| "I Know How the River Feels" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Diamond Rio | ||||
| from the album Unbelievable | ||||
| B-side | "What More Do You Want from Me" [1] | |||
| Released | March 29, 1999 | |||
| Genre | Country | |||
| Length | 3:40 | |||
| Label | Arista Nashville | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Steven Dale Jones Amy Powers | |||
| Producer(s) | Mike Clute Diamond Rio | |||
| Diamond Rio singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"I Know How the River Feels" is a song written by Steven Dale Jones and Amy Powers. First recorded by Ty Herndon, it has been released as a single by both Diamond Rio and McAlyster.
The song was originally recorded by Ty Herndon on his 1996 album Living in a Moment . Herndon said that he chose to record the song after a friend had died from cancer. Doug Johnson, then the senior vice president of Epic Records, told Billboard, "I think there is magic in the way he delivers that song." [2]
Diamond Rio then covered the song for their album Unbelievable , and released it as the album's third single in March 1999. It was the first song in the band's career to feature outside musicians; specifically, a string section. [3]
A year later, McAlyster recorded a demo, which was submitted to MCA Nashville and released as the group's only single. [4]
Mikel Toombs of the San Diego Union-Tribune described Diamond Rio's version negatively in his review of the album, saying that "There's nothing too embarrassing here, save the anything-for-a-metaphor 'I Know How the River Feels'. [5]
Billboard gave the McAlyster version a mixed review, calling it "a pretty song and a promising performance, but where it fits in the country format remains to be seen." [6]
"I Know How the River Feels" debuted at number 74 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks for the week of March 27, 1999.
| Chart (1999) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada Country Tracks ( RPM ) [7] | 28 |
| US Hot Country Songs ( Billboard ) [8] | 33 |
| Chart (2000) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Hot Country Songs (Billboard) | 69 [9] |
Diamond Rio is an American country music band. The band was founded in 1982 as an attraction for the Opryland USA theme park in Nashville, Tennessee, and was originally known as the Grizzly River Boys, then the Tennessee River Boys. It was founded by Matt Davenport, Danny Gregg, and Ty Herndon, the last of whom became a solo artist in the mid-1990s. After undergoing several membership changes in its initial years, the band consisted of the same six members from 1989 to 2022: Marty Roe, Gene Johnson, Jimmy Olander, Brian Prout (drums), Dan Truman (keyboards), and Dana Williams. After Prout and Johnson both departed in 2022, they were replaced by Micah Schweinsberg and Carson McKee respectively.
Boyd Tyrone Herndon is an American country music singer and songwriter. His music career began in the 1980s as a member of the Tennessee River Boys, a predecessor to the country band Diamond Rio. Herndon quit the band early on and gained his first national exposure as a competitor on Star Search. He then played at various honky-tonks in Texas. After signing to Epic Records in 1993, Herndon made his debut in 1995 with his number-one single, "What Mattered Most". This was followed that same year by the release of his first album, also titled What Mattered Most.
Sons of the Desert was an American country music band founded in 1989 in Waco, Texas. Its most famous lineup consisted of brothers Drew Womack and Tim Womack, along with Scott Saunders (keyboards), Doug Virden, and Brian Westrum (drums). The band released Whatever Comes First for Epic Records Nashville in 1997, and recorded a second album for Epic which was not released. Change followed in 2000. Counting two singles from the unreleased album, Sons of the Desert charted eight times on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, including the top ten hit "Whatever Comes First"; they were also guest vocalists on Lee Ann Womack's 2000 hit "I Hope You Dance" and Ty Herndon's "It Must Be Love", both of which reached No. 1 on that chart. Following the band's disestablishment, Drew Womack became a solo artist; he would join Lonestar in 2021.
Living in a Moment is the second studio album by American country music artist Ty Herndon. The album was released in 1996 via Epic Records. Like his debut album What Mattered Most, the album has been certified gold by the RIAA. It features the singles "Living in a Moment", "She Wants to Be Wanted Again", "Loved Too Much" and "I Have to Surrender".
Stephanie Kay Bentley is an American country music artist. She made her debut in 1996 as a duet partner on Ty Herndon's single "Heart Half Empty", which peaked at No. 21 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts. The single was included both on Herndon's 1995 debut album What Mattered Most and on Bentley's 1996 debut album Hopechest. It produced three more singles for her on the country charts, although only one reached Top 40.
