022.