Dancin' on the Boulevard
Encyclopedia
Dancin' on the Boulevard is the fourteenth studio album
by country music
band Alabama
. It was released on April 8, 1997, via RCA Records
. The album includes the singles "Dancin, Shaggin' on the Boulevard", "Sad Lookin' Moon," "She's Got That Look in Her Eyes" and "Of Course I'm Alright". Also included on the album are cover version
s of The Temptations
' "My Girl" and Bruce Channel
's "Hey! Baby".
along with bass guitarist Teddy Gentry and frequent collaborator Greg Fowler. This song reached #3 on the same chart late that year. "Of Course I'm Alright" followed late in the year and reached #22. Finishing off the single releases was "She's Got That Look in Her Eyes", an Owen-Gentry collaboration which peaked at #21.
Two cover
s are included on the album as well: "Hey! Baby
" and "My Girl", originally Number One pop hits for Bruce Channel
and The Temptations
, respectively.
Alabama's drummer, Mark Herndon, does not play on the album.
Strings arranged by Dennis Burnside.
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by country music
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...
band Alabama
Alabama (band)
Alabama is a country music and southern rock band from Fort Payne, Alabama, United States. The band was founded in 1969 by Randy Owen and his cousin Teddy Gentry , soon joined by Jeff Cook...
. It was released on April 8, 1997, via RCA Records
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
. The album includes the singles "Dancin, Shaggin' on the Boulevard", "Sad Lookin' Moon," "She's Got That Look in Her Eyes" and "Of Course I'm Alright". Also included on the album are cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
s of The Temptations
The Temptations
The Temptations is an American vocal group having achieved fame as one of the most successful acts to record for Motown Records. The group's repertoire has included, at various times during its five-decade career, R&B, doo-wop, funk, disco, soul, and adult contemporary music.Formed in Detroit,...
' "My Girl" and Bruce Channel
Bruce Channel
Bruce Channel is an American singer, known for his 1962 million selling number one hit, "Hey! Baby".-Career:...
's "Hey! Baby".
Content
Dancin' on the Boulevard was produced by the band, along with Don Cook. "Sad Lookin' Moon" was the first single release from the album, peaking at #2 on the U.S. country singles charts in 1997. Following it was the title track which, like "Sad Lookin' Moon", was co-written by lead singer Randy OwenRandy Owen
Randy Owen is an American country music artist. He is known primarily for his role as the lead singer of Alabama, a country rock band which saw considerable mainstream success throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Although Alabama only records new albums on occasion, Owen himself has maintained a career...
along with bass guitarist Teddy Gentry and frequent collaborator Greg Fowler. This song reached #3 on the same chart late that year. "Of Course I'm Alright" followed late in the year and reached #22. Finishing off the single releases was "She's Got That Look in Her Eyes", an Owen-Gentry collaboration which peaked at #21.
Two cover
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
s are included on the album as well: "Hey! Baby
Hey! Baby
"Hey! Baby" is a song written by Margaret Cobb and Bruce Channel, who recorded the song in 1961. Channel co-produced the song with Major Bill Smith and released it on Mercury Records' Smash label...
" and "My Girl", originally Number One pop hits for Bruce Channel
Bruce Channel
Bruce Channel is an American singer, known for his 1962 million selling number one hit, "Hey! Baby".-Career:...
and The Temptations
The Temptations
The Temptations is an American vocal group having achieved fame as one of the most successful acts to record for Motown Records. The group's repertoire has included, at various times during its five-decade career, R&B, doo-wop, funk, disco, soul, and adult contemporary music.Formed in Detroit,...
, respectively.
Critical reception
Thom Owens of Allmusic gave the album a two-star rating out of five, calling it "a fairly predictable and routine record that only catches fire on its singles".Track listing
- "Dancin', Shaggin' on the BoulevardDancin', Shaggin' on the Boulevard"Dancin', Shaggin' on the Boulevard" is the title of a song written and recorded by American country music band Alabama. It was released in June 1997 as the second single from the album, Dancin' on the Boulevard. The song peaked at No...
" (Randy OwenRandy OwenRandy Owen is an American country music artist. He is known primarily for his role as the lead singer of Alabama, a country rock band which saw considerable mainstream success throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Although Alabama only records new albums on occasion, Owen himself has maintained a career...
, Teddy Gentry, Greg Fowler) - 4:43 - "Sad Lookin' MoonSad Lookin' Moon"Sad Lookin' Moon" is the title of a song recorded by the country music group Alabama. It was released in February 1997 as the lead-off single to their 1997 album Dancin' on the Boulevard. It peaked at #2 in the United States, while it was a number-one hit in Canada.-Background and writing:Owen...
" (Owen, Gentry, Fowler) - 3:33 - "Anytime (I'm Your Man)" (Owen, Gentry, Fowler, Ronnie RogersRonnie RogersRandall "Ronnie" Rogers is an American country music singer and songwriter. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Rogers charted eight singles on the Billboard country charts, including the top 40 hits "Gonna Take My Angel Out Tonight" and "My Love Belongs to You." He recorded for the Lifesong, Epic...
