Honky Tonk Blues
Encyclopedia
"Honky Tonk Blues" was a hit country and western
song written and performed by Hank Williams. The original 1952 recording was a major hit, and it later became a hit for later-day superstar Charley Pride
.
.
as part of its American Masters series. The documentary was also shown at the 48th London Film Festival in 2004.
, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (with Watson for the album Will the Circle Be Unbroken
), Jason & the Scorchers
and Williams' son, Hank Williams, Jr.
Huey Lewis and the News
covered the song on their 1983 album Sports.
The song was covered in 1990 by Pirates of the Mississippi
. Their version was released as a single, and peaked at No. 26. In 2004, The Kentucky Headhunters
also covered the song on their Big Boss Man album.
Dion Dimucci
covered "Honky Tonk Blues" on his 2007 Grammy Nominated album, "Bronx in Blue".
Richard & Linda Thompson do a live version on the 2010 Deluxe Edition of Shoot Out the Lights.
; his version reached the top of the Billboard magazine Hot Country Singles
chart in April 1980.
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
song written and performed by Hank Williams. The original 1952 recording was a major hit, and it later became a hit for later-day superstar Charley Pride
Charley Pride
Charley Frank Pride is an American country music singer. His smooth baritone voice was featured on thirty-nine number-one hits on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. His greatest success came in the early- to mid-1970s, when he became the best-selling performer for RCA Records since Elvis...
.
Song history
The song was about a young farmboy who leaves his father's farm for the enticements of the city, only to become worn down and disillusioned. Williams' version reached No. 2 on the Billboard magazine country best-sellers chartHot 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 performance
| Chart (1952) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 2 |
Legacy
The title served as the name for a documentary about Williams broadcast by PBSPublic Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
as part of its American Masters series. The documentary was also shown at the 48th London Film Festival in 2004.
Covers
Since the release of Williams' hit version, the song has been covered by Doc WatsonDoc Watson
Arthel Lane "Doc" Watson is an American guitar player, songwriter and singer of bluegrass, folk, country, blues and gospel music. He has won seven Grammy awards as well as a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Watson's flatpicking skills and knowledge of traditional American music are highly regarded...
, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (with Watson for the album Will the Circle Be Unbroken
Will the Circle Be Unbroken
Will the Circle Be Unbroken is a 1972 album officially by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, but with collaboration from many famous Bluegrass and country-western players, including Roy Acuff, Mother Maybelle Carter, Doc Watson, Earl Scruggs, Merle Travis, Bashful Brother Oswald, Norman Blake, Jimmy...
), Jason & the Scorchers
Jason & the Scorchers
Jason & the Scorchers, originally Jason & the Nashville Scorchers, are a Cowpunk / Country rock band formed in 1981 and led by singer/songwriter Jason Ringenberg....
and Williams' son, Hank Williams, Jr.
Hank Williams, Jr.
Randall Hank Williams , better known as Hank Williams, Jr. and Bocephus, is an American country singer-songwriter and musician. His musical style is often considered a blend of Southern rock, blues, and traditional country...
Huey Lewis and the News
Huey Lewis and the News
Huey Lewis and the News is an American rock band based in San Francisco, California. They had a run of hit singles during the 1980s and early 1990s, eventually scoring a total of 19 top-ten singles across the Billboard Hot 100, Adult Contemporary and Mainstream Rock charts...
covered the song on their 1983 album Sports.
The song was covered in 1990 by Pirates of the Mississippi
Pirates of the Mississippi
Pirates of the Mississippi was an American country music group. It was founded in 1987 by Rich Alves , Bill McCorvey Jimmy Lowe , Pat Severs , and Dean Townson...
. Their version was released as a single, and peaked at No. 26. In 2004, The Kentucky Headhunters
The Kentucky Headhunters
The Kentucky Headhunters are an American country rock band. They were founded in 1968 as Itchy Brother, which comprised brothers Richard Young and Fred Young along with Greg Martin and Anthony Kenney...
also covered the song on their Big Boss Man album.
Dion Dimucci
Dion DiMucci
Dion Francis DiMucci , better known as Dion, is an American singer-songwriter whose work has incorporated elements of doo-wop, pop oldies music, rock and R&B styles....
covered "Honky Tonk Blues" on his 2007 Grammy Nominated album, "Bronx in Blue".
Richard & Linda Thompson do a live version on the 2010 Deluxe Edition of Shoot Out the Lights.
Charley Pride version
The most successful cover version was by Charley PrideCharley Pride
Charley Frank Pride is an American country music singer. His smooth baritone voice was featured on thirty-nine number-one hits on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. His greatest success came in the early- to mid-1970s, when he became the best-selling performer for RCA Records since Elvis...
; his version reached the top of the Billboard magazine Hot Country Singles
Hot 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 in April 1980.
Chart performance
| Chart (1980) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 1 |
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 1 |