Bubbles in My Beer explained
"Bubbles in My Beer" is a Western swing song that was originally recorded by Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys in 1947. It later became a standard that has been performed by many country music artists. One critic of drinking songs ranks it number 20, calls it "the ultimate self-pity song," and credits it with "setting the tone for a whole genre of songs about drowning sorrows in the barroom."[3]
The song's origins are the subject of different accounts (see Tommy Duncan for one); but there is agreement that Texas Playboys vocalist Duncan came up with the song's title and refrain, at which point songwriter Cindy Walker became involved.[4] Walker has been quoted as saying: "If you can get a real good title, you’ve got something. I always write from the title. I’ve never written a song without the title."[5]
Chart performance
In 1971, a cover version by
Ray Pennington peaked at number 68 on
Billboards U.S. country singles chart.[7] Album versions
"Bubbles in My Beer" has appeared on albums by Bob Wills and several other notable country artists. The following list excludes compilations:
- Hank Thompson, Dance Ranch (1958)[8]
- Bob Wills, Mr. Words & Mr. Music (1961)[9]
- Ray Price, San Antonio Rose (1962)[10]
- George Jones, George Jones Sings Bob Wills (1962)[11]
- Charlie Walker, Born to Lose (1966)[12]
- Ernest Tubb, Baby It's So Hard to Be Good (1972)[13]
- Willie Nelson, Shotgun Willie (1973)[14]
- Bob Wills, For the Last Time (1974)[15]
- Johnny Gimble, Texas Honky-Tonk Hits (1988)[16]
- Jon Langford and the Pine Valley Cosmonauts, Salute the Majesty of Bob Wills (1998)[17]
- Willie Nelson, (2006)[18]
Notes and References
- http://countrydiscography.blogspot.com/2010/02/bob-wills-part-ii.html Praguefrank's Country Music Discographies: Bob Wills - part II
- http://settlet.fateback.com/MGM10000.htm M-G-M 10000 - 10500 numerical listing
- Rich Stewart, "Rhythm and Booze," Modern Drunkard Magazine .
- http://www.countrymusictreasures.com/storybehindthesong/bubbles-in-my-beer.html Country Music Treasures: The Story Behind The Song
- Bill DeMain, "Cindy Walker", Performing Songwriter, Issue 92 (March/April 2006).
- https://books.google.com/books?id=fvUDAAAAMBAJ Billboard magazine, May 1, 1948
- http://www.allmusic.com/artist/ray-pennington-p1763/charts-awards/billboard-singles Allmusic Ray Pennington Chart with music sample
- http://www.allmusic.com/album/dance-ranch-songs-for-rounders-r427238 Allmusic Dance Ranch/Songs for Rounders Hank Thompson Review with music sample
- http://www.allmusic.com/album/mr-words--mr-music-r94814 Allmusic Mr. Words & Mr. Music Bob Wills
- http://www.allmusic.com/album/san-antonio-rose-r109544 Allmusic San Antonio Rose Ray Price Review with music sample
- http://www.allmusic.com/album/george-jones-sings-bob-wills-r92771 Allmusic George Jones Sings Bob Wills Review with music sample
- http://www.allmusic.com/song/bubbles-in-my-beer-t6373706 Allmusic "Bubbles in My Beer" Charlie Walker with music sample
- http://www.allmusic.com/song/bubbles-in-my-beer-t3724665 Allmusic "Bubbles in My Beer" Ernest Tubb with music sample
- http://www.allmusic.com/album/shotgun-willie-r93338 Allmusic Shotgun Willie Willie Nelson Review with chart and music sample
- http://www.allmusic.com/album/for-the-last-time-r94823 Allmusic For the Last Time Bob Wills Review with chart and music sample
- http://www.allmusic.com/album/texas-honky-tonk-hits-r92435 Allmusic Texas Honky-Tonk Hits Johnny Gimble Review
- http://www.allmusic.com/album/salute-the-majesty-of-bob-wills-r376054 Allmusic Salute the Majesty of Bob Wills Pine Valley Cosmonauts Review with music sample
- http://www.allmusic.com/album/r820123 Allmusic You Don't Know Me: The songs of Cindy Walker Willie Nelson Review with chart and music sample