"Satin Sheets" is a song written by John Volinkaty, and originally recorded by Bill Anderson and

Jan Howard Jan Howard (born Lula Grace Johnson; March 13, 1929 – March 28, 2020) was an American country music singer and songwriter. As a singer, she placed 30 singles on the ''Billboard'' country songs chart, was a Grand Ole Opry member and was nomin ...

on their March 1972 duet album, ''Bill & Jan or (Jan & Bill)''. It was then famously covered by American country music artist

Jeanne Pruett Jeanne Pruett ( ) (born Norma Jean Bowman; January 30, 1937) is an American country music singer and songwriter. She also has credits as a published author. Pruett had several major hits as a music artist, but became best-known for 1973's " Sati ...

in February 1973 as the first single and title track from her album of the same name. The song was Pruett's only Number One country hit, as well as her only chart entry on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100.

Song history

Jeanne Pruett struggled for years under

RCA Records RCA Records is an American record label currently owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America. It is one of Sony Music's four flagship labels, alongside RCA's former long-time rival Columbia Records; also A ...

in the 1960s, before signing successfully with

Decca Records Decca Records is a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis (Decca), Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934 by Lewis, Jack Kapp, American Decca's first president, and Milton Rackmil, who later became American ...

in 1969, which then became

MCA Records MCA Records was an American record label owned by MCA Inc., which later became part of Universal Music Group. Pre-history MCA Inc., a powerful talent agency and a television production company, entered the recorded music business in 1962 wit ...

the year "Satin Sheets" was released. She finally started charting the Country list in 1971, then by 1972, she was hitting the Top 40 with her self-penned "Love Me" (later a bigger Country hit for

Marty Robbins Martin David Robinson (September 26, 1925 – December 8, 1982), known professionally as Marty Robbins, was an American singer, songwriter, actor, multi-instrumentalist, and NASCAR racing driver. Robbins was one of the most popular and suc ...

). "Satin Sheets" was released as a single in February 1973. Writer John "Jack" Volinkaty said the idea came to him in 1970 while he was grocery shopping in Minneapolis. He went home and wrote it in 5 minutes, but said it took him a year to sell. Volinkaty died in 1992. "Satin Sheets" hit country radio in March 1973, aided by 1,600 pink satin sheets that Jeanne cut by hand and sent to radio programmers and music executives across the nation. The international hit topped the country charts that May. The song was such a big hit it became a modest crossover hit, reaching No. 28 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. "Satin Sheets" went on to become Pruett's biggest hit and career hit, as well as a signature Country tune of the 1970s. The song was revolutionary for Country music at the time, for its open discussion of sex. The song talks of how a housewife is unhappy with her marriage to a man who only gives gifts to his wife instead of giving her real love. An album of the same name was released that year, that topped the "Top Country Albums" chart as well. The album featured Pruett lying in a pink bed, with pink satin clothes and satin sheets. Because of the song's success, Pruett was invited to join the

Grand Ole Opry The ''Grand Ole Opry'' is a weekly American country music stage concert in Nashville, Tennessee, founded on November 28, 1925, by George D. Hay as a one-hour radio "barn dance" on WSM. Currently owned and operated by Opry Entertainment (a divis ...

. Pruett referenced the song in her 1979 single "Please Sing Satin Sheets for Me", which included a portion of her recording of "Satin Sheets" at the end.

Chart performance

Cover versions

"Satin Sheets" has been recorded by artists including: *

Dolly Parton Dolly Rebecca Parton (born January 19, 1946) is an American singer-songwriter, actress, philanthropist, and businesswoman, known primarily for her work in country music. After achieving success as a songwriter for others, Parton made her album d ...

Tammy Wynette Tammy Wynette (born Virginia Wynette Pugh; May 5, 1942 – April 6, 1998) was an American country music artist, as well as an actress and author. She is considered among the genre's most influential and successful artists. Along with Loretta Ly ...

Loretta Lynn Loretta Lynn (; April 14, 1932 – October 4, 2022) was an American country music singer and songwriter. In a career spanning six decades, Lynn released multiple gold albums. She had numerous hits such as " You Ain't Woman Enough (To Take My M ...

Hank Williams Jr. Randall Hank Williams (born May 26, 1949), known professionally as Hank Williams Jr. or Bocephus, is an American singer-songwriter and musician. His musical style is often considered a blend of southern rock, blues, and country. He is the son of ...

Martina McBride Martina Mariea McBride (née Schiff, born July 29, 1966) is an American country music singer-songwriter and record producer. She is known for her soprano singing range and her country pop material. McBride was born in Sharon, Kansas, and relocat ...

. *Debbie Rule, covered the song on her album Texas Girls (2015).

Parodies

It has been spoofed as "Santa's Sheets" by New Orleans act Benny Grunch and Kathy Savoie, sung from the perspective of Mrs.Santa Claus.

References

External links

* {{Authority control 1973 singles 1976 singles Jeanne Pruett songs Martina McBride songs Dolly Parton songs MCA Records singles