It’s fascinating how David Frizzell began his career at the young age of nine – under the wing of his very famous big brother, Lefty Frizzell. He would often perform as part of Lefty’s stage show. But things changed in the 1980s, the time when Frizzell became a country star in his own right. David Frizzell songs broke into the country charts and reached the hearts of many fans.
He then toured and appeared on country television shows.
However, his biggest break came when he teamed up with Shelly West, the daughter of country legend Dottie West. The two talented artists released several duet albums and songs that climbed to the top spot on country charts.
So today, we’re going to look at some of David Frizzell‘s biggest hits throughout the years. Check them out below.
1. I’m Gonna Hire a Wino to Decorate Our Home
This one was Frizzell’s only No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart as a solo artist. “I’m Gonna Hire a Wino to Decorate Our Home” spent a total of 14 weeks on the said chart, where it remained atop for the entire week. It also unexpectedly became a mainstream pop hit in Canada, where it ranked No. 20 on Canadian RPM Top Singles.
Written by Dewayne Blackwell, Frizzell tells the story of a wife growing tired of her husband hopping from one barroom to another. So, she came up with a unique plan of redecorating their house into a bar and played the role of a bartender to get her husband to stay at home.
2. You’re the Reason God Made Oklahoma
Frizzell kicked off his collaboration with country singer Shelly West with “You’re the Reason God Made Oklahoma,” which became the duo’s most successful country hit. It stayed atop the country chart for the entire week.
Written by Larry Collins and Sandy Pinkard, it won CMA’s Song of the Year and Vocal Duo of the Year, as well as the Grammy Award for Best Country Performance. The song became even more famous for being featured in the action-comedy film Any Which Way You Can, which starred Clint Eastwood.
3. Husbands and Wives
Frizzell and West tell the story of a couple that is bound to break up. Frizzell then suggests that the relationship may have been strained as each party engrossed in too much pride.
It was first recorded by Roger Miller in 1966 and was a crossover hit for him. Since then, several notable artists have covered the song – including Brooks & Dunn, whose version was a No. 1 country hit.
4. Long Black Veil
“Long Black Veil” is one of the most bone-chilling narratives Frizzell released. In this song, Frizzell tells the story of a man who’s been falsely accused of murder and is about to be executed. But what’s been intriguing is he’s refusing to give an alibi for his innocence. It was later revealed that he was actually in the arms of his best friend’s wife during the incident.
So, he chose to keep mum, take the secret to the grave, and accept his fate of dying, for he’s afraid it would dishonor the woman.
5. L.A. International Airport
The song was one of Frizzell’s most notable tunes, which became an international hit when country singer Susan Raye recorded her version a year later. Raye’s recording ranked No. 9 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and enjoyed much greater success in many countries.
6. I Just Came Here to Dance
Frizzell and West shared a romantic duet in this song that reached No. 4 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart. It tells the story of a man and a woman who quickly lost their hearts the moment they held each other in their arms and started dancing.
7. Lost My Baby Blues
Frizzell found himself drinking away his blues – but sadly, there’s no way he’s getting over his old lover. He concludes that he still loved her no matter what she did.
Several country fans definitely relate to the song that it ranked No. 5 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart.
8. I Just Can’t Help Believing
The song has been recorded by several artists, with Vince Gill and Elvis Presley being the most notable ones. In 1970, Frizzell released his version – which reached No. 36 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart.
Some More David Frizzell Songs That Hugely Influenced Country Music
While David Frizzell’s recording productivity declined after the 1980s, still, he continued performing across the country and released several incredible tunes. Keep on scrolling below to find out.
So, what do you think of this list of the best David Frizzell songs?
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