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Wanda Jackson
Born:  October 20, 1937
Oklahoma Music Hall Of Fame (2000)
KRLD Big D Jamboree
KWTO Ozark Jubilee
KLPR Oklahoma City, OK


About The Artist

In Progress...

Wanda Jackson - Portrait

Wanda Jackson - Cowboy Songs - May 1954 Wanda Lavonne Jackson ranks as one of the most popular girl singers of the late 1950's and throughout the 1960's, and into the early 1970's. Although primarily a straight country girl vocalist, she also recorded some of the most lively rockabilly numbers ever recorded as well as several high quality country gospel albums. Wanda spent her earlier years growing up in Oklahoma (1937-42, 1946 ff.) and southern California (1942-1946, and some summers thereafter), where the Jackson's searched for a career for their already appealing and talented daughter.

Initially, Jackson seemed to have more luck in Oklahoma City. At the age of 13, he had her own radio show over the local KLPR in Oklahoma City. She was a part of the "Mountain Jamboree" show on KLPR for three years. In 1954, she was a vocalist with the Oklahoma Night Rider band, appearing in local night clubs. In a 1957 article, Frieda Barter notes that a disc jockey at KLPR, Jay Davis, mentored her somewhat, offering encouragement and helping her take the rough edges out of her performances. She caught the attention of helpful Hank Thompson when he made a guest appearance on her show. She won a leading role in a high school musical, and signed a contract with Paul Cohen and Decca, all at the age of sixteen. She cut her first session in March 1954, taking a week off from school to do her first five songs, one of which, a duet with Billy Gray, "You Can't Have My Love," became a number 8, Billboard hit.

She won a talent contest when she was in Los Angeles on the Squeakin' Deacon's program that aired over KXLA.

While she was in Los Angeles, she bought some western wear from Nudie's Rodeo Tailor in Hollywood.

Back in Oklahoma, one humorless high school teacher cut her grade to a D. She spent the summer as a girl vocalist with Hank Thompson and the Brazos Valley Boys. After graduation, she went full-time in music with her father Tom Jackson as driver, chaperone, manager, and advisor. Her mother stayed home and made her stage costumes-initially cowgirl but later more modern and showy.

In July, she first met young Elvis Presley who urged her to incorporate some of his newer styles (emerging rock and roll) into her repertoire) which she soon did.

In 1955, at the age of 18, she won Country & Western Jamboree Magazine's Reader's Poll as Best New Female Vocalist. Finishing runners-up ere Myrna Lorrie, Bonnie Sloan, Mimi Roman and Rita Robbins. Elvis won Best New Male Vocalist. In 1956, she was once again Best New Female Singer, out-polling the runner up Janis Martin 1,010 votes to 291 votes. Patsy Cline and Brenda Lee were 3rd and 4th. But she finished in 3rd in the Best Female Singer category finishing behind Kitty Wells and Jean Shepard. The magazine only published the first place winners for its 1957 polling of the fans.

The Cash Box magazine also had its polls - of the disc jockeys. Their 1955 polling for UP and Coming Female Vocalists saw Wanda finishing third behind Rita Robbins and Myrna Lorrie and ahead of Ruby Wells and Anita Carter. In its 1956 poll, she finished first in the "Up and Coming Female Vocalist" category, ahead of Patsy Cline, Mimi Roman, Rita Robbins and Janis Martin. In 1957, she finished in fourth as the most programmed female vocalist behind Kitty Wells, Jean Shepard, and Patsy Cline. She also finished fourth in their Most Promising Female Vocalist polling behind Patsy Cline, Mimi Roman and Bonnie Guitar. In 1958, Cash Box named her the third most programmed country female vocalist behind Kitty Wells and Jean Shepard. The 1959 poll saw her finish behind Kitty Wells and Jean Shepard once again. In 1961, the magazine simply listed the Top Country Records and Artists of the year. Wanda was in the Top Five Female Vocalists as No. 5 and only five females were listed. In contrast, the magazine listed 40 Male Vocalists.

Promo Ad - Riverbank Rink and Ballroom (CA) - Wanda Jackson - Porter Wagoner - Hank Locklin - October 1955
Promo Ad - Big Barn - Salinas, CA - Autry Inman - Wanda Jackson - Skeets McDonald - October 1955

Promo Ad - Fair Park Auditorium - Abilene, TX - Elvis Presley - Wanda Jackson - Jimmy Newman - Porter Wagoner - Johnny Cash - Bobby Lord - Floyd Cramer - Jimmy Day
Promo Ad - Jack Beasley's Hillbilly Opry - Shawnee Municipal Auditorium - Shawnee, OK - Wanda Jackson - Monty Montgomer - Billy the Kid - February 1955

Promo Ad - Trianon - Shawnee, OK - Leon McAuliffe - Wanda Jackson - July 1954
Promo Ad - Cain's - Tulsa, OK - Hank Thompson and his Brazos Valley Boys - Wanda Jackson - Billy Gray - September 1954

Wanda Jackson - Country & Western Jamboree - June 1955 Meanwhile, Wanda's contract with Decca expired and she signed with Capitol. Her first release — a unique song to say the least — cut on June 8, 1956 called "I Gotta Know" was roughly half straight country and half rock and roll.

