Wedding Bells (Hank Williams song)

"Wedding Bells" is a song written by Claude Boone and recorded by Hank Williams on MGM Records. It peaked at No. 2 on the Best Selling Retail Folk chart in 1949.[3]

"Wedding Bells"
Single by Hank Williams With His Drifting Cowboys
B-side"I've Just Told Mama Goodbye"
PublishedNovember 21, 1947 (1947-11-21) Hometown Music Co., Inc.[1]
ReleasedMay 1, 1949
RecordedMarch 20, 1949[2]
StudioCastle Studio, Nashville
GenreHillbilly, Honky-tonk, Country blues
Length2:54
LabelMGM 10401
Songwriter(s)Claude Boone
Hank Williams With His Drifting Cowboys singles chronology
"Lovesick Blues"
(1949)
"Wedding Bells"
(1949)
"Mind Your Own Business"
(1949)

Background

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"Wedding Bells" was first recorded by the Knoxville radio veteran Bill Carlisle on King Records in 1947. According to the country music historian Colin Escott, Claude Boone, who played guitar for the Knoxville bluegrass star Carl Story, bought the song for 25 dollars from James Arthur Pritchett, a local musician and drunk who performed under the name "Arthur Q. Smith".[4] The song's narrator describes his despair over the love of his life marrying another man. According to Boone, Williams called it "the prettiest song he'd ever heard".[4] Williams recorded it at Castle Studio in Nashville on March 20, 1949, with Fred Rose producing and was supported by Dale Potter (fiddle), Don Davis (steel guitar), Zeb Turner (electric guitar), Jack Shook (rhythm guitar) and Velma Williams (bass[ambiguous]). "Wedding Bells" was significant because it was the first single following Williams' biggest hit, "Lovesick Blues".

The recording session for "Wedding Bells" took place after Williams' first ever flight. He telegrammed the producer Fred Rose before takeoff, "Flight 58 will arrive at 5:45. I hope."

Cover versions

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References

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  1. ^ Library of Congress. Copyright Office. (1947). Catalog of Copyright Entries 1947 Published Music Jan-Dec 3D Ser Vol 1 Pt 5A. United States Copyright Office. U.S. Govt. Print. Off.
  2. ^ "Hank Williams Sessions". jazzdiscography.com. Retrieved 2021-10-19.
  3. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 387.
  4. ^ a b Escott, Colin (2004). Hank Williams: The Biography. Back Bay. pp. 107–108. ISBN 0-316-73497-7.
  5. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. ISBN 978-0-89820-177-2.