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| "Sixteen Tons" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Merle Travis | |
| from the album Folk Songs of the Hills | |
| B-side | "Dark as a Dungeon" |
| Released | July 1947 |
| Recorded | August 8, 1946 |
| Studio | Radio Recorders, Los Angeles |
| Genre | Folk |
| Length | 2:54 |
| Label | Capitol Americana[1] |
| Songwriter(s) | Merle Travis |
| Producer(s) | Lee Gillette |
| Official audio | |
| "Sixteen Tons" on YouTube | |
"Sixteen Tons" is a song written by Merle Travis about a coal miner, based on life in the mines of Muhlenberg County, Kentucky.[2] Travis first recorded the song at the Radio Recorders Studio B in Hollywood, California, on August 8, 1946. Cliffie Stone played bass on the recording. It was first released in July 1947 by Capitol on Travis's album Folk Songs of the Hills.[3] The song became a gold record.
- ^ "Capitol 48000: Americana Album series 78rpm numerical listing discography". www.78discography.com. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
- ^ "Sixteen Tons: The Story Behind the Legend". Tennessee Ernie Ford. Retrieved June 11, 2019.
- ^ "Advance Record Releases". Billboard. June 28, 1947. p. 119.