Love in the First Degree (Alabama song)
"Love in the First Degree" | ||||
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Single by Alabama | ||||
from the album Feels So Right | ||||
B-side | "Ride the Train" | |||
Released | October 2, 1981 (U.S.) | |||
Recorded | August 30, 1980 | |||
Genre | Country, country pop | |||
Length | 3:19 | |||
Label | RCA Nashville 12288 | |||
Songwriter(s) | Tim DuBois, Jim Hurt | |||
Producer(s) | Harold Shedd and Alabama | |||
Alabama singles chronology | ||||
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"Love in the First Degree" is a song written by Jim Hurt and Tim DuBois, and recorded by American country music band Alabama. It was released in October 1981 as the third single from the band's album Feels So Right. It became the group's fifth straight No. 1 single (and second multi-week No. 1) on the Billboard magazine Hot Country Singles chart.[1]
"Love in the First Degree" became Alabama's biggest crossover hit, peaking at No. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1982.[2]
As with the previous single, "Feels So Right," the song's pop "love ballad" style — along with the country rock style of its other songs — became the cornerstone of Alabama's sound throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Today, "Love in the First Degree" remains one of Alabama's most popular songs.
Content
The song, a mid-tempoed song with a strong country-pop beat, uses the analogy of being found guilty of a crime (this time, of love) and the perpetrator throwing himself on the mercy of the object of his affection.
Charts
Chart (1981-1982) | Peak position |
---|---|
US Billboard Hot 100[3] | 15 |
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[4] | 5 |
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[5] | 1 |
Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary Tracks | 1 |
Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 1 |
Year-end chart (1982) | Rank |
---|---|
US Top Pop Singles (Billboard)[6] | 55 |
References
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 18.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits: Eighth Edition. Record Research. p. 22.
- ^ "Alabama Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
- ^ "Alabama Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
- ^ "Alabama Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
- ^ "Talent in Action : Top Pop Singles". Billboard. 94 (51): TIA-20. December 25, 1982.
Works cited
- Morris, Edward, "Alabama," Contemporary Books Inc., Chicago, 1985 (ISBN 0809253062)
- Allmusic — Feels So Right by Alabama.
External links
- 1981 singles
- 1981 songs
- Billboard Hot Country Songs number-one singles
- Alabama (American band) songs
- RPM Country Tracks number-one singles
- Songs written by Tim DuBois
- RPM Adult Contemporary number-one singles
- Song recordings produced by Harold Shedd
- RCA Records singles
- Songs written by Jim Hurt
- 1981 country song stubs