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I Want to Be a Cowboy's Sweetheart

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"I Wanna Be a Cowboy's Sweetheart"
Song by Patsy Montana Acc. by Prairie Ramblers
B-side"Ridin' Old Paint"
Written1934
Published1935 Bob Miller, Inc.[1] Universal - On Backstreet Music Inc. 1965
ReleasedNovember 1935[2]
RecordedAugust 16, 1935[3]
StudioARC Studios, New York City
GenreCountry (Hillbilly), Western
LabelMelotone 51156[4]
Songwriter(s)Patsy Montana
Producer(s)Art Satherley

"I Wanna Be a Cowboy's Sweetheart" is a country and western song written in 1934 and first recorded in 1935 by Rubye Blevins, who performed as Patsy Montana. It was the first country song by a female artist to sell more than one million copies.[5]

Background and release

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Montana wrote the song in 1934 when she was feeling lonely and missing her boyfriend; it was recorded a year later when producer Art Satherley, of ARC Records, needed one more song at a Prairie Ramblers recording session.[6] Montana was the group's soloist at the time. Her song is based on Stuart Hamblen's western song Texas Plains: he is therefore credited as a cowriter. Patsy Montana embellished the simpler musical pattern of the original, especially with her yodeling. Patsy also used a lot of the original words: the song is somewhat of a feminine answer to its precursor.

Reception

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Members of the Western Writers of America chose it as one of the Top 100 Western songs of all time.[7] In 2012 her record was added to the Library of Congress's National Recording Registry list of "culturally, historically, or aesthetically important" American sound recordings.[6][8]

Cover versions

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"I Want to Be a Cowboy's Sweetheart" has been recorded by, among others,

References

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  1. ^ "Patsy Montana "I Want to be a Cowboy's Sweetheart" sheet music cover". Ozark Folklife and Culture Images. 1935-12-31.
  2. ^ PATSY MONTANA; Prairie Ramblers (1935-11-01), I WANNA BE A COWBOY'S SWEETHEART, Internet Archive, Romeo, retrieved 2021-08-10
  3. ^ "MELOTONE 78rpm numerical listing discography: 1935 dated issues". www.78discography.com. Retrieved 2021-08-10.
  4. ^ PATSY MONTANA; Prairie Ramblers (1935), I WANNA BE A COWBOY'S SWEETHEART, Internet Archive, Melotone, retrieved 2021-08-10
  5. ^ "Patsy Montana's Vest and Skirt". HistoryWired: A few of our favorite things. Smithsonian Institution. 16 March 2012. Retrieved 2012-08-03.
  6. ^ a b "The National Recording Registry 2011". National Recording Preservation Board of the Library of Congress. Library of Congress. May 24, 2012. Retrieved 2012-08-03. Her song's lively, quick polka tempo and yodeling refrain, and Montana's exuberant delivery, resulted in it being requested at every performance; it became one of the first hits by a female country and western singer.
  7. ^ Western Writers of America (2010). "The Top 100 Western Songs". American Cowboy. Archived from the original on 19 October 2010.
  8. ^ "Complete National Recording Registry Listing". Library of Congress. Retrieved 2022-04-18.
  9. ^ "I Want to Be a Cowboy's Sweetheart - Rosalie Allen | Song Info | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  10. ^ "The Singles 1946-1952 - Patti Page | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  11. ^ "Unchained Melody: The Early Years - LeAnn Rimes | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  12. ^ Mundos Opuestos (Edición Especial) de l'artista Ha-Ash (in European Spanish), retrieved 2019-08-11
  13. ^ "Mundos Opuestos - Ha*Ash | Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2019-08-07.
  14. ^ Cyndi Lauper (Ft. Jewel) – I Want To Be a Cowboy's Sweetheart, retrieved 2019-08-11