Greatest Hits (Alabama album)
Encyclopedia
Greatest Hits is the first greatest hits
package released by the American country music
band Alabama
. The album was released on RCA Records
in 1986, and has since been certified platinum for sales of 5 million units by the Recording Industry Association of America
.
By the mid-1980s, Alabama had become the most dominant act in country music. During the first half of the decade, the Fort Payne, Alabama
-based group had 18 No. 1 songs in as many single releases (discounting their 1982 Christmas single, "Christmas in Dixie
"). They had released six multi-platinum albums and had won many awards from the Country Music Association
and Academy of Country Music
.
Alabama's first greatest hits album includes eight of their hit singles; seven of those reached No. 1 on the Billboard magazine Hot Country Singles
chart between 1980 and 1985. The eighth song of that group was "My Home's in Alabama", widely considered by fans to be their signature tune (despite only reaching No. 17).
Extended live concert versions of "My Home's in Alabama" and "Tennessee River", recorded at June Jam in 1985, are presented on this album. The album-length versions of "Why, Lady, Why" and "Mountain Music
" are also included, as opposed to their respective single/radio edits. The version of "She and I" included here (complete with false fade-out toward the end of the song) runs more than five minutes, nearly 1½ minutes longer than the single edit.
The album contains two new tracks. Of these, "She and I" was the only single release, and it became the band's 19th No. 1 song in April 1986. The other song, "The Fans", is Alabama's ode of thanks to their fans.
A Previously unreleased
Greatest hits
A greatest hits album is a music compilation album of successful, previously released songs by a particular artist or band...
package released by the American country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
band Alabama
Alabama (band)
Alabama is a country music and southern rock band from Fort Payne, Alabama, United States. The band was founded in 1969 by Randy Owen and his cousin Teddy Gentry , soon joined by Jeff Cook...
. The album was released on RCA Records
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
in 1986, and has since been certified platinum for sales of 5 million units by the Recording Industry Association of America
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
.
By the mid-1980s, Alabama had become the most dominant act in country music. During the first half of the decade, the Fort Payne, Alabama
Fort Payne, Alabama
Fort Payne is a city in DeKalb County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 12,938. The city is the county seat of DeKalb County. It bills itself as the "Official Sock Capital of the World."...
-based group had 18 No. 1 songs in as many single releases (discounting their 1982 Christmas single, "Christmas in Dixie
Christmas in Dixie
"Christmas in Dixie" is a Christmas song made famous by the country music band Alabama. Originally released in 1982, the song was included on Alabama's 1985 Christmas album , and has since been included on many Christmas compilations in both the country and all-genre fields.-Content:The song is a...
"). They had released six multi-platinum albums and had won many awards from the Country Music Association
Country Music Association
The Country Music Association was founded in 1958 in Nashville, Tennessee. It originally consisted of only 233 members and was the first trade organization formed to promote a music genre...
and Academy of Country Music
Academy of Country Music
The Academy of Country Music was founded in 1964 in Los Angeles, California as the Country & Western Music Academy. Whereas the Country Music Association, founded in 1958, was based in Nashville, the Academy sought to promote country music in the western states. Among those involved in the...
.
Alabama's first greatest hits album includes eight of their hit singles; seven of those reached No. 1 on the Billboard magazine Hot Country Singles
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
chart between 1980 and 1985. The eighth song of that group was "My Home's in Alabama", widely considered by fans to be their signature tune (despite only reaching No. 17).
Extended live concert versions of "My Home's in Alabama" and "Tennessee River", recorded at June Jam in 1985, are presented on this album. The album-length versions of "Why, Lady, Why" and "Mountain Music
Mountain Music (song)
"Mountain Music" is the title of a song written by Randy Owen and recorded by his band, Alabama. It was released in January 1982 as the lead-off single and title track to Alabama's third album, Mountain Music.-About the song:...
" are also included, as opposed to their respective single/radio edits. The version of "She and I" included here (complete with false fade-out toward the end of the song) runs more than five minutes, nearly 1½ minutes longer than the single edit.
The album contains two new tracks. Of these, "She and I" was the only single release, and it became the band's 19th No. 1 song in April 1986. The other song, "The Fans", is Alabama's ode of thanks to their fans.
