"Wrong Company" is a song written by Harlan Howard that was recorded as a duet by American country artists Wynn Stewart and Jan Howard. Released as a single, it reached the top 30 of the US country chart in 1960. It was among several recordings made by the duo but was their only charting song. The song received a positive response from music publications and authors following its release.
| "Wrong Company" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Wynn Stewart and Jan Howard | ||||
| B-side | "We'll Never Love Again" | |||
| Released | March 1960 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 2:13 | |||
| Label | Challenge | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Harlan Howard | |||
| Producer(s) | Joe Johnson | |||
| Wynn Stewart singles chronology | ||||
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| Jan Howard singles chronology | ||||
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Background
editWynn Stewart was considered one of country music's "leading figures" in their California Bakersfield Sound sub-genre. His 1956 single "Waltz of the Angels" reached the US country top 20 but could not follow the success. Instead, he signed with a new record label from the help of songwriter Harlan Howard.[3] Meanwhile, Harlan's wife, Jan Howard, had recently begun a recording career[4] and the couple's friendship with Stewart led to the pair singing duets. Producer Joe Johnson at Challenge Records believed the pair could have success and started recording them.[5] Among their duets was the song "Wrong Company",[6] which had been written by Harlan Howard.[7]
Release, critical reception and chart performance
edit"Wrong Company" was released as a single by Challenge Records in March 1960. It was distributed as a seven-inch vinyl single and featured a B-side called "We'll Never Love Again" (also a duet between the pairing).[7] The song received a positive response by music publications following its release. Billboard magazine found the song to be "an emotion packed reading"[8] while Cash Box called it a "poignant, middle beat weeper".[1] In his book Country Music: The Rough Guide, Kurt Wolff wrote that "Wrong Company" was among Stewart's "strongest" recordings.[6] "Wrong Company" made its debut on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart on May 30, 1960, and spent two weeks there, reaching the number 26 position there.[9] It was the duo's only charting single together despite several recordings made.[2]
Track listing
edit7" vinyl single[7]
- "Wrong Company" – 2:13
- "We'll Never Love Again" – 2:28
Charts
editWeekly charts
edit| Chart (1960) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[10] | 26 |
References
edit- ^ a b "Country Reviews: The Cash Box Bullseye" (PDF). Cash Box. March 26, 1960. p. 48. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
- ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "The Very Best of Wynn Stewart & Jan Howard: Songs, reviews, credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Wynn Stewart Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
- ^ Brennan, Sandra. "Jan Howard Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
- ^ Howard, Jan (1987). Sunshine and Shadow. New York: Richardson & Steirman. pp. 167–168. ISBN 0-319886-92-1.
- ^ a b Wolff, Kurt (2000). Country Music: The Rough Guide. Rough Guides Ltd. p. 197. ISBN 978-1858285344.
- ^ a b c Stewart, Wynn; Howard, Jan (March 1960). ""Wrong Company"/"We'll Never Love Again" (7" vinyl single)". Challenge. 59071.
- ^ "Reviews of This Week's Singles". Billboard. March 21, 1960. p. 37. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2008). Joel Whitburn Presents Across the Charts, the 1960s. Record Research. p. 184. ISBN 978-0898201758.
- ^ "Wynn Stewart Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 18, 2024.