I thought this would a quick one, but they rarely are.
In 1962, the "Singing Ranger" Hank Snow (originally from Canada) had a huge country hit in which he listed all the places in North America that he'd supposedly visited...
I had a sequel in mind for this tune, but what I didn't realise was that Hank's version was a sequel in its own right.
The tune was originally written by Australian country singer, songwriter and aircraft mechanic, Geoff Mack. The Aussie hit version was recorded by Lucky Starr...
Lucky Starr also recorded a UK version, and I'm pleased to note that he had visited Huddersfield. This particular sequel was also recorded by some bloke we won't mention because he died in jail, leaving a black mark on all our childhoods...
The Mudlarks also did a version, but they sing it so fast that these aging ears can't quite make out where they went.
Versions have also been recorded that travel across Canada...
Mike Ford - I've Been Everywhere (he used to be in Moxy Früvous, a band I had a lot of time for.)
...Czechoslovakia...
...Finland...
...Germany (by an old pal of ours from Scotland!)...
...Catalonia...
...Thailand...
...India...
...and New Zealand. (Among others, I'm sure.)
Although my favourite version might be this live take by Houston-born Hayes Carll...
However, none of these is the sequel I had in mind when I planned this post. No, that one circles back to the man most famous for recording I've Been Everywhere (unless you count Johnny Cash's version, backed by Tom Petty's Heartbreakers): Hank Snow.
In 1970, Hank recorded a new version of the song... in which it appears he'd rather changed his mind.
And one more, in a similar vein, recorded during lockdown when all our options were limited. This should bring back a few memories...
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