"Honky Tonk" is an instrumental written by Billy Butler, Bill Doggett, Clifford Scott, and Shep Shepherd.
[2] It became Doggett's signature piece and a standard recorded by many other performers.
[3] The instrumental peaked at number two for three weeks on the Billboard Hot 100,[4] and was the biggest R&B hit of the year, spending thirteen non-consecutive weeks at the top of the charts.
[6] In 1972, James Brown recorded "Honky Tonk" with his band The J.B.'s, who were credited as "The James Brown Soul Train".
The song was released as a two-part single which reached number seven on the R&B chart and number 44 on the pop chart.