This Ole House

"This Ole House" (sometimes written "This Old House") is an American popular song written by Stuart Hamblen, and published in 1954.[2] Rosemary Clooney's version reached the top of the popular music charts in both the US and the UK in 1954. The song again topped the UK chart in 1981 in a recording by Shakin' Stevens.

"This Ole House"
Single by Stuart Hamblen
from the album It Is No Secret
B-side	"When My Lord Picks Up the 'Phone"
Released	May 1954
Recorded	29 March 1954[1]
Studio	RCA Victor Studios, 155 East 24th Street, Manhattan, New York
Genre	Country
Length	2:55
Label	RCA Victor
Songwriter(s)	Stuart Hamblen

Stuart Hamblen version

Hamblem recorded the song in March 1954 and released it as a single in May 1954.[3] It became very successful, peaking at number 2 on the Billboard Country & Western chart, as well as being a Top 30 hit on the Hot 100, known then as the Best Sellers in Stores.[4] It was his last hit on the country charts and with the royalties he bought the mansion that had been owned by the late Errol Flynn.[5]

Composition

Hamblen was supposedly out on a hunting expedition when he and his fellow hunter, actor John Wayne, came across a hut in the mountains. Inside was the body of a man, and the man's dog was still there, guarding the building. This inspired Hamblen to write "This Ole House".[2] The lyric picks up a standard Gospel theme of the "old house" – the mortal body – being left behind when the soul of the believer goes to "meet the saints".[6]

Reception

The single was reviewed twice in Billboard magazine. It was described as "a powerful religioso item with a message and an infectious beat. Hamblen sells it with fervor." and that it "could easily break thru into country and pop".[7] In the following issue, it was described as "a sacred item which re-esablishes Hamblen as the top man in his field" and "a sock debut for Hamblen on the label."[8]

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1954) Peak position US Best Sellers in Stores (Billboard)[4] 26 US Country & Western Records (Billboard)[4] 2 US Cash Box Top 10 Country Best Sellers[9] 3

Year-end charts Chart (1954) Position US Country & Western Records (Billboard)[10] 13

Rosemary Clooney version

"This Ole House"
Single by Rosemary Clooney with Buddy Cole & His Orchestra
A-side	"Hey There" (US)
Released	June 1954 (US)
Genre	Traditional pop
Length	2:18
Label	Colombia (US) Philips (UK)
Songwriter(s)	Stuart Hamblen
Producer(s)	Mitch Miller

Soon after Hamblen released his version, Rosemary Clooney recorded a version of "This Ole House" with Buddy Cole & His Orchestra. It featured bass vocals by Thurl Ravenscroft and topped the charts in the US and the UK.[11][12][13]

In the US, it was released as the flip side to "Hey There", which also reached number 1. However, in the UK, it was released as the A-side, with the flip side "My Baby Sends Me".

When reviewed in Billboard, it was described as "a bright, bouncy rendition from the thrush, supported solidly by an unbilled male singer and the Buddy Cole ork. Tho not as strong as the flip. it has a sparkle that could make It grab juke loot."[14]

Track listings

7" (US)

1. "Hey There" – 2:57
2. "This Ole House" – 2:18

7" (UK)

1. "This Ole House"
2. "My Baby Sends Me"

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1954) Peak position UK Singles (OCC)[13] 1 US Best Sellers in Stores (Billboard)[12] 1 US Cash Box Best Selling Singles[15] 3

Year-end charts Chart (1954) Position US Best Sellers in Stores[16] 12

Shakin' Stevens version

"This Ole House"
Single by Shakin' Stevens
from the album This Ole House
B-side	"Let Me Show You How"
Released	20 February 1981
Recorded	1980
Studio	Eden Studios. London
Genre	Rock and roll
Length	2:58
Label	Epic
Songwriter(s)	Stuart Hamblen
Producer(s)	Stuart Colman
Shakin' Stevens singles chronology
"Shooting Gallery" (1980) "This Ole House" (1981) "You Drive Me Crazy" (1981)