Side A
- "She and IShe and I"She and I" is a song written by Dave Loggins and recorded by American country music band Alabama. Originally released in December 1985, the song — an uptempo, rock-tinged song professing marital lust — was one of two new tracks on Alabama's first greatest hits album.The song became their 19th...
" (Dave LogginsDave LogginsDavid Allen "Dave" Loggins is a singer, songwriter and musician. He is widely remembered for his 1974 composition "Please Come to Boston", which was a top-10 hit in the U.S. for him, and was subsequently covered by numerous other artists. He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame...
) – 5:18A - "Mountain MusicMountain Music (song)"Mountain Music" is the title of a song written by Randy Owen and recorded by his band, Alabama. It was released in January 1982 as the lead-off single and title track to Alabama's third album, Mountain Music.-About the song:...
" (Randy OwenRandy OwenRandy Owen is an American country music artist. He is known primarily for his role as the lead singer of Alabama, a country rock band which saw considerable mainstream success throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Although Alabama only records new albums on occasion, Owen himself has maintained a career...
) – 4:12 - "Feels So RightFeels So Right (song)"Feels So Right" is a song made famous by the country music band Alabama. Written by the group's lead singer, Randy Owen when he was only 18 years old, the song was released in 1981 as the title track to the band's second RCA Records album. It became the group's fourth straight No. 1 single "Feels...
" (Owen) – 3:37 - "Old FlameOld Flame (song)"Old Flame" is a song by the country music band Alabama. Written by Donny Lowery and Mac McAnally, the song was released in 1981, and eventually became the group's third number-one song on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart....
" (Donny Lowery, Mac McAnally) – 3:12 - "Tennessee RiverTennessee River (song)"Tennessee River" is a song made famous by the country music band Alabama. Written by the group's lead singer, Randy Owen, the song was released in 1980, and eventually became the group's first No...
" (live version) (Owen) – 8:06A
Side B
- "Love in the First DegreeLove in the First Degree (Alabama song)"Love in the First Degree" is a song made famous by the country music band Alabama. The song was released in 1981 and is included on the band's second RCA Records album, Feels So Right. It became the group's fifth straight No. 1 single "Love in the First Degree" is a song made famous by the country...
" (Tim DuBoisTim DuBoisTim DuBois is a Nashville-based music executive. He attended Oklahoma State University and received a B.A. and M.A. in Accounting. He then entered into the music business and has taken part in multiple aspects of the industry including songwriting, record labels, management, and production...
, Jim Hurt) – 3:18 - "40 Hour Week (For a Livin')40 Hour Week (For a Livin')"40 Hour Week " is the title of a song written by Dave Loggins, Don Schlitz and Lisa Silver, and recorded the American country music band Alabama. Originally released as a single in April 1985, the song was the title track to Alabama's sixth album....
" (Loggins, Don SchlitzDon SchlitzDonald Alan "Don" Schlitz, Jr. is a country music songwriter. For his songwriting efforts, Schlitz has earned two Grammys, as well as four ASCAP Country Songwriter of the Year awards...
, Lisa Silver) – 3:21 - "Why Lady WhyWhy Lady Why"Why Lady Why" is a song by the country music band Alabama. Written by Rick Scott and band member Teddy Gentry, the song was released in 1980, and eventually became the group's second No...
" – (Teddy Gentry, Rick Scott) – 4:11 - "The Fans" – (Greg Fowler, Gentry, Owen) – 4:54A
- "My Home's in AlabamaMy Home's in Alabama (song)"My Home's in Alabama" is a song made famous by the country music band Alabama. Written by Randy Owen and Teddy Gentry, the song was released in 1980 and served as the title track to Alabama's first album for RCA Records....
" – (live version) (Gentry, Owen) 8:27A
A Previously unreleased
Album
| Chart (1986) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard 200 | 24 |
| Canadian RPM Top Albums | 64 |
Singles
| Year | Single | Peak positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Country Hot Country Songs Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales... |
CAN Country RPM (magazine) RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,... |
||
| 1986 | "She and I" | 1 | 1 |