Old King Kong Explained

Old King Kong
Type:single
Artist:George Jones
Album:I Wanta Sing
B-Side:It's a 10-33 (Let's Get Jesus on the Line)
Released:1977
Recorded:1977
Genre:Country, country rock
Length:2:16
Label:Epic
Producer:Billy Sherrill
Prev Title:Her Name Is
Prev Year:1976
Next Title:If I Could Put Them All Together (I'd Have You)
Next Year:1977

"Old King Kong" is a novelty country song written by Sammy Lyons and recorded by American country singer George Jones. After several disappointing chart performances, Jones had a Top 5 hit with the tongue-in-cheek "Her Name Is" in 1976, and the up tempo novelty "Old King Kong" appeared to be producer Billy Sherrill's attempt to continue the trend. However, it flopped miserably, only making it to #34 on the Billboard country singles chart. Jones personal life at the time did not bode well for a successful solo career; in December 1976, he was sued for drunkenly assaulting two women in Nashville and, in February 1977, a federal tax lien was filed against his Alabama residence. Ex-wife Tammy Wynette was also after him for unpaid alimony and Jones, who began missing shows at an astonishing rate, filed for bankruptcy.

Notes and References

  1. Book: Whitburn, Joel . Joel Whitburn

    . The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Joel Whitburn . 2004 . Record Research.