Laura (What's He Got That I Ain't Got)
Encyclopedia
"Laura" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music
singer Leon Ashley
. Recorded in 1967 and released on his own Ashley Records label, the song became his only No. 1 single that September. Frankie Laine
and Brook Benton
took cover version
s to the pop and Adult Contemporary charts that year, while Claude King
, Marty Robbins
and Kenny Rogers
charted their own versions on the country charts.
: "Laura (What's He Got That I Ain't Got)." Released that July, "Laura" went on to become a No. 1 smash on the Billboard Hot Country Singles
chart by the end of September.
In the first verse, the husband has Laura touch, hold and caress various parts of his body, such as his lips, ears, hair and hands. Later, he reminds her of the various things he did for her and gave her during their marriage, such as building a home, and buying fancy items such as satin pillows, dresses and curtains; he also demands that she read their names on their checks, which sit in her handbag.
Each refrain calls Laura out, saying he is aware that she is having an affair with another man. The husband demands to know "what's he got that I ain't got," bemoaning the fact that it "must be something I was born without." Just before each refrain, he warns that he has grown angry and gone crazy as a result of this affair and not knowing why she has turned to another man. In the first verse, he warns that "you took an awful chance to be with another man." The warning before the second refrain turns noticeably darker, warning of violence with the lyric "And if there's time before I pull this trigger." It is not known or stated where the barrel of the gun is targeted — either it is at the singer, who is contemplating suicide; or at Laura, as a direct consequence for her infidelity.
several times. Frankie Laine
and Brook Benton
concurrently released their own versions of the song in September 1967. These versions debuted on the Easy Listening (now Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks
) charts in the same week, and both made the lower regions of the Billboard Hot 100
.
Three other country music covers charted as well. Claude King
sent a version to #50 on the country singles chart in 1967 shortly after Ashley's version fell from Number One. Marty Robbins
also recorded a cover version in 1973, taking it to #60 on the Hot Country Singles chart, and Kenny Rogers
took his 1977 cover to #19 from his self-titled
album. Other covers include Tommy Collins
, Tommy Overstreet
, David Houston
, Hank Locklin
and The Newbeats
.
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
singer Leon Ashley
Leon Ashley
Leon Walton is an American country music artist, known profressionally as Leon Ashley. He is known mainly for his number 1 single "Laura ", which topped the country singles charts in 1967. This single was distributed on his own label...
. Recorded in 1967 and released on his own Ashley Records label, the song became his only No. 1 single that September. Frankie Laine
Frankie Laine
Frankie Laine, born Francesco Paolo LoVecchio , was a successful American singer, songwriter, and actor whose career spanned 75 years, from his first concerts in 1930 with a marathon dance company to his final performance of "That's My Desire" in 2005...
and Brook Benton
Brook Benton
Brook Benton was an American singer and songwriter who was popular with rock and roll, rhythm and blues, and pop music audiences during the late 1950s and early 1960s, when he scored hits such as "It's Just A Matter Of Time" and "Endlessly", many of which he co-wrote.He made a comeback in 1970...
took cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
s to the pop and Adult Contemporary charts that year, while Claude King
Claude King
Claude King is an American country music singer and songwriter, best known for his million selling 1962 hit, "Wolverton Mountain".-Biography:...
, Marty Robbins
Marty Robbins
Martin David Robinson , known professionally as Marty Robbins, was an American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist...
and Kenny Rogers
Kenny Rogers
Kenneth Donald "Kenny" Rogers is an American singer-songwriter, photographer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur...
charted their own versions on the country charts.
Background
Ashley had previously released several singles on the Goldband and Imperial record labels, but none of his singles were successful. Then, in 1967, Ashley founded his own label, Ashley Records. That year, he recorded a song he co-wrote with his wife, Margie SingletonMargie Singleton
Margaret Louis Ebey , known professionally as Margie Singleton, is an American country music singer and songwriter. In the 1960s, she was a popular duet and solo recording artist, working with country stars George Jones and Faron Young. Singleton had her biggest hit with Young called "Keeping Up...
: "Laura (What's He Got That I Ain't Got)." Released that July, "Laura" went on to become a No. 1 smash on the Billboard Hot Country Singles
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
chart by the end of September.
