Champagne Jam

Champagne Jam
Studio album by Atlanta Rhythm Section
Released	January 1978
Studio	Studio One, Doraville, Georgia
Genre	Blues rock, boogie rock
Length	33:15
Label	Polydor
Producer	Buddy Buie
Atlanta Rhythm Section chronology
A Rock and Roll Alternative (1976) Champagne Jam (1978) Underdog (1979)

Champagne Jam is an album by the American band Atlanta Rhythm Section, released in 1978. The single "Imaginary Lover" was the band's second Top 10 hit, peaking at #7 in the U.S. and #9 in Canada. The album itself was the band's most commercially successful, peaking at number 7 on the Billboard 200.

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
The Village Voice	C [2]

The Globe and Mail wrote: "The last of the first generation of Dixie boogie bands, the Atlanta Rhythm Section continues on its predictable but still enjoyable path, bringing with Champagne Jam a few fresh insights into the state of the blues-rock-boogie fusion." ^[3]

Track listing

All songs written by Buddy Buie and Robert Nix, additional writers where noted.

1. "Large Time" (Bailey) – 2:55
2. "I'm Not Gonna Let It Bother Me Tonight" (Daughtry) – 4:06
3. "Normal Love" (Cobb, Daughtry) – 3:22
4. "Champagne Jam" (Cobb) – 4:31
5. "Imaginary Lover" (Daughtry) – 5:05
6. "The Ballad of Lois Malone" (Bailey, Daughtry) – 4:30
7. "The Great Escape" (Bailey) – 4:47
8. "Evileen" (Daughtry) – 3:32

Personnel

Atlanta Rhythm Section

• Ronnie Hammond – vocals, background vocals
• Barry Bailey – guitar
• J.R. Cobb – guitar, background vocals
• Dean Daughtry – keyboards
• Paul Goddard – bass guitar
• Robert Nix – drums, background vocals

Additional players

• Buddy Buie – vocals
• Paul Davis – vocals

Production

• Producers: Buddy Buie, Robert Nix
• Engineer: Rodney Mills
• Mixing: Rodney Mills
• Original LP mastering: Bob Ludwig & Rodney Mills at Masterdisk
• Digital remastering: Suha Gur
• Art direction: Mike McCarty
• Design: Mike McCarty
• Photography: Rick Diamond

Charts

Chart (1978)	Peak position
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report) [4]	46
Canada Top Albums/CDs ( RPM ) [5]	16
US Billboard 200 [6]	7

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada) [7]	Gold	50,000^
United States (RIAA) [8]	Platinum	1,000,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

1. "Champagne Jam Review by Stephen Cook". AllMusic. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
2. Christgau, Robert (June 26, 1978). "Christgau's Consumer Guide". The Village Voice . New York. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
3. McGrath, Paul (April 19, 1978). "Atlanta Rhythm Section". The Globe and Mail. p. F2.
4. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 21. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
5. "Top RPM Albums: Issue 4574a". RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved January 1, 2026.
6. "Atlanta Rhythm Section Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 1, 2026.
7. "Canadian album certifications – Atlanta Rhythm Section – Champagne Jam". Music Canada.
8. "American album certifications – Atlanta Rhythm Section – Champagne Jam". Recording Industry Association of America.