"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"
ReleasedMarch 1960
Genre
Length2:13
LabelChallenge
Songwriter(s)Harlan Howard
Producer(s)Joe Johnson
Wynn Stewart singles chronology
"Wishful Thinking"
(1960)
"Wrong Company"
(1960)
"Playboy"
(1960)
Jan Howard singles chronology
"The One You Slip Around With"
(1959)
"Wrong Company"
(1960)
"If Your Conscience Can't Stop You (How Can I)"
(1960)

Background

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Wynn 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

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"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

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7" vinyl single[7]

  • "Wrong Company" – 2:13
  • "We'll Never Love Again" – 2:28

Charts

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Weekly charts

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Weekly chart performance for "Wrong Company"
Chart (1960) Peak
position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[10] 26

References

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  1. ^ a b "Country Reviews: The Cash Box Bullseye" (PDF). Cash Box. March 26, 1960. p. 48. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  2. ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "The Very Best of Wynn Stewart & Jan Howard: Songs, reviews, credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  3. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Wynn Stewart Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  4. ^ Brennan, Sandra. "Jan Howard Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  5. ^ Howard, Jan (1987). Sunshine and Shadow. New York: Richardson & Steirman. pp. 167–168. ISBN 0-319886-92-1.
  6. ^ a b Wolff, Kurt (2000). Country Music: The Rough Guide. Rough Guides Ltd. p. 197. ISBN 978-1858285344.
  7. ^ a b c Stewart, Wynn; Howard, Jan (March 1960). ""Wrong Company"/"We'll Never Love Again" (7" vinyl single)". Challenge. 59071.
  8. ^ "Reviews of This Week's Singles". Billboard. March 21, 1960. p. 37. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  9. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2008). Joel Whitburn Presents Across the Charts, the 1960s. Record Research. p. 184. ISBN 978-0898201758.
  10. ^ "Wynn Stewart Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 18, 2024.