Maps of Music

Southern Nights (1977)

Where the lyrics of Southern Nights take you, and where it was really made.

The title track is not Glen Campbell's own song: it is a cover of an Allen Toussaint song, and it reached number one on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot Country Songs charts.

Key places

Recorded at Capitol Studios in Hollywood (1977)

Recording site Capitol Studios — The studio credited as the recording location for this album is Capitol Studios in Hollywood. The pin uses the building coordinates. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Southern Nights: album by American singer and guitarist Glen Campbell
• Released in 1977 by Capitol Records
• Ten tracks, five on each side of the record
• Title track is a cover of a song written by Allen Toussaint
• Producers listed as Gary Klein and Glen Campbell

Background

• The album peaked at number one on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart
• The title single reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and on Hot Country Songs
• Track list mixes covers with songs by Jimmy Webb, Neil Diamond, and Brian Wilson with Tony Asher
• Jimmy Webb wrote 'This Is Sarah's Song' and 'Early Morning Song'
• Brian Wilson and Tony Asher wrote 'God Only Knows', included on side one
• Neil Diamond wrote 'Sunflower', included on side one
• Roger Miller and Micheal Smotherman co-wrote '(I'm Getting) Used to the Crying'
• Micheal Smotherman also wrote 'For Cryin' Out Loud'

Recording

• Recording studio credited: Capitol Studios in Hollywood
• Charlie Calello arranged and conducted the album
• Jimmy Webb arranged and conducted 'This Is Sarah's Song' and 'Early Morning Song'
• Jack Nitzsche arranged 'Sunflower', 'Let Go', 'Guide Me', and 'How High Did We Go'
• Alan Broadbent conducted the four tracks arranged by Jack Nitzsche
• Engineers: Armin Steiner, Linda Tyler, Al Schmitt, Greg Venable, Hugh Davies, and Joe Jorgensen
• Mixing by Armin Steiner and Godfrey Diamond
• Production coordinator: Rosemary Xhiaverini
• Session players include Scott Mathews on drums and dobro, and Carl Jackson on banjo and guitars
• David Foster, David Paich, and Dennis McCarthy appear on keyboards and piano

Cover

• Photography by Kenny Rogers
• Illustration by Gary van der Steur
• Art direction by Roy Kohara

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• Born April 22, 1936 in Billstown, Arkansas; began as a session guitarist in Los Angeles from 1960.
• Joined the studio group later known as The Wrecking Crew and played on recordings by many major artists.

Career

• Began a solo career in 1961; breakthrough hits included "Gentle on My Mind", "By the Time I Get to Phoenix", and "Wichita Lineman" in 1967–1968.
• Hosted The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour on CBS from 1969 to 1972.
• Released 64 albums across five decades and sold over 45 million records worldwide.
• Hit "Rhinestone Cowboy" and "Southern Nights" in the mid-1970s were both US number one songs.
• Won four Grammys in 1967 and received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012.

Personal and final years

• Diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2011; retired in 2013 after recording his final song.
• Died August 8, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee, at age 81.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Released in 1977 by Capitol Records
• American singer and guitarist Glen Campbell released the album
• The album peaked at number one on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart
• Title track 'Southern Nights' is a cover of an Allen Toussaint song
• Bangor Daily News ran an April 1, 1977 article by Rich Tozier on page 13, headlined 'Campbell, Parton Cut Top-Notch Crossover Albums'
• Stereo Review (1977) listed the album in 'Popular Discs and Tapes' by Paul Kresh, volume 38

Records

• Billboard Top Country Albums: number one
• Title single 'Southern Nights': number one on the Billboard Hot 100
• Title single 'Southern Nights': number one on Hot Country Songs
• The album and its title single both reached number one in the same chart period on the country and pop charts

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• The title track is a cover of an Allen Toussaint song, not a Campbell original.
• Brian Wilson and Tony Asher's 'God Only Knows' is included on side one.
• Micheal Smotherman wrote 'For Cryin' Out Loud' and co-wrote '(I'm Getting) Used to the Crying' with Roger Miller.
• Jimmy Webb wrote two songs on the album and is also listed as a pianist.
• Jack Nitzsche arranged four tracks, and Alan Broadbent conducted them.
• Photography on the cover is credited to Kenny Rogers.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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