B-side "Belle of the Ball" Format 7" Length 3:22 | Released April 11, 1977 Recorded January 1977 | |
Genre Country, outlaw country | ||
"Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)" is a song recorded by the American country music artist Waylon Jennings. It was released in April 1977 as the first single from the album Ol' Waylon. It was written by Chips Moman and Bobby Emmons.
Contents
Content
The song refers to 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".
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.