Gone (Ferlin Husky song) explained
Gone |
Type: | single |
Artist: | Ferlin Husky |
Album: | Gone |
B-Side: | Missing Persons |
Released: | January 1957 |
Recorded: | November 7, 1956 |
Studio: | Bradley Studios, Nashville, Tennessee |
Genre: | Country |
Label: | Capitol |
Prev Title: | I'll Baby Sit with You |
Prev Year: | 1955 |
Next Title: | A Fallen Star |
Next Year: | 1957 |
"Gone" is a 1957 single by Ferlin Husky written by Smokey Rogers. The song was Ferlin Husky's second No. 1 on the country chart, where it stayed at the top for ten weeks with a total of 27 weeks on the charts. The vocal backing on the song was provided by the Jordanaires with soprano Millie Kirkham.[1] "Gone" also crossed over to the Hot 100, peaking at No. 4.[2] Selling over one million copies, 'Gone" was awarded a gold disc.[3]
Recorded in Nashville at Bradley Studios,[4] the recording is widely regarded as the first example of the Nashville Sound production approach.[5] The use of echo and sparse instrumental support combined with the talented background singers heightened the drama of Husky's distinctive vocal.[6] [7]
Prior to recording this hit, Husky appeared regularly at the Grand Ole Opry. "Gone" propelled him to network television appearances first on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts then a spot as guest host on the Kraft Television Theater, The Ed Sullivan Show, and eventually talk shows hosted by Steve Allen, Johnny Carson, and Merv Griffin. Husky had to give up his Opry slot, but TV exposure introduced him to millions of viewers.
Husky had previously recorded "Gone" for an earlier release on Capitol as Terry Preston.
Cover versions
- In 1972, Joey Heatherton peaked at #24 on the US Hot 100 and #25 in Canada with her version of the song.[8] It also peaked at number 38 in Australia.[9]
- In 1980, Ronnie McDowell hit the Top 40 on the country charts with his version of the song.
- The Fleetwoods released a cover version of the song which can be found on their 1993 greatest hits album, Come Softly to Me: The Very Best of the Fleetwoods.
Notes and References
- Book: Whitburn, Joel . The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Joel Whitburn . 2004 . Record Research . 166.
- Book: Whitburn, Joel . The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits: Eighth Edition . Joel Whitburn . 2004 . Record Research . 297.
- Book: Murrells, Joseph. 1978. The Book of Golden Discs. 2nd. Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. London. 92. 0-214-20512-6. registration.
- Book: Kosser, Michael. How Nashville Became Music City, U.S.A.: A History Of Music Row. Backbeat Books. Lanham, Maryland, US. 2006. 978-1-49306-512-7. 11.
- Web site: The "Nashville Sound" Begins (paragraph 4). Living In Stereo. 20 November 2015. https://archive.today/20120525182906/http://livinginstereo.com/?p=252. 25 May 2012. dead.
- Web site: Ferlin Husky Biography . Ferlin Husky Official Site . 20 November 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160217015934/http://ferlinhusky.com/Ferlin_Husky_Biography.html . 17 February 2016 .
- News: Friskics-Warren. Bill. Velvet-Voiced Ferlin Husky Dies at 85. 20 November 2015. New York Times. 18 March 2011.
- http://musicvf.com/Joey+Heatherton.art Joey Heatherton, "Gone" Chart Position
- Book: Kent, David. David Kent (historian). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. illustrated. Australian Chart Book. St Ives, N.S.W.. 1993. 0-646-11917-6. 136.