She also began to record both country and rockabilly material. The former included the first recording of "Silver Threads and Golden Needles" while the most dramatic of the latter was the dynamic "Fujiyama Mama," which gained little attention at the time but became a big hit in Japan.

In May of 1957, she wrote a column for Country & Western Jamboree. She told fans of her professional experiences to date in her career. She said it was fun to work with such country giants as Red Foley and Ernest Tubb.

She said she had met a young man named Elvis Presley a year earlier and watched him "...zoom to stardom in such a short time, but he still remained the same great guy that he was a year ago!" She cited Sonny James as a fellow artist she became friends with.

She noted, "I've just begun to realize what a lucky kid I've been." Then she noted she was heading to the west coast "...where I do my recording for Capitol records in that new fancy building. It's really beautiful and so different looking. I always look forward to those visits."

She hooked up with the Philip Morris country music shows for a time as well. In May 1959, the package show played at the Louisville Fairgrounds Coliseum on Wednesday night April 29 and drew a then record 20,000 at the venue. Admission was free as were all the Philip Morris shows.

Wanda Jackson - Ozark Jubilee Souvenir Picture Album - First Edition
Wanda Jackson - Panther Hall Benefit Concert for Little Joe Carson - 1964

Other stars she appeared with were the Everly Brothers, Marty Robbins, Webb Pierce, Billy Grammer, Del Wood, Uncle Cyp Brasfield. Local Louisville area Disc Jockeys also took part - Paul Cowley, Tommy Downs, Red Kirk and Jimmy Logsdon of WKLO; Randy Atcher of WHAS; Jack Bendt of WTMT; Jack Sanders of WAKY. It was the third year in a row for the Philip Morris show to be a part of Derby festivities.

In the next few years, Wanda continued doing both rocking numbers typified by "Let's Have a Party" and country songs such as "Right or Wrong" and "The Box It Came In." She worked a lot in Las Vegas and California, but home remained Oklahoma City.

In fact, "Let's Have A Party" became a pop hit for her. On the Capitol label, they were touting her as the latest country artist to hit the pop charts. She followed other Capitol success stories such as Margaret Whiting and Jimmy Wakely, Tennessee Ernie ford, Ferlin Husky and Sonny James.

Industry magazines provide a glimpse into her visits to the entertainment venues in Nevada. In September 1959, she was booked into the Showboat Hotel for three weeks starting on September 22.

In 1960, Billboard reported that Wanda was returning to the Golden Nugget in Las Vegas in December and was going to play an additional 20 weeks at the club in 1961. An article about her 1960 engagement at the Nugget featured a comment from Bill Greene of the casino, "Wanda's brilliant presentation with her vibrant and projecting personality and the top quality unit, The Party Timers, that she carries with her, will mark this as one of the best shows we have ever presented to the public at The Golden Nugget. We term Wanda and her Party Timers as a smashing success here in Las Vegas."

In 1962, the Golden Nugget in Las Vegas was featuring 21 hours of country music daily and had five different acts each day.

Her popularity overseas spread across the European continent. Mari De Luigi reported in August 1960 in Billboard that her recording of "Long Tally Sally" b/w "Party" was one of the most played tunes on jukeboxes in the Riviera.

Her release of "Honey Bop" was expected to follow in the footsteps of that hit. In December 1960, Billboard's chart of the Top 20 Pop records in Holland showed Wanda's recording of "Let's Have A Party." was number 17.

In December 1960, Cash Box reported that Wanda's "Let's Have A Party" was number 7 on Australia's Best Sellers.

That hit gave rise to the name of her band she formed to back her. A 1966 article writes of the three musicians backing her at the time, Mike Lane, Tex Wilburn, Al Flores and Don Bartlett.

In 1961, she married Wendell Goodman who replaced Tom Jackson as her personal manager while continuing to tour extensively through the Halsey Agency. Her mid-level hits for Capitol were accompanied by a string of successful long-play albums. Through 1973, she had cut about 300 songs for Capitol. For a year, she also did a syndicated TV show called Music Village.

