Songs That Answer Other Songs
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Two Songs For The Price of One?
Song answers were a fad that got their start in the 1930's, but really took off in the 1950's and became wide spread.. A song answer is exactly what it implies, a song that is in response to another song. Usually, the answer is performed by a person of the opposite sex of the one who originally recorded the song. The same music is used and sometimes even lyrics from the original are incorporated into the answer.
For example, probably one of the biggest answer songs in music history is by Kitty Wells. She had a huge hit, in 1952, with her answer to Hank Thompson's "Wild Side of Life". In Hank's song, he laments that he didn't know that "God made honky tonk angels". Kitty's famous reply (or answer) is "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels".
Elvis Presley, Gary Lewis and The Playboys, Neil Sedaka, Roger Miller, Barry McGuire, Mary Wells and more were all "victims" of answer song fad. Does that mean the songs were horrible, of course not, in truth, I like Kitty Wells answer much better than the original song that inspired it (apparently, so did a lot of other folks!)
Oh, and by the way, Youtube videos come and go, some rather quickly at times and it can be tough to keep up with all the changes. If you find a video link that doesn't work or simply isn't there, please let me know by leaving a note in my guest book so I can search for a suitable replacement.
Now, on with the music!
For example, probably one of the biggest answer songs in music history is by Kitty Wells. She had a huge hit, in 1952, with her answer to Hank Thompson's "Wild Side of Life". In Hank's song, he laments that he didn't know that "God made honky tonk angels". Kitty's famous reply (or answer) is "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels".
Elvis Presley, Gary Lewis and The Playboys, Neil Sedaka, Roger Miller, Barry McGuire, Mary Wells and more were all "victims" of answer song fad. Does that mean the songs were horrible, of course not, in truth, I like Kitty Wells answer much better than the original song that inspired it (apparently, so did a lot of other folks!)
Oh, and by the way, Youtube videos come and go, some rather quickly at times and it can be tough to keep up with all the changes. If you find a video link that doesn't work or simply isn't there, please let me know by leaving a note in my guest book so I can search for a suitable replacement.
Now, on with the music!
Wild Side Of Life--Hank Thompson
Kitty Wells-- It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels
It seems only fitting that we start this tribute to answer songs with one of the best known of this genre. Kitty Wells was the first female country singer to have a #1 hit and she did it with this song. Sadly, her song was banned on some radio stations (remember this was 1952, women shouldn't be singing about such things as bar rooms and cheating, etc) and she was even banned from singing this song on the Grand Old Opry, although Hank was free to sing his version on that stage.
Hank Thompson " Wild Side Of Life "
Kitty Wells It Wasnt God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels
Kitty Wells Collection
Collection
Two of Kitty's Answer Songs are on this CD. It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels and Paying For That Back Street Affair. But, don't buy just because of those two songs, this is a wonderful collection of Kitty's classic songs!
Release Date: 09/22/2003
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Back Street Affair--Carl Smith
Kitty Wells-- Paying For That Back Street Affair
I believe the version that inspired Kitty's answer was performed by Webb Pierce. I put Carl Smith's version of the song here, just so you could have a sample of what Back Street Affair sounded like.
Carl Smith - Back Street Affair
Kitty Wells - Paying For That Back Street Affair
Shop Around-- Smokey Robinson
Debbie Dean: Don't Let Him Shop Around
Debbie Dean, real name, Reba Jeanette Smith was born in Corbin Kentucky on February 1, 1928. She was Motown's first white singer and Berry Gordy is credited with coming up with her stage name of Debbie Dean. She died on February 17,2001in Ojai, California.
The Miracles - Shop Around
Debbie Dean Don't Let Him Shop Around
Tell Laura I Love Her--Ray Peterson
Skeeter Davis-Tell Tommy I Love Him
The original answer was sung by Marilyn Michaels, but I put Skeeter Davis' version in just so you could hear what the song sounded like.
Ray Peterson - Tell Laura I Love Her
Skeeter Davis - Tell Tommy I Miss Him
Mother-In-Law-- Ernie K. Doe
Paul Peek Answers With Brother-In-Law (He's A Moocher)
Ernie K Doe ----- Mother In Law
Paul Peek - Brother-In-Law (He's A Moocher) 1961 45rpm
King of the Road--Roger Miller
Jody Miller--Queen of the House
One of Roger Miller's biggest and best known hits is "King of the Road". Jody Miller answered his song with her version called "Queen of the House. Jody is no relation to Roger although he wrote both songs.
Roger Miller King Of the Road
Queen Of The House - Jody Miller
Jody Miller
Queen Of The House Found On This CD!
Fraulein--Bobby Helms
Kitty Wells Answers With I'll Always Be Your Fraulein
1957 was a busy year for singer Bobby Helms. He had his first #1 song with a Lawton Williams penned song, "Fraulein" which is what concerns us here. Just for trivia's sakes, you might also remember that Bobby sang the classic "Special Angel" which peaked at #6 on the charts in 1957. In December of that year, Bobby released, just a few days before Christmas, "Jingle Bell Rock" which has since become a Christmas season favorite.
Bobby Helms - Fraulein
Kitty Wells - I'll Always Be Your Fraulein
Wolverton Mountain--Claude King
Joanne Campbell-- I'm the Girl From Wolverton Mountain
JoAnne Campbell was born July 23, 1938 in Florida. At age 16 she did a tour of Europe as an USO dancer and after that ended she went to New York and joined the Johnny Conrad Dancers. While in New York she decided to give singing a try. She got a chance to be on Colgate Comedy Hour and The Milton Berle Show and then a stint at Apollo Theater in Harlem. In 1957 she released a single called "Come On Baby" followed by another single "Wait a Minute" In 1962, her biggest hit "Im the Girl On Wolverton Mountain" reached #38 on the country charts. It answered Claude Kings hit, "Wolverton Mountain". She retired from the music business in 1964.
