About the Song
Originally penned by the legendary songwriter Harlan Howard, “The Chokin’ Kind” has seen several iconic interpretations over the years. But when Waylon Jennings lent his unmistakable voice to the song, he brought something uniquely raw and personal to it. His version, recorded during his early years with RCA Victor in the late 1960s, stands as a lesser-known gem that reveals the depth of his emotional storytelling and his effortless blend of country and soul.
The song itself is a slow-burning lament — a plea from a man who’s suffered under the weight of a love too possessive, too intense, and ultimately too suffocating. “That’s the chokin’ kind of love” becomes the aching refrain, and in Waylon’s baritone, it cuts with both sorrow and resignation. He doesn’t yell; he lets the pain simmer, making each line feel like a quiet confession from a man who’s seen too much, felt too deeply.
Musically, Jennings keeps the arrangement simple — just enough instrumentation to frame the voice, but never distract from it. The result is a sound that feels intimate, almost like he’s singing directly from a quiet corner of a smoky barroom. This minimalism allows his vocal phrasing to shine: deliberate, emotional, and never hurried. It’s country with a heavy soul influence, the kind of blend that would come to define Jennings’ more rebellious work in the 1970s.
While Joe Simon’s 1969 rendition of “The Chokin’ Kind” earned commercial success and a Grammy, Waylon’s version hits differently. It’s not polished for the charts — it’s honest, stripped-back, and profoundly human. In a catalog known for outlaw swagger and musical independence, this track reminds listeners that Waylon Jennings was also a master of vulnerability, capable of interpreting lyrics with a quiet strength that left a lasting mark.
For those who’ve only heard the big hits, “The Chokin’ Kind” is a must-listen — a beautifully performed heartbreak ballad that shows the depth and soul of one of country music’s most enduring voices.