Only Daddy That'll Walk the Line

Last updated
"Only Daddy That'll Walk the Line"
Single by Waylon Jennings
from the album Only the Greatest
B-side "Right Before My Eyes" [1]
ReleasedJuly 13, 1968
RecordedApril 16, 1968
Studio RCA Studio B (Nashville, Tennessee) [2]
Genre Country
Length2:23
Label RCA Victor #9561
Songwriter(s) Jimmy Bryant
Producer(s) Chet Atkins
Waylon Jennings singles chronology
"I Got You"
(1968)
"Only Daddy That'll Walk the Line"
(1968)
"Yours Love"
(1968)

"Only Daddy That'll Walk the Line" is a song written by Jimmy Bryant. Originally recorded by American country music singer Jim Alley, [3] it was made famous by American country music singer and musician Waylon Jennings.

Contents

Waylon Jennings version

Jennings recorded the song on April 16, 1968, at RCA Victor Studios in Nashville, with Chet Atkins producing, with Wayne Moss playing the guitar solo. [4] It was released in July 1968 as the second single from Jennings' album Only the Greatest . [5]

Billboard , in a review of the album, said that it and "Walk On Out of My Mind" were "typical of the robust, compelling vocal style." [6] Nathan Brackett and Christian Hoard, in The New Rolling Stone Album Guide, wrote that Jennings began to "really assert his rough-hewn sensibility" on the song. [7]

The song was featured in season seven episode five of Mad Men , and was played briefly in the film Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby .

Chart positions

The song spent eighteen weeks on the Hot Country Singles charts, peaking at #2 and holding that peak for five weeks. [1] In Canada, it reached Number One on the RPM Country Tracks charts for the week ending September 30, 1968. [8]

Chart (1968)Peak
position
US Hot Country Songs ( Billboard ) [9] 2
Canadian RPM Country Tracks1

Linda Ronstadt version

Linda Ronstadt included a gender-reversed version of the song (sung as "The Only Mama That'll Walk the Line") on her 1969 album Hand Sown ... Home Grown; The song became a staple of Ronstadt's set lists at her concerts during the late 1960s and early '70s. She performed it on The Johnny Cash Show in June 1969, nearly a year before Jennings performed it on the same show.

Hank Williams Jr. version

Hank Williams Jr. included a version of the song on his album Family Tradition , which was released in 1979.

The Kentucky Headhunters version

"Only Daddy That'll Walk the Line"
Single by The Kentucky Headhunters
from the album Electric Barnyard
B-side "Walk Softly on This Heart of Mine" [10]
Released1991
Genre Country
Length3:10
Label Mercury #866134
Songwriter(s) Jimmy Bryant
Producer(s) The Kentucky Headhunters
The Kentucky Headhunters singles chronology
"It's Chitlin' Time"
(1991)
"Only Daddy That'll Walk the Line"
(1991)
"Let's Work Together"
(1992)

In 1991, The Kentucky Headhunters recorded a cover version for the album Electric Barnyard . Also released as a single that year, this version spent seven weeks on the same chart and peaked at #60.

Chart positions

Chart (1991)Peak
position
US Hot Country Songs ( Billboard ) [11] 60

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">That'll Be the Day</span> 1957 single by the Crickets

"That'll Be the Day" is a song written by Buddy Holly and Jerry Allison. It was first recorded by Buddy Holly and the Three Tunes in 1956 and was re-recorded in 1957 by Holly and his new band, the Crickets. The 1957 recording achieved widespread success. Holly's producer, Norman Petty, was credited as a co-writer, although he did not contribute to the composition.

"Heartaches by the Number" is a popular country song written by Harlan Howard, and published in 1959. The sheet music was a best seller in both the US and Britain in January 1960.

<i>Only the Greatest</i> 1968 studio album by Waylon Jennings

Only the Greatest is a studio album by American country music artist Waylon Jennings, released in 1968 on RCA Victor. It includes the single "Only Daddy That'll Walk the Line," which Jennings took to #2 on the country music charts that year.

"Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys" is a country music song first recorded by Ed Bruce, written by him and his wife Patsy Bruce. His version of the song appears on his 1976 self-titled album for United Artists Records. In late 1975 and early 1976, Bruce's rendition of the song went to number 15 on the Hot Country Singles charts. This song was featured on Chris LeDoux's album released January 20, 1976, Songbook of the American West.

<i>The Best of Waylon Jennings</i> 1970 greatest hits album by Waylon Jennings

The Best of Waylon Jennings is a compilation album by American country music artist Waylon Jennings, released in 1970 on RCA Nashville.

<i>Greatest Hits</i> (Waylon Jennings album) 1979 greatest hits album by Waylon Jennings

Greatest Hits is a compilation album by American country music artist Waylon Jennings, released in 1979 by RCA Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oh Lonesome Me</span> 1957 song by Don Gibson

"Oh Lonesome Me" is a popular song written and recorded in December 1957 by Don Gibson with Chet Atkins producing it for RCA Victor in Nashville. Released in 1958, the song topped the country chart for eight non-consecutive weeks. On what became the Billboard Hot 100, it peaked at No. 7. It was Gibson's only Top 10 hit on the pop chart. Its B-side was "I Can't Stop Loving You", which peaked at No. 7 on the C&W Jockey charts and became a standard song about unrequited love. The vocal backings on both songs were provided by the Jordanaires.

