Wynn Stewart was considered one of country music's "leading figures" in their California Bakersfield Sound sub-genre.
[3] Meanwhile, Harlan's wife, Jan Howard, had recently begun a recording career[4] and the couple's friendship with Stewart led to the pair singing duets.
Billboard magazine found the song to be "an emotion packed reading"[8] while Cash Box called it a "poignant, middle beat weeper".
[1] In his book Country Music: The Rough Guide, Kurt Wolff wrote that "Wrong Company" was among Stewart's "strongest" recordings.
[6] "Wrong Company" made its debut on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart on May 30, 1960, and spent two weeks there, reaching the number 26 position there.