"Whiskey River" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music singer Johnny Bush. It was a hit for both Bush and his friend Willie Nelson.
| "Whiskey River" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Johnny Bush | ||||
| from the album Whiskey River | ||||
| B-side | "Right Back in Your Arms Again"[1] | |||
| Released | July 1972 | |||
| Genre | Country, roots country | |||
| Length | 2:32 | |||
| Label | RCA Victor #0745 | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Johnny Bush Paul Stroud | |||
| Producer(s) | Jerry Bradley | |||
| Johnny Bush singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| "Whiskey River" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Willie Nelson | ||||
| from the album Willie and Family Live | ||||
| B-side | "Under the Double Eagle"[2] | |||
| Released | 1978 | |||
| Genre | Country, outlaw country, roots country | |||
| Length | 3:38 | |||
| Label | Columbia #10877 | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Johnny Bush Paul Stroud | |||
| Producer(s) | Willie Nelson | |||
| Willie Nelson singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Johnny Bush version
editBush released the song in 1972 through RCA Victor and included it on his album Whiskey River. Bush later re-recorded the song in 1981 and released it through the Delta label, with "When My Conscience Hurts the Most" on the b-side.[1]
Willie Nelson versions
editWillie Nelson first recorded "Whiskey River" for the album Shotgun Willie in 1973. In 1978, a recording from Nelson's live album Willie and Family Live was released as a single through Columbia Records.[2] "Whiskey River", despite not being a Nelson original, has come to be regarded as one of his signature songs[3][4] and a concert staple. "Whiskey River" has been the standard opening song during Nelson's concerts since "around 1974."[5]
Nelson performed the song during the pilot episode of the long-running music television series Austin City Limits—marking the first song to be performed on the program.[6]
Chart performance
editJohnny Bush
edit| Chart (1972) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[7] | 14 |
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 7 |
| Chart (1981) | Peak position |
| US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[7] | 92 |
- ARe-recording.
Willie Nelson
edit| Chart (1978) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[8] | 12 |
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 3 |
In popular culture
editWillie Nelson's version of the song is featured in Rockstar Games' Grand Theft Auto V game soundtrack. [9]
References
edit- ^ a b Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. p. 72. ISBN 978-0-89820-177-2.
- ^ a b Whitburn, p. 294
- ^ Brennan, Sandra. "Johnny Bush biography". Allmusic. Retrieved 8 October 2010.
- ^ Daniels, Charlie. Growing Up Country: What Makes Country Life Country, section: Johnny Bush (see Google Books link - page number not available.
- ^ "Willie Nelson's Long Encore". New York Times. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
- ^ "KGSR Rebrands as Austin City Limits Radio". Austin Chronicle. Retrieved 2018-09-11.
- ^ a b "Johnny Bush Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
- ^ "Willie Nelson Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
- ^ "Soundtrack and Radio - GTA 5 Wiki Guide - IGN".
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