Love Bug (George Jones song)

"Love Bug", also spelled "Lovebug," is a single by American country music artist George Jones. Jones' version, which also features a young Johnny Paycheck on backup vocals and draws heavily from the Bakersfield sound as popularized by Buck Owens, reached #6 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in 1965. It was released on his July 1965 New Country Hits album and then re-released as the lead song for his 1966 album of the same name, Love Bug.

"Lovebug"
Single by George Strait
from the album Easy Come, Easy Go
B-side"Just Look at Me"
ReleasedFebruary 28, 1994
RecordedApril 19, 1993
GenreCountry
Length2:50
LabelMCA 54819
Songwriter(s)Wayne Kemp
Curtis Wayne
Producer(s)Tony Brown
George Strait
George Strait singles chronology
"I'd Like to Have That One Back"
(1993)		 "Lovebug"
(1994)		 "The Man in Love with You"
(1994)
"Love Bug"
Single by George Jones
from the album New Country Hits
B-side"I Can't Get Used to Being Lonely"
Released1965
GenreCountry
Length2:00
LabelMusicor 1098[1]
Songwriter(s)Wayne Kemp
Curtis Wayne
Producer(s)Pappy Daily
George Jones singles chronology
"Least of All"
(1965)		 "Love Bug"
(1965)		 "Take Me"
(1965)

Recording and composition

"Love Bug" was written by Wayne Kemp and Curtis Wayne. Lyrically, the song celebrates the giddiness of new love that's "got the whole world shook up." Musically, the song is an unmistakable nod to the Bakersfield sound, from the treble on the guitars to George's elongated delivery at the start, "Oh...that...little bitty teeny weeny thing they call the love bug," which is reminiscent of Owens hits like "Love's Gonna Live Here" and "I've Got a Tiger By the Tail". Several alternate takes of the song can be heard on the Jones box set Walk Through This World with Me: The Complete Musicor Recordings 1965-1971, including a version with an overdriven electric guitar solo and harmonica that makes it sound more like a Rolling Stones record of the time than either Nashville or Bakersfield. Jones later recorded the song as a duet with Vince Gill on the 1994 album The Bradley Barn Sessions.

George Strait version

George Strait released a cover of the song in February 1994 as the third single from his album Easy Come, Easy Go. Strait's version reached #8 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in May 1994.[2]

Chart performance

George Jones version
Chart (1965) Peak
position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[3] 6

George Strait version

"Love Bug" re-entered the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart at number 74 as an official single for the week of March 5, 1994.

Chart (1994) Peak
position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[4] 9
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[5] 14
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[6] 8

References
  1. Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. p. 213. ISBN 978-0-89820-177-2.
  2. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks
  3. "George Jones Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  4. "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 2496." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. June 6, 1994. Retrieved August 4, 2013.
  5. "George Strait Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard.
  6. "George Strait Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.


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