Southern Nights (song)

"Southern Nights" is a song written and performed by American musician Allen Toussaint, from his 1975 album, Southern Nights, and later recorded by American country music singer Glen Campbell. It was the first single released from Campbell's 1977 album, Southern Nights, and reached No. 1 on three separate US charts.

"Southern Nights"
Single by Allen Toussaint
from the album Southern Nights
B-side"Out of the City"
ReleasedMay 1975
Recorded1975
StudioSea-Saint Studio, New Orleans
GenreNew Orleans R&B
Length3:35
LabelReprise
Songwriter(s)Allen Toussaint
Producer(s)Allen Touissaint, Marshall Sehorn
Allen Toussaint singles chronology
"Country John"
(1975)		 "Southern Nights"
(1975)		 "Happiness"
(1978)
"Southern Nights"
Single by Glen Campbell
from the album Southern Nights
B-side"William Tell Overture"
ReleasedJanuary 17, 1977
RecordedOctober 2, 1976
StudioCapitol Studios, Hollywood, California
GenreCountry pop, soft rock[1]
Length3:00
LabelCapitol
Songwriter(s)Allen Toussaint
Producer(s)Gary Klein
Glen Campbell singles chronology
"See You On Sunday"
(1976)		 "Southern Nights"
(1977)		 "Sunflower"
(1977)

Song history

The lyrics of "Southern Nights" were inspired by childhood memories Allen Toussaint had of visiting relatives in the Louisiana backwoods, which often entailed storytelling under star-filled nighttime skies.[2] When Campbell heard Toussaint's version, he immediately identified with the lyrics which reminded him of his own youth growing up on an Arkansas farm. In October 1976, Campbell recorded the song with slightly modified lyrics.[2]

Accolades

In 1977, "Southern Nights" song was nominated for Song of the Year by the Country Music Association.[3]

Chart performance

Released as a single by Campbell in January 1977, "Southern Nights" immediately caught on with both country and pop audiences. The song featured a unique guitar lick that Campbell had learned from friend Jerry Reed. In late March, "Southern Nights" spent two weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard magazine Hot Country Singles chart marking it Campbell's fifth and final No. 1 country hit.[4]

In late April, the track reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart marking Campbell's second and last No. 1 pop hit.

The song also spent four weeks at No. 1 on the Hot Adult Contemporary chart marking Campbell's seventh hit on the chart.[5]

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[17] Gold 75,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[18] Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[19] Platinum 1,000,000‡

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

The song is featured in the 1978 film Convoy and is featured in the film’s soundtrack.

The song is featured in the 2017 film Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and further included on the film's soundtrack album.[20] Also included at the end of the TV show Claws, season 4 episode 9.

References
  1. "Soft Rock Music Songs". AllMusic.
  2. Ed Hogan. "Southern Nights - Glen Campbell | Song Info". AllMusic. Retrieved November 12, 2015.
  3. "Past CMA Awards Winners and Nominees - 2017 CMA Awards". 2017 CMA Awards. Archived from the original on August 27, 2017. Retrieved August 27, 2017.
  4. Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 67.
  5. Whitburn, Joel (2010). The Billboard book of top 40 hits (9th ed., rev. and expanded. ed.). New York: Billboard Books. ISBN 978-0823085545.
  6. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  7. "Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. July 17, 2013. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  8. Offizielle Deutsche Charts, 11 July 1977
  9. "Glen Campbell Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  10. "Glen Campbell Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
  11. "Glen Campbell Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  12. "Cashbox Top 100: April 30, 1977". cashboxmagazine.com. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
  13. "Top 200 Singles of 1977" (PDF). RPM.
  14. "Top 100 Hits of 1977/Top 100 Songs of 1977". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  15. Inc, Nielsen Business Media (1977). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. {{cite book}}: |last1= has generic name (help)
  16. "Hot Country Songs – Year-End 1977". Billboard. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
  17. "Canadian single certifications – Glen Campbell – Southern Nights". Music Canada. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  18. "British single certifications – Glen Campbell – Southern Nights". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  19. "American single certifications – Glen Campbell – Southern Nights". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  20. Shepard, Jack (April 19, 2017). "Tracklist for Guardians of the Galaxy's Awesome Mixtape Vol. 2 revealed". The Independent. Archived from the original on May 24, 2022. Retrieved August 27, 2017.
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