"That Lucky Old Sun" is a 1949 popular song with music by
Beasley Smith and words by Haven Gillespie. Like "Old Man
River", its lyrics contrast the toil and intense hardship of
the singer's life with the obliviousness of the natural
world.
The biggest hit version of the song was by Frankie Laine.
This recording was released by Mercury Records as catalog
number 5316. It first reached the Billboard magazine Best
Seller chart on August 19, 1949 and lasted 22 weeks on the
chart, peaking at #1.
The recording by Vaughn Monroe was released by RCA Victor
Records as catalog number 20-3531 (78 rpm) and 47-3018 (45
rpm). It first reached the Billboard magazine Best Seller chart
on September 16, 1949 and lasted 14 weeks on the chart, peaking
at #9.
The recording by Louis Armstrong was released by Decca
Records as catalog number 24752. It first reached the Billboard
magazine Best Seller chart on October 14, 1949 and lasted 3
weeks on the chart, peaking at #24.
Frank Sinatra released his competing version of the song on
the Columbia label catalog number 38608. It reached the best
sellers chart on October 29, 1949 and peaked at #16.
This song was translated into Russian, and was presented to
Soviet audiences as describing how a Western man suffers the
hardships of capitalism. It was recorded in Russian by singer
Mark Bernes in early 1960s.
A version by Ray Charles appeared on his 1963 album
Ingredients in a Recipe for Soul. (This recording is
also included as a bonus track on post-1988 CD reissues of
Charles' landmark 1962 album
Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music.)
Jerry Lee Lewis recorded an unreleased solo version at Sun
Studios in 1956 or 1957. (A recorded version by Lewis can be
found on the Great Balls of Fire album, the soundtrack for the
movie "Great Balls of Fire" with Dennis Quaid playing the part
of Jerry Lee Lewis.)
Paul Williams recorded a version on the 1972 Album Life Goes
On (Paul Williams album)
Willie Nelson recorded a version on the 1976 Album
The Sound in Your Mindwhich was also released as an
extra track on the reissued
Stardust: 30th Anniversary Legacy Edition.
The Jerry Garcia Band performed a version on the Jerry
Garcia Band live album in 1991.
Johnny Cash covered it on the album American III: Solitary
Man in 2000.
Brian Wilson premiered a song cycle inspired by the song
entitled
That Lucky Old Sun (A Narrative)at the Royal Festival
Hall, London, England on 10 September 2007.
A duet with Kenny Chesney and Willie Nelson is included on
Chesney's 2008 album
Lucky Old Sun.