| "Wolverton Mountain" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Claude King | ||||
| from the album Meet Claude King | ||||
| B-side | "Little Bitty Heart" | |||
| Released | March 1962 | |||
| Genre | Country | |||
| Label | Columbia | |||
| Writer(s) | Merle Kilgore Claude King |
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| Producer | Don Law Frank Jones |
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| Claude King singles chronology | ||||
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"Wolverton Mountain" was a hit that launched Claude King's career in the US in 1962. The song was written together with Merle Kilgore and was based on a real character, Clifton Clowers, who lived on Wolverton Mountain in Arkansas. The song spent nine weeks at the top of the Billboard country chart in the US in 1962.[1] It was also a giant crossover hit, reaching number six on the pop chart [2] and number three on the easy listening chart.
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Clifton T. Clowers was born on 30 October 1891, at Center Ridge, Arkansas, son of Jefferson Davis and Mary Prince Clowers. In July 1919 he married Esther Bell. He was a veteran of World War I and a Deacon in Mountain View Baptist Church. He became immortalized in the 1960s when his nephew, Merle Kilgore Clowers, wrote "Wolverton Mountain".[3][4] He lived most of his life on a farm located on the northern edge of the mountain, the mountain's name being spelled Woolverton.[5]
On his 100th birthday, Clowers was visited by the writers of the song, Claude King and Merle Kilgore.[6]
Clowers died aged 102 on Monday, 15 August 1994 at his home in Clinton, Arkansas, and was buried at the Woolverton Mountain Cemetery.
Country singer Dickey Lee, who was still emerging on the music scene at the time, covered the song just months after it was released.
Jerry Lee Lewis recorded it in 1965. Nat King Cole also included it on his 1960s country album.
In 1965, Bing Crosby recorded the song for his album Bing Crosby Sings the Great Country Hits.
In 1962, Australian country and western singer Kevin Shegog recorded the song and it was a popular hit in Australia.
An answer song, "I'm the Girl from Wolverton Mountain", was recorded by Jo Ann Campbell, released in August 1962:
Yes, I'm the girl from Wolverton Mountain
I wish someone would make me their wife
Another answer song is "Wolverton Mountain Bride", recorded by UK country singer Stephen Smyth.
| Chart (1962) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot C&W Sides | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 6 |
| U.S. Billboard Easy Listening | 3 |
| Preceded by "She Thinks I Still Care" by George Jones |
Billboard Hot C&W Sides number-one single June 30-August 25, 1962 |
Succeeded by "Devil Woman" by Marty Robbins |
| Preceded by "I Fall to Pieces" by Patsy Cline |
Billboard Hot Country Singles number-one single of the year 1962 |
Succeeded by "Still" by Bill Anderson |
