Satin Sheets
Encyclopedia
"Satin Sheets" is the title of a country music
song written by John Volinkaty. It was recorded by Jeanne Pruett
on her 1973 album of the same name, from which it was released in February 1973. The song was Pruett's only Number One country hit, as well as her only chart entry on the Billboard Hot 100
.
in the 1960s, before signing successfully with Decca Records
in 1969, which then became MCA Records
the year "Satin Sheets" was released. She finally started charting the Country list in 1971, then by 1972, she was hitting the Top 40 with her self-penned "Love Me" (later a bigger Country hit for Marty Robbins
). "Satin Sheets" was written by John Volinkaty, New Ulm, Minnesota
. The song was released as a single in February 1973. Writer Volinkaty said the idea came to him in 1970 while he was grocery shopping in Minneapolis. He went home and wrote this, his first song, in 30 minutes. It took 3 years to get someone to listen to it. He sent a tape to Jeanne and she listened. Volinkaty died in 1992.
"Satin Sheets" hit country radio in March 1973, aided by 1,600 pink satin sheets that Jeanne cut by hand and sent to radio programmers and music executives across the nation. The international hit topped the country charts that May.
The song was such a big hit it became a modest crossover hit, reaching No. 28 on the Billboard Hot 100
. "Satin Sheets" went on to become Pruett's biggest hit and career hit, as well as a signature Country tune of the 1970s. The song was revolutionary for Country music at the time, for its open discussion of sex. The song talks of how a housewife is unhappy with her marriage to a man who only gives gifts to his wife instead of giving her real love. An album of the same name was released that year, that topped the "Top Country Albums" chart as well. The album featured Pruett lying in a pink bed, with pink satin clothes and satin sheets. Because of the song's success, Pruett was invited to join the Grand Ole Opry
.
Pruett referenced the song in her 1979 single "Please Sing Satin Sheets for Me," which included a portion of her recording of "Satin Sheets" at the end.
.
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
song written by John Volinkaty. It was recorded by Jeanne Pruett
Jeanne Pruett
Jeanne Pruett is an American Country Music Singer and Grand Ole Opry star, best-known for her 1973 chart-topping Country hit, "Satin Sheets", that spent three weeks at No. 1....
on her 1973 album of the same name, from which it was released in February 1973. The song was Pruett's only Number One country hit, as well as her only chart entry on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
.
Song history
Jeanne Pruett struggled for years under RCA RecordsRCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
in the 1960s, before signing successfully with Decca Records
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
in 1969, which then became MCA Records
MCA Records
MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...
the year "Satin Sheets" was released. She finally started charting the Country list in 1971, then by 1972, she was hitting the Top 40 with her self-penned "Love Me" (later a bigger Country hit for Marty Robbins
Marty Robbins
Martin David Robinson , known professionally as Marty Robbins, was an American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist...
). "Satin Sheets" was written by John Volinkaty, New Ulm, Minnesota
New Ulm, Minnesota
New Ulm is a city in Brown County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 13,522 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Brown County....
. The song was released as a single in February 1973. Writer Volinkaty said the idea came to him in 1970 while he was grocery shopping in Minneapolis. He went home and wrote this, his first song, in 30 minutes. It took 3 years to get someone to listen to it. He sent a tape to Jeanne and she listened. Volinkaty died in 1992.
"Satin Sheets" hit country radio in March 1973, aided by 1,600 pink satin sheets that Jeanne cut by hand and sent to radio programmers and music executives across the nation. The international hit topped the country charts that May.
The song was such a big hit it became a modest crossover hit, reaching No. 28 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. "Satin Sheets" went on to become Pruett's biggest hit and career hit, as well as a signature Country tune of the 1970s. The song was revolutionary for Country music at the time, for its open discussion of sex. The song talks of how a housewife is unhappy with her marriage to a man who only gives gifts to his wife instead of giving her real love. An album of the same name was released that year, that topped the "Top Country Albums" chart as well. The album featured Pruett lying in a pink bed, with pink satin clothes and satin sheets. Because of the song's success, Pruett was invited to join the Grand Ole Opry
Grand Ole Opry
The Grand Ole Opry is a weekly country music stage concert in Nashville, Tennessee, that has presented the biggest stars of that genre since 1925. It is also among the longest-running broadcasts in history since its beginnings as a one-hour radio "barn dance" on WSM-AM...
.
Pruett referenced the song in her 1979 single "Please Sing Satin Sheets for Me," which included a portion of her recording of "Satin Sheets" at the end.
Chart performance
| Chart (1973) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 28 |
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 3 |
| Canadian RPM Top Singles | 76 |
| Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary Tracks | 66 |
Cover versions
A cover by The Bellamy Brothers in 1976 from their album Let Your Love Flow reached number 73 on the Billboard Hot 100Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
.