"Bubbles in My Beer" is a Western swing song that was originally recorded by Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys in 1947. It later became a standard that has been performed by many country music artists. One critic of drinking songs ranks it number 20, calls it "the ultimate self-pity song," and credits it with "setting the tone for a whole genre of songs about drowning sorrows in the barroom."Rich Stewart, "Rhythm and Booze," Modern Drunkard Magazine .
The song's origins are the subject of different accounts (see Tommy Duncan for one); but there is agreement that Texas Playboys vocalist Duncan came up with the song's title and refrain, at which point songwriter Cindy Walker became involved.Country Music Treasures: The Story Behind The Song Walker has been quoted as saying: "If you can get a real good title, you’ve got something. I always write from the title. I’ve never written a song without the title."Bill DeMain, "Cindy Walker", Performing Songwriter, Issue 92 (March/April 2006).
Chart performance Chart (1948)PeakpositionU.S. Billboard Most-Played Juke Box Folk RecordsBillboard magazine, May 1, 1948, p. 30.4 In 1971, a cover version by Ray Pennington peaked at number 68 on Billboard'''s U.S. country singles chart.Allmusic Ray Pennington Chart with music sample
Album versions "Bubbles in My Beer" has appeared on albums by Bob Wills and several other notable country artists. The following list excludes compilations:
Hank Thompson, Dance Ranch (1958)Allmusic Dance Ranch/Songs for Rounders Hank Thompson Review with music sample Bob Wills, Mr. Words & Mr. Music (1961)Allmusic Mr. Words & Mr. Music Bob Wills Ray Price, San Antonio Rose (1962)Allmusic San Antonio Rose Ray Price Review with music sample George Jones, George Jones Sings Bob Wills (1962)Allmusic George Jones Sings Bob Wills Review with music sample Charlie Walker, Born to Lose (1966)Allmusic "Bubbles in My Beer" Charlie Walker with music sample Ernest Tubb, Baby It's So Hard to Be Good (1972)Allmusic "Bubbles in My Beer" Ernest Tubb with music sample Willie Nelson, Shotgun Willie (1973)Allmusic Shotgun Willie Willie Nelson Review with chart and music sample Bob Wills, For the Last Time (1974)Allmusic For the Last Time Bob Wills Review with chart and music sample Johnny Gimble, Texas Honky-Tonk Hits (1988)Allmusic Texas Honky-Tonk Hits Johnny Gimble Review Jon Langford and the Pine Valley Cosmonauts, Salute the Majesty of Bob Wills (1998)Allmusic Salute the Majesty of Bob Wills Pine Valley Cosmonauts Review with music sample Willie Nelson, You Don't Know Me: The Songs of Cindy Walker'' (2006)Allmusic You Don't Know Me: The songs of Cindy Walker Willie Nelson Review with chart and music sample
Appearances in media Bob Wills's version of "Bubbles in My Beer" appeared in the 2018 video game Fallout 76 on one of the in-game radio stations.
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