Honky Tonk Man (song)
Encyclopedia
"Honky Tonk Man" is the title of a song co-written and recorded by American
country music singer Johnny Horton
. It was released in March 1956 as his debut single, reaching #9 on the U.S. country singles charts. Horton re-released the song six years later, taking it to #11 on the same chart.
took a cover version to #22 on the country charts. It was included on his album Is It Any Wonder That I Love You, from which it was released as the first single. The song was Luman's sixteenth country chart single, spending 14 weeks on the charts.
released his version of the song, also as his debut single, in 1986. Yoakam's version peaked at #3 on the Hot Country Singles & Tracks
chart; it served as the lead-off single from his debut album, Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc., Etc.
.
, is the first ever Country music video to be played on MTV
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
country music singer Johnny Horton
Johnny Horton
John Gale "Johnny" Horton was an American country music and rockabilly singer most famous for his semi-folk, so-called "saga songs" which began the "historical ballad" craze of the late 1950s and early 1960s...
. It was released in March 1956 as his debut single, reaching #9 on the U.S. country singles charts. Horton re-released the song six years later, taking it to #11 on the same chart.
Content
A honky tonk man invites a sad honky tonk angel to walk through the world with him after both have been cheated on by their partners. In the end they walk out of the honky tonk together.Chart performance
| Chart (1956) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 9 |
| Chart (1962) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 11 |
Bob Luman version
In 1970, Bob LumanBob Luman
Bob Luman was an American country and rockabilly singer.-Early life and career:...
took a cover version to #22 on the country charts. It was included on his album Is It Any Wonder That I Love You, from which it was released as the first single. The song was Luman's sixteenth country chart single, spending 14 weeks on the charts.
| Chart (1970) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 22 |
Dwight Yoakam version
Country music singer Dwight YoakamDwight Yoakam
Dwight David Yoakam is an American singer-songwriter, actor and film director, most famous for his pioneering country music...
released his version of the song, also as his debut single, in 1986. Yoakam's version peaked at #3 on the Hot Country Singles & Tracks
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; it served as the lead-off single from his debut album, Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc., Etc.
Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc., Etc.
Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc., Etc. is country music artist Dwight Yoakam's début album. It was also the first of three consecutive No. 1 Billboard Country Albums for him. Three of its tracks rose into the Top 40 of the Hot Country Singles chart in 1986. Yoakam's first single was "Honky Tonk Man"...
.
Chart performance
The song debuted at #74 on the country chart dated March 1, 1986. It charted for 24 weeks on that chart, and peaked at #3 on the chart dated June 14, 1986.| Chart (1986) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 3 |
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 1 |
Music Video
The Music Video for Dwight Yoakam's version of "Honky Tonk Man", directed by Sherman HalseySherman Halsey
Sherman Halsey is an American music video and television director, producer, and artist manager. Sherman Halsey has produced and directed hundreds of television shows and music videos for artists such as Tim McGraw, Brooks and Dunn, Alan Jackson, BB King, Michael Bolton, Dwight Yoakam, and many...
, is the first ever Country music video to be played on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
.