Wanda Jackson - Flame Cafe Promotional Photo - Circa 1960's

Wanda Jackson - Flame Cafe Promotional Photo - Circa 1960's

Promo Ad - Richland Carnival - Richland, PA - Wanda Jackson - Tim McClurg - July 1959
Promo Ad - American Legion Building - Seminole, OK - Hank Thompason and his Brazos Valley Boys - Wanda Jackson - Billy Gray - Gene O'Quinn - October 1954

Promo Ad - Rosa's Western Club - Fort Worth, TX - Wanda Jackson - July 1959
Promo Ad - Cross Keys - New Oxford, PA - Wanda Jackson - July 1959

Promo Ad - Club Willow - Ardmore, OK - Lucky Brazell and the Western Rhythmaires - Norma Beasler - September 1955
Promo Ad - McMahon Auditorium - Lawton, OK - Oklahoma Hillbilly Jamboree - Jud 'n' Jody; Norma Beasler (Golden Voice of TV); August 1955

Promo Ad - Himmelreich's Grove - Pottsville, PA - Wanda Jackson - Buck Benson - June 1959
Promo Ad - Sunset Park - Oxford, PA - Wanda Jackson - The Eckert Family - Bobby Metzel - Bob Cox - Eddie Matherly (MC) - June 1959

Promo Ad - KRNT Theatre - Des Moines, IA - Kitty Wells - Johnny and Jack - Hank Thompson - Wanda Jackson - Merle Travis - Bill Phillips - Cedric Rainwater - October 1959
Promo Ad - State Theatre Hartford - Hank Thompson and his Brazos Valley Boys - Singing Doll - Wanda Jackson - April 1959

By 1971, both Wendell and Wanda were feeling something was amiss in their lives. They were both smoking and drinking more than they should, even though her voice and looks had held up well. Then after a church visit at their children's urging, they had a conversion experience and almost immediately turned their lives around. She never quit singing secular material, but did an increasing amount of gospel singing.

Capitol would only let her do one sacred album, she secured a release from her long time label and signed with Word and their subsidiary label Myrrh, turning out four albums in the mid-seventies. Perhaps the most notable number from these efforts, "Jesus Put a Yodel in My Soul," harkened back to her early days in Oklahoma when she did a lot of cowgirl numbers in the vein of Patsy Montana.

However, when Word, Inc. was sold to ABC Dot, Wanda felt lost in the shuffle. For eleven months, she and Wendell moved to Texas, but then returned to Oklahoma City. Rockabilly music had entered into a renaissance and Wanda found herself in great demand in Europe, especially Sweden and Germany.

She went abroad several times in the next two decades, cutting a new album in Sweden (released in 1986 on Varick in the U.S.) while still doing country and gospel in the U.S.A. She did a new country album for Gusto but it lacked much of the old fire from her early Capitol sides. As rockabilly resurged in America, Wanda toured with such figures as Rosie Flores.

Wanda Jackson - From Country Western Star Studded Souvenir Program - Undated
Wanda Jackson - From 1961 Country and Western Scrapbook

Promo Ad - Panther Hall Ballroom - Fort Worth, TX - Ron Williams - Sonny Lorria - Wanda Jackson and her Party Timers - November 1965
Promo Ad - Topeka Municipal Auditorium - Topeka, KS - Hank Snow - Roy Clark - Wanda Jackson - Wilma Lee - Plainsmen Quartet - March 1965

Promo Ad - Tulsa State Fair Grandstand - Tulsa, OK - Red Foley - Porter Wagoner - Wanda Jackson - FOggy River Boys Quartet - September 1955
Promo Ad - Lowell Lundstrom Crusade - Missoula, MT - Lundstrom Singers - Wanda Jackson - October 1985

Book Cover - Every Night Is Saturday Night - Wanda Jackson - Scott B. Bomar - 2017 Wanda was also a songwriter, penning several of her hits. A multi-page feature article on Wanda in the first issue of Hoedown magazine in May 1966 spoke of her approach to songwriting at the time.

During her stays at home, she 'may' write a song. She said, "I'm not the type who writes all the time. First I have to get an idea. Next I set myself to daydreaming about the idea, that situation. I might, for example, think how I would react if the one I love had just left me. That is always a good theme. I begin imagining what my reactions would be. How I would react. Before long, a melody comes to mind." When all of that came together, she would go into a soundproof room that was build for those moments when Wanda found her inspirations. The room was said to be small, containing only a desk and a piano. It could only be locked or unlocked from the inside. When she is in that mood, she can compose her tune on the piano without interruptions.

Wanda related how she came to write one of her recordings. "One time I was at a friend's house looking at a magazine, when I wrote my favorite song. While looking through this magazine I came across a picture of little charms one could order for a charm bracelet. It set me to thinking. And in a few minutes, I had written the words to "Little Charm Bracelet."

She could spend a bit of a time coming up with a melody, but if it took more than an hour to write the words, she gave up on it. "I've found the songs which come easy are the good songs. Those that I work and work on, they never come off. Now I discard them after an hour."

Sometimes she wrote with another artist in mind. She wrote "Kicking Our Hearts Around" for Buck Owens. The result? She got an award from BMI.

An example of a song that came to her in 1959. She was in a 'daydreaming mood.' She picked up a piece of scratch paper and wrote down the words to a song she had in mind. She spent a few minutes on the piano and the end result was "Right or Wrong." That tune sold 300,000 copies and was also recorded by other artists that helped push sales to over a million. Ken Nelson of Capitol had heard her humming it and told her to record it. Initially she said she had no intention of doing so. Which may be why she wisely let others judge her compositions.

