45 RPMs 48: Patsy Cline ~ Walkin' After Midnight

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Patsy Cline ~ Walkin' After Midnight
45 RPM record w/sleeve
photo by Styrous®

Tomorrow is the birthday of Patsy Cline whose most famous song has to be Walkin' After Midnight. I usually remember details about where I was or who I was with on songs that have become a part of my life but I have no idea where I was when I first heard it. All I know is that suddenly I was hearing it all over the place.  The song was written by Alan Block and Donn Hecht and recorded by American country music artist Cline. The song was originally given to pop singer Kay Starr; however, her label rejected it. The song was left unused until Hecht rediscovered it when writing for Four Star Records. Originally Cline was not fond of Walkin', but after making a compromise with her label she recorded it. And as they say, the rest is history.           

 

Patsy Cline ~ Walkin' After Midnight
45 RPM record
photo by Styrous®

On January 28, 1957, Cline was invited to perform a song on the CBS television program hosted by Arthur Godfrey entitled, Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts, a talent competition made up of rising young, unknown professionals. She originally intended to perform A Poor Man's Roses (Or a Rich Man's Gold) on the show; instead the show's producers preferred Walkin' After Midnight. Although Cline did not want to sing it, she performed the song during the program's 8:30 pm slot. The excessive amount of audience applause caused a technical difficulty and froze the applause meter on the show. Because of the great amount of applause, Cline won first place in the show that night. And because of the song's popularity on the show, Decca Records (Four Star leased their music to Decca) released Walkin' After Midnight as a single on February 11, 1957.             

 

Patsy Cline ~ Walkin' After Midnight
45 RPM record lable
photo by Styrous®

Walkin' debuted on the Billboard charts, eventually peaking at No. 2 on the Hot Country Songs chart and No. 12 on the Pop chart by March 3. A Poor Man's Roses (Or a Rich Man's Gold) was released as the single's B-side, also charting on the Billboard Country chart at No. 14. Because Walkin' After Midnight had become a significant hit, Decca issued Cline's debut album August 5, 1957, simply titled, Patsy Cline. The album, however, did not contain A Poor Man's Roses (Or a Rich Man's Gold), the song on the flip side.        

Patsy Cline ~ A Poor Man's Roses
45 RPM record w/sleeve
photo by Styrous®

Walkin' After Midnight features instrumentation from an acoustic guitar, basic drums and piano, steel guitar, electric guitar, and acoustic bass. Its session members were part of The Nashville A-Team of musicians, who played on most of the recording sessions on RCA Victor and Decca Records. Among the musicians were Harold Bradley, Grady Martin, and Bob Moore, all of whom would later play on Cline's later records in the early 1960s. Don Helms, formerly of Hank Williams' band the Drifting Cowboys, played the steel guitar.       

     

Patsy Cline ~ A Poor Man's Roses
45 RPM record w/sleeve detail
detail photo by Styrous®



Walking After Midnight

I go out walkin' after midnight
Out in the moonlight, just like we used to do
I'm always walkin' after midnight
Searchin' for you

I walk for miles along the highway
Well, that's just my way of sayin' I love you
I'm always walkin' after midnight
Searchin' for you

I stop to see a weepin' willow
Cryin' on his pillow
Maybe he's cryin' for me
And as the skies turn gloomy
Night winds whisper to me
I'm lonesome as I can be

I go out walkin' after midnight
Out in the starlight, just hoping you may be
Somewhere a-walkin' after midnight
Searchin' for me

I stop to see a weepin' willow
Cryin' on his pillow
Maybe he's cryin' for me
And as the skies turn gloomy
Night winds whisper to me
I'm lonesome as I can be

I go out walkin' after midnight
Out in the starlight, just hoping you may be
Somewhere a-walkin' after midnight
Searchin' for me

Tracklist:

Side 1:

A - Walkin' After Midnight, written by Alan Block, Don Hecht - 2:32

Side 2:

B - A Poor Man's Roses (Or A Rich Man's Gold), written by Bob Hilliard, Milton DeLugg - 2:45

Companies, etc.

    Manufactured By – Decca Records, Inc.

Notes:

Label variation.
Barcode and Other Identifiers

    Matrix / Runout (A Side Center Label): 45-101004
    Matrix / Runout (B Side Center Label): 45-101007
    Matrix / Runout (A Side Run-Out Stamped): 45 101004 33 3
    Matrix / Runout (B Side Run-Out Stamped): 45 101007 21 3

         

        

        
Viewfinder links:      

Patsy Cline            
Kay Starr         
Hank Williams                  
    
Net Links:      
       
Alberta Prime Times ~ Commentary: I go out walkin, after midnight..        
Who Sampled ~ Walking After Midnight                 
       
YouTube links:      
     
Patsy Cline ~        
     A Poor Man's Roses (Or A Rich Man's Gold)     
     Walkin' After Midnight    
       
        
        
        
Styrous® ~ Monday, September 7, 2020

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