"Please Remember Me" is a song co-written by American country music artist Rodney Crowell with lyricist Will Jennings. Originally recorded by Crowell for his 1995 album Jewel of the South, his version was released as its lead single and peaked at number 69 on the Billboard country chart in early June.

The Kentucky Headhunters are an American country rock & southern rock band founded in 1968 as Itchy Brother. The band's discography comprises nine studio albums, six compilation albums, two video compilations and 27 singles. Of their albums, their 1989 debut Pickin' on Nashville is certified double platinum in the United States and Canada, while 1991's Electric Barnyard has a gold certification in both countries. Of the band's singles, four have reached Top 40 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. Their highest chart peak is the number 8 "Oh Lonesome Me", which was originally a Number One single for Don Gibson.

"Wrong" is a song written by Steve Seskin and Andre Pessis, and recorded by American country music singer Waylon Jennings. It was released in May 1990 as the first single from his album The Eagle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">It Doesn't Matter Anymore</span> 1959 single by Buddy Holly

"It Doesn't Matter Anymore" is a pop ballad written by Paul Anka and recorded by Buddy Holly in 1958. The song was issued in January 1959, less than a month before Holly's death. "It Doesn't Matter Anymore" reached number 13 as a posthumous hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in early 1959, shortly after Holly was killed in a plane crash on February 3, 1959. The single was a two-sided hit, backed with "Raining in My Heart". "It Doesn't Matter Anymore" was Holly's last US Top 20 hit and featured the orchestral backing of Dick Jacobs. It was also successful in the United Kingdom, where it became the country's first posthumous number 1 hit.

<i>Sunshine and Rain</i> 1968 studio album by Connie Smith

Sunshine and Rain is the eleventh studio album by American country singer Connie Smith, released in October 1968 by RCA Victor. Sunshine and Rain featured an assortment of both new material and covers of songs by other country artists. The album reached the top 40 of the American country albums chart and received a favorable review from Billboard magazine following its release.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amanda (Don Williams song)</span> 1973 song written by Bob McDill

"Amanda" is a 1973 song written by Bob McDill and recorded by both Don Williams (1973) and Waylon Jennings (1974). "Amanda" was Waylon Jennings's eighth solo number one on the country chart. The single stayed at number one for three weeks on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart.

"I'm a Ramblin' Man" is a song written by Ray Pennington. He recorded the song in 1967 for Capitol Records and took it to number 29 on the country charts.

"I Still Miss Someone" is a song co-written by Johnny Cash and his nephew Roy Cash, Jr. and originally recorded by American country music singer Johnny Cash. He first recorded it in 1958 as the B-side to "Don't Take Your Guns to Town".

"Lovin' Her Was Easier " is a song written, composed, first recorded, and first released by Kris Kristofferson. It was also recorded and released by Roger Miller, who included it on his album The Best of Roger Miller and released it as a single in July 1971. Ten years later, it was recorded by Tompall & the Glaser Brothers for the album Lovin' Her Was Easier.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sweet Music Man</span>

"Sweet Music Man" is a song written and recorded by American musician Kenny Rogers. It appears on his 1977 album Daytime Friends, from which it was released as the final single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waylon Jennings singles discography</span>

The following is a detailed discography of all singles released by American country music singer Waylon Jennings. A total of 16 Jennings' singles have reached number one on music charts.

"Even Cowgirls Get the Blues" is a song written by Rodney Crowell. It has since been covered by several artists, notably La Costa, Emmylou Harris and Lynn Anderson. Crowell claims to have written "Even Cowgirls Get The Blues" about Harris and her pal Susanna Clark. The title of the song is taken from the then-popular novel of the same name by author Tom Robbins. The song has been released as a single twice and has also appeared on albums of various artists.

<i>Seven Lonely Days</i> (album) 1969 studio album by Jean Shepard

Seven Lonely Days is a studio album by American country singer Jean Shepard. It was released in September 1969 by Capitol Records and was her fourteenth studio album. The ten-track collection featured several covers, including the title track. Released as a single, the title track reached the top 20 of the US country songs chart. The album itself also reached the US country albums survey. Seven Lonely Days received reviews from both music magazines and music websites following its release.

References

  1. 1 2 Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. p. 207. ISBN   978-0-89820-177-2.
  2. "Nashville Cat: Wayne Moss". Country Music Hall of Fame. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  3. Whitburn, Joel (2005). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2005. Record Research, Inc. p. 23. ISBN   0-89820-165-9.
  4. Nashville Rebel (liner notes). Waylon Jennings. New York, New York: Sony BMG Music Entertainment/Legacy Recordings. 2006. pp. 132–139. 82876 89640 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  5. Jurek, Thom. "Only the Greatest". Allmusic . Retrieved 8 September 2010.
  6. "Album reviews". Billboard. 20 July 1968. p. 73.
  7. Bracket, Nathan; Christian Hoard (2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide . Simon and Schuster. p.  428. ISBN   0743201698 . Retrieved 8 September 2010. only daddy that'll walk the line.
  8. "RPM Country Tracks for September 30, 1968". RPM. Retrieved 8 September 2010.
  9. "Waylon Jennings Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  10. Whitburn, p. 223
  11. "The Kentucky Headhunters Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.