Delta Dawn - wikipedia Delta Dawn For the unidentified murder victim, see Delta Dawn ( murder victim ). This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( January 2009 ) `` Delta Dawn '' Single by Tanya Tucker from the album Delta Dawn B - side `` I Love the Way He Loves Me '' Released May 13, 1972 Recorded 1972 Genre Country Length 3 : 09 Label Columbia Songwriter ( s ) Larry Collins, Alex Harvey Producer ( s ) Billy Sherrill Tanya Tucker singles chronology `` Delta Dawn '' ( 1972 ) `` Love 's the Answer '' / `` The Jamestown Ferry '' ( 1972 ) `` Delta Dawn '' Single by Helen Reddy from the album Long Hard Climb B - side `` If We Could Still be Friends '' Released June 1973 Format 7 '' Recorded 1972 Genre Adult contemporary Length 3 : 11 Label Capitol Songwriter ( s ) Larry Collins, Alex Harvey Producer ( s ) Tom Catalano Helen Reddy singles chronology `` Peaceful '' ( 1973 ) `` Delta Dawn '' ( 1973 ) `` Leave Me Alone ( Ruby Red Dress ) '' ( 1973 ) `` Delta Dawn '' is a song written by former child rockabilly star Larry Collins and songwriter Alex Harvey, best known as a 1972 top ten country hit for Tanya Tucker and a number one hit for Helen Reddy in 1973. Contents 1 Content 2 Recording history 2.1 Bette Midler 2.2 Tanya Tucker 2.3 Helen Reddy 2.4 Other recordings 3 Chart performance 3.1 Weekly charts 3.2 Year - end charts 3.2. 1 Tanya Tucker version 3.2. 2 Helen Reddy version 4 Use in popular media 5 Notes 6 See also 7 References 8 External links Content The title character is a faded former Southern belle from Brownsville, Tennessee who, at forty - one, is obsessed to unreason with the long - ago memory of a suitor who jilted her. The song 's lyrics describe how the woman regularly `` walks down town with a suitcase in her hand / looking for a mysterious dark haired man '' who she says will be taking her `` to his mansion in the sky ''. Reddy 's recording in particular has choir - like inspirational overtones as well. Recording History The first recording of `` Delta Dawn '' was made by Harvey for his eponymous album released in November 1971. Harvey had performed as the opening act for Helen Reddy in January 1972, at the Troubadour, but at that time Reddy ( who also was signed with the Capitol Records label ) made no evident connection with any of Harvey 's compositions. Dianne Davidson sang backup for Harvey 's recording. She was the first singer after Harvey to record the song and chart in 1971 -- 1972. Tracy Nelson also sang backup on Harvey 's recording, and performed `` Delta Dawn '' in her live act. Bette Midler After hearing Tracy Nelson sing the song at the Bottom Line in New York City, Bette Midler added the song to her repertoire. During the time Tanya Tucker 's and Helen Reddy 's recordings of the song were being produced ( see below ), Bette Midler recorded `` Delta Dawn '' for her The Divine Miss M debut album, for which her bluesy version was planned as the lead single. Reddy 's single was released June 1973, two days before Midler 's. The preemption required a marketing change to Midler 's single, so the original B - side `` Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy '' was shopped to radio, itself becoming a Top Ten hit. Tanya Tucker Before Midler 's recording, Nashville - based producer Billy Sherrill heard her sing `` Delta Dawn '' on The Tonight Show and wanted to sign Midler to Epic Records and have her record the song. Upon finding that Midler was already signed to Atlantic Records, Sherrill cut the song with Tanya Tucker, who was newly signed to Epic, and Tucker 's version was released in April 1972 ; it reached Number 6 C&W that spring. Helen Reddy Record producer Tom Catalano prepped an instrumental track of `` Delta Dawn '', virtually replicating that of Tucker 's single. Despite Catalano having worked with Helen Reddy, the track was first offered to Barbra Streisand, upon whose refusal Catalano had Reddy add her vocals to the track. Reddy 's version, with upward modulation added to the mimicking of Tucker 's cold intro and nonstop vocals throughout, entered the Top Ten hit on 18 August 1973 on its way to its lone frame at number 1, on 15 September 1973. Reddy 's Hot 100 # 1 hits, in order, were 1972 's `` I Am Woman '', then `` Delta Dawn '', then 1974 's `` Angie Baby ''. `` Delta Dawn '' also became the first of Reddy 's six consecutive -- and eight overall -- Number 1 hits on the Easy Listening chart in Billboard. Reddy had reached number