"That's How I Got to Memphis", sometimes titled "How I Got to Memphis", is a country music standard written by American country music artist Tom T. Hall. The song tells a man's story of coming to Memphis to look for a former lover. The song first appeared on Hall's 1969 album Ballad of Forty Dollars & His Other Great Songs. It has been widely covered, most notably by Bobby Bare in 1970, Deryl Dodd in 1996, and Charley Crockett in 2018.
"How I Got to Memphis" | ||||
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Single by Bobby Bare | ||||
from the album This Is Bare Country | ||||
B-side | "It's Freezing in El Paso" [1] | |||
Released | August 1970 | |||
Genre | Country | |||
Length | 2:31 | |||
Label | Mercury | |||
Songwriter(s) | Tom T. Hall | |||
Producer(s) | Jerry Kennedy | |||
Bobby Bare singles chronology | ||||
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Bobby Bare covered the song under the name "How I Got to Memphis" on his 1970 album This Is Bare Country. [2]
An uncredited review in Billboard called the song "potent Tom T. Hall material, delivered in one of Bare's finest performances." [3]
Bobby Bare's version spent 16 weeks on the Hot Country Songs charts, peaking at number 3. [1]
Chart (1970) | Peak position |
---|---|
US Hot Country Songs ( Billboard ) [4] | 3 |
Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 22 |
"That's How I Got to Memphis" | ||||
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Single by Deryl Dodd | ||||
from the album One Ride in Vegas | ||||
Released | November 9, 1996 | |||
Genre | Country | |||
Length | 3:14 | |||
Label | Columbia | |||
Songwriter(s) | Tom T. Hall | |||
Producer(s) | Blake Chancey, Chip Young | |||
Deryl Dodd singles chronology | ||||
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In late 1996, Deryl Dodd covered the song for his debut album One Ride in Vegas . The song was the album's second single. In place of a b-side, the single release contained album snippets. [5]
Don Yates of Country Standard Time called Dodd's version of the song "impassioned". [6]
Dodd's version charted on Hot Country Songs for 20 weeks, peaking at number 36 in early 1997. [5]
Chart (1996–97) | Peak position |
---|---|
Canada Country Tracks ( RPM ) [7] | 38 |
US Hot Country Songs ( Billboard ) [8] | 36 |
The song has been widely covered by other artists and is now considered a standard. [9]
A French language version entitled "Sur la route de Memphis" was a hit for French rock and country artist Eddy Mitchell and was the title track for his 1977 album.
The song is also featured in the series finale of The Newsroom .
"Me and Bobby McGee" is a song written by American singer-songwriter Kris Kristofferson and originally performed by Roger Miller. Fred Foster shares the writing credit, as Kristofferson wrote the song based on a suggestion from Foster. A posthumously released version by Janis Joplin topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 1971, making the song the second posthumously released No. 1 single in U.S. chart history after "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" by Otis Redding. Gordon Lightfoot released a version that reached number 1 on the Canadian country charts in 1970. Jerry Lee Lewis released a version that was number 1 on the country charts in December 1971/January 1972 as the "B" side of "Would You Take Another Chance on Me". Billboard ranked Joplin's version as the No. 11 song for 1971.
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"Mountain of Love" is a song written by Harold Dorman. Dorman released his version as a single in 1960. It was originally recorded in late 1959 at the Royal Recording Studios in Memphis before the backing vocals were overdubbed. It performed well, spending 19 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at No. 21 in May 1960, while reaching No. 7 on the Billboard Hot R&B Sides chart, and No. 25 on Canada's "CHUM Hit Parade". The song was his only top forty hit on the Billboard Hot 100 and was the highest-charting single of his career.
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"Mr. Bojangles" is a song written and originally recorded by American country music artist Jerry Jeff Walker for his 1968 album of the same title. It has since been recorded by other artists, including the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band in 1969.
"From a Jack to a King" is a country music song. Originally a crossover hit for artist Ned Miller, who also wrote "Dark Moon", "A Falling Star", and many other country songs. It has been covered extensively by country music artists.
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Deryl Dwaine Dodd is an American Texas country music artist. Originally a regular on the Texas club circuit, he moved to Nashville, Tennessee, soon finding work as a lead guitar player, background vocalist and songwriter. After moving to Nashville in 1991 he played lead guitar for Tracy Lawrence and Martina McBride. By 1996, he was signed to a recording contract, releasing two albums for Columbia Records Nashville before a debilitating bout of viral encephalitis put his career on hiatus.
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