"That's What It's Like to Be Lonesome" is a song written and recorded by American country singer-songwriter Bill Anderson. It was released as a single in December 1958 via Decca Records and became a major hit. A similar version was released by American country artist Ray Price the same year via Columbia Records.
| "That's What It's Like to Be Lonesome" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Bill Anderson | ||||
| B-side | "The Thrill of My Life" | |||
| Released | December 1958 | |||
| Recorded | August 1958 | |||
| Studio | Bradley Studios (Nashville, Tennessee) | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 2:30 | |||
| Label | Decca | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Bill Anderson | |||
| Producer(s) | Owen Bradley | |||
| Bill Anderson singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Bill Anderson version
edit"That's What It's Like to Be Lonesome" was recorded at the Bradley Studios, located in Nashville, Tennessee. The sessions were produced by Owen Bradley, who would serve as Anderson's producer through most of years with Decca Records.[2]
"That's What It's Like to Be Lonesome" was released as a single by Decca Records in December 1958.[3] It spent a total of 17 weeks on the Billboard Hot Country and Western Sides chart before reaching number 12 in February 1959. It became Anderson's first major hit as a music artist and his first charting record.[4] It was not first released on a proper album. However, seven years later, it appeared on his compilation From This Pen.[2]
Track listings
edit7" vinyl single[5]
- "That's What It's Like to Be Lonesome" – 2:30
- "The Thrill of My Life" – 2:25
Chart performance
edit| Chart (1958–1959) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[6] | 12 |
Ray Price version
edit| "That's What It's Like to Be Lonesome" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Ray Price | ||||
| B-side | "Kissing Your Picture Is So Cold" | |||
| Released | December 1958 | |||
| Studio | Columbia Studio | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 2:44 | |||
| Label | Columbia | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Bill Anderson | |||
| Producer(s) | Don Law | |||
| Ray Price singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"That's What It's Like to Be Lonesome" was recorded at the Columbia Studio, located in Nashville, Tennessee. The sessions were produced by Don Law.
"That's What It's Like to Be Lonesome" was released as a single by Columbia Records in December 1958.[3] It spent a total of 19 weeks on the Billboard Hot Country and Western Sides chart before reaching number 7 in February 1959. It was one of many top ten hits for Price on the Columbia label and was followed by several number one hits as well.[7] It was not first released on a proper album.[3]
Track listings
edit7" vinyl single[8]
- "That's What It's Like to Be Lonesome" – 2:44
- "Kissing Your Picture Is So Cold" – 2:39
Chart performance
edit| Chart (1958–1959) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[6] | 7 |
References
edit- ^ "From This Pen: Bill Anderson: Songs, Reviews, Credits". Allmusic. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
- ^ a b Anderson, Bill (June 1965). "From This Pen (Album Information and Liner Notes)". Decca Records.
- ^ a b c Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. ISBN 978-0-89820-177-2.
- ^ ""That's What It's Like to Be Lonesome" chart history". Billboard. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
- ^ "Bill Anderson -- That's What It's Like to Be Lonesome" (1958, Vinyl)". Discogs. November 1958. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
- ^ a b "Bill Anderson Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
- ^ ""That's What It's Like to Be Lonesomr" (Ray Price) chart history". Billboard. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
- ^ "Ray Price -- "That's What It's Like to Be Lonesome" (1958, Vinyl)". Discogs. Retrieved 21 July 2020.