#guy mitchell

Series Premiere

Whispering Smith - The Blind Gun - NBC - May 8, 1961

Western

Running Time: 30 minutes

Written by Tom Seller

Produced by Herbert Coleman

Directed by Francis D. Lyon

Stars:

Audie Murphy as Tom "Whispering" Smith

Guy Mitchell as George Romack

Sam Buffington as John Richards

Jan Merlin as Thad Janeck

Robert Osterloh as Ben Avery

Carol Byron as Mary Gallagher

Earl Hansen as Rex Avery

Herbert C. Lytton as Doctor

More information about this blog here

Song: Heartaches by the Number

Artist: Guy Mitchell

Record Album: Top 100 Country Hits of All Time (see below for others)

Record Label:  Candlelite Records  CU 188LP

Recorded: June 1980

Released: 1983

Location: Radio New Vegas, Mojave Music Radio, Black Mountain Radio

Perhaps Mr. New Vegas wasn’t speaking too figuratively when he introduces this song:

In New Vegas, we know the pain that numbers can bring us. Well, so does Guy Mitchell, who's got "Heartaches by the Number."

As the title implies, Guy Mitchell actually re-recorded a number of different versions of his hit tune, greatly muddling which version is actually broadcast over the New Vegas airwaves.

One thing that is numerically certain is that the original 1959 version is not the version used by Mr. New Vegas.

Guy Mitchell on the cover of a 1984 release of another album of re-recordings which features still another different version of “Heartaches by the Number”.

With his last hit in the 1960s and his last UK touring and recording session in 1974, Guy Mitchell effectively retired and went back to ranching. However, in June of 1980, the famed TV compilation album company K-Tel Records contracted Guy Mitchell to re-record a number of his hits in stereo including “Heartaches by the Number” in a recording studio in Nashville, Tennessee.

Following another Nashville recording session in 1982, there came multiple offers from Las Vegas and London for a planned tour of the UK. In 1990, he starred as a fictional country singer Jim Bob O'May  in the BBC series Your Cheatin’ Heart, a drama named after the Hank Williams song.

His last recording session was in 1997.

Well then, why is the 1980 version of “Heartaches by the Number” used in the game instead of the original 1959 version? A quick look at the end credits for Fallout: New Vegas reveals the licensed version is not the Columbia Records version, similar to “Big Iron”, but our old friend Dominion Entertainment who also provided the 1979 version of “It’s a Sin to Tell a Lie”.

An article from the November 22nd, 1997 issue of Billboard Magazine indicates that K-Tel wanted to branch out online using its substantial catalog, including its subsidiary, Dominion Entertainment, which closes the circle somewhat on this tangled web of licensing.

Top row: Candlelite releases from 1983 - The Top 100 Country Hits of All Time, Country Music Cavalacade-Nashville Graffitti, 1950′s Rock’N’Roll Music Collection-Looking Back

Bottom row: known UK releases - Heat of the 50′s (1987, Mastersound) - Those Fabulous 50′s (1988, Ocean) - Hooked on Country (1990, K-Tel)

Researching this title has taken some time, but all of the above albums are known to contain New Vegas’ version of the 1980 re-recording of “Heartaches by the Number”. It doesn’t appear to have been released on a standalone Guy Mitchell album at the time, instead coming on a multitude of compilation albums that K-Tel and Candlelite were known for. However, this may vary on modern CD releases.

I was unable to find an earlier issue closer to the recording date of 1980 than the 1983 Candlelite albums. Confusingly, Candlelite released a nearly identical version of Country Music Cavalcade-Nashville Graffiti in 1976 which does use the original 1959 Columbia Records version of “Heartaches by the Number”.

As for why there was a late release 3 years after the recording session, it could be explained by K-Tel’s acquisition of former rival Candlelite in 1981. This was followed by a bankruptcy hearing and partial foreclosure in 1984.

The Mastersound release does tie back into video games. It’s a cassette release by the Mastertronic, the UK video game publisher for the Sega Master System and many others.

The last UK release is actually by K-Tel instead of one of the numerous licensees and subsidiaries, tying up some loose ends. “Heartaches by the Number” can actually be heard on the TV commercial for Hooked on Country.

To complete the early 80s look, Candlelite released their 5 LP set The Top 100 Country Hits onto a rather extensive 3 8-track cartridge set. Here it is with a Weltron and a lava lamp.

As for how the labels handled the copyrights for this 1980 re-recording of “Heartaches by the Number”, it’s rather bewildering.

The above US Candlelite releases in 1983 alternate between crediting Imperial Music and Key Seven Music. Though they do mention that they are re-recordings made by the original artist.

In the UK, licensing seems to have shifted to Kilo Music Limited. The 1990 K-Tel release omits the licensing information save for a vague “S J Productions Inc.” mention from 1982. Numbered heartaches indeed.

SATURDAY MATINEE MUSIC VIDEO: “White Sport Coat & A Pink Carnation”—The lyrics portray a shattered young man who was stood up at the prom but, without saying, you know he’s going to bounce back. The great Marty Robbins got the visual for this song after passing a group of teenagers decked out for their high school prom. He zipped off this song in 20 minutes. His original 1957 track is premium country-pop trimmed with doo-wop and rockabilly. His creamy smooth voice owns the story. With this song, his goal was to out-chart his earlier single “Singing the Blues,” which was eclipsed in a competing version by crooner Guy Mitchell. Ray Conniff arranged Mitchell’s international hit, and Marty insisted Ray run the session for his new song. Marty’s instincts were correct—it became his 3rd #1 hit, and it’s still on playlists and soundtracks (it’s also name-checked in Don McLean’s “American Pie”). Itook a shine to the song after playing it in assisted living homes. It’s a fun vocal work-out.If you have prom photos you’d like to share (preferably w/white sport coat), please go ahead and add to this post…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qB0NM8JbYM

YES I’VE GOT HEARTACHES BY THE NUMBER

A LOVE THAT I CAN’T WIN

BUT THE DAY THAT I STOP COUNTING