Crime of Passion (Ricky Van Shelton song)
Encyclopedia
"Crime of Passion" is the title of a song written by Walt Aldridge
and Mac McAnally
, and recorded by American singer Ricky Van Shelton
. It was released in 1987 as the second single from his debut album Wild-Eyed Dream
. The song spent nineteen weeks on the Hot Country Singles charts, where it peaked at #7. Its b-side, "Don't We All Have the Right
," was released in 1988 as the album's fifth single.
In the song's first verse, the drifter is picked up by a beautiful young woman driving a Cadillac Eldorado
convertible, along a desert highway. After the two begin talking and the man explains his situation (he's unemployed and broke), the woman suggests finding a place to rob. The man enters the gas station and follows through with the plan, netting a large cache of cash in the process.
Later, as the two are counting the cash and celebrating their success, the convertible is pulled over by an unmarked police car. The woman professes her innocence and immediately points at the man as the armed robbery suspect. It is later explained that the woman's soon-to-be ex-husband is the gas station owner who -- as a favor to her -- refuses to implicate her, leaving the drifter to take the fall alone.
Throughout the song, vivid descriptions of the objects in the song are written into the lyrics. These include the names of key people in the song (gas station owner Jim, whose name is sewn on his shirt; and Joe, the police officer whose name is written on his badge); the Eldorado convertible with "tuck and roll pleat" vinyl upholstery; and the unmarked Chevy Nova
police car.
Walt Aldridge
Walt Aldridge is an American musician, singer, songwriter, engineer and record producer.Aldridge is known primarily as a Nashville songwriter...
and Mac McAnally
Mac McAnally
Lyman Corbitt "Mac" McAnally, Jr. is an American country music singer-songwriter, session musician and record producer. In his career, he has recorded ten studio albums and eight singles. Two of his singles were hits on the Billboard Hot 100, and six more on the Hot Country Songs charts...
, and recorded by American singer Ricky Van Shelton
Ricky Van Shelton
Ricky Van Shelton is a currently retired American country music artist. Active between 1986 and 2006, he has charted more than twenty singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts...
. It was released in 1987 as the second single from his debut album Wild-Eyed Dream
Wild-Eyed Dream
Wild-Eyed Dream is the title of the debut album of Country Music artist Ricky Van Shelton. The first singles released from the album from 1986 to 1988 were "Wild-Eyed Dream" and "Crime of Passion", which charted at #24 and #7, respectively. The last three singles, "Somebody Lied", "Life Turned Her...
. The song spent nineteen weeks on the Hot Country Singles charts, where it peaked at #7. Its b-side, "Don't We All Have the Right
Don't We All Have the Right
"Don't We All Have the Right" is a song written and recorded by Roger Miller in 1970 and featured on his album, Trip in the Country, released as a double A-side with "South." It was later recorded by Ricky Van Shelton...
," was released in 1988 as the album's fifth single.
Song story
The song's main plot -- a drifter who conspires with a young woman to rob a gas station -- serves as a metaphor for a man who falls hard for a woman with sinister hidden motives: in this case, a failed love affair with a seductress, who leaves her target to the wolves after he serves her purposes.In the song's first verse, the drifter is picked up by a beautiful young woman driving a Cadillac Eldorado
Cadillac Eldorado
The 1953 Eldorado was a special-bodied, low-production convertible . It was the production version of the 1952 El Dorado "Golden Anniversary" concept car, and borrowed bumper bullets from the 1951 GM Le Sabre show car...
convertible, along a desert highway. After the two begin talking and the man explains his situation (he's unemployed and broke), the woman suggests finding a place to rob. The man enters the gas station and follows through with the plan, netting a large cache of cash in the process.
Later, as the two are counting the cash and celebrating their success, the convertible is pulled over by an unmarked police car. The woman professes her innocence and immediately points at the man as the armed robbery suspect. It is later explained that the woman's soon-to-be ex-husband is the gas station owner who -- as a favor to her -- refuses to implicate her, leaving the drifter to take the fall alone.
Throughout the song, vivid descriptions of the objects in the song are written into the lyrics. These include the names of key people in the song (gas station owner Jim, whose name is sewn on his shirt; and Joe, the police officer whose name is written on his badge); the Eldorado convertible with "tuck and roll pleat" vinyl upholstery; and the unmarked Chevy Nova
Chevrolet Nova
The Chevrolet Chevy II/Nova is a compact automobile manufactured by the Chevrolet division of General Motors produced in four generations for the 1962 through 1979 model years. Nova was the top model in the Chevy II lineup through 1968. The Chevy II nameplate was dropped, Nova becoming the...
police car.
Chart performance
| Chart (1987) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 7 |
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 5 |