Southern Nights (song)
Encyclopedia
"Southern Nights" is the title of a song written by Allen Toussaint
and most famously recorded by American country music
singer Glen Campbell
. It was released in January 1977 as the lead single from the album of the same name. The song enjoyed immense popularity with both country and pop audiences when Campbell covered it in 1977.
Campbell listened to Toussaint's recording of the song and identified with its lyrics, as it reminded him of his days as an Arkansas farm youth. "My dad told me when I was a kid, 'You're having the best time of your life, and you don't even know it.' Sure enough, he was right."
After some modifications to the lyrics, Campbell recorded the song.
The guitar intro was inspired by Jerry Reed
's lick.
and Billboard Hot 100
charts.
Toward the end of March, the song spent two weeks at No. 1 on the country chart, and at the end of April, one week at No. 1 on the Hot 100. On both charts, it was Campbell's final #1 song, his fifth on the country chart, and second on the pop chart. In addition, the song rose to #1 on the adult contemporary chart
, where it remained for four weeks; this was Campbell's seventh #1 on this chart.
"Southern Nights" was Campbell's final Top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. However, he would continue to enjoy success on the country chart, scoring Top 10 hits through the end of 1989.
. http://www.riaa.com/gp/database/search_results.asp
The song was nominated for Song of the Year in 1977 by the Country Music Association
, but did not win.
Allen Toussaint
Allen Toussaint is an American musician, composer, record producer, and influential figure in New Orleans R&B.Many of Toussaint's songs have become familiar through numerous cover versions, including "Working in the Coalmine", "Ride Your Pony", "Fortune Teller", "Play Something Sweet ", "Southern...
and most famously recorded by 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...
singer Glen Campbell
Glen Campbell
Glen Travis Campbell is an American country music singer, guitarist, television host and occasional actor. He is best known for a series of hits in the 1960s and 1970s, as well as for hosting a variety show called The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour on CBS television.During his 50 years in show...
. It was released in January 1977 as the lead single from the album of the same name. The song enjoyed immense popularity with both country and pop audiences when Campbell covered it in 1977.
Song history
Campbell had been a leader in crossover music during the 1960s and 1970s, and continued that trend when he recorded Toussaint's "Southern Nights." Toussaint recalled his memories of visiting relatives in the Louisiana backwoods when writing the song; often, while listening to stories from his elderly relatives, the young Toussaint would look up in the clear nighttime, star-filled sky.Campbell listened to Toussaint's recording of the song and identified with its lyrics, as it reminded him of his days as an Arkansas farm youth. "My dad told me when I was a kid, 'You're having the best time of your life, and you don't even know it.' Sure enough, he was right."
After some modifications to the lyrics, Campbell recorded the song.
The guitar intro was inspired by Jerry Reed
Jerry Reed
Jerry Reed Hubbard , known professionally as Jerry Reed, was an American country music singer, innovative guitarist, songwriter, and actor who appeared in more than a dozen films...
's lick.
Chart performance
Released in January 1977, "Southern Nights" immediately caught on with both country and pop audiences. The song spent the late winter and early spring climbing both the Billboard magazine Hot Country SinglesHot 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...
and Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
charts.
Toward the end of March, the song spent two weeks at No. 1 on the country chart, and at the end of April, one week at No. 1 on the Hot 100. On both charts, it was Campbell's final #1 song, his fifth on the country chart, and second on the pop chart. In addition, the song rose to #1 on the adult contemporary chart
Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks
The Adult Contemporary chart is a weekly chart published in Billboard magazine that lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary and "lite-pop" radio stations in the United States...
, where it remained for four weeks; this was Campbell's seventh #1 on this chart.
"Southern Nights" was Campbell's final Top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. However, he would continue to enjoy success on the country chart, scoring Top 10 hits through the end of 1989.
Chart positions
| Chart (1977) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Kent Music Report | 36 |
| Belgian VRT Top 30 | 8 |
| Canadian RPM Top Singles | 1 |
| Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary Tracks | 1 |
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 2 |
| Dutch Top 40 | 12 |
| Euro Hit 50 | 29 |
| French Singles Chart | 30 |
| German Media Control Charts | 18 |
| Irish Singles Chart | 3 |
| New Zealand Singles Chart | 10 |
| U.K. Singles Chart | 28 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks | 1 |
Year-End Chart
| Chart (1977) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canadian RPM Top Singles | 14 |
| U.S. Cashbox Top 100 | 20 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 22 |
Awards
"Southern Nights" was certified gold for sales of 1 million units by the Recording Industry Association of AmericaRecording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
. http://www.riaa.com/gp/database/search_results.asp
The song was nominated for Song of the Year in 1977 by 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...
, but did not win.
See also
- Whitburn, Joel, "Top Country Songs 1944-2005 - 6th Edition." 2006.
- Whitburn, Joel, "Top Pop Singles: 1955-2006," 2007.