Wasted Days and Wasted Nights

Infobox Single
Name = Wasted Days and Wasted Nights


Artist = Freddy Fender
from Album = Before the Next Teardrop Falls
A-side =
B-side =
Released = June 1975
Format = 7"
Recorded = 1959 (original)
1975 (hit version)
Genre = country, pop, swamp pop music
Length = 2:52
Label = ABC-Dot Records 17558
Writer = Wayne Duncan, Freddy Fender and Huey Meaux
Producer = Huey Meaux
Certification = Gold (RIAA)
Chart position =

• #1 (Billboard Hot Country Singles)
• #8 (Billboard Hot 100)
  [ Reviews = ] *
  Last single = "Before the Next Teardrop Falls"
  (1975)
  This single = "Wasted Days and Wasted Nights"
  (1975)
  Next single = "Secret Love"
  (1975)

  "Wasted Days and Wasted Nights" is an American country and pop song recorded by Freddy Fender. It is considered by many to belong to the swamp pop idiom of south Louisiana and southeast Texas that had such a major musical impact on Fender. [Shane K. Bernard, "Swamp Pop: Cajun and Creole Rhythm and Blues" (Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, 1996), pp. 64, 65, 102, 105.]

  ong history

  Fender wrote and recorded "Wasted Days and Wasted Nights", a blues ballad, for Duncan Records in 1959, during the early stages of his career. He was in the process of perfecting his mesh of rockabilly and Tejano, and the song showcased his new style. But he was arrested on charges of possession of marijuana, and in May 1960, he was convicted. [ [http://wm09.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:kbftxqr5ldae~T1] Ankeny, Jason, "Freddy Fender," Allmusic] The popularity of the song, along with his own popularity, plummeted.

  Then, in 1975, "Before The Next Teardrop Falls" became a major hit, and Fender's career was rejuvenated. With the help of record producer Huey Meaux, Fender re-recorded "Wasted Days and Wasted Nights." This time, the song became a major pop and country hit, topping the "Billboard magazine" Hot Country Singles chart in August 1975 and reaching No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100.

  "Wasted Days and Wasted Nights" was certified gold for sales of 1 million units by the Recording Industry Association of America. [http://www.riaa.com/gp/database/search_results.asp]

  uccession

  References

  ee also

  *Whitburn, Joel, "Top Country Songs 1944-2005 - 6th Edition." 2006.
  *Whitburn, Joel, "Top Pop Singles: 1955-2006," 2007.