| Whiskey River | |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Johnny Bush |
| Album: | Whiskey River |
| B-Side: | "Right Back in Your Arms Again" |
| Genre: | Country, roots country |
| Label: | RCA Victor #0745 |
| Producer: | Jerry Bradley |
| Prev Title: | I'll Be There |
| Prev Year: | 1972 |
| Next Title: | There Stands the Glass |
| Next Year: | 1972 |
| Whiskey River | |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Willie Nelson |
| Album: | Willie and Family Live |
| B-Side: | "Under the Double Eagle" |
| Released: | 1978 |
| Genre: | Country, outlaw country, roots country |
| Label: | Columbia #10877 |
| Producer: | Willie Nelson |
| Prev Title: | There'll Be No Teardrops Tonight |
| Prev Year: | 1978 |
| Next Title: | Sweet Memories |
| Next Year: | 1979 |
"Whiskey River" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music singer Johnny Bush. It was a hit for both Bush and his friend Willie Nelson.
Bush released the song in 1972 through RCA Victor and included it on his album Whiskey River. Bush later re-recorded the song in 1981 and released it through the Delta label, with "When My Conscience Hurts the Most" on the b-side.[1]
Willie Nelson first recorded "Whiskey River" for the album Shotgun Willie in 1973. In 1978, a recording from Nelson's live album Willie and Family Live was released as a single through Columbia Records.[2] "Whiskey River", despite not being a Nelson original, has come to be regarded as one of his signature songs[3] [4] and a concert staple. "Whiskey River" has been the standard opening song during Nelson's concerts since "around 1974."[5]
Nelson performed the song during the pilot episode of the long-running music television series Austin City Limits—marking the first song to be performed on the program.[6]
Willie Nelson's version of the song is featured in Rockstar Games' Grand Theft Auto V game soundtrack.[7]