Almost Persuaded
Encyclopedia
"Almost Persuaded" is a song written by Glenn Sutton
and Muscle Shoals
songwriter Billy Sherrill
and first recorded by David Houston
in 1966. It is not to be confused with the Christian hymn of the same name.
The song is about a married man who, while patronizing a tavern, sees a beautiful young woman and is instantly smitten. Forgetting that he is married, he nearly succumbs to temptation. However, when the two share a slow dance on the floor, he sees the reflection of his wedding band and, remembering his vows to his wife, leaves.
chart starting in August 1966 and has since gone on to become a country standard. The song was also a moderate pop
hit, reaching twenty-four on the Billboard pop chart and was David Houston's only Top 40 entry on the pop charts.
To date, no number-one song has matched the chart-topping longevity of "Almost Persuaded," although two songs — 1999's "Amazed
" by Lonestar
and 2003's "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" by Alan Jackson
and Jimmy Buffett
— have come the closest, each having spent eight weeks atop the Billboard chart.
The song won a Grammy Award for Best Country & Western Recording
of 1966.
Some cover versions of this song include:
Glenn Sutton
Glenn Sutton was a country music songwriter and producer. Born Royce Glenn Sutton in Hodge, Louisiana, he was one of two chief architects of the countrypolitan sound .Sutton wrote or co-wrote many of Tammy Wynette's early hits including, "You're Good Girl's Gonna Go Bad",...
and Muscle Shoals
Muscle Shoals Sound Studio
The Muscle Shoals Sound Studio was formed in Muscle Shoals, Alabama,in 1969 when musicians Barry Beckett , Roger Hawkins , Jimmy Johnson and David Hood left FAME Studios to create their own studio...
songwriter Billy Sherrill
Billy Sherrill
Billy Sherrill is a record producer and arranger who is most famous for his association with a number of country artists, most notably Tammy Wynette...
and first recorded by David Houston
David Houston (singer)
Charles David Houston was an American country music singer. His peak in popularity came between the mid-1960s through the early 1970s.-Biography:...
in 1966. It is not to be confused with the Christian hymn of the same name.
The song is about a married man who, while patronizing a tavern, sees a beautiful young woman and is instantly smitten. Forgetting that he is married, he nearly succumbs to temptation. However, when the two share a slow dance on the floor, he sees the reflection of his wedding band and, remembering his vows to his wife, leaves.
Legacy
"Almost Persuaded" spent nine weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard magazine Hot Country SinglesHot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
chart starting in August 1966 and has since gone on to become a country standard. The song was also a moderate pop
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
hit, reaching twenty-four on the Billboard pop chart and was David Houston's only Top 40 entry on the pop charts.
To date, no number-one song has matched the chart-topping longevity of "Almost Persuaded," although two songs — 1999's "Amazed
Amazed
"Amazed" is the title of a song written by Marv Green, Aimee Mayo and Chris Lindsey. The first version of the song was recorded by the American country music group Lonestar, whose version was released in March 1999 as the second single from their 1999 album Lonely Grill...
" by Lonestar
Lonestar
Lonestar is an American country music group consisting of Richie McDonald , Michael Britt , Keech Rainwater , Dean Sams , and Michael Hill . McDonald left the band in November 2007 for a solo career before returning in 2011...
and 2003's "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" by Alan Jackson
Alan Jackson
Alan Eugene Jackson is an American country music singer, known for blending traditional honky tonk and mainstream country sounds and penning many of his own hits. He has recorded 13 studio albums, 3 Greatest Hits albums, 2 Holiday albums, 1 Gospel album and several compilations, all on the Arista...
and Jimmy Buffett
Jimmy Buffett
James William "Jimmy" Buffett is a singer-songwriter, author, entrepreneur, and film producer. He is best known for his music, which often portrays an "island escapism" lifestyle. Together with his Coral Reefer Band, Buffett's musical hits include "Margaritaville" , and "Come Monday"...
— have come the closest, each having spent eight weeks atop the Billboard chart.
The song won a Grammy Award for Best Country & Western Recording
Grammy Award for Best Country & Western Recording
The Grammy Award for Best Country & Western Recording was awarded from 1959 to 1968. From 1959 to 1961 the award was presented as the Grammy Award for Best Country & Western Performance...
of 1966.
Some cover versions of this song include:
- The Statler Brothers in 1966.
- Crispian St. PetersCrispian St. PetersCrispian St. Peters was an English pop singer-songwriter, best known for his work in the 1960s, particularly his 1966 hits, "The Pied Piper" and "You Were on My Mind."-Early career:...
released a cover of the song on his 1996 album, Follow Me. - George JonesGeorge JonesGeorge Glenn Jones is an American country music singer known for his long list of hit records, his distinctive voice and phrasing, and his marriage to Tammy Wynette....
with Merle HaggardMerle HaggardMerle Ronald Haggard is an American country music singer, guitarist, fiddler, instrumentalist, and songwriter. Along with Buck Owens, Haggard and his band The Strangers helped create the Bakersfield sound, which is characterized by the unique twang of Fender Telecaster guitars, vocal harmonies,...
in 1967. - Tammy WynetteTammy WynetteVirginia Wynette Pugh, known professionally as Tammy Wynette , was an American country music singer-songwriter and one of the genre's best-known artists and biggest-selling female vocalists....
in 1967, who coincidentally would go on to record a number of duets with Houston. - Patti PagePatti PageClara Ann Fowler , known by her professional name Patti Page, is an American singer, one of the best-known female artists in traditional pop music. She was the best-selling female artist of the 1950s, and has sold over 100 million records...
in 1970. - Charlie RichCharlie RichCharles Rich was an American country music singer and musician. A Grammy Award winner, his eclectic-style of music was often hard to classify in a single genre, playing in the rockabilly, jazz, blues, country, and gospel genres.In the latter part of his life, Rich acquired the nickname The Silver...
in 1974. - Tanya TuckerTanya TuckerTanya Denise Tucker is a female American country music artist who had her first hit, "Delta Dawn", in 1972 at the age of 13...
in 1977. - Tennessee Ernie FordTennessee Ernie FordErnest Jennings Ford , better known as Tennessee Ernie Ford, was an American recording artist and television host who enjoyed success in the country and Western, pop, and gospel musical genres...
- Bill HaleyBill HaleyBill Haley was one of the first American rock and roll musicians. He is credited by many with first popularizing this form of music in the early 1950s with his group Bill Haley & His Comets and their hit song "Rock Around the Clock".-Early life and career:...
- Etta JamesEtta JamesEtta James is an American blues, soul, rhythm and blues , rock and roll, gospel and jazz singer. In the 1950s and 1960s, she had her biggest success as a blues and R&B singer...
- Sheb WooleySheb WooleyShelby F. "Sheb" Wooley was a character actor and singer, best known for his 1958 novelty song "Purple People Eater"...
- Louis ArmstrongLouis ArmstrongLouis Armstrong , nicknamed Satchmo or Pops, was an American jazz trumpeter and singer from New Orleans, Louisiana....
David Houston
| Chart (1966) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 24 |
| Canadian RPM Top Singles | 45 |
Patti Page
| Chart (1966) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 | 13 |
| U.S. Adult Conteporary | 20 |
Sheb Wooley
| Chart (1966) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 6 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 58 |
| Canadian RPM Top Singles | 53 |
Etta James
| Chart (1969) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles | 32 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 24 |
| Canadian RPM Top Singles | 71 |
Merle Haggard
| Chart (1987) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 58 |
| Canadian RPM Top Country Singles | 54 |