two with both `` I Do n't Know How to Love Him '' and `` I Am Woman '' in her native Australia ; `` Delta Dawn '' became her first number - one hit, spending five weeks at the top of the Kent Music Report in August and September 1973. `` Delta Dawn '' also marked Reddy 's only chart appearance in South Africa, reaching number 13 in the autumn of 1973. Other recordings This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( December 2016 ) The Statler Brothers released their version of the song on their 1973 Mercury album The Statler Brothers Sing Country Symphonies in E Major. Tammy Wynette recorded the song feat Ray Conniff on his album The Nashville Connection. Loretta Lynn recorded the song for her 1972 album Here I Am Again. Waylon Jennings sang the song on his 1972 album Ladies Love Outlaws. Scott Walker released his version in 1974. Me First and the Gimme Gimmes included it on their album Ruin Jonny 's Bar Mitzvah. Debbie Rule, covered the song on her album Texas Girls ( 2015 ). Chart performance Weekly charts Year - end charts Tanya Tucker version Chart ( 1972 ) Peak position US Billboard Hot 100 72 US Hot Country Songs ( Billboard ) 6 Canadian RPM Country Tracks Helen Reddy version Chart ( 1973 ) Peak position Australia ( Kent Music Report ) Canada RPM Top Singles Canada RPM Adult Contemporary New Zealand ( Listener ) 20 South Africa ( Springbok Radio ) 13 US Billboard Hot 100 US Billboard Easy Listening US Cash Box Top 100 Chart ( 1973 ) Rank Australia 6 Canada RPM Top Singles US Billboard Hot 100 14 US Billboard Easy Listening US Cash Box Use in popular media This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( December 2016 ) On Friends, Monica Geller sang the song at a piano bar where Mike Hannigan worked. Stone Cold Steve Austin sang the first verse on an episode of WWE Raw -- notable for his failure to hit the high notes. Sonny and Cher performed the song on their The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour on CBS. used in the movie Big Fan, starring Patton Oswald. Notes Jump up ^ The co-writer more often goes by the name Alexander Harvey today, to avoid being confused with Glaswegian rocker Alex Harvey. See also List of number - one adult contemporary singles of 1973 ( U.S. ) List of Hot 100 number - one singles of 1973 ( U.S. ) References Jump up ^ Whitburn, Joel ( 2004 ). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits : 1944 - 2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 357. Jump up ^ `` ( unknown ) ''. Billboard. Vol. 84 no. 2. 8 January 1972. p. 12. Jump up ^ Tucker, Tanya ( 1997 ). Nickel Dreams : My life ( Large print ed. ). Waterville, ME : Thorndike Press. p. 132. ISBN 0 - 7862 - 1182 - 2. Jump up ^ Tucker, Tanya ( 1997 ). Nickel Dreams : my life ( Large print ed. ). Waterville, ME : Thorndike Press. p. 178. ISBN 0 - 7862 - 1182 - 2. Jump up ^ Hyatt, Wesley ( 1999 ). The Billboard Book of Number One Adult Contemporary Hits. New York, NY : Watson - Guptill Publications. p. 126. ISBN 0 - 8230 - 7693 - 8. ^ Jump up to : `` Australian Weekly Single Ccharts ( David Kent ) for 1973 ''. Retrieved June 7, 2018. ^ Jump up to : `` SA Charts 1965 - 1989 Acts R ''. South African Rock Lists. Retrieved 7 June 2018. Jump up ^ `` Tanya Tucker Chart History ( Hot 100 ) ''. Billboard. Jump up ^ `` Tanya Tucker Chart History ( Hot Country Songs ) ''. Billboard. Jump up ^ `` Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada ''. Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 19XX - XX - XX. Check date values in : date = ( help ) ; Missing or empty url = ( help ) ; access - date = requires url = ( help ) Jump up ^ `` Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada ''. Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1973 - 09 - 29. Retrieved 2018 - 02 - 19. Jump up ^ Flavour of New Zealand, 27 August 1973 Jump up ^ Joel Whitburn 's Top Pop Singles 1955 - 1990 - ISBN 0 - 89820 - 089 - X Jump up ^ Cash Box Top 100 Singles, September 15, 1973 Jump up ^ Kent, David ( 1993 ). Australian Chart Book 1970 -- 1992 ( doc ) format = requires url = ( help ). Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W. ISBN 0 - 646 - 11917 - 6. Jump up ^ Canada, Library and Archives ( December 26, 2017 ). `` Image : RPM Weekly ''. Jump up ^ Musicoutfitters.com Jump up ^ `` Billboard Year - End Charts 1973 '' ( PDF ). Jump up ^ Cash Box Year - End Charts : Top 100 Pop Singles, December 29, 1973 External links Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics Tanya Tucker Studio albums Delta Dawn What 's Your Mama 's Name Would You Lay with Me ( In a Field of Stone ) Tanya Tucker Lovin ' and Learnin ' Here 's Some Love Ridin ' Rainbows You Are So Beautiful TNT Tear Me Apart Dreamlovers Should I Do It Changes Girls Like Me Love Me Like You Used To Strong Enough to Bend Tennessee Woman What Do I Do with Me Ca n't Run from Yourself Soon Fire to Fire Complicated Tanya My Turn Compilation and live albums Live Greatest Hits Greatest Hits Encore Greatest Hits 1990 -- 1992 Live at Billy Bob 's Texas Notable singles `` Delta Dawn '' `` Love 's the Answer '' `` What 's Your Mama 's Name '' `` Blood Red and Goin ' Down '' `` Would You Lay with Me ( In a Field of Stone ) '' `` The Man That Turned My Mama On '' `` Lizzie and the Rainman '' `` San Antonio Stroll '' `` Do n't Believe My Heart Can Stand Another You '' `` You 've Got Me to Hold On To '' `` Here 's Some Love '' `` It 's a Cowboy Lovin ' Night '' `` You Are So Beautiful '' `` Texas ( When I Die ) '' `` Pecos Promenade '' `` Dream Lover '' `` Can I See You Tonight '' `` Feel Right '' `` Baby I 'm Yours '' `` One Love at a Time '' `` Just Another Love '' `` I 'll Come Back as Another Woman '' `` It 's Only Over for You '' `` Love Me Like You Used To '' `` I Wo n't Take Less Than Your Love '' ( with Paul Davis and Paul Overstreet ) `` If It Do n't Come Easy '' `` Strong Enough to Bend '' `` Highway Robbery '' `` Call on Me '' `` My Arms Stay Open All Night '' `` Walking Shoes '' `` Do n't Go Out '' ( with T. Graham Brown ) `` It Wo n't Be Me '' `` Oh What It Did to Me '' `` Down to My Last Teardrop '' `` ( Without You ) What Do I Do with Me '' `` Some Kind of Trouble '' `` If Your Heart Ai n't Busy Tonight '' `` Two Sparrows in a Hurricane '' `` It 's a Little Too Late '' `` Tell Me About It '' `` Soon '' `` We Do n't Have to Do This '' `` Hangin ' In '' `` You Just Watch Me '' `` Between the Two of Them '' `` Find Out What 's Happenin ' '' `` Little Things '' `` A Memory Like I 'm Gonna Be '' Related articles Albums discography Singles discography LaCosta `` Leave Them Boys Alone '' Helen Reddy Studio albums I Do n't Know How to Love Him Helen Reddy I Am Woman Long Hard Climb Love Song for Jeffrey Free and Easy No Way to Treat a Lady Music, Music Ear Candy We 'll Sing in the Sunshine Reddy Take What You Find Play Me Out Imagination Feel So Young Center Stage The Best Christmas Ever Live albums Live in London Compilations Helen Reddy 's Greatest Hits All - Time Greatest Hits The Best of Helen Reddy I Am Woman : The Essential Helen Reddy Collection Absolutely the Best of Helen Reddy The Woman I Am : The Definitive Collection Rarities from the Capitol Vaults Singles `` One Way Ticket '' `` I Do n't Know How to Love Him '' `` Crazy Love '' `` I Am Woman '' `` Peaceful '' `` Delta Dawn '' `` Leave Me Alone ( Ruby Red Dress ) '' `` Keep On Singing '' `` You and Me Against the World '' `` Angie Baby '' `` Emotion '' `` Ai n't No Way to Treat a Lady '' `` Somewhere in the Night '' `` I Ca n't Hear You No More '' `` You 're My World '' `` Candle on the Water '' `` We 'll Sing in the Sunshine '' Related articles Discography Toni Lamond Tony Sheldon `` Voices That Care '' Book : Helen Reddy Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Delta_Dawn&oldid=853152712 '' Categories : 1972 songs 1972 singles 1973 singles Waylon Jennings songs Tanya Tucker songs Helen Reddy songs Scott Walker ( singer ) songs Billboard Hot 100 number - one singles Billboard Adult Contemporary number - one singles Debut singles Columbia Records singles Capitol Records singles Song recordings produced by Billy Sherrill Hidden categories : CS1 errors : dates Pages using web citations with no URL Pages using citations with accessdate and no URL Pages using citations with format and no URL Articles needing additional references from January 2009 All articles needing additional references Articles with hAudio microformats All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from May 2018 Articles needing additional references from December 2016 Singlechart usages for Billboardhot100 Singlechart called without song Singlechart usages for Billboardcountrysongs Talk Contents About Wikipedia 日本 語 Norsk nynorsk Edit links This page was last edited on 2 August 2018, at 19 : 34 ( UTC ). 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Question: who sang delta dawn first helen reddy and tanya tucker
Answer: Tanya Tucker