Rock
The song “Bottle of Wine” was written by folk singer, songwriter, and music educator Tom Paxton. In 1967, The Fireballs recorded it and released it as a single. It went to #9 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and #3 in Australia.
Paxton had written more verses to the song, but The Fireballs chose two of them and repeated the chorus. The record was produced by Norman Petty, who is best known for his association with Buddy Holly and The Crickets. The Fireballs also released the song on their 1967 album titled Bottle of Wine. Judy Collins had recorded the song in 1964 and Paxton had a version of it in 1965. Other covers include ones by Doc Watson and Merle Watson as well as Sweeney’s men.
The Fireballs formed in Raton, New Mexico in the late 1950s. They took their name, the story goes, from Jerry Lew Lewis’ “Great Balls of Fire.” The original 1958 members were George Tomsco (lead guitar), Chuck Tharp (vocals), Stan Lark (bass), Eric Budd (drums), and Dan Trammell (rhythm guitar). They had success with a number of songs, including “Bulldog” and “Quite a Party.” Tharp, Budd, and Trammell left in the early 1960s. They added Doug Roberts on drums and singer/pianist Jimmy Gilmer. They had a #1 hit in 1963 with “Sugar Shack.” Gilmer left the group in 1967 to pursue other music business endeavors.