Claude King - Wolverton Mountain
Jo Ann Campbell - The Girl From Wolverton Mountain - 45 rpm
Please Help Me I'm Falling--Hank Locklin
I Can't Help You I'm Falling Too--Skeeter Davis
Hank Locklin - Please Help Me I'm Falling
Skeeter Davis - I Can't Help You I'm Falling Too
You Beat Me To The Punch--Mary Wells
You Threw A Lucky Punch--Gene Chandler
Mary Wells - You Beat Me To The Punch
GENE CHANDLER-you threw a lucky punch-1962-
Gene Chandler
You Threw A Lucky Punch Available on This Collection
Last Date-- Floyd Cramer
Skeeter Davies Answers with My Last Date With You
Floyd Cramer - Last Date
Skeeter Davis - My Last Date (With You)
Oh Carol-- Neil Sedaka
Carole King Answers with Oh Neil
Oh! Carol - Neil Sedaka
Carole King - Oh! Neil
The Answer To Everything
Girls Answer Songs Of The 60's
The Answer to Everything: Girl Answer Songs of the 60s
Just click the link to go to Amazon to hear sound samples from this CD collection.
For every major hit that posed a lover's question, or had you crying in your beer back in the sixties, there was the reassuring certainty of the 'answer' song. Answer records were a prevailing American phenomenon. Usually rendered by female artists, they were an expedient way to hitch a ride on the coat tails of an existing hit. Deejays favored them for their topical value and many answer records from the Golden Age made the charts in their own right.
Compiled and annotated by Rob Finnis, this collection it comes with a gorgeous booklet full to bursting with a reviews, ads and label shots that evoke the phenomenon almost as much as the music itself.
Release Date: 10/30/2007
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An (Incomplete) Listing of Answer Songs
* He'll Have To Go--Jim Reeves
He'll Have To Stay--Jeanne Black
* Almost Persuaded---David Houston
(He Was) Almost Persuaded---Donna Harris
* Wolverton Mountain---Claude King
I'm The Girl From Wolverton Mountain---JoAnn Campbell
* Walk On By---LeRoy Van Dyke
I'll Just Walk On By---Margie Singelton
* King of The Road---Roger Miller
Queen Of The House---Jody Miller
* 500 Miles Away From Home---Bobby Bare
He's Coming Home---Mary Taylor
* Please Help Me I'm Falling---Hank Locklin
(I Can't Help You) I'm Falling Too---Skeeter Davis
* Evil On Your Mind---Jan Howard
Evil Off My Hand---Burl Ives
* The Temptations--- My Girl
Mary Well---My Guy
* Brian Hyland---Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polkadot Bikini
The Girlfriends--- Four Shy Girls
* Sam Cooke---Working On The Chain Gang
Theola Kilgore--- That's The Sound Of My Man Working on The Chain Gang
* Ray Peterson--- Tell Laura I Love Her
Marilyn Michaels---Tell Tommy I Miss Him
* Ben E. King---Stand By Me
Damita Jo - I'll Be There
* The Shirells---Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow
Bertell Dache - Not Just Tomorrow, But Always
* Jimmy Gilmer and The Fireballs--- Sugar Shack
Gorgina Lynn--- The Sugar Shack Queen
* Elvis Presley---Are You Lonesome Tonight
Dodie Stevens ---Yes, I'm Lonesome Tonight
* Gary Lewis And The Playboys---This Diamond Ring
Wendy Hill--- Gary, Please Don't Sell My Diamond Ring
* Smokey Robinson and The Miracles Shop Around
Debbie Dean -Don't Let Him Shop Around
* Ray Peterson's Tell Laura I Love Her
Skeeter Davis-Tell Tommy I Miss Him
* Percy Sledge--- When A Man Loves A Woman
Esther Philips--- When a Woman Loves a Man
* Barry McGuire--- Eve of Destruction
The Spokesmen--- Dawn of Correction
* Hank Thompson--- Wild Side of Life
Kitty Wells--- It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels
* Mary Wells--- You Beat Me To The Punch
Gene Chandler--- You Threw A Lucky Punch
* Elvis Presley--- Just Tell Her Jim Said Hello
Gerri Granger--- Just Tell Him Jane Said Hello
* Runaround Sue--Dion
I'm No Runaround--Ginger Davis and The Snaps
* Take Good Care of My Baby--bobby Vee
You Should Know I'm Still Your Baby--Sammi Lynn
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Answer Songs Guest Book
Thanks for stopping by and please feel free to share your comments.
Tiddledeewinks wrote...
I love this lens idea. My hubby and I sing karaoke and he does the Jim Reeves song, "He'll Have to Go". I didn't know there was a "He'll Have to Stay" answer! I'd like to find it on karaoke if I knew where! We do duets like songs by George Jones & Tammy Wynette and other classic country stars. I've been wanting us to do "Wild Side of Life" and "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels" as an answer. I'm glad to find out about more answer songs!
Posted January 10, 2009
by Graple
I have a wide variety of interests and some of those just might turn up as Squidoo pages...ghosts, lighthouses, cemeteries, Halloween (holiday not mov... (more)
