Classic Pop Icons

Every week we’ll be picking one song to be Song of the Week on Classic Pop Icons. The first is Hank Williams’ classic “Jambalaya (On the Bayou).” This song has been selected as much for the numerous, high quality cover versions as the great original.

“Jambalaya (On the Bayou)” is named after the Creole and Cajun dish, jambalaya, and also references other Cajun cuisine, such as crawfish pie, and filé gumbo. It is a “feel good” song about a couple starting out life together, with a crowd gathering to celebrate.

Hank Williams – Jambalaya (On the Bayou)

Recording date/location

“Jambalaya” was recorded on June 13, 1952, at Castle Studio, Tulane Hotel, Nashville, Tennessee.

Authorship

Williams is credited as sole author of the song, but it has been suggested that he purchased it from another writer. Some have also noted the similarities with the melody of the Cajun song “Grand Texas.”

Chart performance

Williams released the song on July 19, 1952, with “Window Shopping” on the B-side. “Jambalaya” was Williams’ 7th of 11 (three posthumous) number one hits on the country charts. “Jambalaya” also hit number 20 on the pop charts.

Although Hank Williams was losing his battle with drink and drug addiction in 1952, he still managed to release some fine music. Along with “Jambalaya,” there were four other top five hits, including “Honky Tonk Blues” and the final number one during his lifetime, “I’ll Never Get Out of This World Alive.”

Covers

There have been numerous great covers of “Jambalaya.” The first popular cover was a pop version by Jo Stafford that hit number three on the pop charts.

Jo Stafford – Jambalaya (1952)

Brenda Lee – Jambalaya (1956)

Another singer showing how well suited “Jambalaya” is to a female voice was Brenda Lee with her 1956 version. Here’s a live version from Brenda from several years later.

Fats Domino – Jambalaya (1961)

Fats Domino recorded an infectious cover of “Jambalaya” in November 1961 and had a top 30 hit with it.

Leon Russell – Jambalaya (1965)

This Leon Russell performance is from Shindig in 1965. Look out for a young Glen Campbell on banjo.

John Fogerty (The Blue Ridge Rangers) – Jambalaya (1972)

Fogerty’s first project after leaving Creedence Clearwater Revival was an album recorded under the guise of The Blue Ridge Rangers. “Jambalaya” was one of the songs featured.

Emmylou Harris – Jambalaya (1975)

Note that Emmylou’s Hot Band featured two prominent members of Elvis Presley’s TCB Band – James Burton on guitar and Glen D. Hardin on piano.

“Jambalaya” is still a very popular country song to this day and one of numerous Hank Williams songs that have achieved classic status, including “Hey Good Lookin,” “Your Cheatin’ Heart,” “Cold, Cold Heart” and “Honky Tonk Blues.” On January 1, 1953, Hank Williams died while on the way to play a New Years Day concert in Canton, Ohio. The official cause of death was heart failure.

Look out for next week’s Song of the Week.