Oklahoma Hills
"Oklahoma Hills" is a song written by Woody Guthrie. In 2001 it was named the official Folk Song of the state of Oklahoma.
Jack Guthrie Recording
Jack Guthrie, Woody's cousin, changed the lyrics and music slightly and in 1945 recorded a Western swing version, which reached Number 1 on the Juke Box Folk Records charts. It remains the best-known version of "Oklahoma Hills", and was the biggest hit of Jack Guthrie's fairly short life. Though Woody originated the song, the official Woody Guthrie website credits both him and Jack as its writers, perhaps because Jack's changes have become so well known.Recordings
Recordings of "Oklahoma Hills" have been made by these singers, among others:- Chet Atkins
- Floyd Cramer
- Gene Autry
- Johnny Bond
- Charlie Feathers
- Arlo Guthrie, Woody's son, recorded the song for his album Running Down the Road, released in 1969 by Warner Bros. Records.
- Jimmy Lafave
- Mary McCaslin
- Carl Smith
- Bruce Springsteen
- James Talley
- Country singer Hank Thompson, joined by His Brazos Valley Boys, recorded a well-known version of "Oklahoma Hills" in 1961. Thompson's Western swing rendition reached No. 7 on the Billboard magazine Hot C&W Singles chart.
- Ernest Tubb
- Jimmy Wakely
- Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys
- David Carradine, in the 1976 Bound for Glory movie and in its soundtrack album, Academy Award winner for Best Original Song Score and Its Adaptation or Adaptation Score.