Almost Persuaded

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

“Almost Persuaded”
Single by David Houston from the album Almost Persuaded
A-side	"Almost Persuaded"
B-side	"We Got Love"
Released	June 1966 (U.S.)
Format	7"
Recorded	January 1966
Genre	Country
Length	2:56
Label	Epic Records
Writer(s)	Billy Sherrill and Glenn Sutton

Almost Persuaded is a song written by Glenn Sutton and Muscle Shoals songwriter Billy Sherrill and first recorded by David Houston in 1966.

The song is about a married man who, while patronizing a tavern, sees a beautiful young woman and is instantly smitten. Forgetting that he is married, he nearly succumbs to temptation. However, when the two share a slow dance on the floor, he sees the reflection of his wedding band and, remembering his vows to his wife, leaves.

[edit] Legacy

"Almost Persuaded" spent nine weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard magazine Hot Country Singles chart starting in August 1966, and has since gone on to become a country standard. To date, no No. 1 song has matched "Almost Persuaded"'s chart-topping longevity, although two songs — 1999's "Amazed" by Lonestar and 2003's "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" by Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett — have come the closest, each having spent eight weeks atop the Billboard chart.

The song won a Grammy for Best Country & Western Recording of 1966.

[edit] Cover versions

The song has been covered by many other artists including Etta James,Beth Rowley, Tammy Wynette, George Jones, Hank Williams, Jr., Merle Haggard, The Statler Brothers, Bill Haley & His Comets, Louis Armstrong, Lefty Frizzell, Jack Greene, The Brothers Four, Conway Twitty, Tanya Tucker, Patti Page, Country Teasers, Brendan Dugan, and Ben Colder aka Sheb Wooley, [Manuela (in german language)]

[edit] Succession

Preceded by "Think of Me" by Buck Owens and His Buckaroos

Billboard Hot Country Singles number one single August 13-October 8, 1966 by David Houston

Succeeded by "Blue Side of Lonesome" by Jim Reeves