Our survey of the number one country songs by year now brings us to 1962. There are 11 songs to choose from from this year, including the holdover “Walk On By” from the previous year. Not a very strong collection of songs, IMO, but there are a couple standouts.
So where do you stand?
Went with “I’ve Been Everywhere”, knew the Johnny Cash version. Gave all a listen. This Patsy Cline song was better than last, still not feeling it yet.
Really close between "she’s Got You " and “I’ve Been Everywhere.” Both are really good songs. I don’t like "Wolverton Mountain " at all, don’t get why it ever ranked so high.
Since I heard all these songs on the radio when they came out, it’s pretty damned hard to pick the best one.
I chose George Jones. It epitomized his sound.
Went with Hank Snow, but there are several on there that I like. I detest “Woverton Mountain”. Snow’s song is almost a novelty song, but there had to be some serious thinking that went into the lyrics in order to get the meter right.
But he’s been 'cross the deserts bare, man.
Have to go with Patsy on this one.
FWIW, “I’ve Been Everywhere” was originally performed by Australian folk singer Lucky Starr, and was about having been everywhere in Australia. The songwriter, Geoff Mack, was convinced by his label that it would be a big hit in America, and was given an atlas to use to replace the Australian locales with American ones.
I love Pasty Cline, but this isn’t one of her best. I went with Marty Robbins.