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Yeah neither of us can testify about how long it takes to smoke a cigarette. I think the evidence is most compelling that Doggett forced Syd Nathan's hand to green light a two-part track, and that it was the centerpiece of the recording session, not an afterthought. I also think it likely that it was played before the gig in Lima Ohio, likely with Percy France in the group, but that it caught fire at that dance and because people asked for it to be played again, it got Doggett to thinking.

My question about Schaap's observations was a hypothetical one and I guessed the answer (yours, actually ... ). But still I'd say it would have taken a LOT of used King 4950 singles to examine to come up with an assertion that holds water and goes beyond anecdotical evidence.  As for the smoke break, doesn't this just make for a nice story too?  Anyone can vividly imagine how this happened. Besides, I've always been a non-smoker but is it unreasonable to figure you can finish a cigarette within 2 1/2 minutes, particularly a non-king size one? (Remember as well the longer 100s were still more than a decade away), 

Anyone else getting ready for next month's World Cup?  I won't be at any stadium, but I expect to watch many of the games.

It's pretty clear Schaap was talking about the original release of Parts 1 and 2, not any subsequent reissue of one over the other. Clearly though Honky Tonk Part 2 being picked is an indication of its overall popularity.   Which brings up another aspect I didn't get into ... but what's with the "engineer left the equipment running for a smoke break" but also "keep going, keep going, keep going"? Fastest smoke break in history?  Because he would have had to come back fast enough to keep them playing, too. I find that aspect of the story a bit questionable.

@medjuck: Re- Topsy: Maybe there WERE some out there among these 6 millions who had been exposed to the Cozy Cole hit single first (due to its "oldies" status) and then became curious enough to check out its origins?   BTW, not wanting to unduly debunk Phil Schaap's story about which side of the original "Honky Tonk" singles often wore out faster than the other, but there is some postscript to the "Honky Tonk" chart history, it seems: Acording to the list of Bill Doggett chart successes on the back cover of his "All His Hits" compilation LP on King/Gusto 5009, "Honky Tonk" entered the Billboard Hot 100 in early February 1961 again, spent 10 weeks on the charts and made it up to no. 57. And this time it was "Honky Tonk Part 2" that charted! See the below Billboard Hot 100 excerpt of March 1962 to show the company it was in at the time. N.B. At that time Bill Doggettt had already signed with Warner Brothers. The two original Honky Tonks had been on King 4950 in 1956, but the 1961 single was released on King 5444 and here "Honky Tonk Part 2" was coupled with "Floyd's Guitar Blues" (rec. in December, 1958).  So do we know which King singles Phil Schaap most often saw that led him to think "Honky Tonk Part 2" was more worn? 4950 or 5444?  After all it would not have been much of a surprise if the "Honky Tonk Part 2" hit side of King 5444 would have received more spins.  (But we'll never know, I guess ...)