3 Country Songs From 1962 That Still Make Me Smile Today
An article revisits three country songs released in 1962 that the writer says still bring a smile. The songs show different sides of the era, from a tribute to a mother’s resilience to heartbreak turned into a social occasion and a cheerful song about attraction.
Bill Anderson’s “Mama Sang A Song” became his first No. 1 single, with several stints at the top interrupted by Hank Snow’s “I’ve Been Everywhere”. Porter Wagoner’s “Misery Loves Company”, written by Jerry Reed, was his second No. 1 and his first of three hit singles in 1962. Buck Owens co-wrote “You’re For Me”; all four singles he released that year reached the Top 20, and his next single, “Act Naturally”, became his first No. 1.
- Bill Anderson’s first No. 1 was “Mama Sang A Song”.
- Porter Wagoner scored three hit singles in 1962.
- Buck Owens had four Top 20 singles that year.
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In 1962, country music was reaching listeners through radio and record singles, with chart positions offering one measure of a song’s popularity. The three songs in this story came from singers whose careers were at different stages.
Bill Anderson’s “Mama Sang A Song” honours a mother’s strength, while Porter Wagoner’s “Misery Loves Company” treats heartbreak as something shared socially. Buck Owens co-wrote “You’re For Me”, a lighter song about attraction; the contrast shows the range of themes in country music at the time.
The songs also sit within a busy year for the performers: Anderson earned his first chart-topper, Wagoner had several hits, and Owens placed four singles in the Top 20. Their success helps explain why these recordings remain part of their musical histories.