Pursuing Happiness
| "Pursuing Happiness" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Norma Jean | ||||
| from the album The Game of Triangles | ||||
| B-side | "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels" | |||
| Released | July 1966 | |||
| Genre | Country[1] | |||
| Length | 2:27 | |||
| Label | RCA Victor | |||
| Songwriter | Harlan Howard | |||
| Producer | Bob Ferguson | |||
| Norma Jean singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Pursuing Happiness" is a song written by Harlan Howard that was originally recorded by American singer, Norma Jean. Released as a single by RCA Victor, it became a top-40 country song in 1966.
Background, recording and content
[edit]Norma Jean had a series of top-40 country hits during the 1960s, along with being a regular cast member of The Porter Wagoner Show.[2] Among these recordings was "Pursuing Happiness".[3] The song was composed by Harlan Howard and was produced by Bob Ferguson.[4]
Release, critical reception and chart performance
[edit]"Pursuing Happiness" was released as a single by RCA Victor in July 1973 and was distributed as a seven-inch vinyl disc. It was backed on the B-side by a cover of "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels".[4] The single was given a positive review by Record World who wrote about the A-side and the B-side, writing that both "will click" with audiences.[1] "Pursuing Happiness" entered the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart on August 13, 1966. It spent 11 weeks there and reached the number 28 position, becoming her seventh top-40 song on the Hot Country Songs survey.[3] It was included as a track on the studio albums The Game of Triangles[5] and Jackson Ain't a Very Big Town.[6]
Track listing
[edit]7" vinyl single[4]
- "Pursuing Happiness" – 2:27
- "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels" – 2:21
Charts
[edit]| Chart (1966) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[3] | 28 |
References
[edit]- 1 2 "Country Single Reviews" (PDF). Record World. July 16, 1966. p. 28. Retrieved 1 August 2026.
- ↑ Manheim, James. "Norma Jean Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 29 July 2026.
- 1 2 3 Whitburn, Joel (2008). Joel Whitburn Presents Across the Charts: The 1960s. Record Research, Inc. p. 282. ISBN 978-0898201758.
- 1 2 3 ""Pursuing Happiness"/"It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels" (7" vinyl single)". RCA Victor. U.S. July 1966. 47-8887.
- ↑ "The Game of Triangles (Liner Notes)". RCA Victor. U.S. January 1967. LSP-3764.
- ↑ "Jackson Ain't a Very Big Town (Liner Notes)". RCA Victor. U.S. July 1967. LPLM-3836 (LP mono); LSP-3836 (LP stereo).