Hey Good Lookin' (song)

"Hey, Good Lookin'"
Single by Hank Williams
from the album Memorial Album
Released June 1951
Genre Country, rockabilly[1]
Length 2:35
Label MGM
Writer(s) Cole Porter; adaptation by Hank Williams
Producer(s) Jim Vienneau
Hank Williams singles chronology
"I Can't Help It (If I'm Still in Love with You)"
(1951)		 "Hey, Good Lookin'"
(1951)		 "Crazy Heart"
(1951)

"Hey, Good Lookin'" is a song created and recorded by Hank Williams as a variation of a song of the same name, similar lyrics, and similar melody written by Cole Porter in 1942. Williams' version was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2001.[2] Since its original 1951 recording it has been covered by a variety of artists.

Writing

Hank Williams was friendly with musician Jimmy Dickens. Having told Dickens that Dickens needed a hit record if he was going to become a star, Williams said he'd write it, and penned the song in only 20 minutes while on a plane with Dickens, Minnie Pearl, and Pearl's husband Henry Cannon.[3] A week later Williams cut the song himself, jokingly telling Dickens, "That song's too good for you!"[4]

Content

The song's lyrics begin as a come on using double entendres related to food preparation ("How's about cooking somethin' up with me?"). By the third and fourth verses, the singer is promising the object of his affection that they can become an exclusive couple ("How's about keepin' steady company?" and "I'm gonna throw my date book over the fence.").[5]

Chart performance

Chart (1951) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles 1

Appearances in other media

The song appears in the video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, on the country music radio station K-Rose.

Charted cover versions
"Hey Good Lookin'"
Jo Stafford's duet with Frankie Laine of Hank Williams' song.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

Also in 1951, Jo Stafford and Frankie Laine released a rendition of the song as a duet. This rendition peaked at #21 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts.[6]

Ray Charles covered the song in the first volume of his 1962 album Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music.

The Mavericks version

"Hey Good Lookin'"
Single by The Mavericks
from the album From Hell to Paradise
Released 1992
Genre Country
Length 2:37
Label MCA
Writer(s) Hank Williams
Producer(s) Steve Fishell
Raul Malo
The Mavericks singles chronology
"This Broken Heart"
(1992)		 "Hey Good Lookin'"
(1992)		 "I Got You"
(1992)

Country music band The Mavericks released a cover version in 1992 from the album From Hell to Paradise. This rendition peaked at number 74 on the country singles charts.[7]

Chart (1992) Peak
position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[8] 73
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[9] 74

Jimmy Buffett/Clint Black/Kenny Chesney/Alan Jackson/Toby Keith/George Strait version

"Hey Good Lookin'"
Single by Jimmy Buffett with Clint Black, Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, Toby Keith and George Strait
from the album License to Chill
Released May 17, 2004
Format Airplay
Recorded 2004
Genre Country
Length 3:03
Label Mailboat/RCA Nashville
Writer(s) Hank Williams
Producer(s) Mac McAnally
Michael Utley
Jimmy Buffett singles chronology
"It's Five O'Clock Somewhere"
(2003)		 "Hey Good Lookin'"
(2004)		 "Trip Around the Sun"
(2004)
Clint Black singles chronology
"The Boogie Man"
(2004)		 "Hey Good Lookin'"
(2004)		 "My Imagination"
(2004)
Kenny Chesney singles chronology
"I Go Back"
(2004)		 "Hey Good Lookin'"
(2004)		 "The Woman with You"
(2004)
Alan Jackson singles chronology
"Remember When"
(2003)		 "Hey Good Lookin'"
(2004)		 "Too Much of a Good Thing"
(2004)
Toby Keith singles chronology
"Whiskey Girl"
(2004)		 "Hey Good Lookin'"
(2004)		 "Stays in Mexico"
(2004)
George Strait singles chronology
"Desperately"
(2004)		 "Hey Good Lookin'"
(2004)		 "I Hate Everything"
(2004)

In 2004, Jimmy Buffett recorded a version for his License to Chill album. Clint Black, Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, Toby Keith and George Strait were all featured on this rendition, which peaked at #8 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs) charts in 2004. It was also the last Top Ten country hit for Black. This rendition was made into a music video, directed by Trey Fanjoy and Stan Kellam.

Chart positions

The song debuted at number 36 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs for the week ending May 29, 2004.

Chart (2004) Peak
position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[10] 8
US Billboard Hot 100[11] 63

Year-end charts

Chart (2004) Position
US Country Songs (Billboard)[12] 53

References

  1. ↑ http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/hank-williams/biography
  2. ↑ Grammy Hall of Fame
  3. ↑ Masino, Susan (2011). Family Tradition – Three Generations of Hank Williams. Montclair, NJ: Backbeat Books. p. 67. ISBN 978-1-61713-006-9.
  4. ↑ Lavallee, Michelle. "Little Jimmy Dickens: Country singer to Opry Legend". AXS. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
  5. ↑ Randall, Alice et al. (2006). My Country Roots: The Ultimate MP3 Guide to America's Original Outsider Music. Thomas Nelson Inc. p. 80. ISBN 1-59555-860-8.
  6. ↑ Dean, Maury (2003-01-01). Rock N Roll Gold Rush: A Singles Un-Cyclopedia. Algora Publishing. p. 495. ISBN 0-87586-207-1.
  7. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "The Mavericks biography". Allmusic. Retrieved 6 April 2010.
  8. ↑ "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 1983." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. August 8, 1992. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
  9. ↑ "The Mavericks Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Hot Country Songs for The Mavericks.
  10. ↑ "Jimmy Buffett Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Hot Country Songs for Jimmy Buffett.
  11. ↑ "Jimmy Buffett Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Hot 100 for Jimmy Buffett.
  12. ↑ "Best of 2004: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2004. Retrieved July 11, 2012.

External links