Just To Satisfy You

Album: Black On Black (1982)
Charted: 52
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • In 1982, Waylon Jennings turned "Just To Satisfy You," an uptempo number about a serial heartbreaker, into his third #1 duet with Willie Nelson on the Country chart (following "Good Hearted Woman" and "Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys"), but it was written nearly two decades earlier.

    Jennings penned the track with country singer-songwriter Don Bowman in 1963 and had a regional hit with it on Phoenix radio the following year. He also used it as the title tune of his 1969 album. But it nearly didn't make it into the recording studio at all.

    "I never thought that song was finished in the beginning," Jennings recalled in The Billboard Book Of Number One Country Hits. "We were gonna throw it away, but we turned it around and wrote another bridge, or another verse, and made it right."
  • By the '60s, Bowman had relocated to El Paso, Texas, but still flew to Arizona regularly to write songs with Jennings. This was one of four tunes they wrote together in a Phoenix motel room.
  • Jennings' first version was produced by Herb Alpert and featured a harpsichord in the arrangement. It was backed with Ian Tyson's "Four Strong Winds." Country singer Bobby Bare covered both tunes and put in a good word for Jennings with Chet Atkins, who signed him to RCA Victor in 1965 and produced his Just To Satisfy You album a few years later.
  • Jennings credited his co-writer with the idea for the duet. "I think Bowman got a hold of Willie when we was doin' those albums together," he explained. "He said, 'Do that song, do that song,' so when the album came up, Willie wanted to do that song. It was his idea more than mine."
  • This rose to #1 on the heels of another Willie Nelson chart-topper: "Always On My Mind."
  • The Jennings/Nelson duet was recorded for Jennings' Black On Black album, which reunited him with his Ol' Waylon producer, Chips Moman, who had also just produced Nelson's Always On My Mind.
  • This was covered by Glen Campbell, Jerry Reed, Barbara Mandrell, and Hank Williams Jr.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Jesus Thinks You're a Jerk: Rock vs. Televangelists

Jesus Thinks You're a Jerk: Rock vs. TelevangelistsSong Writing

When televangelists like Jimmy Swaggart took on rockers like Ozzy Osbourne and Metallica, the rockers retaliated. Bono could even be seen mocking the preachers.

Jonathan Cain of Journey

Jonathan Cain of JourneySongwriter Interviews

Cain talks about the divine inspirations for "Don't Stop Believin'" and "Faithfully."

Gentle Giant

Gentle GiantSongwriter Interviews

An interview with Ray and Derek Shulman of the progressive rock band Gentle Giant to discuss counterpoint, polyrhythms, and... Bon Jovi.

Deconstructing Doors Songs With The Author Of The Doors Examined

Deconstructing Doors Songs With The Author Of The Doors ExaminedSong Writing

Doors expert Jim Cherry, author of The Doors Examined, talks about some of their defining songs and exposes some Jim Morrison myths.

Album Cover Inspirations

Album Cover InspirationsSong Writing

Some album art was at least "inspired" by others. A look at some very similar covers.

Artis the Spoonman

Artis the SpoonmanSong Writing

Even before Soundgarden wrote a song about him, Artis was the most famous spoon player of all time. So why has he always been broke?