music.wikisort.org - Composition

"Husbands and Wives" is a song written and first recorded by American country music singer Roger Miller. Miller's original, from his album Words and Music, was released in February 1966 and was a crossover hit for him, reaching Top Ten on the U.S. country and Adult Contemporary charts, as well as Top 40 on the pop charts. Since the release of Miller's original, the song has been covered by several other artists, including The Everly Brothers, Ringo Starr, Neil Diamond, a duet between David Frizzell and Shelly West, Jules Shear, and Brooks & Dunn, whose version was a number-one country hit in 1998.

"Husbands and Wives"
Single by Roger Miller
from the album Words and Music
B-side	"I've Been a Long Time Leavin' (But I'll Be a Long Time Gone)"
Released	February 1966
Genre	Country
Length	2:23
Label	Smash
Songwriter(s)	Roger Miller
Producer(s)	Jerry Kennedy
Roger Miller singles chronology
"England Swings" (1966) "Husbands and Wives" (1966) "You Can't Roller Skate in a Buffalo Herd" (1966)

Content

"Husbands and Wives" is a mid-tempo waltz in the key of C major. In it, the narrator makes observations on a couple who is breaking up ("Two broken hearts, lonely, looking like houses / Where nobody lives"). He then suggests that the relationship is strained because those involved have too much pride in themselves ("It's my belief pride is the chief cause in the decline / In the number of husbands and wives").

Roger Miller version

Roger Miller recorded the song in 1966 for his album Words and Music,[1] releasing it as the album's first single. It was a crossover hit for him, reaching Top 5 on the country and Adult Contemporary charts, as well as Top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100. Its b-side, "I've Been a Long Time Leavin' (But I'll Be a Long Time Gone)," peaked at #13 on the country charts.[2]

Wayne Newton cover

Wayne Newton recorded "Husbands and Wives" in 1968. It was a minor hit for him, reaching #28 on the U.S. Adult Contemporary chart, as well as #97 on Cash Box.

Chart history

Peter Lotis

Chart (1964)	Peak position
South Africa (Springbok)[3][4]	1

Roger Miller

Chart (1966)	Peak position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[5]	5
US Billboard Hot 100[6]	26
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[7]	2
Canadian RPM Top Singles	14
Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary	10

Wayne Newton

Chart (1968–1969)	Peak position
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[8]	28
U.S. Cash Box Top 100	97

David Frizzell and Shelly West version

"Husbands and Wives"
Single by David Frizzell and Shelly West
from the album Carryin' On the Family Names
B-side	Yours for the Asking"
Released	October 1981
Genre	Country
Length	2:39
Label	Warner Bros. Nashville
Songwriter(s)	Roger Miller
Producer(s)	Snuff Garrett, Steve Dorff
David Frizzell and Shelly West singles chronology
"A Texas State of Mind" (1981) "Husbands and Wives" (1981) "Another Honky-Tonk Night on Broadway" (1982)

David Frizzell and Shelly West covered the song on their 1981 duets album Carryin' On the Family Names, and released it as the album's third and final single. Their version reached the Top 20 on the country singles chart.

Chart history

Chart (1981)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles	16
Canadian RPM Country Tracks	38

Brooks & Dunn version

"Husbands and Wives"
Single by Brooks & Dunn
from the album If You See Her
B-side	"How Long Gone"
Released	September 28, 1998
Genre	Country
Length	3:10
Label	Arista Nashville 13143
Songwriter(s)	Roger Miller
Producer(s)	Don Cook, Kix Brooks, Ronnie Dunn
Brooks & Dunn singles chronology
"How Long Gone" (1998) "Husbands and Wives" (1998) "I Can't Get Over You" (1999)

Country music duo Brooks & Dunn covered the song on their 1998 album If You See Her. Featuring lead vocals from Ronnie Dunn,[9] their version was the album's third single, reaching the top of the country singles chart in December 1998. It was also their first Top 40 hit on the pop charts, peaking at No. 36 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Chart history

"Husbands and Wives" debuted at number 64 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart for the week of September 26, 1998.

Chart (1998–1999)	Peak position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[10]	2
US Billboard Hot 100[11]	36
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[12]	1

Year-end charts

Chart (1999)	Position
US Country Songs (Billboard)[13]	75

References

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