{{Infobox song | name = Sweet Thang | cover =Sweet Thang.jpg | alt = | type = single | artist = Nat Stuckey | album = Nat Stuckey Really Sings | B-side = Paralyze My Mind | released = {{Start date|1966|08}} | recorded = July 4, 1966 | studio = Brians Studio | genre = {{hlist|Country|traditional country<ref>{{cite web |title=''Nat Stuckey Sings'': Nat Stuckey: Songs, Reviews, Credits |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/nat-stuckey-sings-mw0000893560 |website=Allmusic |accessdate=18 September 2020}}</ref>}} | length = {{duration|m=2|s37}} | label = Paula | writer = Nat Stuckey | producer = {{hlist|Frank Page|Nat Stuckey}} | prev_title = Don't You Believe Her | prev_year = 1966 | next_title = Oh! Woman | next_year = 1967 }} "'''Sweet Thang'''" is a song written and originally recorded by American country artist Nat Stuckey. It was Stuckey's first major hit as a music artist, peaking in the top ten of the national country music charts. In later years, it would notably be recorded by Ernest Tubb and Loretta Lynn.
==Nat Stuckey version== The song was first recorded by Nat Stuckey shortly after signing a recording contract with the independent label Paula Records. The label was based out of Shreveport, Louisiana. Stuckey had also composed the song.<ref name="NS Bio">{{cite web |last1=Kurutz |first1=Steve |title=Nat Stuckey: Biography & History |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/nat-stuckey-mn0000311919/biography |website=Allmusic |accessdate=18 September 2020}}</ref> "Sweet Thang" was recorded at Brians Studio, located in Tyler, Texas. It took place on July 4, 1966 and co-produced by Stuckey and Frank Page. Additional tracks that later appeared on his debut album were also recorded in the same session.<ref name="NS Liner Notes">{{cite journal |last1=Stuckey |first1=Nat |title=''Nat Stuckey Really Sings'' (Liner Notes and Album Information) |journal=Paul Records |date=1966}}</ref>
"Sweet Thang" was released as a single in August 1966 via Paula Records. The song peaked at number four on the ''Billboard'' Hot Country Singles chart in 1966. The song became Stuckey's biggest hit as a music artist.<ref name="Billboard Singles">{{cite book|last=Whitburn|first=Joel|title=Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008|publisher=Record Research, Inc.|year=2008|isbn=978-0-89820-177-2}}</ref> "Sweet Thang" appeared on his debut studio album, also released on Paula Records entitled ''Nat Stuckey Really Sings.''<ref name="NS Liner Notes"/> He would continue having major hits into the 1970s with songs such as "Plastic Saddle."<ref name="NS Bio"/>
===Track listing === ;7" vinyl single<ref>{{cite web |title=Nat Stuckey -- "Sweet Thang" (1966, Vinyl) |url=https://www.discogs.com/Nat-Stuckey-Sweet-Thang-cw-Paralyze-My-Mind/master/911066 |website=Discogs |year=1966 |accessdate=18 September 2020}}</ref> * "Sweet Thang" – 2:37 * "Paralyze My Mind" – 2:29
===Chart performance=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |- ! scope="col"| Chart (1966) ! scope="col"| Peak<br /> position |- ! scope="row"| US Hot Country Songs (''Billboard'') | 4 |- |}
==Ernest Tubb and Loretta Lynn version== {{Infobox song | name = Sweet Thang | cover = | alt = | type = single | artist = Ernest Tubb and Loretta Lynn | album = Singin' Again | B-side = Beautiful, Unhappy Home | released = {{Start date|1967|01}} | recorded = December 21, 1966 | studio = Columbia Recording Studio | venue = | genre = {{hlist|Country|Honky-tonk<ref>{{cite web |title=''Singin' Again'': Ernest Tubb & Loretta Lynn: Songs, Reviews, Credits |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/singin-again-mw0000865540 |website=Allmusic |accessdate=18 September 2020}}</ref>}} | length = {{duration|m=2|s=32}} | label = Decca | writer = Nat Stuckey | producer = Owen Bradley | chronology = Ernest Tubb | prev_title = Another Story, Another Time, Another Place | prev_year = 1966 | next_title = In the Jailhouse Now | next_year = 1967 | misc = {{Extra chronology | artist = Loretta Lynn | type = single | prev_title = To Heck with Ole Santa Claus | prev_year = 1966 | title = Sweet Thang | year = 1967 | next_title = If You're Not Gone Too Long | next_year = 1967 }} }} "Sweet Thang" was notably recorded as a duet in 1967 by American country artists Ernest Tubb and Loretta Lynn. The song was recorded at the Columbia Recording Studio on December 21, 1966. The studio was located in Nashville, Tennessee. The sessions was produced by Owen Bradley. Bradley was both artists' producer on the Decca record label in the 1960s also produced their previous duet album release.<ref name="Liner Notes">{{cite journal |last1=Lynn |first1=Loretta |last2=Tubb |first2=Ernest |title=''Singin' Again'' (Album Info and Liner Notes) |journal=Decca Records |date=May 29, 1967}}</ref>
"Sweet Thang" was released as a single in January 1967 via Decca Records.<ref name="Billboard Singles">{{cite book|last=Whitburn|first=Joel|title=Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008|publisher=Record Research, Inc.|year=2008|isbn=978-0-89820-177-2}}</ref> It spent a total of nine weeks on the ''Billboard'' Hot Country Singles chart before reaching number 45 in April 1967.<ref>{{cite magazine |title="Sweet Thang" chart history |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/loretta-lynn/chart-history/csi/ |magazine=Billboard |accessdate=18 September 2020}}</ref> "Sweet Thang" was then released on the duo's second studio release entitled ''Singin' Again.''<ref name="Liner Notes"/> The single was Lynn's first charting song that missed the top 40 on the country songs chart. This would not occur again until 1983.<ref name="Billboard Singles"/>
===Track listings=== ;7" vinyl single<ref>{{cite web |title=Ernest Tubb and Loretta Lynn -- "Sweet Thang" (1967, Vinyl) |url=https://www.discogs.com/Ernest-Tubb-And-Loretta-Lynn-Sweet-Thang/release/4045079 |website=Discogs |year=1967 |accessdate=18 September 2020}}</ref> * "Sweet Thang" – 2:32 * "Beautiful Unhappy Home" – 2:15
===Chart performance=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |- ! scope="col"| Chart (1967) ! scope="col"| Peak<br /> position |- {{single chart|Billboardcountrysongs|45|artist=Loretta Lynn|rowheader=true|accessdate=September 18, 2020}} |- |}
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Loretta Lynn singles}} Category:1966 songs Category:1966 singles Category:Decca Records singles Category:Ernest Tubb songs Category:Loretta Lynn songs Category:Nat Stuckey songs Category:Song recordings produced by Owen Bradley