Uncle Pen (song)

"Uncle Pen"
Single by Ricky Skaggs
from the album Don't Cheat in Our Hometown
B-side "I'm Head Over Heels in Love"
Released June 1984
Genre Country, bluegrass
Length 2:23
Label Epic
Writer(s) Bill Monroe
Producer(s) Ricky Skaggs
Ricky Skaggs singles chronology
"Honey (Open That Door)"
(1984)
"Uncle Pen"
(1984)
"Something in My Heart"
(1984)

"Uncle Pen" is a song written by Bill Monroe about his uncle and musical mentor, Pendleton Vandiver. Besides Monroe, the song was recorded by Porter Wagoner in 1956, Michael Nesmith of "The Monkees" in 1973 on his solo album Pretty Much Your Standard Ranch Stash, and Ricky Skaggs in 1984. "Uncle Pen" was Ricky Skaggs' ninth number one single on the country chart. The single went to number one for one week and spent a total of thirteen weeks on the country chart.[1] Bill Monroe played a character named "Uncle Pen" disappointed at the citification of Ricky Skaggs in the 1985 video for "Country Boy". The improvisational-rock band Phish has performed their cover version of Uncle Pen over 90 times in the band's 30-year career.

Chart performance

Porter Wagoner

Chart (1956) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles 14

Ricky Skaggs

Chart (1984) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles 1
Canadian RPM Country Tracks 1

References

  1. Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 315.
Preceded by
"Everyday"
by The Oak Ridge Boys
Billboard Hot Country Singles
number-one single

October 13, 1984
Succeeded by
"I Don't Know a Thing About Love (The Moon Song)"
by Conway Twitty
Preceded by
"Turning Away"
by Crystal Gayle
RPM Country Tracks
number-one single

October 13, 1984
Succeeded by
"Everyday"
by The Oak Ridge Boys