Another song she wrote gainer her even more success, "In The Middle Of A Heartache." That tune sold 500,000 copies.

Mr. Townsend notes that one of Wanda's recordings was an 'international product.' She did "Santo Domingo." Wanda noted it was a Latin song, played by German musicians, recorded in a New York studio, sung in Dutch, by an American country singer.

  • You'd Be The First One To Know
  • Your Sweet Love
  • Mean Mean Man
  • Little Charm Bracelet
  • I'd Be Ashamed
  • Right Or Wrong
  • You Bug Me Bad
  • Your Tender Love
  • I Misunderstood (co-writer, Wendell Goodman)
  • In The Middle Of A Heartache (co-writers, Pat Franzese, Laurie Christenson)
  • Cool Love (co-writer, Vicki Countryman)

Wanda Jackson - Our Picture Album of Country & Western Music Stars
Panther Hall - Benefit concert for Little Joe Carson - 1964

Ironically, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012, but still waits for the long overdue Country Hall of Fame honor. Wanda credits much of this to the fact that she was never part of the Nashville establishment.

Moving onward, her husband of 56 years died in May 2017, but after several days, accompanied by her grand-daughter, she fulfilled a commitment in Seattle. The couple had two children, Gina Gail Goodman and Gregory Jackson Goodman. His obituary indicated he managed Wanda through her country & western years in the 1960's, her gospel years in the 1960's and then back to the 50's Rockabilly style in the 1980's. He passed away while on a trip with Wanda where she performed on a Friday night at the Nashville Boogie & Vintage Weekender and then in Birmingham, AL on a Saturday night where he passed away.

A 1966 article tells of her marriage to Wendell. He was an IBM programmer and supervisor at the time. They were married in Gainesville, TX. Why? She said it was close and there was no waiting period. They just got in the car, drove to Gainesville and got married.

That September she was the guest star at the revitalized "Sagebrush Roundup" on Bunner's Ridge near Fairmont, West Virginia where I (Ivan Tribe) finally saw her after 62 years of waiting for the chance.

Wanda could still belt out the rocking numbers with as much fire as ever although she sat on a stool rather than moving around as in the old days, dividing her show almost equally among country, gospel and rockabilly numbers.

The grand lady of three forms of country retired in 2019 and resides as she almost always has in Oklahoma City.

