Lonesome 7-7203
Encyclopedia
"Lonesome 7-7203" is a 1963 single by Hawkshaw Hawkins
, written by Justin Tubb
. It was the final single release of his career, released in 1963 on the King
label.
Hot Country Singles
charts, peaking at No. 1 on the chart dated for May 4, 1963.
Three days after its release, Hawkins died in an airplane crash which also killed Patsy Cline
and Cowboy Copas
. Two weeks after Hawkins' death, the song reached No. 1 for a four-week run.
The song, a heartbreak ballad, is from a man who keeps receiving phone calls on the old phone number for his ex
. He can't bear the constant calls not for him that remind him of her so he has set up a special phone number, exclusively for her, that she can call to get back in touch with him (and presumably, resume the relationship). The song is the means that he uses to give out the new number.
s: Burl Ives
, Tony Booth
and Darrell Clanton
, in 1967, 1972 and 1983, respectively.
Hawkshaw Hawkins
Harold Franklin Hawkins , better known as Hawkshaw Hawkins, was an American country music singer popular from the 1950s into the early 60s known for his rich, smooth vocals and music drawn from blues, boogie and honky tonk...
, written by Justin Tubb
Justin Tubb
Justin Wayne Tubb was an American country music singer and songwriter. Born in San Antonio, Texas, he was the oldest son of legendary country singer Ernest Tubb.-Biography:...
. It was the final single release of his career, released in 1963 on the King
King Records (USA)
King Records is an American record label, started in 1943 by Syd Nathan and originally headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio.-History:At first it specialized in country music, at the time still known as "hillbilly music." King advertised, "If it's a King, It's a Hillbilly -- If it's a Hillbilly, it's a...
label.
History
"Lonesome 7-7203" was Hawkins's first chart entry since "Soldier's Joy" in 1959. It spent twenty-five weeks on the BillboardBillboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
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...
charts, peaking at No. 1 on the chart dated for May 4, 1963.
Three days after its release, Hawkins died in an airplane crash which also killed Patsy Cline
Patsy Cline
Patsy Cline , born Virginia Patterson Hensley in Gore, Virginia, was an American country music singer who enjoyed pop music crossover success during the era of the Nashville sound in the early 1960s...
and Cowboy Copas
Cowboy Copas
Lloyd Estel Copas , known by his stage name Cowboy Copas, was an American country music singer popular from the 1940s until his death in the 1963 plane crash that also killed country stars Patsy Cline and Hawkshaw Hawkins. He was a member of the Grand Ole Opry.-Biography:Copas was born in 1913 in...
. Two weeks after Hawkins' death, the song reached No. 1 for a four-week run.
The song, a heartbreak ballad, is from a man who keeps receiving phone calls on the old phone number for his ex
Ex (relationship)
In social relationships, an ex is someone with whom a person was once associated. As a prefix, ex- can refer to a variety of different relationships; for example, one might refer to a music group's ex-guitarist, or someone's ex-friend...
. He can't bear the constant calls not for him that remind him of her so he has set up a special phone number, exclusively for her, that she can call to get back in touch with him (and presumably, resume the relationship). The song is the means that he uses to give out the new number.
Cover versions
Following Hawkins' version, three others charted on the country singles charts with cover versionCover 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: Burl Ives
Burl Ives
Burl Icle Ivanhoe Ives was an American actor, writer and folk music singer. As an actor, Ives's work included comedies, dramas, and voice work in theater, television, and motion pictures. Music critic John Rockwell said, "Ives's voice .....
, Tony Booth
Tony Booth (musician)
Tony Booth is an American country music singer who participated in Buck Owens' "Bakersfield sound" revolution.-Early years:...
and Darrell Clanton
Darrell Clanton
Darrell Puckett , known professionally as Darrell Clanton, is an American country music artist. In the mid-1980s, he recorded for Audiograph and Warner Bros. Records, charting three singles on the Billboard country charts. The highest of the three was "Lonesome 7-7203," which reached No...
, in 1967, 1972 and 1983, respectively.
Hawkshaw Hawkins
| Chart (1963) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 | 8 |
Burl Ives
| Chart (1967) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 72 |
Tony Booth
| Chart (1972) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 16 |
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 7 |
Darrell Clanton
| Chart (1983-1984) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 24 |
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 21 |