"Riding With Private Malone" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by David Ball | ||||
from the album Amigo | ||||
B-side | "Missing Her Blues" [1] | |||
Released | August 13, 2001 | |||
Recorded | May 9, 2001 | |||
Genre | Country | |||
Length | 4:35(album version) 4:33 (single version) | |||
Label | Dualtone | |||
Songwriter(s) | Wood Newton Thom Shepherd | |||
Producer(s) | Wood Newton | |||
David Ball singles chronology | ||||
|
"Riding with Private Malone" is a song written by Wood Newton and Thom Shepherd, and recorded by American country music artist David Ball. It was released in August 2001 as the first single from his album Amigo . The song reached a peak of #2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts (now Hot Country Songs) chart, and #36 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was Ball's first Top 40 country hit since "Look What Followed Me Home" in 1995. USA Today referred to it as "the country song that tapped most subtly and profoundly into the emotions of its audience" after the September 11 attacks, even though it was released to radio a few weeks before the attacks. [2]
Co-writer Wood Newton stated in an interview that Thom Shepherd had the name of Malone, because it rhymed with home. Newton had seen a story about a man who had restored a 1966 Chevrolet Corvette and put up a website about it. He had also seen another story about a man who restored a car and he would tune the radio to one channel, but it would always change back to a different station, so he thought the car was haunted. Newton said they chose a 1966 Corvette because it was an amazing icon of American ingenuity. [3] Newton and Shepherd debuted the song on March 23, 2001, at the Opry Star Spotlight.
The song describes a narrator who has just finished his military service and finds a classified ad for an "old Chevy". Upon purchasing the car, he discovers that it is actually a 1966 Corvette. He opens its glove compartment, where he finds a note written by the car's former owner, a deceased soldier of the Vietnam War. The note is dated 1966 and tells of the car's origins: it came from a soldier, Private Andrew Malone, and it stated: "If you're reading this, then I didn't make it home," implying that Malone wished for his car to be sold to another person should he die during the war.
Throughout the rest of the song, the narrator restores the car and begins driving it. On some occasions, he claims to have visions of a soldier sitting in the passenger seat (i.e., Private Malone's ghost) and the radio would tune itself to an oldies program, "especially late at night." By the third verse, the singer has wrecked the car after speeding on a curve in the road during a severe rainstorm. Although he does not recall any other details about the accident, he does state that a witness noticed him being rescued from the car by an unidentified soldier. The narrator is convinced that it was Private Malone himself who saved him. The narrator notes "I know I wouldn't be here if he hadn't tagged along" (i.e. his ghost sticking around) and "thank God I was riding with Private Malone."
Rick Cohoon of Allmusic gave the song a favorable review. [4] He stated that it "combines two elements that blend well for country fans-patriotism and the supernatural." Cohoon also said that "the plot is memorable, and Ball's performance drives the piece." [4] Deborah Evans Price, of Billboard magazine reviewed the song favorably saying that the lyric "incorporates all the elements that make traditional country great - patriotism, tragedy, survival, and, of course, a cool car." She goes on to say that the understated production keeps the focus on the story and Ball's "powerful delivery." [5]
Cledus T. Judd made a parody version of the song called "Riding with Inmate Jerome" on his album A Six Pack of Judd , about purchasing a car belonging to an incarcerated pimp who later returns to take his car back when Judd is caught in the middle of a shootout.
"Riding with Private Malone" debuted at number 55 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks for the week of September 8, 2001. Having reached the top 10 by year's end, it was the second independently distributed single to make the country top 10 that year (the first being Mark McGuinn's "Mrs. Steven Rudy"), making 2001 the first year since 1983 to produce two independently distributed top 10 hits. [6]
Chart (2001) | Peak position |
---|---|
US Hot Country Songs ( Billboard ) [7] | 2 |
US Billboard Hot 100 [8] | 36 |
Chart (2002) | Position |
---|---|
US Country Songs ( Billboard ) [9] | 57 |
Paul Lester Overstreet is an American country music singer and songwriter. He recorded 10 studio albums between 1982 and 2005, and charted 16 singles on the Billboard country charts, including two No. 1 hits. He has also written singles for several other country acts, including No. 1 hits for Randy Travis, Blake Shelton, and Keith Whitley, as well as hits for The Judds and Kenny Chesney.
David Ball is an American country music singer-songwriter and musician. Active since 1988, he has recorded a total of seven studio albums on several labels, including his platinum certified debut Thinkin' Problem. Fourteen of Ball's singles have entered the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. His highest-peaking chart entries are 1994's "Thinkin' Problem" and 2001's "Riding With Private Malone", both of which peaked at No. 2.
"Who I Am" is a song written by Brett James and Troy Verges, and recorded by American country music artist Jessica Andrews. It was released in November 2000 as the first single and title track from her album of the same name.
"Stay Gone" is a debut song co-written and recorded by American country music singer Jimmy Wayne. It was released in January 2003 single as the lead-off single from his self-titled debut album on DreamWorks Records Nashville. It became his first Top 5 single on Hot Country Songs chart, peaking at #3. The song also reached #32 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. Wayne co-wrote the song with Billy Kirsch.
