“A Man This Lonely,” a song written by Ronnie Dunn and Tommy Lee James, was recorded by the duo, Brooks & Dunn for the Arista label, in January 1996, at Soundshop Studio, 1307 Division St., Nashville, TN, in the recording session of the album the duo was accompanied by: Brent Mason (electric guitar), Bruce C. Bouton (steel and slide guitar), Glenn Worf, David Hungate and Michael Rhodes (bass guitar), Lonnie Wilson (drums and percussion), Tom Roady (percussion), Rob Hajacos (fddle), Dennis Burnside (piano, kyboards and Hammond B-3 organ), John Wesley Ryles and Dennis Wilson (background vocalsl). With the production of Kix Brooks, Ronnie Dunn and Don Cook, the song was released on December 9, 1996. On February 22, 1997, the song reached # 1 on the US Hot Country Songs charts, staying 20 weeks on the charts. On the Canada Country Tracks charts, it would reach # 4. It was the eleventh number one in Brooks & Dunn’s career.
The song was included in Brooks & Dunn’s fourth studio album, Borderline (Arista 1996), the album was released on April 26, 1996, quickly reaching # 1, on the charts of US Top Country Albums, the 4th May 7, 1996, for 7 weeks it would remain at number one, and it would remain on the charts for a total of 102 weeks. On the Canadian RPM Country Albums charts, it also reached # 1. The album was certified platinum in the USA and gold in Canada.