Wanda Jackson — Record Reviews From The Billboard & Cash Box
Date Label Rec No. Review
9/25/1954 (CB) Decca 29267 You'd Be The First One To Know — Wanda Jackson sends up a first class performance on a moderate tempo, sentimental piece. The chirp sings the tender lyrics with warmth and sincerity. (Rating: B)
If You Don't Somebody Else Will — Billy Gray teams up with Wanda on a colorful, love item that’s starting to click. A socko follow-up to their current success “You Can’t Have My Love”. Should do well. (Rating: B+)
12/4/1954 (BB) Decca 29253 The Right To Love — They're considered a bit too young to love, complains Miss Jackson, in a well-constructed weeper. She does an outstanding job of projection for a side that could stir up plenty of attention. (Rating: 80)
If You Knew What I Know — More good weeper wax, this is a multiple-dub slicing. Here Miss Jackson warns of the guy's phoney romantic double talk. (Rating: 77)
5/14/1955 (CB) Decca 29514 Nobody's Darlin' But Mine — The velvety tones of Wanda Jackson are a treat to the ear on this beautiful, middle tempo piece. (Rating: B)
Tears At The Grand Ole Opry — The chirp offers a most persuasive vocal on a moderate beat, heartrending item. (Rating: B)
11/12/1955 (CB) Decca 29677 It's The Same World — The velvety tones of Wanda Jackson come through in poignant fashion on this moderate paced weeper. (Rating: B)
Don't Do The Things He'd Do — The chirp The thrush sings this middle beat piece with telling effect as she tells the guy that she’ll forgive and forget if he comes back. (Rating: B)
5/11/1956 (CB) Decca 29803 Wasted — Wanda Jackson displays her fine vocal style as she renders an up beat, romantic heartbreaker. Deck has strong potential and could develop into a ‘hit’ side. (Rating: B+)
I Cried Again — On this side the thrush again turns on the tears as she tenderly projects a moderate tempo, lover’s lament. Two decks packed with feeling. (Rating: B)
7/21/1956 (BB) Capitol 3482 Half As Good A Girl — Miss Jackson comes thru with two powerful sides in this new coupling. On top it's a fine traditionally styled piece of country philosophy with some great lyrics. (Rating: Review Spotlight)
I Gotta Know — The flip is a might hip bit of swinging wax with some catchy changes of pace. Either 'side could go all the way. Watch 'em! (Rating: Review Spotlight)
7/28/1956 (CB) Capitol 3482 Half As Good A Girl — Wanda Jackson, who copped top honors as the ‘most promising up and coming female vocalist’ in the recent Cash Box poll conducted among the nation’s country deejays, debuts on the Capitol label with a pair of tunes that loom as strong chart contenders. On one side the thrush alternates with a waltz tempo and a rock and roll beat as she excitingly renders a contagious romantic novelty labeled “I Gotta Know”. It’s an infectious ditty that could go all the way. On the other half the songstress sings with tender emotion as she tearfully projects a lilting, middle beat lover’s lament titled “Half As Good A Girl”. Powerful coupler for maximum sales results. (Rating: Cash Box Bullseye)
11/3/1956 (CB) Capitol 3575 Hot Dog! That Made Him Mad — Wanda Jackson weighs in with a potent double-decker that’s as different as day and night and should prove to be a solid moneymaker for ops and dealers. On one end the canary zestfully belts out a sparkling novelty jumper titled “Hot Dog! That Made Him Mad”. The lower portion, “Silver Threads And Golden Needles”, is an expressive middle beat heartfelt piece that Miss Jackson projects with great feeling. Top notch coupling. (Rating: The Cash Box Bullseye)
Silver Threads and Golden Needles — (Rating: The Cash Box Bullseye)
12/22/1956 (BB) Decca 30153 The Heart You Could Have Had — Although Wanda Jackson has left Decca for Capitol, the former label has a potential two-sided hit by the thrush in this disk. She sells "The Heart You Could Have Had" (a weeper-type ballad with good lyrics) with plaintive effectiveness, and is equally strong on the flip, a moving weeper. (Rating: Review Spotlight)
You Won't Forget — (Rating: Review Spotlight)
2/16/1957 (CB) Capitol 3637 Baby Loves Him — A new pair of tunes that have all the earmarks of a grade “A” success hit the Country wax market this week via the Capitol label. And the star of this double-barreled coin-catcher is 1956’s “most promising female artist,” Wanda Jackson. One end, “Baby Loves Him,” is a solid-driving, rhythmic, house-rocker that the chirp belts out in captivating style. A colorful instrumental backdrop enhances the platter. Wanda changes the pace on the flip as she beautifully projects a tearful, middle-beat romantic weeper labeled “Cryin’ Through the Night.” It’s a twin-threat. Either end can take off. (Rating: The Cash Box Bullseye)
Cryin' Thru The Night — (Rating: The Cash Box Bullseye)
4/6/1957 (CB) Capitol 3683 Let Me Explain — Wanda Jackson, one of the country field’s top thrushes, gets the big pop push from Capitol on this coupling. This half is a dramatic rock and roll beat item with loads of guitar work and a socko teenage lyric. Wanda has a great sound and style that should have no trouble catching on in the pop market. Big song too. (Rating: B+)
Don'A Wan'A — The lark ups the beat on this half and belts across a terrific calypso jumper here, making the disk a twin threat. Solid rhythmer with tremendous potential. Both decks have the ingredients needed for pop success.(Rating: B+)
8/3/1957 (CB) Capitol 3764 Cool Love — Wanda Jackson, whose following in the country field continues to increase with every spin of her records, makes her bid to become a pop favorite, as well, with both ends of her latest Capitol pairing. The chirp, supplied with two strong pieces of money-makin’ material, proceeds to wrap ’em up in winning fashion. “Cool Love”, on the topside, is a rockin’ handclapper while “Did You Miss Me”, on the lower half, is taken at a slow, fish-beat-ballad pace. And Wanda receives a top notch vocal and instrumental assist on two sides that are headed for hitdom in both the pop and country markets. (Rating: The Cash Box Bullseye)
Did You Miss Me? — (Rating: The Cash Box Bullseye)
