"The Same Sweet Girl" is a song written and originally recorded by American

country A country is a distinct part of the world, such as a state, nation, or other political entity. It may be a sovereign state or make up one part of a larger state. For example, the country of Japan is an independent, sovereign state, while the ...

singer–songwriter,

Hank Locklin Hank Locklin (born Lawrence Hankins Locklin; February 15, 1918 – March 8, 2009) was an American country music singer-songwriter. He had 70 chart singles, including two number one hits on ''Billboard''s country chart. His biggest hits included ...

. It was released as a single via

Four Star Records 4 Star Records was a record label that recorded many well-known country music acts in the 1950s. The label, founded after World War II, was home to singers such as Hank Locklin, Maddox Brothers and Rose, Rose Maddox, Webb Pierce, Cousin Ford Lew ...

in 1949. The song became Locklin's first major hit as a recording artist, reaching the top ten of the ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...

'' country chart. Since its release, it has been reissued several times on compilation records.

Background and content

Locklin had composed "The Same Sweet Girl" after several years performing in the southeastern region of the United States. He had been gaining notoriety performing with his backing band titled "The Rocky Mountain Playboys." Locklin signed his first recording contract with his band under the Gold Star label. Without much success, he moved to

, where he would record "The Same Sweet Girl." The song was composed for Locklin's first wife, Willa Locklin, whom he would later divorce. It was recorded in March 1949 in the ACA Studio, which was located in

Houston, Texas Houston (; ) is the most populous city in Texas, the most populous city in the Southern United States, the fourth-most populous city in the United States, and the sixth-most populous city in North America, with a population of 2,304,580 in ...

. In the same session, Locklin also cut "The Last Look at Mother," which would later be released on the opposite side of the single release. It was only Locklin's third studio session.

Release and reception

"The Same Sweet Girl" was released as a single in April 1949 on the Four Star label. It was Locklin's first single release with the label and would also be his first major hit. The song became a top ten hit, reaching number eight on the ''

s Country & Western Records Most Played By Folk Disk Jockeys chart. In its original release, the single was issued as a

78 RPM record A phonograph record (also known as a gramophone record, especially in British English), or simply a record, is an analog sound storage medium in the form of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove. The groove usually starts nea ...

, containing "The Last Look at Mother" on its

B-side The A-side and B-side are the two sides of phonograph records and cassettes; these terms have often been printed on the labels of two-sided music recordings. The A-side usually features a recording that its artist, producer, or record compan ...

. The song would later be re-recorded several times and would later appear on several compilation albums, including 1997's ''Send Me the Pillow You Dream On''

box set A box set or (its original name) boxed set is a set of items (for example, a compilation of books, musical recordings, films or television programs) traditionally packaged in a box and offered for sale as a single unit. Music Artists and bands ...

Bear Family Records Bear Family Records is a Germany-based independent record label, that specializes in reissues of archival material, ranging from country music to 1950s rock and roll to old German movie soundtracks. History The label has been in existence since ...

. In his review of the box set, Bruce Eder of

Allmusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

commented that Locklin's earliest recordings (which includes "The Same Sweet Girl") incorporated a more traditional musical style: "They present Locklin doing a rougher, harder honky-tonk brand of music, derived from Texas dance-band roots, but different from the Nashville countrypolitan sound with which he achieved lasting fame -- compared to his later, softer material, this stuff rocks."

Track listing

78 PM single * "The Same Sweet Girl" * "The Last Look at Mother"

Charts

Weekly charts

Personnel

All credits are adapted from the box set, ''Send Me the Pillow You Dream On''. * Lew Frisby –

bass Bass or Basses may refer to: Fish * Bass (fish), various saltwater and freshwater species Music * Bass (sound), describing low-frequency sound or one of several instruments in the bass range: ** Bass (instrument), including: ** Acoustic bass gui ...

* Hank Locklin – lead vocals * Sleepy Short –

fiddle A fiddle is a bowed string musical instrument, most often a violin. It is a colloquial term for the violin, used by players in all genres, including classical music. Although in many cases violins and fiddles are essentially synonymous, th ...

* J.D. Standlee –

steel guitar A steel guitar ( haw, kīkākila) is any guitar played while moving a steel bar or similar hard object against plucked strings. The bar itself is called a "steel" and is the source of the name "steel guitar". The instrument differs from a conve ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Same Sweet Girl, The 1949 singles 1949 songs Hank Locklin songs Songs written by Hank Locklin