On This Day in 1954, George Jones Launched His Career with His Debut Single “No Money in This Deal”

On this day (February 18) in 1954, George Jones launched one of the most iconic careers in country music history when he released his debut single “No Money in This Deal” on Starday Records. A regional hit, the song saw a young Jones wearing his influences on his sleeve.

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More than 70 years after the release of his debut single, Jones’ voice is unmistakable. More than that, he is hailed as the greatest country singer to ever live. As a result, countless artists have tried–and failed–to replicate his sound and style over the years. However in his early recordings such as “No Money in This Deal,” Jones is doing his best to sound like those who came before him. Those who are familiar with classic country music can hear how heavily influenced by Lefty Frizzell he was in his early days.

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Jones didn’t just emulate Frizzell in his vocal delivery. He also followed Frizzell’s formula when writing “No Money in This Deal.” Compare this song to “If You’ve Got the Money (I’ve Got the Time)” and the inspiration becomes crystal clear.

George Jones Recorded “No Money in This Deal” on a Back Porch

George Jones recorded “No Money in This Deal” when he was just 22. He was fresh out of the military and wanted to take a shot at being a country singer. So, he inked a deal with Starday, a small Texas-based label run by Jack Starnes and Pappy Daily.

In January 1954, he recorded his first songs for the label. Per Texas Monthly, he was “invited to Starnes’ Beaumont home, where the walls of the back porch had been lined with cardboard egg crating to convert it into a studio.” The tinny quality of the recording reveals the bare-bones equipment they used.

Jones, who penned his debut single, didn’t think highly of the song. “Oh, it was just one of them stupid things you write at the time. Bunch of junk,” he told the publication in a 1994 interview. “It didn’t seem like junk so much back in those days, but it would be junk today,” he added.

Featured Image by Beth Gwinn/Redferns