) - 3:52 - "She's Got That Look in Her EyesShe's Got That Look in Her Eyes"She's Got That Look in Her Eyes" is the title of a song recorded by American country music group Alabama. It was released in February 1998, it was the fourth single from the album Dancin' on the Boulevard...
" (Owen, Gentry) - 3:18 - "My Girl" (Ronald WhiteRonald WhiteRonald "Ronnie" White was an African American soul singer and songwriter, notable as a founding member of The Miracles, and the only member to survive all of that group's line-up changes...
, Smokey RobinsonSmokey RobinsonWilliam "Smokey" Robinson, Jr. is an American R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, and former record executive. Robinson is one of the primary figures associated with Motown, second only to the company's founder, Berry Gordy...
) - 3:08 - "Of Course I'm Alright" (Billy Kirsch) - 3:44
- "I Just Couldn't Say No" (Owen, Gentry, Fowler) - 4:35
- "Is the Magic Still There" (Owen, Gentry, Fowler) - 3:14
- "Calling All Angels" (Jeff Jones) - 4:37
- "Hey! BabyHey! Baby"Hey! Baby" is a song written by Margaret Cobb and Bruce Channel, who recorded the song in 1961. Channel co-produced the song with Major Bill Smith and released it on Mercury Records' Smash label...
" (Bruce ChannelBruce ChannelBruce Channel is an American singer, known for his 1962 million selling number one hit, "Hey! Baby".-Career:...
, Margaret Cobb) - 3:06 - "One More Time Around" (Owen, Gentry, Fowler, Tim Briggs, Larry Hanson) - 4:15
Alabama
- Jeff Cook – electric guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
, vocals - Teddy Gentry – bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, vocals - Randy OwenRandy OwenRandy Owen is an American country music artist. He is known primarily for his role as the lead singer of Alabama, a country rock band which saw considerable mainstream success throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Although Alabama only records new albums on occasion, Owen himself has maintained a career...
– vocals
Alabama's drummer, Mark Herndon, does not play on the album.
Additional musicians
- Mark Casstevens – acoustic guitarAcoustic guitarAn acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
- Bruce ChannelBruce ChannelBruce Channel is an American singer, known for his 1962 million selling number one hit, "Hey! Baby".-Career:...
– background vocals on "Hey! Baby" - Dennis Good – tromboneTromboneThe trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
- Mike Haynes – trumpetTrumpetThe trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
- Don Jackson – baritone saxophoneBaritone saxophoneThe baritone saxophone, often called "bari sax" , is one of the largest and lowest pitched members of the saxophone family. It was invented by Adolphe Sax. The baritone is distinguished from smaller sizes of saxophone by the extra loop near its mouthpiece...
- John Barlow Jarvis – pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, Hammond B-3 organ, Wurlitzer electric pianoWurlitzer electric pianoWurlitzer 200A|250px|thumbThe Wurlitzer electric piano was one of a series of electromechanical stringless pianos manufactured and marketed by the Rudolph Wurlitzer Company, Corinth, Mississippi, U.S. and Tonawanda, New York...
, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, synthesizerSynthesizerA synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
bass - Chris McDonald – trombone
- Terry McMillan – harmonicaHarmonicaThe harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
on "Hey! Baby" - Steve Nathan – piano, Hammond B-3 organ, keyboards
- Larry Paxton – bass guitar
- Brent Rowan – electric guitar, slide guitarSlide guitarSlide guitar or bottleneck guitar is a particular method or technique for playing the guitar. The term slide refers to the motion of the slide against the strings, while bottleneck refers to the original material of choice for such slides: the necks of glass bottles...
, 12-string guitar, mandolinMandolinA mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single... - Dennis Solee – tenor saxophoneTenor saxophoneThe tenor saxophone is a medium-sized member of the saxophone family, a group of instruments invented by Adolphe Sax in the 1840s. The tenor, with the alto, are the two most common types of saxophones. The tenor is pitched in the key of B, and written as a transposing instrument in the treble...
- George Tidwell – trumpet
- Lonnie Wilson – drums, percussion
String section
- Carl Gorodetzky, Pamela Sixfin, Lee Larrison, Conni Ellisor, Alan Umstead, David Davidson, David Angell, Catherine Umstead – violinViolinThe violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
s - Kris Wilkinson, Gary Vanosdale, Jim Grosjean – violaViolaThe viola is a bowed string instrument. It is the middle voice of the violin family, between the violin and the cello.- Form :The viola is similar in material and construction to the violin. A full-size viola's body is between and longer than the body of a full-size violin , with an average...
s - Bob Mason, John Catchings – celloCelloThe cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
s
Strings arranged by Dennis Burnside.
Album
| Chart (1997) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums | 5 |
| U.S. Billboard 200 | 55 |
| Canadian RPM Country Albums | 2 |
Singles
| Year | Single | Peak positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Country Hot Country Songs Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales... |
CAN Country RPM (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,... |
||
| 1997 | "Sad Lookin' Moon" | 2 | 1 |
| "Dancin', Shaggin' on the Boulevard" | 3 | 4 | |
| "Of Course I'm Alright" | 22 | 23 | |
| 1998 | "She's Got That Look in Her Eyes" | 21 | 10 |