Heartaches by the Number

"Heartaches by the Number"
Single by Guy Mitchell
Released 1959
Genre Pop
Length 2:35
Writer(s) Harlan Howard
Guy Mitchell singles chronology
"Call Rosie On the Phone"
(1957)
"Heartaches by the Number"
(1959)
"The Same Old Me"
(1960)

"Heartaches by the Number" is a popular and country song written by Harlan Howard and published in 1959.

The biggest hit version was recorded by Guy Mitchell on August 24, 1959. It reached the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 for the weeks of December 14 and December 21, 1959.[1] The recording was released by Columbia Records as catalog number 41476. His recording of the song is featured in the videogame Fallout: New Vegas.[2]

Earlier in the year, the song also made the country music charts in a version by Ray Price (Columbia 41374).[3] Price's version reached number two and spent 40 weeks on the Billboard Hot C&W Sides chart.

Sheet music for the song was a best seller in both the US and Britain in January 1960.[3]

In 1961, a George Jones version of the song was included on the Mercury label album George Jones Sings Country and Western Hits (MG 20624/SR 60624).[4]

Mercury also included a version of the song by Leroy Van Dyke on the album Walk on By (MG 20682/SR 60682).[5]

A later version by Jack Reno reached #26 on the same chart in 1972.[6]

Other artists who have covered this song include: Johnny Tillotson in 1965, Willie Nelson in 1966, Waylon Jennings in 1967, Jerry Lee Lewis in 1969, Dwight Yoakam in 1986, Martina McBride (featuring Dwight Yoakam) in 2005, Connie Francis, and Buck Owens.

Contents

Chart performance

Ray Price

Chart (1959) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles 2

Guy Mitchell

Chart (1959) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 1
U.K. Singles Charts 5
U.S. Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles 19

Johnny Tillotson

Chart (1965) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 35
U.S. Adult Conteporary 4
Canadian RPM Top Singles 14

Jack Reno

Chart (1972) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles 26

See also

References

  1. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits: Eighth Edition. Record Research. p. 431. 
  2. ^ Songs from the Mojave Wastelands (Music As Heard In "Fallout: New Vegas") Retrieved 09-19-11
  3. ^ a b Billboard Jan 11, 1960. page 48
  4. ^ George Jones, Country and Western Hits Retrieved 09-19-11
  5. ^ Leroy Van Dyke, Walk on By Retrieved 09-19-11
  6. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. p. 347. ISBN 0-89820-177-2.