Wanda Jackson – Hard Headed Woman

I can’t comment on the title…or I’d be in trouble. I will say this…this is a different song than the song written by Cat Stevens on Tea For The Tillerman.

This song was first recorded and released by Elvis Presley with The Jordanaires in 1958. A great straight-up no-frills rock and roll song. Elvis’s version was part of the soundtrack for his 1958 motion picture King Creole and was included on the record album of the same name. The song was also released as a single and in 1958 peaked at #1 on the Billboard charts and went to number two for two weeks on the R&B chart.

The song was written by Claude Demetrius, who also composed songs like “Mean Woman Blues” and “Ain’t That Just Like A Woman,” and the Christmas classic “Santa Bring My Baby Back (To Me.).” When “Hard Headed Woman” first came out in 1958, the BBC restricted when it could be played on the air because of the biblical references in the lyrics.

Wanda Jackson did date Elvis in 1955. He gave her a ring to hold on to and Wanda still has it. They toured together building up their fanbase. Wanda released this song that was on the Live at Town Hall Party 1958.

Wanda Jackson: “I had never heard of him when we met, but we had a lot in common. We were two happy-go-lucky kids.”

This is Wanda’s appearance on California’s Town Hall Party TV show, calling the tune “one of the most beautiful love songs that’s ever been written.” Accompanied in the clip by guitarist Joe Maphis, Jackson recorded her sizzling version in Nashville in the fall of 1960. Among the musicians on those sessions was young guitar whiz Roy Clark.

Hard Headed Woman

Well, a hard headed woman a soft hearted man
Been the cause of trouble ever since the world began
Oh yeah, ever since the world began, ah oh oh oh oh
A hard headed woman is a thorn in the side of man

Now Adam said to Eve listen here to me
Don’t you let me catch you messin’ round that apple tree
Oh yeah, ever since the world began, ah oh oh oh oh
A hard headed woman is a thorn in the side of man

Now Samson told Delilah loud and clear
Keep your cotton pickin’ fingers out of my curly hair
Oh yeah, ever since the world began, ah oh oh oh oh
A hard headed woman is a thorn in the side of man

Well, I heard about a king who’s doing swell
Till he started playin’ with that evil Jezabel
Oh yeah, ever since the world began, ah oh oh oh oh
A hard headed woman is a thorn in the side of man

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Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball, Beatles, Alternative music, old movies, and tv show fan. Also anything to do with pop culture in the 60s and 70s... I'm also a songwriter, bass and guitar player. Not the slightest bit interested in politics at all.

41 thoughts on “Wanda Jackson – Hard Headed Woman”

  2. I have heard this somewhere, but I couldn’t tell you when or where. She’s wonderful. I haven’t heard anything of her other than this. Do you know if she got out of the entertainment business soon after touring with Elvis?

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    1. No…not as far as I know. In the sixties she got more into country and then gospel. She just retired recently…she made an album with Jack White I think around 10-15 years ago. She still has that same voice.

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  3. She actually retired a few years back at age 82 I think. A remarkable career actually. She went country then gospel and some rock revival touring. Sorry Max for stepping on your post!

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      2. Yes you would…and I’m here like you to learn so when everyone chips in we all benefit.
        BTW I want to hear the album she made with Jack White. I love the one he made with Loretta Lynn.

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      4. I’ve covered her once with Fujiyama Mama but it’s been a long time…You know how I got into her? I found this song by Joyce Green…after this I looked for more and found Wanda. Here is the link

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      5. What a great song, I’ve researched early Rockabilly female singers but I don’t remember hearing this one. Have you heard Janis Martin, very similar. Great find Max!

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      6. Thank you! I never heard Janis Martin before…she is great!
        I found Joyce Green by an interview that Paul Westerberg did…he mentioned her name and said what a great song that was…it was about the only thing in that period she released…that was heard at all. What a voice.

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      8. You could do a whole post on Cadillac songs. “Black Cadillac” was a song by a Wisconsin power trio called Soup (released in 1971). It had a great hook that anyone could play. Black Cadillac was a slang term for prescription amphetamines which came in black capsules – and was the reference in Soup’s song. There is also a photo (Google image search Lennon album Soup and you can see it) of John Lennon on a bed with Soup’s album in front of him, along with newspapers and breakfast). “Reverend Jack and his Roamin’ Cadillac Church was a 1988 release by Timbuk 3. Both are on YouTube.

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      9. I found the picture…that is pretty cool…I don’t think I’ve ever seen it. I’ve never heard that as slang before but it makes sense with it’s connections to amphetamines. Thanks for the info! I’ll check Soup out today.

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      2. That Joyce Green song opened up the female rockabilly door for me. They could do it just as well or better than the guys.

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  7. Like with RSR, I’ve heard it but not much so it’s sort of half-familiar. Good song anyway, I think I like her version a bit more than Elvis’…a bit more, maybe authentic emotion?

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    1. I also like her version more….she has something different about that voice…I can’t put my finger on it but Wanda has a lot of soul and character in hers.

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  13. Pingback: Wanda Jackson – Hard Headed Woman – MobsterTiger

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