In 1981, Welsh singer Shakin' Stevens covered the song for his album of the same name. It became very successful, topping the UK Singles Chart for three weeks, as well as being a hit in several other countries.[17] It was re-released in 2005 as a double A-side with a cover of Pink's "Trouble" after his appearance in the TV show Hit Me Baby One More Time and reached No. 20 in the UK Singles Chart.[17]

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1981) Peak position Australia (Kent Music Report)[18] 1 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[19] 8 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[20] 3 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[21] 17 Denmark (Hitlisten)[22] 6 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[23] 12 Germany (Official German Charts)[24] 5 Iceland (Vísir)[25] 9 Ireland (IRMA)[26] 1 Israel (IBA)[27] 4 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[28] 5 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[29] 6 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[30] 3 South Africa (Springbok Radio)[31] 1 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[32] 4 UK Singles (OCC)[17] 1 Zimbabwe (ZIMA)[33] 19 Chart (2005) Peak position UK Singles (OCC)[17] 20 (with "Trouble")

Year-end charts Chart (1981) Position Australia (Kent Music Report)[34] 11 Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)[35] 26 Denmark (Hitlisten)[22] 28 Germany (GfK Entertainment)[36] 22 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[37] 17 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[38] 23 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[39] 5 South Africa (Springbok Radio)[40] 4 UK Singles[41] 4

Other recordings

• 1954: Billie Anthony's version was a hit in the UK, peaking at number 4 in October[42]
• 1954: Alma Cogan covered the song with pianist Felix King and was recorded in London on September 2, 1954. The song was released by EMI on the His Master's Voice label with the flip side "Skokiaan"
• 1954: Bing Crosby recorded the song in 1954[43] for use on his radio show and it was subsequently included in the CD Bing & Rosie: The Crosby-Clooney Radio Sessions (2010).[44]
• 1955: The German version "Das alte Haus von Rocky Docky" was recorded by Bruce Low in 1955[45] and was covered by Peter Kraus in 1981[46]
• 1960: Wilma Lee Cooper & Stoney Cooper on 7" b/w 'Heartbreak Street'
• 1962: Hovie Lister & The Statesmen Quartet on Stop, Look & Listen for the Lord
• 1963: Jimmy Dean on Everybody's Favorite
• 1964: Johnny Tillotson on The Tillotson Touch
• 1965: Cathedral Quartet on The Cathedral Quartet With Strings
• 1965: Wilf Carter on 32 Wonderful Years
• 1966: The Statler Brothers on Flowers on the Wall
• 1967: Mrs. Miller on The Country Soul of Mrs. Miller
• 1977: Bill Gaither Trio on My Heart Can Sing – The Inspiring Songs of Stuart Hamblen
• 1979: NRBQ released a rockabilly version on Kick Me Hard
• 1981: The Shadows on Hits Right Up Your Street (Instrumental)
• 1981: Shakin' Stevens had a No. 1 single in the UK and other countries
• 1984: Carl Perkins on Disciple in Blue Suede Shoes
• 1995: The Mom and Dads on Love Letters in the Sand
• 1998: Brian Setzer Orchestra on The Dirty Boogie
• 2000: George Younce on Out Front
• 2002: Jessica King on Where Angels Are
• 2003: Bette Midler recorded a cover in ballad form on her tribute album to Rosemary Clooney, Bette Midler Sings the Rosemary Clooney Songbook, and was included on her compilation Jackpot: The Best Bette in 2008.
• 2004: Loretta Lynn on Van Lear Rose
• 2006: Allison Durham Speer on This Old House
• 2007: Brenda Lee & Dolly Parton on Gospel Duets with Treasured Friends
• 2010: Ernie Haase & Signature Sound on A Tribute to the Cathedral Quartet
• 2011: Willie Nelson on Remember Me, Vol. 1
• 2016: Ray Stevens on Just a Closer Walk with Thee/Gospel Favorites
• 2017: Bill Gaither & Gloria Gaither & Colet Selwyn on Give The World A Smile

