Lifestyle

The Limelight that Hit Luckenbach Texas After Jennings’ Famous Recording

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Tony Maples Photography

 

With over 8 million views (is it any wonder?), Waylon Jennings singing “Luckenbach Texas (Back to the Basics of Love),” is a YouTube sensation from a country standard that many a fan of the genre have within their collections. The song was released in April of 1977 as the first single off the “Ol’ Waylon” album and was written by Bobby Emmons and Chips Moman.

Referring to a couple whose “high society” position in life has left them feeling strained in their marriage, the country music crooner recommends that they get “back to the basics of love” in Luckenbach. This live performance is up-tempo in comparison to the album release, but it speaks to Jennings’ signature style, right down to playing the guitar which is always seen in the opening theme song to “The Dukes of Hazzard” T.V. show (a 1953 Fender Telecaster that was a gift from his band, The Waylors, a.k.a. Waymore’s Outlaws).

Reaching number one on the country music charts on May 21, 1977, the song held the top position for four weeks, and reach number 25 on the pop charts in tandem. The full album, “Ol’ Waylon,” went to the top of the country charts, and even reached number 15 on the Billboard Top LPs and Tapes chart. And just like that, the tiny town of Luckenbach, Texas, was besieged by throngs of reporters and camera crews! It’s also estimated that more than one hundred city-limit signs have been stolen from the town since his famous recording became a hit in ’77.