B-side "All the Good Is Gone" Genre Country Label Smash | Released May 1968 Length 2:35 Writer(s) Glenn Sutton | |
"What's Made Milwaukee Famous (Has Made a Loser Out of Me)" is a song written by Glenn Sutton. The song's title is a reference to beer, specifically Schlitz beer, which for many years was advertised with the slogan, "The beer that made Milwaukee famous."
In 1968, Jerry Lee Lewis released his version as a single. It became a top 10 hit on Billboard's Country chart and also made a minor impact on the Billboard Hot 100.
Cover versions
In 1971, writer Sutton's wife Lynn Anderson recorded a version for her album How Can I Unlove You.
In the United Kingdom, a version by Rod Stewart charted at #4 in 1972 as a double A-side with "Angel."
The Del McCoury Band recorded the song on their album, A Deeper Shade of Blue. Country artist Hank Thompson recorded another version, as did Johnny Bush.
More recently, a live version appeared on Irish-American punk band Flogging Molly's 1997 release Alive Behind the Green Door.
The Texas band What Made Milwaukee Famous takes its name from this song.