Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)
| "Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)" | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Waylon Jennings | ||||||||||
| from the album Ol' Waylon | ||||||||||
| B-side | "Belle of the Ball" | |||||||||
| Released | April 11, 1977 | |||||||||
| Format | 7" | |||||||||
| Recorded | January 1977 | |||||||||
| Genre | Country, outlaw country | |||||||||
| Length | 3:22 | |||||||||
| Label | RCA | |||||||||
| Writer(s) | Bobby Emmons, Chips Moman | |||||||||
| Producer(s) | Chips Moman | |||||||||
| Waylon Jennings singles chronology | ||||||||||
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"Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)" is a song recorded by American country music artist Waylon Jennings. It was released in April 1977 as first single from the album Ol' Waylon. It was written by Chips Moman and Bobby Emmons.
Content
The song references a couple whose position in "high society" has placed strains on their marriage ("this successful life we're livin' got us feudin' like the Hatfields and McCoys") and finances ("four-car garage, and we're still buildin' on"). Jennings suggests that the couple return to "the basics of love" and relocate to the small town of Luckenbach, Texas.
References in the song include: Hatfields and McCoys, Hank Williams, Mickey Newbury, Jerry Jeff Walker, and "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain".[1]
The final refrain of the song features a guest vocal by Willie Nelson.
It is included in "A Texas Medley", composed by Jim Clancy and sung by The Vocal Majority.
In 1981, Alvin and the Chipmunks covered the song for their country album Urban Chipmunk.
Chart performance
The song debuted on April 16, 1977 reaching #1 on the country charts on May 21, 1977 and staying there until June 25, 1977. It also reached #25 on the pop charts while causing Ol' Waylon to reach the top of the country album charts and #15 on Billboard Top LPs and Tapes chart.
| Chart (1977) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles[2] | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 25 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Singles[3] | 16 |
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 1 |
| Canadian RPM Top Singles | 46 |
| Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary Tracks | 40 |
| Preceded by "Some Broken Hearts Never Mend" by Don Williams |
Billboard Hot Country Singles number-one single May 21-June 25, 1977 |
Succeeded by "That Was Yesterday" by Donna Fargo |
| Preceded by "The Rains Came" by Freddy Fender |
RPM Country Tracks number-one single June 18-July 2, 1977 |
Succeeded by "I'll Be Leaving Alone" by Charley Pride |
| Preceded by "Convoy" by C. W. McCall |
Billboard Hot Country Singles number-one single of the year 1977 |
Succeeded by "Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys" by Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson |
| Preceded by none |
RPM Country Tracks number-one single of the year 1977 |
Succeeded by "Portrait in the Window" by Carroll Baker |
Sources and references
Sources
- Ultimate Waylon Jennings CD Liner Notes, Lenny Kaye, c.2004
References
- ↑ CMT : Song Lyrics : Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love) Lyrics : Johnny Russell
- ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 175.
- ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 126.