Alabama: Classic or Dud?

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They've had like half a million #1 hits on the Country chart, and they used to win every goddamn country award in the early 80's, yet I don't think I've heard more than 2 of their songs beginning-to-end, one of which inexplicably revolves around the line "song, song of the south/sweet potato pie/and I shut my mouth", but most of those soundbites from award shows and TV-advertised compilation albums were not altogether unpleasant, if rather bland. What was so special about them?

― Patrick (Patrick), Thursday, 6 April 2006 19:34 (twenty years ago)

They were the Lynyrd Skynyrd for people who didn't like ambiguity.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 6 April 2006 19:49 (twenty years ago)

Oh my god, if they aren't a dud, then I don't know what is.

― Harrison Barr (Petar), Thursday, 6 April 2006 19:56 (twenty years ago)

The drummer was one of the great "band member who doesn't 'Get It'" of all time.

― Chairman Doinel (Charles McCain), Thursday, 6 April 2006 20:13 (twenty years ago)

http://www.foreverinbluejeans.com/images/alabama16-280x336.jpg

― Chairman Doinel (Charles McCain), Thursday, 6 April 2006 20:15 (twenty years ago)

I luv their hymn to fans of stock car legend Richard Petty. It's called "Richard Petty Fans."

― veronica moser (veronica moser), Thursday, 6 April 2006 20:37 (twenty years ago)

The singer and the bass player have a weird doppelganger thing going on.

But, growing up in the 80's in the Texas panhandle, each of Alabama's songs is forever in my memory. I've tried jumping up and down and hitting the side of my head, but to no avail.

― Justin Shumaker (shueytexas), Thursday, 6 April 2006 21:22 (twenty years ago)

yeah HUGE act for most of their existence, insane number of hits, and then sorta dropped off playlists like that post-garth/shania, their final tour wasn't nearly the huge deal you might've imagined it would've been at one point (and to be honest they may have gone ahead and reunited by now, i can't remember). at the time i wasn't crazy about most of it - HUGE eagles influence and i really really hated the eagles then - but loved "song of the south" and "40 hour week (send it on down the line)", the latter partly for being a sucker for "nighttrain" style shoutouts to cities (eg. i would be interested in acquiring a cd-r with the various geo-specific radio mixes of "the heart of rock n roll"). in my gut, as a kid i was more susceptible to the oak ridge boys' charms.

― j blount (papa la bas), Thursday, 6 April 2006 21:43 (twenty years ago)

"Eighteen Wheeler (Roll On)" is a decent one with a tearbreaking bridge.

"Love in the First Degree" would've been a good slow number for closing time at Snug Harbor.

"Southern Star" was played on the last shift of my first radio job.

Are they still together? Do they still use the you-know-what flag as their logo?

― Pleasant Plains /// (Pleasant Plains ///), Thursday, 6 April 2006 22:25 (twenty years ago)

o man i forgot "love in the first degree"

― j blount (papa la bas), Thursday, 6 April 2006 22:33 (twenty years ago)

one year passes...

Classick-- esp. Love in the 1st Degree & 40 Hr. Week

― mulla atari, Saturday, 8 March 2008 03:52 (eighteen years ago)

five years pass...

i feel like Alabama is one of the biggest bands ever to just kind of....disappear...like they seem to just have vanished from culture totally but they were HUGE when i was a kid

― personal yeezus (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Friday, 21 June 2013 22:44 (twelve years ago)

maybe Air Supply too on the rock side

― personal yeezus (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Friday, 21 June 2013 22:44 (twelve years ago)

two years pass...

"Reckless" is still great.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D59WUnJOXw0

― example (crüt), Tuesday, 23 June 2015 15:32 (ten years ago)

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