Midnight in Montgomery

Last updated
"Midnight in Montgomery"
Single by Alan Jackson
from the album Don't Rock the Jukebox
B-side "Working Class Hero"
ReleasedApril 20, 1992
RecordedAugust 21, 1990 [1]
Genre Country
Length3:46
Label Arista 12418
Songwriter(s) Alan Jackson
Don Sampson
Producer(s) Scott Hendricks
Keith Stegall
Alan Jackson singles chronology
"Dallas"
(1991)
"Midnight in Montgomery"
(1992)
"Love's Got a Hold on You"
(1992)

"Midnight in Montgomery" is a song written by American country music singer Alan Jackson and Don Sampson, and recorded by Jackson. It was released in April 1992 as the fourth single from Jackson's second album, Don't Rock the Jukebox . The song peaked at number 3 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart (the album's only single not to top the chart), and number 3 as well on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks chart.

Contents

In August 2020, Josh Turner recorded a cover version of "Midnight In Montgomery" on his album Country State of Mind.

Content

This song was written about Hank Williams, who was from Montgomery, Alabama. It is a mid-tempo, largely acoustic ballad in the key of D minor.

The singer, while heading to Mobile for a New Year's Eve show, makes a visit to a Montgomery grave (Williams died on New Year's Day 1953, and is buried in Montgomery), and encounters the ghost of Williams who thanks him for paying tribute before disappearing. The song also references several Williams hits, including "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry." The song ends with the words "Hank's always singing there".

Critical reception

Leeann Ward of Country Universe gave the song an A grade, saying that "the song’s story is fascinating in and of itself, but equally impressive is the recording as a whole package." She goes on to say that "along with the ominous production and chilling story, Jackson’s performance strays from its usual smooth reliability and picks up its own haunting quality, which perfectly adds to the overall darkness of the song." [2]

Music video

The music video was directed by Jim Shea and premiered in April 1992. It was filmed in black and white under a full moon amidst the headstones of an empty cemetery. It went on to win that year's Country Music Association award for Music Video of the Year. They had to record the video twice, in the first take, there was a shadow that wasn't supposed to be in the video.

Peak chart positions

"Midnight in Montgomery" debuted on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks for the week of April 25, 1992.

Chart (1992)Peak
position
Canada Country Tracks ( RPM ) [3] 3
US Hot Country Songs ( Billboard ) [4] 3

Year-end charts

Chart (1992)Position
Canada Country Tracks ( RPM ) [5] 12
US Country Songs ( Billboard ) [6] 27

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Best Things in Life Are Free</span> 1992 single by Luther Vandross and Janet Jackson

"The Best Things in Life Are Free" is a duet between American singers Luther Vandross and Janet Jackson, recorded for the Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis produced soundtrack to the 1992 American film Mo' Money, starring Damon Wayans. The song was composed by Jam, Lewis, Michael Bivins, Ronnie DeVoe, Harry Wayne Casey and Richard Finch. The song was released as the soundtrack's lead single on May 12, 1992 by Perspective Records and A&M Records. Additionally, the song was remixed by David Morales, Frankie Knuckles, and CJ Mackintosh. The duet became a major hit in several countries, peaking at number two in Australia and the United Kingdom, number six in Ireland and New Zealand, number eight in Canada and Germany, and number 10 in the United States. The song was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hey, Good Lookin' (song)</span> 1951 song written and recorded by Hank Williams

"Hey, Good Lookin'" is a 1951 song written and recorded by Hank Williams, and his version was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2001. In 2003, CMT voted the Hank Williams version No. 19 on CMT's 100 Greatest Songs of Country Music. Since its original 1951 recording it has been covered by a variety of artists.

"Murder on Music Row" is a 1999 song written by Larry Cordle and Larry Shell, and originally recorded by American bluegrass group Larry Cordle & Lonesome Standard Time, as the title track from their album Murder on Music Row. It gained fame soon after that when it was recorded as a duet between American country music artists George Strait and Alan Jackson. The song laments the rise of country pop and the accompanying decline of the traditional country music sound; it refers to Music Row, an area in Nashville, Tennessee considered the epicenter of the country music industry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don't Rock the Jukebox (song)</span> 1991 single by Alan Jackson

"Don't Rock the Jukebox" is a song co-written and performed by American country music artist Alan Jackson. It was released on April 29, 1991 as the lead single from the album of the same name, Don't Rock the Jukebox. It was his second consecutive Number One single on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts. Jackson wrote the song with Roger Murrah and Keith Stegall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chattahoochee (song)</span> 1993 single by Alan Jackson

"Chattahoochee" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Alan Jackson. It was released in May 1993 as the third single from his album A Lot About Livin' . The album is named for a line in the song itself. Jackson wrote the song with Jim McBride.

