Tennessee River (song)
Encyclopedia
"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. 1 song on the Billboard magazine Hot Country Singles
chart.
after they had signed with the label in March 1980. The song is part of the band's first RCA album, My Home's in Alabama
, which also includes two earlier singles: "I Wanna Come Over" and the title track
; the earlier songs had originally been released by the small MDJ Records, even though there were later RCA pressings of "My Home's in Alabama" offered for retail sale.
A fiddle-heavy celebration of growing up near the Tennessee River
(which flows fairly close to Alabama's home base of Fort Payne
), the song expressess regrets of having gotten the urge to roam, gratitude of the few times the singer gets to enjoy spending time by the river, and a desire to eventually settle down and raise a family in the river's vicinity.
Country music historian Bill Malone, in his essay included in the liner notes for Classic Country Music: A Smithsonian Collection
, noted that "Tennessee River" was among those songs where they "exhibit a deep love for their state and region ... and in the unpretentions sense of place and loyalty to home and family that they display in their personal lives and performances." Other songs in their repertore - including
"My Home's in Alabama
," "Song of the South
" and "Born Country
," plus their Christmas song "Christmas in Dixie
" - would exhibit those same sentiments.
"Tennessee River" began Alabama's string of 21 consecutive No. 1 singles in as many releases, a string that spanned from 1980 through 1987
and is generally considered not to include the 1982 Christmas song, "Christmas in Dixie
".
album, while the original version is available on their third
.
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...
. Written by the group's lead singer, Randy Owen
Randy Owen
Randy 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...
, the song was released in 1980, and eventually became the group's first No. 1 song 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.
Song history
The song was officially Alabama's first single release by RCA RecordsRCA 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...
after they had signed with the label in March 1980. The song is part of the band's first RCA album, My Home's in Alabama
My Home's in Alabama (album)
My Home's in Alabama is an album by American country music band Alabama, released on RCA Records in 1980. For a majority of fans, this represents the first widespread success of Alabama, despite the fact that they had released three albums before this one....
, which also includes two earlier singles: "I Wanna Come Over" and the title track
My 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....
; the earlier songs had originally been released by the small MDJ Records, even though there were later RCA pressings of "My Home's in Alabama" offered for retail sale.
A fiddle-heavy celebration of growing up near the Tennessee River
Tennessee River
The Tennessee River is the largest tributary of the Ohio River. It is approximately 652 miles long and is located in the southeastern United States in the Tennessee Valley. The river was once popularly known as the Cherokee River, among other names...
(which flows fairly close to Alabama's home base of Fort Payne
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."...
), the song expressess regrets of having gotten the urge to roam, gratitude of the few times the singer gets to enjoy spending time by the river, and a desire to eventually settle down and raise a family in the river's vicinity.
Country music historian Bill Malone, in his essay included in the liner notes for Classic Country Music: A Smithsonian Collection
Classic Country Music: A Smithsonian Collection
Classic Country Music: A Smithsonian Collection was a multi-volume set of recordings released by the Smithsonian Institution. Released in 1990, the collection contains 100 tracks deemed to be significantly important to the history of country music....
, noted that "Tennessee River" was among those songs where they "exhibit a deep love for their state and region ... and in the unpretentions sense of place and loyalty to home and family that they display in their personal lives and performances." Other songs in their repertore - including
"My Home's in Alabama
My 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....
," "Song of the South
Song of the South (song)
"Song of the South" is the title of a song written by Bob McDill. First recorded by American country music artist Johnny Russell, it reached number 57 on the U.S. Billboard country chart in 1981. Covered by Tom T. Hall and Earl Scruggs, it was a number 72 country single for them in 1982 from the...
" and "Born Country
Born Country
"Born Country" is the title of a song written by Byron Hill and John Schweers, and recorded by the American country music band Alabama. It was released in December 1991 as the second and final single on their compilation album, Greatest Hits Vol. II. It reached No...
," plus their Christmas song "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...
" - would exhibit those same sentiments.
"Tennessee River" began Alabama's string of 21 consecutive No. 1 singles in as many releases, a string that spanned from 1980 through 1987
1987 in country music
This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1987.-Events:* June 13 — Randy Travis' "Forever and Ever, Amen" spends three weeks at No. 1 of the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart...
and is generally considered not to include the 1982 Christmas song, "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...
".
Alternate Versions
RCA demanded that the, "Original" second verse in the song be dropped when the song was released as a single. When the song was performed live, the second verse was added and two extra jams are included. A live version with the extra verse is included on Alabama's first greatest hitsGreatest Hits (Alabama album)
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...
album, while the original version is available on their third
Greatest Hits Vol. III (Alabama album)
Greatest Hits Vol. III is the third greatest hits package released by the American country music band Alabama. The album was released on RCA Records in 1994, and has since been certified platinum for sales of 2 million units by the Recording Industry Association of America .Alabama had continued...
.
Chart performance
| Chart (1980) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 1 |
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 1 |