Oh Lonesome Me

"Oh Lonesome Me" is a popular song written and recorded in December 1957 by Don Gibson with Chet Atkins[1] producing it for RCA Victor in Nashville. Released in 1958, the song topped the country chart for eight non-consecutive weeks. On what became the Billboard Hot 100, it peaked at No. 7. It was Gibson's only Top 10 hit on the pop chart.[2] Its B-side was "I Can't Stop Loving You", which peaked at No. 7 on the C&W Jockey charts and became a standard song about unrequited love.[3] The vocal backings on both songs were provided by the Jordanaires.

For the Don Gibson album, see Oh Lonesome Me (album).

"Oh Lonesome Me"
Single by Don Gibson
from the album Oh Lonesome Me
B-side	"I Can't Stop Loving You"
Released	December 1957
Genre	Country
Length	2:26
Label	RCA Victor
Songwriter(s)	Don Gibson
Producer(s)	Chet Atkins
Don Gibson singles chronology
"Sweet Dreams" (1956) "Oh Lonesome Me" (1957) "Blue Blue Day" (1958)

"Oh Lonesome Me"
Single by The Kentucky Headhunters
from the album Pickin' on Nashville
B-side	"My Daddy Was a Milkman"
Released	1990
Genre	Country, Southern rock
Length	3:12
Label	Mercury
Songwriter(s)	Don Gibson
Producer(s)	The Kentucky Headhunters
The Kentucky Headhunters singles chronology
"Dumas Walker" (1990) "Oh Lonesome Me" (1990) "Rock 'n' Roll Angel" (1990)

The Kentucky Headhunters version

The song was covered by The Kentucky Headhunters in 1990. Their version went to number 8, which was the band's highest-peaking single.[4]

Chart performance

Chart (1990)	Peak position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[5]	19
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[6]	8

Year-end charts

Chart (1990)	Position
US Country Songs (Billboard)[7]	73

Cover versions

• 1959: Elvis Presley Elvis made a relaxed version of this song in December 1958, while performing military service in Germany, during his stay at the hotel grunewald, bad nahueim, where he resided.
• 1959: Sacha Distel made a french version "Oh ! Quelle Nuit (Lonesome Me)".[8]
• 1960: Bob Luman's version reached #105 on the U.S. Billboard Pop chart
• 1961: Johnny Cash (went to #13)[9]
• 1962: Craig Douglas released a cover version in the UK on Decca Records under the production of Bunny Lewis.[10] Douglas' version entered the UK singles chart on October 20, 1962, stayed there for twelve weeks and the best position was at #11[11]
• 1962: Connie Francis - included in her album Connie Francis Sings Great Country Hits[12]
• 1962: Kay Starr included in her album Just Plain Country[13]
• 1962: Ray Charles for his album Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music Volume Two
• 1962: Larry Finnegan as a single[14]
• 1964: Eydie Gormé for her album Gormé Country Style[15]
• 1965: Per Myrberg Swedish version named "Stackars Mej"
• 1965: Bing Crosby - included in his album Bing Crosby Sings the Great Country Hits
• 1965: The Beau Brummels - on the album Introducing the Beau Brummels
• 1966: Bobbi Martin's version reached #134 on the U.S. Billboard Pop chart and #64 Country
• 1967: Nancy Sinatra, - Country, My Way
• 1970: Stonewall Jackson (went to #63)[16]
• 1970: Neil Young (slower version, on After the Gold Rush)
• 1975: Ray Stevens (on album Misty)
• 1975: Loggins and Messina on their album So_Fine_(Loggins_and_Messina_album)
• 1978: Loretta Lynn on episode 308 of The Muppet Show
• 1982: Sammy Davis Jr. on the album What I Got on My Mind[17]
• 1990: Kentucky Headhunters as a single.[18]
• 1992: Mexican Banda group Banda Vallarta Show covered this song in Spanish. This version is named "Oh Solitario" which is part of their Esa Chica Me Vacila album
• 2000: Anna Fermin's Trigger Gospel, on compilation album Down to the Promised Land: 5 Years of Bloodshot Records
• 2002: Anne Murray - including in her album Country Croonin'
• 2003: Tony Christie - recorded for his album Country Roads[19]
• 2007: Southern Culture on the Skids - on their album Countrypolitan Favorites
• 2009: M. Ward included in the album Hold Time
• 2017: The Tracks - on the album Live at the Lost Horse: Music from "I Love Dick"

References

1. Gilliland, John (1969). "Show 10 - Tennessee Firebird: American country music before and after Elvis. [Part 2]" (audio). Pop Chronicles. University of North Texas Libraries.
2. Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. p. 157. ISBN 978-0-89820-177-2.
3. Gillett, Charlie (1996). The Sound of the City: The Rise of Rock and Roll ((2nd Ed.) ed.). New York, N.Y.: Da Capo Press. pp. 108–109. ISBN 978-0-306-80683-4.
4. Whitburn, p. 223
5. "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 7997." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. August 18, 1990. Retrieved August 23, 2013.
6. "The Kentucky Headhunters Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
7. "Best of 1990: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 1990. Retrieved August 23, 2013.
8. "Discogs.com". Retrieved August 15, 2020
9. Whitburn, p. 84
10. Official Charts Company - Images - Singles - 3279.jpg
11. Official Charts Company - Craig Douglas - Og Lonesome Me
12. "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. Retrieved May 21, 2017.
13. "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. Retrieved May 21, 2017.
14. Larry Finnegan, "Oh Lonesome Me" single release Retrieved June 25, 2015
15. "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. Retrieved May 21, 2017.
16. Whitburn, p. 203
17. "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. Retrieved May 21, 2017.
18. Mercury
19. "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. Retrieved May 21, 2017.

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics