Faron Young – Wine Me Up

“Wine Me Up”, a song written by Faron Young and Billy Deaton, the song was first recorded for Faron Young for the Mercury label, it was recorded in December 1968, at Columbia Recording Studio, 804 16th Ave. South, Nashville, TN. Two other songs were recorded at the same session: “Tall down on my knees” and “I’ve got precious memories”. With the production by Jerry Kennedy, the song was released on June 28, 1969, on September 6, 1969, peaking at # 2 on the U.S Hot Country Songs charts, and remained a total of 16 weeks on the charts. On the Canadian RPM Country Tracks charts, it peaked at # 3.

The song was included on Faron’s nineteenth studio album, Wine me up (Mercury 1969). The album was released on November 15, 1969, reaching # 13 on January 3, 1970, remaining a total of 12 weeks on the charts.

Story behind the song:

The authorship of the song has been a source of confusion. Various combinations of Faron Young, Eddie Crandell, and Billy Deaton have been credited in different artist releases of the song over the years. To paraphrase Faron Young and Frank Oakley, on P. 120-121 of their 2007 biography, “Live Fast, Love Hard: The Faron Young Story” by Diane Diekman, Carl Belew and Van Givens wrote “Wine Me Up”. They were working for 4 Star Records at the time and without permission, Belew and Givens sold the rights to the song to Faron Young and Frank Oakley under the premise that their wives had written the song. At the same time, Belew also sold the rights to the song to a man named Eddie Crandell. Faron’s original single included his name and Crandell’s as “composers”. Once the song hit the charts, 4 Star sued Faron and Oakley (and presumably Crandell). Faron and Oakley eventually ceded the publishing rights to 4 Star, but retained ownership of the song (75% Faron / 25% Oakley). At a later date, Oakley sold his interest in the song to Faron’s new manager, Billy Deaton.

Some versions:

Jerry Lee Lewis 1970 (Smash Records)
Johnny Bush 1970 (Stop Records)
Ernest Tubb 1970 (Decca)
Conway Twitty 1971 (MCA)
Mel Street 1975 (GRT Records)
Larry Boone 1989 (Mercury)
Don Walser 1996 (Watermelon Records)
Gary Allan 1996 (MCA)
Two Dollar Pistols 1998 (Yep Roc Records)
Tanya Tucker 2009 (Saguaro Road Records)

Miquel Batlle Garriga
mbatllegarriga@gmail.com

Faron Young – Wine Me Up Lyrics
I’m the center of attention in this barroom
Cause I’ve got a biggest heartache of the year
And each night those swinging doors reach out for me and draw me in
‘Cause they know each night that I’ll come back to wine me up again

Wine me up, turn me on and watch me cry for you
Lately drinking warm red wine is all I want to do
And I never know how tight I’ll wine me up till I walk in
But I don’t care cause I’ll be back to wine me up again

I’d like to thank the men that raise the grapes way out in California
And I’m hoping this will be their biggest year
‘Cause scarlet water’s all that’s left to keep me hanging on
And that’s why I’ll try to wine me up each day and night next year

Wine me up turn me on and watch me cry for you
Lately drinking warm red wine is all I want to do
And I never know how tight I’ll wine me up till I walk in
But I don’t care cause I’ll be back to wine me up again…