Plot
The song is told from the perspective of Laura's husband, and depicts a confrontation the two are having regarding an apparently crumbling marriage.In the first verse, the husband has Laura touch, hold and caress various parts of his body, such as his lips, ears, hair and hands. Later, he reminds her of the various things he did for her and gave her during their marriage, such as building a home, and buying fancy items such as satin pillows, dresses and curtains; he also demands that she read their names on their checks, which sit in her handbag.
Each refrain calls Laura out, saying he is aware that she is having an affair with another man. The husband demands to know "what's he got that I ain't got," bemoaning the fact that it "must be something I was born without." Just before each refrain, he warns that he has grown angry and gone crazy as a result of this affair and not knowing why she has turned to another man. In the first verse, he warns that "you took an awful chance to be with another man." The warning before the second refrain turns noticeably darker, warning of violence with the lyric "And if there's time before I pull this trigger." It is not known or stated where the barrel of the gun is targeted — either it is at the singer, who is contemplating suicide; or at Laura, as a direct consequence for her infidelity.
Cover versions
Following Ashley's original, the song has been coveredCover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
several times. Frankie Laine
Frankie Laine
Frankie Laine, born Francesco Paolo LoVecchio , was a successful American singer, songwriter, and actor whose career spanned 75 years, from his first concerts in 1930 with a marathon dance company to his final performance of "That's My Desire" in 2005...
and Brook Benton
Brook Benton
Brook Benton was an American singer and songwriter who was popular with rock and roll, rhythm and blues, and pop music audiences during the late 1950s and early 1960s, when he scored hits such as "It's Just A Matter Of Time" and "Endlessly", many of which he co-wrote.He made a comeback in 1970...
concurrently released their own versions of the song in September 1967. These versions debuted on the Easy Listening (now Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks
Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks
The Adult Contemporary chart is a weekly chart published in Billboard magazine that lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary and "lite-pop" radio stations in the United States...
) charts in the same week, and both made the lower regions of the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
.
Three other country music covers charted as well. Claude King
Claude King
Claude King is an American country music singer and songwriter, best known for his million selling 1962 hit, "Wolverton Mountain".-Biography:...
sent a version to #50 on the country singles chart in 1967 shortly after Ashley's version fell from Number One. Marty Robbins
Marty Robbins
Martin David Robinson , known professionally as Marty Robbins, was an American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist...
also recorded a cover version in 1973, taking it to #60 on the Hot Country Singles chart, and Kenny Rogers
Kenny Rogers
Kenneth Donald "Kenny" Rogers is an American singer-songwriter, photographer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur...
took his 1977 cover to #19 from his self-titled
Kenny Rogers (1977 album)
Kenny Rogers is the title of Kenny Rogers' second solo album for United Artists Records, released worldwide in 1977. The album marked his first major solo success following the minor success of Love Lifted Me in 1976....
album. Other covers include Tommy Collins
Tommy Collins (country music)
Leonard Raymond Sipes , better known as Tommy Collins, was an American country music singer and songwriter....
, Tommy Overstreet
Tommy Overstreet
Tommy Overstreet is an American country singer. Often known simply as "T.O." by fans and radio disc jockeys, Overstreet has five top five hit singles in the Billboard country charts and 11 top 10 singles. His popularity peaked in the 1970s.-Early life:Born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Overstreet...
, David Houston
David Houston (singer)
Charles David Houston was an American country music singer. His peak in popularity came between the mid-1960s through the early 1970s.-Biography:...
, Hank Locklin
Hank Locklin
Lawrence Hankins Locklin , better known as Hank Locklin, was an American country music singer-songwriter...
and The Newbeats
The Newbeats
The Newbeats were a popular music vocal trio, best known for their 1964 hit, "Bread and Butter", which was released on the Hickory Records label.-Members:The group's members were:*Larry Henley...
.
Leon Ashley
| Chart (1967) | Position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 | 20 |
Frankie Laine
| Chart (1967) | Position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 63 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks | 23 |
Brook Benton
| Chart (1967) | Position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 78 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks | 37 |
Claude King
| Chart (1967) | Position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 50 |
Marty Robbins
| Chart (1973) | Position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 60 |
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 44 |
Kenny Rogers
| Chart (1976) | Position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 19 |
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 39 |