"Once You've Had the Best" is a ballad written and originally recorded by

Johnny Paycheck Johnny Paycheck (born Donald Eugene Lytle; May 31, 1938 – February 19, 2003) was an American country music singer and Grand Ole Opry member notable for recording the David Allan Coe song "Take This Job and Shove It". He achieved his greates ...

. It is best remembered for the rendition recorded by

George Jones George Glenn Jones (September 12, 1931 – April 26, 2013) was an American country musician, singer, and songwriter. He achieved international fame for his long list of hit records, including his best-known song "He Stopped Loving Her Today", ...

, who scored a #3 hit with it in late 1973. "Once You've Had the Best" originally appeared on Paycheck's 1973 album ''Mr. Lovemaker''. The Jones version, which contains a more optimistic tone, became the singer's second

Top 5 ''Top Five'' is a 2014 American comedy film written and directed by Chris Rock. Produced by Scott Rudin and Eli Bush, the film stars Rock, Rosario Dawson, and Gabrielle Union, and follows New York City comedian and film star Andre Allen (Rock), w ...

solo hit with

Epic Records Epic Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America Sony Corporation of America (SONAM, also known as SCA), is the American arm of the Japanese conglomerate Sony Group ...

. Paycheck's first big break came when he was hired as the bass player for Jones' backing band the Jones Boys in the mid 1960s before beginning his own successful solo career a few years later. The pair would also record a duet album, '' Double Trouble'', in 1980. "Once You've Had the Best" became a live staple for Jones, who almost always performed the song after the show opener as a gesture to his audience.

Discography

{{George Jones 1973 songs Songs written by Johnny Paycheck Song recordings produced by Billy Sherrill