12/7/1957 (CB) Capitol 3843 No Wedding Bells For Joe — Wanda Jackson’s latest offering combines a pair of items that look like sure-fire winners and it’s heads or tails. Topside, the lark puts her heart into her delivery of a touching, middle beat romantic shuffler labeled, “No Wedding Bells For Joe”. Flipside she changes the pace as she refreshingly belts out a light-hearted novelty rocker tagged “Fujiyama Mama”. Powerful two-sider that oughta earn a heap of loot for ops and dealers. Watch ’em both. (Rating: The Cash Box Bullseye)
Fujiyama Mama — (Rating: The Cash Box Bullseye)
3/29/1958 (CB) Capitol 3941 Honey Bop — Wanda Jackson follows her chartriding “No Wedding Bells For Joe” and “Fujiyama Mama” with another potent two-sider that should follow suit. This side is a catchy ditty from the r&r category that Wanda belts out in bright style.(Rating: B+)
Just A Queen For A Day — Under half is a middle tempo lover’s lament that the velvety-voiced canary renders in warm, penetrating fashion. Either end can step way out. (Rating: B+)
8/16/1958 (CB) Capitol 4026 Mean Mean Man — rock-a-bihy approach on this half of her newest Capitol pairing. It’s a torrid, all-market rock ’n roller that the thrush drives out in coin-catching fashion. Exciting musical support.(Rating: B+)
Our Song — Here Wanda slows down the pace as she wutrmly spins a tear-compelling, sentimental rock-a-ballad. Strong pop-country offering. (Rating: B+)
11/1/1958 (CB) Capitol 4081 Sinful Heart — Velvety throated Wanda Jackson is at her weeper-ballad best as she convincingly wraps up this heart-rending romantic item. Potent lyrics handled in first rate style. Country jocks’ll easily warm up to this one. Could step way out.(Rating: B+)
Rock Your Baby — The songstress can have an all-mart chart item with this engaging thumper tailor-made for the hoofers. Solid coupler. (Rating: B+)
12/29/1959 (CB) Capitol 4207 The Heart You Could Have Had — Wanda Jackson’s grade “A” vocal stylings come over with telling effect as she renders this tearful, moderate paced lover’s ballad. Watch this one. Could blossom into a hit. (Rating: B+)
You Won't Forget (About Me) — The canary turns in another outstanding performance on this half, a penetrating, middle beat romantic weeper. Potent coupling. (Rating: B+)
12/9/1957 (BB) Capitol 3843 No Wedding Bells For Me — A weeper of considerable power. The lyric itself can create a rush of tears. The chick's Interpretation is very solid indeed. (Rating: 76)
Fujiyama Mama — A blues. Wanda Jackson chants it in gravel- voiced style. The oriental title reflects a current fad, but does not detract from fact that the side is strong country blues.(Rating: 75)
3/23/1958 (BB) Capitol 3941 Just A Queen For A Day — Touching weeper is wrapped up in expressive vocal by thrush. (Rating: 76)
Honey Bop — Frantic chirping on an okay rockabilly tune with infectious tempo.(Rating: 76)
8/11/1958 (BB) Capitol 4026 Mean, Mean Man — Lass sings of her love fort a mean, mean man on this driving rockabily effort. She sells it in fem Presley fashion. Could get some loot if exposed. (Rating: 75)
Our Song — A weeper receives a heart-tearing rendition from the country thrush over triplet piano support. Country jocks will spin. (Rating: 74)
11/3/1958 (BB) Capitol 4081 Sinful Heart — The gal gives this bleeder a reading with the heartbreak sound. A lot of heart in this and it Could move in the more rural circles. (Rating: 3 Stars)
Rock Your Baby — Miss Jackson turns rockabilly on this side and an interesting upbeat effort. Rates spins, too. (Rating: 3 Stars)
2/2/1959 (BB) Capitol 4142 You've Turned To A Stranger — The gal laments the change manifest in her mate. A strong country weeper ballad reading. This can move in rural circles. (Rating: 3 Stars)
Savin' My Love — A vey poppish blues here by the good country thrush. It has a good rocking backing and could stir some interest. (Rating: 2 Stars)
5/18/1959 (BB) Capitol 4207 A Date With Jerry — The country thrush has a teen ballad, with a triplet figure. Merits good exposure. (Rating: 3 Stars)
You're The One For Me — A rocker with a touch of novelly. Thrush does good job, with her appealing styling. (Rating: 2 Stars)
3/14/1960 (BB) Capitol 4354 Please Call Today — "Please call today," she says, "for I'll be gone tomorrow." A good country weeper with a message keyed to the eternal lovers triangle. Solid traditonal fare. (Rating: 4 Stars)
My Destiny — Miss Jackson knows how to get out those weepy sounds. She makes all the tragedy seem very real on this weeper In the traditional groove. Fans will like. (Rating: 3 Stars)
6/27/1960 (BB) Capitol 4397 Cool Love — A blues-oriented side with hip lyrics. Thrush has a highly individual style. Funky guitars and stacatto rhythm mark the arrangement. (Rating: 3 Stars)
Let's Have A Party — A blues of the rocking type. Thrush chants this one with high-pitched falsetto breaks. (Rating: 3 Stars)
7/2/1960 (BB) Capitol 4397 Let's Have A Party — The lark, a standout in the country dept., can make big pop noise with this one culled from one of her LP’s. It’s a tremendous house-rocker on which the chirp ‘pulls out all the stops.’ Should collect loads of juke coin. (Rating: The Cash Box Best Bets)
Cool Love — Inviting, chorus-backed up tempo affair on this portion. (Rating: 3 Stars)
11/12/1960 (CB) Capitol 4469 Mean Mean Man — The same kind of happy time rockin’ that gave the country thrush a pop hit with “Let’s Have A Party” should again prove successful in “Mean, Mean Man.” It’s a sound-wise romp on both vocal and musical counts. Looks strong. Thrush revives the old Tune Weavers hit, “Happy, Happy Birthday,” with fine country-styled ballad sense. (Rating: Pick Of The Week)
Happy, Happy Birthday — (Rating: Pick Of The Week)
3/24/1962 (CB) Capitol 4723 Let My Love Walk In — Chances are Wanda Jackson will be making a chart appearance with either end, or both, of her new Capitol stands. One end, “Let My Love Walk In,” is a bright, rhythmic handclapper while the other, “If I Cried Every Time You Hurt Me,” is an ultra-lovely ballad weeper. It’s a toss-up for chart honors, pop and country-wise. (Rating: Pick Of The Week)
If I Cried Every Time You Hurt Me — (Rating: Pick Of The Week)

