Honky Tonk (instrumental)

"Honky Tonk" is an instrumental written by Billy Butler, Bill Doggett, Clifford Scott, and Shep Shepherd. Doggett recorded it as a two-part single in 1956.^[2] It became Doggett's signature piece and a standard recorded by many other performers.^[3]

"Honky Tonk (Part 1)"
Single by Bill Doggett
from the album Honky Tonk
B-side	"Honky Tonk (Part 2)"
Released	1956
Recorded	1956
Genre	R&B, Jazz, Blues[1]
Length	3:05 (Part 1) 2:32 (Part 2)
Label	King
Songwriter(s)	Bill Doggett Shep Shepherd Clifford Scott Billy Butler
Bill Doggett singles chronology
"What a Diff'rence a Day Made" (1956) "Honky Tonk (Part 1)" (1956) "Bubbins Rock" (1956)

The instrumental peaked at number two for three weeks on the Billboard Hot 100,^[4] and was the biggest R&B hit of the year, spending thirteen non-consecutive weeks at the top of the charts.^[5] It was included in Robert Christgau's "Basic Record Library" of 1950s and 1960s recordings, published in Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies (1981).^[6]

James Brown version

In 1972, James Brown recorded "Honky Tonk" with his band The J.B.'s, who were credited as "The James Brown Soul Train". The song was released as a two-part single which reached number seven on the R&B chart and number 44 on the pop chart.^[7][8]