Some Guys Have All the Luck
Encyclopedia
"Some Guys Have All the Luck" is a song written by Jeff Fortgang (often misspelled "Fortang"), which has been a Top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100
twice, first by The Persuaders
in 1973 (reaching #39), then by Rod Stewart
in 1984, whose version hit #10. Stewart's version uses the chorus from "Ain't Got No Home" by Clarence "Frogman" Henry.
recorded a country version of the song in 1985, altering the lyrics to the female perspective and changing the title to "Some Girls Have All the Luck." Mandrell's version peaked at No. 22 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles
chart in the winter of 1986. A video was produced of the song, and has aired on The Nashville Network
, CMT
and Great American Country
.
Kelly Clarkson
covered the song for her "All I Ever Wanted Summer Fair Tour." The lyrics were also altered to the female perspective.
Raymond Watts of PIG covered the song as part of his Pig Orchestra project.
Alvin and the Chipmunks
covered the song for the episode "Good Old Simon" from their TV series
.
Other artists who have recorded this song include Robert Palmer (UK #16 in 1982) and Maxi Priest
(UK #12 in 1987), as well as a number of reggae artists, including Junior Tucker, Derrick Harriott
, and The Shakers. After Palmer's death, Stewart began using the Palmer-style arrangement in live concerts.
Jeff Fortgang, the song's composer, created many songs during his three years in the music business after graduating Yale in 1971, but sold only this one (other than several public service radio spots on topics such as alcoholism and VD). He went on to get a PhD in Clinical Psychology, and still works in the mental health field in the Boston area. The major hit by Rod Stewart arrived after Fortgang was well into his psychology career.
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...
twice, first by The Persuaders
The Persuaders (band)
The Persuaders are a New York based R&B vocal group, with some fame in the 1970s, best known for their hit single, "Thin Line Between Love and Hate"...
in 1973 (reaching #39), then by Rod Stewart
Rod Stewart
Roderick David "Rod" Stewart, CBE is a British singer-songwriter and musician, born and raised in North London, England and currently residing in Epping. He is of Scottish and English ancestry....
in 1984, whose version hit #10. Stewart's version uses the chorus from "Ain't Got No Home" by Clarence "Frogman" Henry.
Cover versions
Louise MandrellLouise Mandrell
Thelma Louise Mandrell, also known as Louise Mandrell, was born July 13, 1954 and is an American country music singer. She is the younger sister of country singer Barbara Mandrell, and older sister of actress Irlene Mandrell. Louise had a successful singing career in country music with a string of...
recorded a country version of the song in 1985, altering the lyrics to the female perspective and changing the title to "Some Girls Have All the Luck." Mandrell's version peaked at No. 22 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 in the winter of 1986. A video was produced of the song, and has aired on The Nashville Network
Spike TV
Spike is an American cable television channel. It launched on March 7, 1983 as The Nashville Network , a joint venture of WSM, Inc...
, CMT
Country Music Television
Country Music Television, or CMT, is an American country music-oriented cable television network. Programming includes music videos, taped concerts, movies, biographies of country music stars, game shows, and reality programs...
and Great American Country
Great American Country
Great American Country , is a Nashville, Tennessee-based country music cable television network.-History:The station launched December 31, 1995 and Garth Brooks' video "The Thunder Rolls" was the first video to air on GAC....
.
Kelly Clarkson
Kelly Clarkson
Kelly Brianne Clarkson is an American pop rock singer-songwriter and actress. Clarkson came into prominence after becoming the winner of the inaugural season of the television series American Idol in 2002 and would later become the runner-up in the television special World Idol in 2003.In 2003,...
covered the song for her "All I Ever Wanted Summer Fair Tour." The lyrics were also altered to the female perspective.
Raymond Watts of PIG covered the song as part of his Pig Orchestra project.
Alvin and the Chipmunks
Alvin and the Chipmunks
Alvin and the Chipmunks is an American animated music group created by Ross Bagdasarian, Sr. in 1958. The group consists of three singing animated anthropomorphic chipmunks: Alvin, the mischievous troublemaker, who quickly became the star of the group; Simon, the tall, bespectacled intellectual;...
covered the song for the episode "Good Old Simon" from their TV series
Alvin and the Chipmunks (TV series)
Alvin and the Chipmunks is an American animated television series featuring The Chipmunks, produced by Bagdasarian Productions in association with Ruby-Spears Enterprises from 1983–87, and DIC Entertainment from 1988-90....
.
Other artists who have recorded this song include Robert Palmer (UK #16 in 1982) and Maxi Priest
Maxi Priest
Max Alfred "Maxi" Priest is a British reggae vocalist of Jamaican descent. He is best known for singing reggae music with a R&B influence, otherwise known as reggae fusion, and became one of the first international successes who regularly dabbled in the genre as well as being one of the most...
(UK #12 in 1987), as well as a number of reggae artists, including Junior Tucker, Derrick Harriott
Derrick Harriott
Derrick Harriott is a singer and record producer. He has produced recordings by Big Youth, Chariot Riders, The Chosen Few, Dennis Brown, The Ethiopians, Keith & Tex, The Kingstonians, Rudy Mills, Scotty, Sly & Revolutionaries, and Winston McAnuff.-Biography:As a student at Excelsior High School,...
, and The Shakers. After Palmer's death, Stewart began using the Palmer-style arrangement in live concerts.
Jeff Fortgang, the song's composer, created many songs during his three years in the music business after graduating Yale in 1971, but sold only this one (other than several public service radio spots on topics such as alcoholism and VD). He went on to get a PhD in Clinical Psychology, and still works in the mental health field in the Boston area. The major hit by Rod Stewart arrived after Fortgang was well into his psychology career.