Abilene (song)

"Abilene"
Single by George Hamilton IV
from the album Abilene
B-side	"Oh So Many Years"
Released	May 1963
Genre	Country
Label	RCA
Writer(s)	Bob Gibson John D. Loudermilk
Producer	Chet Atkins
George Hamilton IV singles chronology
"In This Very Same Room" (1963) "Abilene" (1963) "There's More Pretty Girls Than One" (1963)

Abilene is the title of a song written by Bob Gibson and John D. Loudermilk, and recorded by American country music artist George Hamilton IV. The song reached number one on the U.S. country music chart for four weeks, and peaked at number 15 on the pop music charts. George Hamilton IV performed "Abilene" in the 1963 movie Hootnanny Hoot.

Background and writing

Bob Gibson was inspired to write the song after watching the Randolph Scott movie, "Abilene Town." The setting for the movie was Abilene, Kansas, the railhead town at the end of the Chisholm Trail. Gibson said that the song had often been erroneously thought to be about Abilene, Texas, a town named for the Kansas cowtown that had been established 24 years earlier. Although Abilene, TX is believed to better fit the qualities depicted in the song.

Chart performance

Chart (1963)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles	1
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	15
U.S. Billboard Easy Listening	4

Preceded by "Ring of Fire" by Johnny Cash

Billboard Hot Country Singles number-one single September 14-October 5, 1963

Succeeded by "Talk Back Trembling Lips" by Ernest Ashworth