Hello Walls

"Hello Walls"
Single by Faron Young
from the album Hello Walls
Released	March 1961 (U.S.)
Format	7"
Recorded	January 7, 1961
Genre	Country
Length	2:26
Label	Capitol 4533
Writer(s)	Willie Nelson
Producer(s)	Ken Nelson Marvin Hughes
Faron Young singles chronology
"Forget the Past" (1960) "Hello Walls" (1961) "Backtrack" (1961)

"Hello Walls" is an American country music song recorded by Faron Young. It became a massive hit in 1961, reaching #1 country and spent 23 weeks on the chart.^[1] On other charts, it peaked at #12 pop, and was Young's only top 40 pop hit in the United States. “Hello Walls” introduced its songwriter – Willie Nelson – to a national audience.^[2]

Chart performance

Chart (1961)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot C&W Sides	1
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	12
U.S. Billboard Easy Listening	13
Australian Kent Music Report	69

Other recordings

• Ralph Emery had an answer song called "Hello Fool" in 1961, which peaked at #4 on the Country Charts. That song was Emery's only hit as a singer.
• Willie Nelson recorded it the very next year for his debut album And Then I Wrote in 1962.
• Esther Phillips recorded it for Atlantic Records in 1964.^[3]
• Bing Crosby recorded it in 1965 for his album Bing Crosby Sings the Great Country Hits.
• Ricky Nelson covered "Hello Walls" on his 1966 Country Album Bright Lights & Country Music (Decca DL74779).
• Brook Benton recorded it on his My Country album in 1966.
• The Reverend Horton Heat covered it on the 1996 tribute album Twisted Willie.
• Sheb Wooley, in his "Ben Colder" persona, recorded a parody about a drunk talking to the wall.

In popular culture

• Willie Nelson's version made an appearance on NBC's Parks and Recreation when character Ron Swanson was shown to be listening to the song.
• "Hello Walls" makes a brief appearance in the Dale Earnhardt biopic, "3."

Sources

References

1. Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 405.
2. Malone, Bill, "Classic Country Music: A Smithsonian Collection" ((booklet included with Classic Country Music: A Smithsonian Collection 4-disc set). Smithsonian Institution, 1990), p.57.
3. Atlantic Records discography

External links

• Willie Nelson's Official Website
• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics