Almost Persuaded

"Almost Persuaded"
Single by David Houston
from the album Almost Persuaded
B-side	"We Got Love"
Released	June 1966 (U.S.)
Format	7"
Recorded	January 1966
Genre	Country
Length	2:56
Label	Epic
Writer(s)	Billy Sherrill and Glenn Sutton
Producer	Billy Sherrill
David Houston singles chronology
"Sammy" (1966) "Almost Persuaded" (1966) "Where Could I Go? (But to Her)" (1966)

"Almost Persuaded" is a song written by Glenn Sutton and Muscle Shoals songwriter Billy Sherrill and first recorded by David Houston in 1966. It is not to be confused with the Christian hymn of the same name.

The song is about a married man who, while patronizing a tavern, sees a beautiful young woman and is instantly smitten. Forgetting that he is married, he nearly succumbs to temptation. However, when the two share a slow dance on the floor, he sees the reflection of his wedding band and, remembering his vows to his wife, leaves.

Legacy

"Almost Persuaded" spent nine weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard magazine Hot Country Singles chart starting in August 1966 and has since gone on to become a country standard. The song was also a moderate pop hit, reaching twenty-four on the Billboard pop chart and was David Houston's only Top 40 entry on the pop charts.

To date, no number-one song has matched the chart-topping longevity of "Almost Persuaded," although two songs — 1999's "Amazed" by Lonestar and 2003's "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" by Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett — have come the closest, each having spent eight weeks atop the Billboard chart.

The song won a Grammy Award for Best Country & Western Recording of 1966.

Some cover versions of this song include:

• The Statler Brothers in 1966.
• Crispian St. Peters released a cover of the song on his 1996 album, Follow Me.
• George Jones with Merle Haggard in 1967.
• Tammy Wynette in 1967, who coincidentally would go on to record a number of duets with Houston.
• Patti Page in 1970.
• Charlie Rich in 1974.
• Tanya Tucker in 1977.
• Tennessee Ernie Ford
• Bill Haley
• Etta James
• Sheb Wooley
• Louis Armstrong

Chart performance

David Houston

Chart (1966)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles	1
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	24
Canadian RPM Top Singles	45

Patti Page

Chart (1966)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100	13
U.S. Adult Conteporary	20

Sheb Wooley

Chart (1966)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles	6
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	58
Canadian RPM Top Singles	53

Etta James

Chart (1969)	Peak position
U.S. Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles	32
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	24
Canadian RPM Top Singles	71

Merle Haggard

Chart (1987)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles	58
Canadian RPM Top Country Singles	54

References

Preceded by "Think of Me" by Buck Owens	Billboard Hot Country Singles number-one single August 13-October 8, 1966	Succeeded by "Blue Side of Lonesome" by Jim Reeves
Preceded by "What's He Doing in My World" by Eddy Arnold	Billboard Hot Country Singles number-one single of the year 1966	Succeeded by "All the Time" by Jack Greene