When the Snow Is on the Roses

"When the Snow Is on the Roses"
Single by Sonny James
from the album When the Snow Is on the Roses
B-side	Love is a Rainbow
Released	July 5, 1972
Format	7"
Recorded	June 1, 1972
Genre	Country
Length	2:42
Label	Columbia
Writer(s)	Ernst Bader, Larry Kusik and Eddie Snyder (lyrics), James Last (music)
Producer(s)	George Richey
Sonny James singles chronology
"That's Why I Love You Like I Do" (1972) "When the Snow Is on the Roses" (1972) "White Silver Sands" (1972)

"When the Snow Is on the Roses" is a song that was an Adult Contemporary hit for Ed Ames in 1967, spending four weeks at #1 on the Easy Listening chart, but only reached #98 on the Billboard Hot 100. In 1972, a version recorded by Sonny James went to number one on the country charts.

Song history

The song — originally recorded by Roy Drusky in the late 1960s as an album cut — was James' first single released after he had signed with Columbia Records in 1972. James had just wrapped up a successful stay at Capitol Records, where he had enjoyed a string of 16 consecutive No. 1 hits during the late 1960s and early 1970s.

"When the Snow ... ," a ballad, began another long string of hits by "The Southern Gentleman." The song became his 22nd No. 1 song on the Billboard magazine Hot Country Singles chart in mid-September 1972.

Ernst Bader wrote the original lyrics to the song in German; Larry Kusik and Eddie Snyder then wrote the English translation. The music was by James Last.

Elvis Presley also sang this song live in Las Vegas on August 24, 1970 MS (Midnight Show). This performance is registered in the Live In Las Vegas BMG box set. It is an audience recording. Thanks to that, it is a rare and unique performance.

Chart performance

Chart (1972)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles	1
U.S. Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100	3
Canadian RPM Country Tracks	1

Preceded by "More Than the Eye Can See" by Al Martino	Billboard Easy Listening Singles number-one single (Ed Ames version) November 25, 1967 (4 weeks)	Succeeded by "Cold" by John Gary
Preceded by "If You Leave Me Tonight I'll Cry" by Jerry Wallace	Billboard Hot Country Singles number-one single September 16, 1972	Succeeded by "I Can't Stop Loving You" by Conway Twitty
Preceded by "I Can't Stop Loving You" by Conway Twitty	RPM Country Tracks number-one single September 30, 1972	Succeeded by "Oney" by Johnny Cash

References and sources

See also

• Hyatt, Wesley (1999). The Billboard Book of #1 Adult Contemporary Hits (Billboard Publications)