This Ole House

Album: 16 Most Requested Songs (1954)
Charted: 1 1
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Songfacts®:

  • In 1949, Country music songwriter Stuart Hamblen was hunting in Texas with a friend when he found a derelict hut 20 miles from the nearest road. Inside, amidst much trash, lay the dead body of an old prospector. Hamblen, deeply moved, wrote the song's lyrics on a sandwich bag. No publisher wanted it so he published it himself. Rosemary Clooney's version sold over 2 million in the US alone and was a transatlantic #1.
  • In 1981 the song returned to the top of the UK charts when rock 'n' roll revivalist Shakin' Stevens covered it. He based his version on a version by the New Rhythm and Blues Quartet.
  • Rosemary Clooney was one of the leading female vocalists of the 1950s. Now she is best known for having been the aunt of actor George Clooney. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Edward Pearce - Ashford, Kent, England, for all above

Comments: 3

  • Stephen from Los Angeles, CaThurl Ravenscroft was indeed the voice of Tony The Tiger and a great bass singer on hundreds of recordings in the gospel and pop field. He can also be heard all over Disneyland as various characters. He was a member of the Mellomen and voiced many characters for Disney films. He was not African American however. I had the pleasure of working with him once and he was a true gentleman. He passed away in 2005.
  • Mark from Lancaster, OhIt was Thurl Ravenscroft, who also went on to sing, much later, "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch."
  • Mark from Lancaster, OhI do not recall his name, but the bass singer on this recording was an Afro-american voice artist who was, among other things, the voice of Tony the Tiger.
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