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| "Uncle Pen" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single byRicky Skaggs | ||||
| from the albumDon't Cheat in Our Hometown | ||||
| B-side | "I'm Head Over Heels in Love" | |||
| Released | June 1984 | |||
| Genre | Bluegrass,country rock | |||
| Length | 2:23 | |||
| Label | Epic | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Bill Monroe | |||
| Producer(s) | Ricky Skaggs | |||
| Ricky Skaggs singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Uncle Pen" is a song written and originally recorded byBill Monroe. Besides Monroe, the song was recorded byPorter Wagoner in 1956,Goose Creek Symphony in 1971,Michael Nesmith ofThe Monkees in 1973 on his solo albumPretty Much Your Standard Ranch Stash, andRicky Skaggs in 1984. The song was Skaggs' ninth #1 single on the country chart. The single went to #1 for one week and spent a total of 13 weeks on the country chart.[1] Bill Monroe played a character named "Uncle Pen" disappointed at the citification of Ricky Skaggs in the 1985 video for "Country Boy". The improvisational-rock bandPhish has performed their version of "Uncle Pen" over 200 times in the band's 30+ year career.[2]Leon Russell recorded the song as "Hank Wilson" in 1973.
The song was about Monroe's uncle and musical mentor,Pendleton Vandiver.
| Chart (1956) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| USHot Country Songs (Billboard)[3] | 14 |
| Chart (1984) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| USHot Country Songs (Billboard)[4] | 1 |
| CanadianRPM Country Tracks | 1 |
| Chart (1984) | Position |
|---|---|
| US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[5] | 20 |
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