youtu.be/c5NsuTjM0_g For Debbie Lynn Allen Mainstream success and superstardom: 1980–85 The groups next single, My Homes in Alabama, received an even better response, reaching the top 20. Their early chart successes led to an invitation to appear at the New Faces show at Nashvilles annual Country Radio Seminar, along with other up-and-comers, such as Reba McEntire. The band had to perform with studio musicians, rather than as a band, and left the session believing they had destroyed their chances. Despite this, the group drew interest from several labels, among those RCA Nashville, with whom they signed in April 1980. Their first single on RCA, Tennessee River, was produced by Harold Shedd and was their first to hit number one, beginning a streak of over 30 number one hits. Cashbox named the band the New Vocal Group of the Year, marking the bands first award. In July 1980, the band left their long-time gig at the Bowery,[9] promoting their single, which they initially believed to be fluke.The success took the band by surprise, and soon became all but consuming. Alabama enjoyed a great deal of creative freedom at RCA; they followed up Tennessee River with Why Lady Why, despite the objections of executives and trade publications, The song became their second number one on the Hot Country Singles chart. They toured extensively, headlining small clubs and opening for bigger acts in major venues.[3] In addition, the group also received television exposure on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and The Merv Griffin Show. In February 1981, Alabama released its second major label album, Feels So Right; it peaked at number 16 on the Billboard 200 and stayed for more than three years, longer than any other Alabama album.Old Flame was their next number one in February 1981, followed by Feels So Right in May, and Love in the First Degree that October. That year, Alabama received a great deal of industry attention: Billboard named them New Group for the Year, Radio & Records called them Group of the Year, and the Academy of Country Music deemed the band the Vocal Group of the Year. The quintet performed on the 1981 Country Music Association Awards, where it received both Instrumental Group of the Year and Vocal Group of the Year.Although the band received unprecedented success, Owens personal life was falling apart: his father died while he was on the road, affecting him greatly. Mountain Music, released in February 1982, is considered Alabamas last studio album before they encountered superstardom, and their final release before a significant upgrade in production and sound. All three of the albums singles reached number one: Mountain Music in May 1982, followed two months later by Take Me Down that July, and Close Enough to Perfect in October. That year, both Mountain Music and Feels So Right would go quadruple platinum; by late 1982, the band had sold over six million albums, despite just two years on the national circuit.Christmas in Dixie, a holiday song released in 1982, charted on two of Billboard magazines music popularity charts in six different calendar years.Alabama became the first group to win CMAs prestigious Entertainer of the Year award, which they collected three years in a row, from 1982 to 1984. The group received two consecutive Grammy Awards for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, for Mountain Music and their next album, The Closer You Get .... The Closer You Get..., released in March 1983, was certified platinum within two months. Each of the albums singles—Dixieland Delight, The Closer You Get, and Lady Down on Love—were number ones in both the U.S. and Canada.Roll On was Alabamas next LP, and its four singles, Roll On (Eighteen Wheeler), When We Make Love, If Youre Gonna Play in Texas (You Gotta Have a Fiddle in the Band), (Theres A) Fire in the Night, all went to the top in both countries.40-Hour Week (1985) continued the bands string of multinational successes, with 40 Hour Week (For a Livin) and Cant Keep a Good Man Down peaking at number one in both territories, with only the lead single, Theres No Way, falling short in Canada (although it peaked at number two). 40-Hour Week was one of Alabamas most popular albums, crossing over in the pop album charts. Alabama Christmas, a collection of nine holiday songs plus Christmas in Dixie, became Alabamas debut on the compact disc that September; it was also the centerpiece of a retail and television promotion (sponsored by the Nashville Network)
Posted on: Fri, 12 Sep 2014 15:17:30 +0000
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