Unbelievable is the fifth studio album by American country music group Diamond Rio. Its title track and "You're Gone" were both Top 5 hits on the country charts in 1998-1999, while "I Know How the River Feels" was a minor Top 40, and was later a #69 for the group McAlyster in 2000. "What More Do You Want From Me" was originally an uncharted single by Rhonda Vincent, released in 1995 and was also included on her album Trouble Free in 1996.
"It Must Be Love" is a song written by Craig Bickhardt and Jack Sundrud, and recorded by American country music singer Ty Herndon. It was released in August 1998 as the second single from his album Big Hopes. The song reached a peak of Number One on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts, becoming the third and final Number One of his career. It was also his highest entry on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 38 on the chart.
Steve Wariner is an American country music singer, songwriter and guitarist. His discography comprises nineteen studio albums, six compilation albums, and fifty-five singles. Of his studio albums, three are certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipments of 500,000 copies each: 1991's I Am Ready, and Burnin' the Roadhouse Down and Two Teardrops from 1998 and 1999 respectively. I Am Ready was Wariner's first release for Arista Nashville following tenures on RCA and MCA Nashville, and Burnin' the Roadhouse Down his first for Capitol Records.
Diamond Rio is an American country music band founded in 1982. Their discography consists of 10 studio albums, 36 singles, six compilation albums, one live album, and 20 music videos. Founded in 1984, Diamond Rio released their self-titled debut album in 1991. "Meet in the Middle", the lead-off single, reached number one on the Billboard country singles chart, making the band the first country group in history to have their debut single reach that position.
"What Mattered Most" is a song written by Gary Burr and Vince Melamed, and recorded by American country music singer Ty Herndon. It was released in February 1995 as Herndon's debut single and served as the lead single and title track from his debut album What Mattered Most. It became Herndon's first number-one single on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.
McAlyster was an American country music group founded in Pensacola, Florida. Its members comprised Cody Collins, Josh Walther, Leigh Usilton and Valerie Gills. They were signed to MCA Nashville Records in 2000. Their debut single, "I Know How the River Feels", was previously a No. 32 country single in 1999 for Diamond Rio, and was originally recorded by Ty Herndon on his 1996 album Living in a Moment. McAlyster's demo rendition was released as a single, peaking at No. 69 on the country charts. Billboard gave their version a mixed review, praising the harmonies but questioning its appeal to the country format. McAlyster released no other material and broke up after this single.
"Hands of a Working Man" is a song written by D. Vincent Williams and Jim Collins, and recorded by American country music artist Ty Herndon. It was released in January 1999 as the third single from his album, Big Hopes. The song reached number 5 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in May 1999, and was Herndon's last Top Ten country hit.
"Steam" is a song written by Lewis Anderson and Bob Regan, and recorded by American country music artist Ty Herndon. It was released in August 1999 as the lead single and title track from his album Steam. The song reached number 18 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart and peaked at number 19 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks chart.
"She Wants to Be Wanted Again" is a song written by Billy Henderson and Steven Dale Jones. It was first recorded in 1992 by Lee Greenwood for his album Love's on the Way, then by Larry Stewart for his 1994 album Heart Like a Hurricane, and Western Flyer on their 1996 album Back in America.
"I Have to Surrender" is a song written by Pat Bunch and Doug Johnson, and recorded by American country music artist Ty Herndon. It was released in September 1997 as the fourth single from the album Living in a Moment. The song reached number 17 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.
"No Mercy" is a song written by Todd Cerney, Dennis Morgan and Stephen Allen Davis, and recorded by American country music artist Ty Herndon. It was released in January 2000 as the second single from his album Steam.
"Peanuts and Diamonds" is a song written by Bobby Braddock. It was first recorded by American country singer-songwriter Bill Anderson. It was released as a single in 1976 via MCA Records and became a major hit the same year.
"Liars One, Believers Zero" is a song written by Glenn Martin. It was first recorded by American country singer-songwriter Bill Anderson. It was released as a single in 1976 via MCA Records and became a major hit the following year.
"I Still Feel the Same About You" is a song written and recorded by American country singer-songwriter Bill Anderson. It was released as a single in 1975 via MCA Records and became a major hit the same year.
"Thanks" is a song recorded by American country singer-songwriter Bill Anderson. It was written by Bill Martin and Phil Coulter and previously recorded by J. Vincent Edwards in 1969. Bill Anderson's version was released as a single in 1975 via MCA Records and became a major hit the same year.
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