The song was written by Jimmy Bryant and recorded for the first time by Jim Alley in August 1967, but there is a dispute about the composer. Waylon picked up the song from the 1967 original single of California country singer Jim Alley. While the melody is attributed to West Coast studio guitarist Jimmy Bryant, who owns the rights, it is unlikely that Bryant wrote it. The researchers theorize, supported by comments from a musician on Alley’s record that Bryant probably bought Alley’s song, common practice in those days.
Waylon’s version, recorded on April 16, 1968, and released on July 13 of that year, was produced by Chet Atkins. The song was included on the album, Only The Greatest (RCA 1968) on the album charts. The country reached the number 12, and the listings of a single country reached the number 2 position, being its biggest success so far it is the first number one, it would still take Six years later, with the theme, this time, in 22nd June 1974.
The song was one of the first to presage what would become the original sound of Jennings, less polished than his Nashville contemporaries.
The song appeared in the seventh season, episode five of Mad Men.
Some Versions :
Connie Smith 1968 ( RCA )
Ray Pillow 1968 ( ABC )
Bobby Barnett 1969 ( Columbia )
Wilma Burgess 1969 ( Decca )
Hank Williams jr 1979 ( Curb )
The Kentucky headhunters 1991 ( Mercury )
Jack Ingram 2006 ( Big Machine Records )
Mark Chesnutt 2010 ( Time Life Records )
LeeAnn Rimes 2011 ( Curb )
Randy Travis 2014 ( Warner Bros Records )