Jones Dean Martin Other Covers Jan & Dean covered the song for their 1963 album Surf City And Other Swingin' Cities. Arthur Alexander released the song as a single in 1965 backed with "You Don't Care," but it did not perform well and proved to be his last single for Dot Records. Nonetheless, historian Nat Hentoff described Alexander's rendition as "deeply compelling," stating that it "[eclipsed] the original version by Bobby Bare." Alexander biographer described it as "a stirring rendition." Music USA: A Rough Guide also praised Alexander's version. No Depression magazine states that Alexander's version "mourns a rural-to-urban migration that black Americans could relate to every bit as much as poor Southern whites." Jerry Lee Lewis released a version on his 1965 album Country Songs for City Folks. The Jordanaires released a cover on their 1966 album The Big Country Hits. Charley Pride released his cover of the song as the b-side of his 1966 hit "Just Between You and Me". Both songs were later included on the 1967 album Pride of Country Music. In 1967, the song was also covered by Tom Jones, who had a UK Top 10 hit with it. The Jones version features Bare's spoken Recitation as well. Jones also included the song on his 1967 album Green, Green Grass of Home. Solomon Burke covered the song in 1967 as well. His version reached #10 in the Canadian RPM Soul charts, January 27, 1968. Dolly Parton covered the song on her 1980 album 9 to 5 and Odd Jobs. The song has also been covered by soul singer Joe Tex. The song was covered by Yugoslav beat band Tomi Sovilj i Njegove Siluete on their 1967 EP Stoj, Džoni (Stop, Johnny). References 1963 singles 1967 singles Appalachian culture in Michigan Songs written by Danny Dill Songs written by Mel Tillis Bobby Bare songs Jan and Dean songs Billy Grammer songs Jerry Lee Lewis songs Tom Jones (singer) songs Dean Martin songs Songs about Detroit 1963 songs Decca Records singles RCA Records singles Arthur Alexander songs Dot Records singles Song recordings produced by Peter Sullivan (record producer)