Callin' Baton Rouge
Encyclopedia
"Callin' Baton Rouge" is the title of a country music
song written by Dennis Linde
. It was originally recorded by The Oak Ridge Boys
on their 1978 album Room Service
, and was later covered by New Grass Revival
on their 1989 album Friday Night in America, and more famously by Garth Brooks
on his 1993 album In Pieces
. Brooks' rendition, the fifth single from the album, reached a peak of number two on the U.S. country singles charts in 1994.
sound. In it, the male narrator, presumably a truck driver, is attempting to make contact with a female named Samantha, whom he met the night before in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
.
country singles charts, where it peaked at number 37. "Let Me Be Your Man" was the b-side.
, with instrumental backing from New Grass Revival (Pat Flynn on acoustic guitar, Sam Bush on fiddle and mandolin, Béla Fleck on banjo), and Jerry Douglas on Dobro. Harmony vocals were also provided by Cowan and Bush.
"I have always been a fan of "Baton Rouge." I was, still am, and always will be a fan of the members of New Grass Revival, four guys well ahead of their time (even if they came out thirty years from now). "Baton Rouge" was a single for them about the time my first album was released. This song did not even break the top thirty, and I believe it did not get a fair shot. When we recorded it, it seemed only natural to bring in the guys from New Grass Revival - Pat Flynn, Bela Fleck, John Cowan, and Sam Bush, teamed with Jerry Douglas. This was the first time the New Grass Revival had been together since their breakup over a year prior to the recording of this song. It was a very good day and an extremely proud moment, and I think this is reflected in the cut itself."
country charts in Canada.
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
song written by Dennis Linde
Dennis Linde
Dennis Linde was an American singer and songwriter whose work was primarily in country musicHe is best known for writing the 1972 Elvis Presley hit, "Burning Love"...
. It was originally recorded by The Oak Ridge Boys
The Oak Ridge Boys
The Oak Ridge Boys are an American country and gospel vocal quartet.The group was founded in the 1940s as the Oak Ridge Quartet. They became popular in southern gospel during the 1950s...
on their 1978 album Room Service
Room Service (Oak Ridge Boys album)
Room Service is an album released in 1978 by The Oak Ridge Boys. It includes the singles "Cryin' Again" and "Come On In".-Track listing:#"If You Can't Find Love" - 2:58#"But I Do" - 3:30...
, and was later covered by New Grass Revival
New Grass Revival
New Grass Revival was an American progressive bluegrass band founded in 1971, and composed of Sam Bush, Courtney Johnson, Ebo Walker, Curtis Burch, Butch Robins, John Cowan, Béla Fleck and Pat Flynn. They were active between 1971 and 1989, releasing more than twenty albums as well as six singles....
on their 1989 album Friday Night in America, and more famously by Garth Brooks
Garth Brooks
Troyal Garth Brooks , best known as Garth Brooks, is an American country music artist who helped make country music a worldwide phenomenon. His eponymous first album was released in 1989 and peaked at number 2 in the US country album chart while climbing to number 13 on the Billboard 200 album chart...
on his 1993 album In Pieces
In Pieces
In Pieces is the fifth studio album by American country music artist Garth Brooks. It was released on August 31, 1993. It debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 and the Top Country Albums chart. It was also a huge hit outside the United States. In Great Britain it was Brooks' highest placed album on...
. Brooks' rendition, the fifth single from the album, reached a peak of number two on the U.S. country singles charts in 1994.
Content
"Callin' Baton Rouge" is an up-tempo song with a bluegrassBluegrass music
Bluegrass music is a form of American roots music, and a sub-genre of country music. It has mixed roots in Scottish, English, Welsh and Irish traditional music...
sound. In it, the male narrator, presumably a truck driver, is attempting to make contact with a female named Samantha, whom he met the night before in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge is the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is located in East Baton Rouge Parish and is the second-largest city in the state.Baton Rouge is a major industrial, petrochemical, medical, and research center of the American South...
.
New Grass Revival version
New Grass Revival recorded the song on their 1989 album Friday Night in America. It was the first of two singles from that album. In addition, it was the band's only Top 40 hit on the BillboardBillboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
country singles charts, where it peaked at number 37. "Let Me Be Your Man" was the b-side.
| Chart (1989) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 37 |
| Canadian R.P.M. Country Tracks | 33 |
Garth Brooks version
Garth Brooks covered the song on his 1993 album In PiecesIn Pieces
In Pieces is the fifth studio album by American country music artist Garth Brooks. It was released on August 31, 1993. It debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 and the Top Country Albums chart. It was also a huge hit outside the United States. In Great Britain it was Brooks' highest placed album on...
, with instrumental backing from New Grass Revival (Pat Flynn on acoustic guitar, Sam Bush on fiddle and mandolin, Béla Fleck on banjo), and Jerry Douglas on Dobro. Harmony vocals were also provided by Cowan and Bush.
Background and recording
Garth provided the following background information on the song in the CD booklet liner notes from The Hits:"I have always been a fan of "Baton Rouge." I was, still am, and always will be a fan of the members of New Grass Revival, four guys well ahead of their time (even if they came out thirty years from now). "Baton Rouge" was a single for them about the time my first album was released. This song did not even break the top thirty, and I believe it did not get a fair shot. When we recorded it, it seemed only natural to bring in the guys from New Grass Revival - Pat Flynn, Bela Fleck, John Cowan, and Sam Bush, teamed with Jerry Douglas. This was the first time the New Grass Revival had been together since their breakup over a year prior to the recording of this song. It was a very good day and an extremely proud moment, and I think this is reflected in the cut itself."
Chart performance
Garth's version, the album's fifth single, peaked at number two on the U.S. country singles charts, and number one on the RPMRPM (magazine)
RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,...
country charts in Canada.
| Chart (1994) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks | 2 |
| Canadian R.P.M. Country Tracks | 1 |