Folk and Country Songs Magazine Cover - January 1957 - Wanda Jackson - Webb Pierce - George Jones
On The Trail Magazine Cover - February 1958 - Wanda Jackson - Hank Thompson - Hank Snow - Carl Smith - Eddy Arnold

Folk and Country Songs Magazine Cover - December 1959 - Faron Young - Wilburn Brothers - Wanda Jackson
Country Song Roundup Magazine Cover - Novermber 1960 - Hank Locklin - Webb Foley - Wanda Jackson

Hoedown Magazine Cover - May 1966 - Wanda Jackson

Wanda Jackson - From Your Album of Favorite Country and Western Stars

Credits & Sources

  • Hillbilly-Music.com would like to express its thanks to Ivan M. Tribe, author of Mountaineer Jamboree — Country Music in West Virginia and other books that can be found on Amazon.com and numerous articles in other publications for providing us with information about this artist.
  • Italian Newsnotes; Mari De Luigi; August 1, 1960; The Billboard; Cincinnati, OH
  • Music As Written - New York; October 24, 1960; The Billboard; Cincinnati, OH
  • Folk Talent and Tunes; Bill Sachs; May 11, 1959; The Billboard; Cincinnati, OH
  • Folk Talent and Tunes; Bill Sachs; September 21, 1959; The Billboard; Cincinnati, OH
  • Best-Selling Pop Records in Holland; December 26, 1960; The Billboard; Cincinnati, OH
  • Country Thrush Scores Pop Hit; October 3, 1960; The Billboard; Cincinnati, OH
  • PM Sets C&W Pre-Derby Seg; April 20, 1959; The Billboard; Cincinnati, OH
  • Music As Written; May 15, 1954; The Billboard; Cincinnati, OH
  • Artists' Biographies For Jockey Programming - Wanda Jackson, C.&W. Thrush Hits 'Hot 100'; September 19, 1960; The Billboard; Cincinnati, OH
  • Women In The News; Cowboy Songs; May 1954; Issue No. 33; American Folk Publications, Inc.; Derby, CT
  • The Singing Doll - Wanda Jackson; Folk and Country Songs; January 1957; Vol. 2 No. 1; American Folk Publications, Inc.; Derby, CT
  • Wanda Jackson: New Singing Star; Frieda Barter; Country & Western Jamboree; January 1957; Maher Publications, Inc.; Chicago, IL
  • Country Style; Wanda Jackson; Country & Western Jamboree; May 1957; Maher Publications, Inc.; Chicago, IL
  • Golden Nugget's Gal Wanda Jackson; March 1961; Country Song Roundup; Issue No. 71; American Folk Publications, Inc.; Derby, CT
  • New Country Headquarters; May 1962; Country Song Roundup; Issue No. 76; American Folk Publications, Inc.; Derby, CT
  • The Magic Wanda; Ben Townsend; May 1966; Hoedown Magazine; Heather Publications; Denver, CO
  • Wanda Jackson's Husband Dies; May 24, 2017; The Daily Oklahoman; Oklahoma City, OK
  • Upsets Mark First Readers' Poll; Leo Zabelin; December 1955; Country & Western Jamboree; Maher Publications, Inc.; Chicago, IL
  • Readers' Poll Salutes Great Names In Country Music; December 1956; Country & Western Jamboree; Maher Publications, Inc.; Chicago, IL
  • Country Poll Winners; July 6, 1957; The Cash Box; New York, NY
  • Country Poll Winners; June 21, 1958; The Cash Box; New York, NY
  • Country Poll Winners; July 14, 1956; The Cash Box; New York, NY
  • Country Poll Winners; June 18, 1955; The Cash Box; New York, NY
  • Country Poll Winners; July 25, 1959; The Cash Box; New York, NY
  • Results Of 1960 Operator Poll; December 3, 1960; The Cash Box; New York, NY
  • Top Country Records & Artists of 1961; The Cash Box; New York, NY

Appearance History This Month

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Every Night Is Saturday Night: A Country Girl's Journey To The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
BMG Books
2017
350 Pages
ISBN:  978-1947026018
 

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Recordings (78rpm/45rpm)

 
ABC
Rec. No. Side Song Title
  ABC 12116 A I Can't Stand To Hear You Say Goodbye
  ABC 12116 B Take A Look
 
