On This Day in 1950, Lefty Frizzell Recorded Two No. 1 Singles in His First Recording Session

On this day (July 25) in 1950, country legend Lefty Frizzell recorded his first two chart-topping hits. Produced by Art Satherley and Don Law, in Jim Beck’s studio Frizzell’s first recording session produced “If You’ve Got the Money, I’ve Got the Time,” “I Love You a Thousand Ways,” and “Shine, Shave, Shower (It’s Saturday).”

Heavily influenced by Jimmy Rodgers, the Corsicana, Texas native released his debut single in 1950. He would go on to score a total of six No. 1 singles. However, Frizzell’s contribution to country music goes much deeper than chart success. He toured with Hank Williams and, like Williams, influenced some of the greatest country artists of the latter half of the twentieth century. Greats like Merle Haggard, George Jones, and Willie Nelson cited the “Long Black Veil” singer among their influences.

[RELATED: Lefty Frizzell, “If You’ve Got The Money I’ve Got The Time”]

Lefty Frizzell Scores Back-to-Back No. 1 Singles

Studio owner Jim Beck discovered Lefty Frizzell after seeing him in concert. He invited Frizzell to record a demo in his studio which led to Columbia Records producer Don Law offering him a recording contract. In the summer of 1950, they went to Beck’s Dallas studio for the artist’s first official recording session.

Frizzell released the double-sided single featuring “If You’ve Got the Money I’ve Got the Time” backed with “I Love You a Thousand Ways” in September 1950. Both songs went to the top of the Most Played Country & Western Jukebox Records chart. They also peaked at No. 2 on the Country & Western Best Seller chart.

Many country artists recorded “If You’ve Got the Money I’ve Got the Time” after Frizzell had a hit with it. George Jones, Connie Francis, Gary Stewart, Merle Haggard, and many others put their stamp on the honky tonk classic. However, the most notable rendition of the song came from Willie Nelson.

Nelson released his version of the song as the second single from his 1976 album The Sound in Your Mind. The song went to the top of the country singles chart and became Nelson’s second No. 1 as a solo artist.

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