References

1. "RCA Victor 20-5500 - 20-6000 78rpm numerical listing discography". www.78discography.com. Retrieved 2020-10-30.
2. Rice, Jo (1982). The Guinness Book of 500 Number One Hits (1st ed.). Enfield, Middlesex: Guinness Superlatives. p. 15. ISBN 0-85112-250-7.
3. "Stuart Hamblen "This Old House" Classic 45, 1954". 2020-01-28. Retrieved 2020-10-30.
4. "This Ole House (song by Stuart Hamblen) ••• Music VF, US & UK hits charts". www.musicvf.com. Retrieved 2020-10-30.
5. McNeil, W. K. (2013-10-18). Encyclopedia of American Gospel Music. Routledge. p. 172. ISBN 978-1-135-37700-7.
6. See 2 Corinthians 5:1
7. "Reviews of New Sacred Records" (PDF). Billboard. 8 May 1954. p. 31. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
8. "Country & Western Records" (PDF). Billboard. 15 May 1954. p. 31. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
9. "Cash Box Top 10 Country Best Sellers – Week ending November 20, 1954". Cash Box magazine. Retrieved 2020-10-30.
10. Inc, Nielsen Business Media (1955-05-21). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 18.
11. Inc, Nielsen Business Media (1954-12-04). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.
12. "This Ole House (song by Rosemary Clooney) ••• Music VF, US & UK hits charts". www.musicvf.com. Retrieved 2020-10-30.
13. "Rosemary Clooney: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
14. Inc, Nielsen Business Media (1954-06-26). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.
15. "Cash Box Best Selling Singles – Week ending November 13, 1954". Cash Box magazine. Retrieved 2020-10-30.
16. "1954's Top Popular Records according to Retail Sales" (PDF). The Billboard. 66 (52): 17. December 25, 1954.
17. "Shakin Stevens: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
18. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
19. "Austriancharts.at – Shakin' Stevens – This Ole House" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
20. "Ultratop.be – Shakin' Stevens – This Ole House" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
21. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 6937." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
22. "Danish Chart Archive - Singles 1979 - ____ (B.T./IFPI DK)". www.ukmix.org. 17 November 2018. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
23. Timo (13 August 2015). "Sisältää hitin: Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1960: Artistit STEP - SUE". Sisältää hitin. Retrieved 2020-07-21.
24. "Offiziellecharts.de – Shakin' Stevens – This Ole House". GfK Entertainment Charts.
25. "Vísir - 66. Tölublað (20.03.1981) - Tímarit.is". timarit.is. Retrieved 2020-11-02.
26. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – This Ole House". Irish Singles Chart.
27. "Israel Singles Charts 1987-1995". www.ukmix.org. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
28. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Shakin' Stevens" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
29. "Dutchcharts.nl – Shakin' Stevens – This Ole House" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
30. "Charts.nz – Shakin' Stevens – This Ole House". Top 40 Singles.
31. "SA Charts 1965–March 1989". Retrieved 30 October 2020.
32. "Swisscharts.com – Shakin' Stevens – This Ole House". Swiss Singles Chart.
33. "World singles charts and sales TOP 50 in 58 countries: SHAKIN' STEVENS". World singles charts and sales TOP 50 in 58 countries. Retrieved 2020-10-30.
34. "AMR Top Singles of 1981". www.top100singles.net. Retrieved 2020-10-30.
35. "Jaaroverzichten 1981". Ultratop. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
36. "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts". GfK Entertainment (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
37. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1981". www.top40.nl. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
38. "Jaaroverzichten - Single 1981". www.dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
39. "Top Selling Singles of 1981". Official NZ Music Charts.com. Recorded Music New Zealand Limited. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
40. "Top 20 Hit Singles of 1981". Retrieved 30 October 2020.
41. "Chartfile Top 100". Record Mirror: 27. 26 December 1981. Retrieved 30 October 2020 – via flickr.com.
42. "BILLIE ANTHONY | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2020-10-30.
43. "A Bing Crosby Discography". BING magazine. International Club Crosby. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
44. "allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
45. "Original versions of Das alte Haus von Rocky-Docky written by Kurt Feltz | SecondHandSongs". Retrieved 2018-02-16.
46. "Peter Kraus-Das Alte Haus (This Ole House)-1981".

External links

• Lyrics to "This Ole House"