Capitol
Rec. No. Side Song Title
  2151 A My Baby Walked Right Out On me
  2151 B No Place To Go But Home
  2245 A Little Boy Soldier
  2245 B I Talk A Pretty Story
  2315 A I Wish I Was Your Friend
  2315 B Poor Ole Me
  2524 A Everything's Leaving
  2524 B You Created Me
  2614 A My Big Iron Skillet
  2614 B The Hunter
  2693 A Two Wrongs Don't Make A right
  2693 B Two Seperate Bar Stools
  2761 A A Woman Lives For Love
  2761 B What Have We done
  2872 A Who Shot John
  2872 B Stop The world
  2986 A Why Don't We Love Like That Anymore
  2986 B Fancy Satin Pillow
  3070 A Glory Hallelujah
  3143 A I'm Gonna Walk Out Of Your Life
  3143 B Back Then
  3218 A I Already Know
  3218 B The Man You Could Have Been
  3498 A Tennessee Women's Prison
  3498 B Roll With The Tide
  3575 A Hot Dog! That Made Him Mad
  3575 B Silver Threads And Golden Needles
  3637 A Cryin' Thru The Night
  3637 B Baby Loves Him
  3683 A Let Me Explain
  3683 B Don'A Wan'A
  3764 A Did You Miss Me
  3764 B Cool Love
  3941 A Honey Bop
  3941 B Just A Queen For A Day
  5433 A Take Me Home
  5433 B Have I Grown Used To Missing You
  5645 A Because it's You
  5645 A Because It's You
  5645 B Long As I Have You
  5645 B As Long As I Have You
  5712 A The Gun Don't Care
  5712 A This Gun Don't Care
  5712 B I Wonder If She Knows
  5712 B I wonder If She Knows
  5789 A Tears Will Be A Chaser For Your Wine
  5789 B Reckless Love Affair
  5863 A Famous Last Words
  5863 B Both Sides Of The Line
  6255 A Back Then
  6255 B I'm Gonna Walk Out Of Your Life
 
Collectibles
Rec. No. Side Song Title
  COL 6180 A Let's Have A Party
  COL 6180 B I Gotta Know
 
Decca
Rec. No. Side Song Title
  29140 A Lovin' Country Style
  29140 A You Can't Have My Love
  29140 B You Can't Have My Love
  29253 A The Right To Love
  29253 B If You Knew What I Know
  29267 A If You Don't, Somebody Else Will
  29267 B You'd Be The First One To Know
  29514 A Tears At The Grand Ole Opry
  29514 B Nobody's Darlin' But Mine
  29677 A Don't Do The Things He'd Do
  29677 B It's The Same World
  29803 A I Cried Again
  29803 B Wasted
 
DJM Records
Rec. No. Side Song Title
  DJS 10719 A I'll Still Love You
  DJS 10719 B Where Do I Put His Memory
 
Fryers
Rec. No. Side Song Title
  Fry 020 A Funnel Of Love
  Fry 020 B Whirlpool
 
HipShakin
Rec. No. Side Song Title
  HS-45-02 A Funnel Of Love
  HS-45-02 B Side B by Dorothy Williams
 
Myrrh
Rec. No. Side Song Title
  122 A When It?s Time to Fall in Love Again
  122 B Say I Do
  126 A Come on Home
  126 B It?s a Long Long Time to Cry
  143 A Jesus Put a Yodel in My Soul (Stereo)
  143 B Jesus Put a Yodel in My Soul (Mono)
  144 A Jesus Put a Yodel in My Soul
  144 B When The Saints Go Marching In
  152 A Where Do I Put His Memory
  152 A Where Do I Put His Memory
  152 B DJ Copy Only?
  152 B Take A Look
  155 A Touring That City
  155 B Make Me Like A Child Again
 
Omnivore Recordings
Rec. No. Side Song Title
  OVS10-41 A In The Middle Of A Heartache
  OVS10-41 A Step By Step
  OVS10-41 A The Wrong Kind Of Girl
  OVS10-41 B I Cried Again
  OVS10-41 B To Tell You The Truth
  OVS10-41 B Before I Lose My Mind
 
Rock-A-Billy
Rec. No. Side Song Title
  No Number A Crazy
  No Number B Good Rockin' Tonight
 
Stardust
Rec. No. Side Song Title
  URC 4108 A Right Or Wrong
  URC 4108 B Let's Have A Party
 
Sugar Hill
Rec. No. Side Song Title
  7145 A Tore Down
  7145 B California Stars
 
Suppaphon
Rec. No. Side Song Title
  H 0069 7311 A My Party (Neni vsechno parada)
  H 0069 7311 B Jackson (w/Korel Zich)
 
Third Man Records
Rec. No. Side Song Title
  TMR 023 A You Know I'm No Good
  TMR 023 B Shakin' All Over
  TMR 068 A Thunder On The Mountain
  TMR 068 B Dust On The Bible
 
Word
Rec. No. Side Song Title
  12116 A I Can?t Stand to Hear You Say Goodbye
  12116 B Lonely Days Lonely Nights


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