Walking the Floor Over You
"Walking the Floor Over You" is a country music song written by Ernest Tubb and released in the United States in 1941.[2]
| "Walking the Floor Over You" | |
|---|---|
| Single by Ernest Tubb | |
| B-side | "I'm Missing You" |
| Released | May 28, 1941 |
| Recorded | April 26, 1941 |
| Genre | Country |
| Length | 2:37 |
| Label | Decca[1] |
| Songwriter(s) | Ernest Tubb |
The original version included only Tubb's vocals and acoustic guitar accompanied by "Smitty" Smith on electric guitar. Tubb later re-recorded the song with his band, The Texas Troubadours.[2]
The original single became a hit, reaching the No. 23 spot[3] in the charts in 1941 but eventually the song sold over a million copies. Critic David Vinopal called "Walking the Floor Over You" the first honky tonk song that launched the musical genre itself.[4] Tubb's version is heard on the soundtrack of the 1980 film Coal Miner's Daughter.[5]
In 2022, the single was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the United States National Recording Registry as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".[6]
Other recordings
Ernest Tubb himself re-recorded the song several times during his career, with those versions recorded in 1944, 1959, 1963 and 1977. Additionally, Tubb recorded another version with Merle Haggard in 1979; that version reached No. 31 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart that fall.
- Bing Crosby recorded the song for Decca Records on May 27, 1942 with Bob Crosby's Bob Cats.[7]
- Georgia Gibbs recorded the song as "I'm Walking the Floor Over You" in 1957 and it charted briefly in the Billboard Hot 100 in the #92 spot.
- Pat Boone recorded the song in 1959 and it had a modest success reaching #44 in the Billboard Hot 100,[8] and #39 in the UK charts[9] in 1960.
- Patti Page included the song on her album Patti Page Sings Country And Western Golden Hits (1961)[10]
- Teresa Brewer included the song on her album Songs Everybody Knows (1961)[11]
- Glen Campbell included the song on his album Too Late to Worry – Too Blue to Cry (1963).
- George Hamilton IV recorded the song for his album Mister Sincerity ..... A Tribute To Ernest Tubb (1965).[12]
- Brook Benton recorded the song for his album My Country in 1966.[13]
- Merle Haggard recorded the song for this album Strangers in 1965.
- Sandy Denny recorded the song during sessions for her album The North Star Grassman and the Ravens (1971).[14]
See also
References
- Praguefrank's Country Music Discographies: Tubb, Ernest Retrieved 14 May 2012
- Allmusic entry for Walking the Floor Over You Retrieved 14 May 2012
- Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. Wisconsin, USA: Record Research Inc. p. 423. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
- Vinopal, David. "Ernest Tubb Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved January 9, 2010.
- "Internet Movie Database". imdb.com. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
- Ulaby, Neda (13 April 2022). "The Library of Congress adds 25 titles, including Alicia Keys and Ricky Martin". NPR. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
- "A Crosby Discography". BING magazine. International Club Crosby. Retrieved January 18, 2017.
- Whitburn, Joel (2013). Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012. Record Research. p. 99.
- British Hit Singles & Albums. London, UK: Guinness World Records Ltd. 2005. p. 74. ISBN 1-904994-00-8.
- "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. Retrieved January 18, 2017.
- "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. Retrieved January 18, 2017.
- "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. Retrieved January 18, 2017.
- "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. Retrieved January 18, 2017.
- Clinton Heylin. No More Sad Refrains - The Life and Times of Sandy Denny. London, Helter Skelter, 2002. ISBN 1-900924-35-8 p138.