"Why Lady Why" is a song written by Teddy Gentry and Rick Scott, and recorded by American country music band Alabama. It was released in August 1980 as the fourth and final single from the album My Home's in Alabama. The song was the group's second No. 1 song on the Billboard magazine Hot Country Singles chart.
| "Why Lady Why" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Alabama | ||||
| from the album My Home's in Alabama | ||||
| B-side | "I Wanna Come Over" | |||
| Released | August 29, 1980 (U.S.) | |||
| Recorded | 1978
LSI Studios, Nashville TN String overdubs Late 1979 Music Mill, Nashville TN | |||
| Genre | Country | |||
| Length | 3:09 (single edit) 4:11 (album version) | |||
| Label | RCA Nashville 12091 | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Teddy Gentry, Rick Scott | |||
| Producer(s) | Harold Shedd, Larry McBride and Alabama | |||
| Alabama singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
History
editOriginally, "Why Lady Why" was recorded and released on the band's independent release, ALABAMA BAND: # 3 in 1978. A snippet of the track was issued as the B-side to the song "My Home's in Alabama," released by MDJ Records in January 1980. When the band signed with MDJ records and started working with producer Harold Shedd, the original track was remixed and Kristin Wilkinson & the WIRE CHOIR's strings were added. The song later was issued as a single in its own right by RCA in August 1980. The B-side: "I Wanna Come Over," the band's first Top 40 hit.
Personnel
editOriginal Session, LSI Studios, 1978:
Randy Owen - Lead Vocal, Rhythm Guitar
Jeff Cook - Harmony Vocal, electric lead guitar, Piano
Teddy Gentry - Harmony Vocal, Bass Guitar
Rick Scott - Drums, Percussion
Arliss Scott - Rhythm Guitar
Harold Shedd's production addition, MUSIC MILL, 1979:
Kristin Wilkinson and the Wire Choir - String Orchestra
Single and album versions
editThe single and album versions are noticeably different. The single version — which is included on Alabama's For the Record — can be distinguished by an edited shorter introduction, abridged or deleted musical interludes, an edited musical outro, and a noticeably different EQ mix . The original album version is part of Alabama's 1986 Greatest Hits album.
Chart performance
edit| Chart (1980) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[1] | 1 |
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 3 |
References
edit- Morris, Edward, "Alabama," Contemporary Books Inc., Chicago, 1985 (ISBN 0809253062)
- Whitburn, Joel, "Top Country Songs: 1944-2005," 2006.
- Allmusic — Why Lady Why by Alabama.
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