Carolina in the Pines
| "Carolina in the Pines" | |
|---|---|
| Song |
"Carolina in the Pines" is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Michael Martin Murphey. It was released in August 1975 as the second and final single from the album Blue Sky - Night Thunder. It peaked at number 21 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 4 on the Adult Contemporary chart, and number 25 on the Canadian RPM Top Singles chart in late 1975.[1] The song was re-recorded with John McEuen on banjo and released in May 1985 from his compilation album, The Best of Michael Martin Murphey. The re-release peaked at number 9 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles chart and at number 11 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks chart in mid-1985.
Background
"Carolina in the Pines" addresses Martin's wife whose actual name was Caroline: "I tried to write a love song about my wife without trying to relegate her to a secondary position as a supporter of me. I tried to make it about her as an individual. That's what [she and I] try to do in life."[2] Caroline Hogue was the second of Murphey's four wives: the couple had married in 1973 and would divorce in 1978.
Critical reception
"Billboard magazine reviewed the song favorably, calling it "a countryish tune in a distinct John Denver vein."[3]
Chart performance
Original release
| Chart (1975) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 21 |
| Canadian RPM Top Singles | 25 |
| Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary | 4 |
Re-release
| Chart (1985) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 9 |
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 11 |
References
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (1996). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 6th Edition (Billboard Publications)
- ^ Daily News: 16. July 6, 1975.
{{cite journal}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ Billboard, August 16, 1975
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