"It Must Be Love" is a song written by Bob McDill, and recorded by American country music artist Don Williams. It was released in July 1979 as the third single from the album Expressions. The song was Williams' ninth Number One single on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles charts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gone Country (song)</span> 1994 single by Alan Jackson

"Gone Country" is a song written by Bob McDill and recorded by American country music artist Alan Jackson. It was released in November 1994 as the third single from his fourth studio album, Who I Am. As with that album's first two singles, "Gone Country" reached the top of the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts, a position that it held for one week.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chasin' That Neon Rainbow</span> 1990 single by Alan Jackson

"Chasin' That Neon Rainbow" is a song written by American country music artist Alan Jackson and Jim McBride, and recorded by Jackson. It was released in September 1990 as the fourth single from Jackson's first album, Here in the Real World. The song peaked at number 2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart, and number 5 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wanted (Alan Jackson song)</span> 1990 single by Alan Jackson

"Wanted" is a song written by American country music artist Alan Jackson and Charlie Craig, and recorded by Jackson. It was released in May 1990 as the third single from Jackson's first album, Here in the Real World. The song peaked at number 3 on both the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts and the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'd Love You All Over Again</span> 1991 single by Alan Jackson

"I'd Love You All Over Again is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Alan Jackson. It was released in January 1991 as the last single from his debut album, Here in the Real World and the song was Jackson's first number 1 single on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart, as well as his second number 1 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks chart. This was also Jackson's first single not to have an accompanying music video.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Someday (Alan Jackson song)</span> 1991 single by Alan Jackson

"Someday" is a song written by American country music singer Alan Jackson and Jim McBride, and recorded by Jackson. It was released in August 1991 as the second single from Jackson's second album, Don't Rock The Jukebox. The song peaked at number 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart, and number 2 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dallas (Alan Jackson song)</span> 1991 single by Alan Jackson

"Dallas" is a song written by American country music artists Alan Jackson and Keith Stegall, and recorded by Jackson. It was released in December 1991 as the third single from Jackson's second album, Don't Rock the Jukebox. The song peaked at number 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart, Jackson's fourth consecutive single to top the chart, as well as number 1 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks chart, Jackson's fourth single to top that chart also.

"Love's Got a Hold on You" is a song written by Carson Chamberlain and Keith Stegall and performed by American country music artist Alan Jackson. It was released in July 1992 as the final single from Jackson's second album, Don't Rock the Jukebox. It was also the only song that Jackson did not co-write on the album, and the first single of such in his career. It peaked at number 1 on both the U.S. Billboard country music chart, and on the Canadian RPM country music chart.

"I Love the Way You Love Me" is a song recorded by American country music singer John Michael Montgomery from his debut album, Life's a Dance (1992). It was written by Victoria Shaw and Chuck Cannon, and released in March 1993 as the album's second single. The song reached the top of the US Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. It became Montgomery's first number-one single and was named Song of the Year by the Academy of Country Music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A Little Less Talk and a Lot More Action</span> 1993 single by Toby Keith

"A Little Less Talk And A Lot More Action" is a song written by Keith Hinton and Jimmy Alan Stewart. Originally recorded by American country music singer Hank Williams Jr. on his 1992 album Maverick, the song was also recorded by Toby Keith one year later on his self-titled debut album. Keith's version was released in November 1993 as that album's third single. Also, it reached number 2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart and peaked at number 25 on the Canadian RPM charts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Don't Even Know Your Name</span> 1995 single by Alan Jackson

"I Don't Even Know Your Name" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Alan Jackson. It was released in May 1995 as the fifth and final single from his album Who I Am. It reached number-one on the U.S. Billboard country charts and on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks chart. It was written by Jackson with Ron Jackson and Andy Lofton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">She's Got the Rhythm (And I Got the Blues)</span> 1992 single by Alan Jackson

"She's Got the Rhythm " is a song co-written by American country music artists Alan Jackson and Randy Travis, and performed by Jackson. It was released in October 1992 as the first single from his album A Lot About Livin' . The song received an award in 1993 from Music City News for being one of the most performed country songs of the year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Livin' on Love</span> 1994 single by Alan Jackson

"Livin' on Love" is a song written and recorded by American country music singer Alan Jackson. It was released in August 1994 as the second single from his album Who I Am. In late 1994, it became his ninth Number One hit on the Billboard country charts. It also reached number one on the Bubbling Under Hot 100.

"I'll Think of Something" is a song written by Bill Rice and Jerry Foster, which has been recorded by American country music singers Hank Williams Jr. and Mark Chesnutt. The song was also recorded by Loretta Lynn for her 1985 album Just a Woman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Take It Like a Man (Michelle Wright song)</span> 1992 single by Michelle Wright

"Take It Like a Man" is a song written by Tony Haselden, and recorded by Canadian country music artist Michelle Wright. It was released in February 1992 as the first single from Wright's album Now and Then. The song became Wright's first Number One on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks charts that year. It was also her only top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in the United States. Country singer Lari White is featured on background vocals.

References

  1. The Greatest Hits Collection (CD). Alan Jackson. Arista Records. 1995. 07822 18801.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  2. [ permanent dead link ] Review by Kevin John Coyne
  3. "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 2010." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. July 25, 1992. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
  4. "Alan Jackson Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  5. "RPM Top 100 Country Tracks of 1992". RPM . December 19, 1992. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
  6. "Best of 1992: Country Songs". Billboard . Prometheus Global Media. 1992. Retrieved August 15, 2013.