Tuesday 12 November 2019

UK Number 40s: Wanda Jackson - Mean Mean Man (1961)


Wanda Jackson is a name known to many, even if they know nothing other than the name. She was known as the Queen of Rockabilly and was once the girlfriend of Elvis Presley.

Her UK Top 40 career though was just 2 minor hit's, with this her 2nd making number 40. Her first hit came the previous year with "Let's Have A Party" which made 32, and had been a number 2 for Elvis Presley 3 years earlier that was simply titled "Party".

She wrote this record herself, something her ex boyfriend never did. It sounds a bit like Little Richard except with a female singing it. It also sounds more of a 50s record than 60s, and that's because it is. It originally came out in 1958 but did not chart.

It never charted in her native America, but by 1961 she had started making country music. Her chart record in America is just 3 minor hits, but she first hit the US Country Charts in 1954 and continued to have hits in it up to the 70s.

She only retired from performing earlier this year, aged 81.

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