Gary Burbank With Band McNally Tennessee Valley Authority - Who Shot JR Honkin

Review by Alison Withers

Who Shot JR Honkin’ by Gary Burbank with Band McNally Tennessee Valley Authority – A Quirky Slice of 1980 Americana Alright, let me just say this upfront: Who Shot JR Honkin’ is one of those albums that sneaks up on you. It’s not perfect, it’s not trying to be cool, but dang if it doesn’t stick in your brain like gum under a diner table. Released back in 1980 on Ovation Records, this thing is a hodgepodge of genres—pop, folk, country, even some novelty tunes—and honestly? That’s what makes it so lovable. First off, the title track “Who Shot J.R.?” is an absolute earworm. If you were alive during the whole Dallas TV craze (you know, when everyone was losing their minds over who shot J.R. Ewing), then this song feels like a time machine straight to your grandma’s living room. The lyrics are cheeky as heck, and there’s something about the twangy guitar paired with Gary Burbank’s storytelling vibe that just hits different. You can tell they weren’t taking themselves too seriously here—it’s playful, kinda campy, and yet weirdly heartfelt. Like, yeah, we all wanted answers about J.R., but did anyone think to set it to a honky-tonk beat? These guys did. Then there’s “Honkin’,” which might sound simple at first glance, but man, does it grow on you. I mean, how many songs do you hear where the word "honk" becomes both a hook AND a philosophy? It’s got this quirky instrumental groove going on, almost like someone took a banjo, a fiddle, and maybe a kazoo, threw ‘em in a blender, and hit puree. By the second listen, you’ll catch yourself humming along, probably while wondering why no one else has written an anthem for road rage quite like this. What really gets me about this album is its charm. It’s not polished or slick; instead, it’s raw and real, like a backyard barbecue with friends who aren’t afraid to bust out the weird jokes. There’s a warmth to these tracks, even when they’re poking fun at life or leaning into absurdity. And sure, some parts feel dated now—this isn’t exactly Spotify Top 40 material—but maybe that’s the point. This record reminds you of a simpler time, before algorithms told us what to listen to. Here’s the kicker though: after spinning this album a few times, I started thinking…what if more music today had this kind of gutsy weirdness? Not everything needs to be hyper-produced or chasing trends. Sometimes, all you need is a good laugh, a catchy tune, and maybe a little mystery about who shot J.R. So yeah, give Who Shot JR Honkin’ a spin. Just don’t blame me if you start craving biscuits and gravy halfway through.

Download Gary Burbank With Band McNally Tennessee Valley Authority - Who Shot JR Honkin

Artist: Gary Burbank With Band McNally Tennessee Valley Authority
Album: Who Shot JR Honkin

1980

Rating: 5.0

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Filename: gary-burbank-with-band-mcnally-tennessee-valley-authority-who.zip

MP3 size: 11.2 mb
FLAC size: 87.8 mb

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Tracks

Track	Duration	Preview
Honkin'	2:01
Who Shot J.R.?	3:40

Video

Who Shot J.R. - Gary Burbank

Images

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Catalog Numbers

OV 1150

Labels

Ovation Records

Listen online

kuunnella verkossa
online luisteren
escuchar en línea
ouvir online
lytte på nettet
online anhören
écouter en ligne
lyssna på nätet
ascolta in linea

Formats

Vinyl
7"
45 RPM
Single
Promo

Companies

Role	Company
Manufactured By	Ovation Records
Distributed By	Ovation Records
Published By	Locity Music
Produced For	Lorimar-Constant Productions
Phonographic Copyright (p)	E.V.I. Records
Copyright (c)	Zichron Ltd.
Mastered At	Masterfonics

Notes

Released in reddish brown Ovation Records company sleeve.
Side A) Who Shot J.R.? refers to J.R. Ewing a character from the 1980's American TV show, Dallas.
The song is performed in the style of Jimmy Dean's 1961 hit Big Bad John.
Side B) Honkin' is an instrumental rockabilly number.
Promo
Released in pinkish ovation records company sleeve

Barcodes

Rights Society: BMI
Matrix / Runout (A-Side Label): OV 1150A
Matrix / Runout (B-Side Label): OV 1150B
Matrix / Runout (A-Side Runout Etching): 98256 OV-1150-A-SH Masterfonics
Matrix / Runout (B-Side Runout Etching): 98257 OV-1150-B Masterfonics

About Gary Burbank With Band McNally Tennessee Valley Authority

An American radio personality. He was heard daily on WLW in Cincinnati, Ohio, from June 15, 1981 until December 21, 2007, when he signed off for the last time. It is there that he has enjoyed his greatest success, developing his best-known character, Earl Pitts Uhmerikun, a full-blooded redneck who makes daily commentary on everything from politics to family to friends.

Real Name

Billy Purser

Name Vars

Burbank

Interesting fact about Album

Here’s a fun fact: In 1980, comedian Gary Burbank released an album called *Who Shot JR Honkin* with his band McNally Tennessee Valley Authority. It was a quirky mix of country, novelty, and instrumental tunes. The title track played off the massive cliffhanger from the TV show *Dallas*, where everyone was obsessed with figuring out who shot J.R. Ewing. It’s a wild blend of pop, folk, and country vibes, capturing the humor and drama of the era. Definitely one of those odd gems you don’t hear about every day!

Comments

researchofunexplained

2025-03-10

?I'm binge watching Dallas, on the 8th season, and haven't been bored even 1 second! Love this video!

divacre8ives

2025-03-10

After they aired the JR getting shot episode, Larry went on vacation to Britain, The Queen actually said oh you have to tell me who shot JR! Larry told her I'm sorry Ma'am I can't.

mobiappmax29

2025-03-10

My real grandfather wrote this song. Ed Vanover.

chocolabcharlie

2025-03-09

I remember the night the truth was revealed about who shot JR was telecast. I was driving through the streets on New Orleans to see my girlfriend who lived over the river in Terrytown. The streets were totally abandoned! There was no traffic all the way my girlfriend’s apartment. It looked like scene from the Twilight Zone. Thus was the power of commercial network television back then. There really hasn’t been a national moment like that on modern television in the past ten years for sure.