Take a Back Road (song)
Encyclopedia
"Take a Back Road" is the title of a song written by Rhett Akins
and Luke Laird
, and recorded by American country music
singer Rodney Atkins
. It is the seventeenth single of his career, and the first from his fourth studio album for Curb Records
, also entitled Take a Back Road
.
and Luke Laird wrote the song. Akins came up with the song's title after hearing a friend say that listening to a Hank Williams, Jr.
album made him "want to ride a dirt road right now." Laird had come up with a drum loop to which he could not think of any lyrics, and Akins recommended the hook. The two of them changed the line to "take a back road" and decided to give it a rhythmic phrasing.
song from 1982 and it makes him want to drive down a country road.
near Nashville, Tennessee
and in Carthage, Tennessee
.
Rhett Akins
Thomas Rhett Akins Sr. is an American country singer and songwriter. Signed to Decca Records between 1994 and 1997, he released two albums for the label , followed by 1998's What Livin's All About on MCA Nashville. Friday Night in Dixie was released in 2002 on Audium Entertainment...
and Luke Laird
Luke Laird
Luke Laird is an American country music songwriter. He is best known for co-writing singles recorded by Carrie Underwood....
, and recorded by American 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...
singer Rodney Atkins
Rodney Atkins
Rodney Allan Atkins is an American country music artist. Signed to Curb Records in 1996, he charted his first single on the Billboard country chart that year, but did not release an album until 2003's Honesty, which included the number 4 hit "Honesty ".If You're Going Through Hell, his second...
. It is the seventeenth single of his career, and the first from his fourth studio album for Curb Records
Curb Records
Curb Records is a record label started by Mike Curb originally as Sidewalk Records in 1963...
, also entitled Take a Back Road
Take a Back Road
Take a Back Road is the fourth studio album by American country music artist Rodney Atkins. It was released on October 4, 2011 via Curb Records. The album's first single, "Take a Back Road," is the fastest-rising and sixth Number One single of Atkins' career.-Track listing:-Album:-Singles:*ACurrent...
.
Background and writing
Rhett AkinsRhett Akins
Thomas Rhett Akins Sr. is an American country singer and songwriter. Signed to Decca Records between 1994 and 1997, he released two albums for the label , followed by 1998's What Livin's All About on MCA Nashville. Friday Night in Dixie was released in 2002 on Audium Entertainment...
and Luke Laird wrote the song. Akins came up with the song's title after hearing a friend say that listening to a Hank Williams, Jr.
Hank Williams, Jr.
Randall Hank Williams , better known as Hank Williams, Jr. and Bocephus, is an American country singer-songwriter and musician. His musical style is often considered a blend of Southern rock, blues, and traditional country...
album made him "want to ride a dirt road right now." Laird had come up with a drum loop to which he could not think of any lyrics, and Akins recommended the hook. The two of them changed the line to "take a back road" and decided to give it a rhythmic phrasing.
Content
The song is about a man who is stuck on a freeway in a traffic jam. He then hears a George StraitGeorge Strait
George Harvey Strait is an American country music singer, actor, and music producer. Strait is referred to as the "King of Country," and critics call Strait a living legend. He is known for his unique style of western swing music, bar-room ballads, honky-tonk style, and fresh yet traditional...
song from 1982 and it makes him want to drive down a country road.
Critical reception
Giving it four stars out of five, Matt Bjorke of Roughstock called it "the perfect song to listen to when feeling like ‘escaping’ the pressures of the world for a few minutes". Kevin John Coyne, reviewing the song for Country Universe, gave it a C+ rating. Coyne states that everyone already knew what the song was going to be about and that he gave it a "bonus + for rhyming gravel with travel." Steve Leggett of Allmusic called it "one of the summer’s most memorable singles (complete with a George Strait name check)."Music video
The music video was directed by Andy Tennant and premiered in September 2011. It was filmed on Interstate 65Interstate 65
Interstate 65 is a major Interstate Highway in the United States. The southern terminus is located at an intersection with Interstate 10 in Mobile, Alabama, and its northern terminus is at an interchange with Interstate 90 , U.S. Route 12, and U.S...
near Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
and in Carthage, Tennessee
Carthage, Tennessee
Carthage is a town in Smith County, Tennessee, United States, and is part of the Nashville Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 2,251 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Smith County, and perhaps best known as the hometown of former Vice President Al Gore, and his father,...
.
Chart performance
| Chart (2011) | Peak position |
|---|