"What Was I Thinkin'" is the debut single by American country music artist Dierks Bentley, released in April 2003 from his self-titled debut album. The song became his first number one hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in September 2003.
"Man to Man" is a song written by Jamie O'Hara and recorded by American country music artist Gary Allan. It was released in September 2002 as the third and final single from Allan's 2001 album Alright Guy. The song became his first number one hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in March 2003 and peaked at number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100.
"Real Good Man" is a song written by Rivers Rutherford and George Teren and recorded by American country music singer Tim McGraw. It was released in May 2003 as the fourth single from McGraw’s 2002 album Tim McGraw and the Dancehall Doctors. The song reached number one on the US Billboard Hot Country Singles and Tracks chart.
"The One" is a song written by Karen Manno and Billy Lee and recorded by American country music singer Gary Allan. It was released in January 2002 as the second single from album's 2001 album Alright Guy. The song reached number 3 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. It also entered the Top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100, making this Allan's first Top 40 hit on that chart.
"Cop Car" is a song written by Zach Crowell, Sam Hunt, and Matt Jenkins and recorded by New Zealand-born Australian country music singer Keith Urban. It was released in January 2014 as the third international single and fourth overall from Urban's 2013 album Fuse.
"I Don't Have To Be Me " is a song by American country music artist Steve Azar. It was released in October 2001 as the lead-off single from his album Waitin' on Joe. The song peaked at number 2 on the US Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart, becoming Azar's highest-peaking single. Azar wrote this song with R.C. Bannon and Jason Young. It also peaked at number 35 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it his first and only Hot 100 entry, as well as his most successful single to date.
"She'll Leave You with a Smile" is a song written by Odie Blackmon and Jay Knowles, and recorded by American country music artist George Strait. It was released in September 2002 as the third and last single from his album The Road Less Traveled. It was his 38th Number One hit on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts. It became his 50th number 1 single in December 2002. It was also a hit on the Hot 100, peaking at number 23 and becoming Strait's most successful crossover single to date.
"Husbands and Wives" is a song written and first recorded by American country music singer Roger Miller. Miller's original, from his album Words and Music, was released in February 1966 and was a crossover hit for him, reaching Top Ten on the U.S. country and Adult Contemporary charts, as well as Top 40 on the pop charts. Since the release of Miller's original, the song has been covered by several other artists, including The Everly Brothers, Ringo Starr, Neil Diamond, a duet between David Frizzell and Shelly West, Jules Shear, and Brooks & Dunn, whose version was a number-one country hit in 1998.
"Every Light in the House" is a song written by Kent Robbins and recorded by American country music artist Trace Adkins. It was released in August 1996 as the second single from his debut album Dreamin' Out Loud. It was his first Top 5 single on the Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart, where it peaked at #3.
"I Left Something Turned On at Home" is a song written by Billy Lawson and John Schweers and recorded by American country music singer Trace Adkins. It was released in April 1997 as the fourth and final single from his debut album Dreamin' Out Loud. The song became his third Top 10 hit on the Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart by reaching number 2 for two weeks, only behind "Carrying Your Love with Me" by George Strait. It also became his second number 1 single on the Canadian RPM country chart.
"Where I Come From" is a song written and recorded by American country music singer Alan Jackson. It was released in July 2001 as the third single from his album When Somebody Loves You. In November 2001, the song became Jackson's 18th #1 hit on the Billboard country charts, his only number one from the album.
"Thinkin' Problem" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music singer David Ball. Ball co-wrote the song with Allen Shamblin and Stuart Ziff. It was released in March 1994 as the lead-off single and title track from his album Thinkin' Problem. The song reached number 2 on the Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart, and number 1 on Canada's RPM country chart. It also earned Ball a nomination for the Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance at the 37th Annual Grammy Awards in 1995, as well as a nomination for the Country Music Association Award for Song of the Year.
Amigo is the fifth studio album by American country music singer David Ball. It was released in 2001 on the Dualtone Records label. The album produced a hit single in "Riding with Private Malone", which reached number 2 on the Billboard country charts and #36 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming his first Top 40 hit since "Look What Followed Me Home" in 1995. Despite the success of the lead-off single, however, neither of the two follow-ups — "She Always Talked About Mexico" and "Whenever You Come Back to Me" — charted. The track "Texas Echo" is a re-recording of a song which Ball originally recorded on his 1989 self-titled debut.
"The Love Song" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Jeff Bates. It was released in December 2002 as the lead single from his debut album Rainbow Man, released on RCA Nashville. The song was also Bates' highest-charting single on the Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart, reaching a peak of #8. Bates wrote this song with Kenny Beard and Casey Beathard.
"Red Rag Top" is a song written and originally recorded by Jason White. It was later recorded by American country music artist Tim McGraw and released in September 2002 as the first single from McGraw’s album Tim McGraw and the Dancehall Doctors. McGraw's version peaked at number 5 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in early 2003 and reached number 40 on the Billboard Hot 100.
"Something Better to Do" is a song written by John Farrar and recorded by Olivia Newton-John. The song was released in September 1975 as the lead single from Newton-John's sixth studio album, Clearly Love. The narrator of the song muses that she's having a hard time adjusting to life without her departed lover; even the birds are wasting their songs singing to her, and until her beloved returns, "the birds will have to find something better to do."