Song for the Life

"Song for the Life" is a song written by American singer Rodney Crowell and originally recorded by The Seldom Scene. Crowell recorded the song in 1978 on his debut album Ain't Living Long Like This, and since then, the song has been covered by several other artists. One version, recorded by Alan Jackson, was released as a single in 1995, and was a Top Ten country hit for him that year. However, it has yet to be featured on any of his compilation albums.

"Song for the Life"
Single by Alan Jackson
from the album Who I Am
B-side"You Can't Give Up on Love"[1]
ReleasedFebruary 6, 1995
GenreCountry
Length4:32 (album version)
3:58 (radio edit)
LabelArista Nashville 12792
Songwriter(s)Rodney Crowell
Producer(s)Keith Stegall
Alan Jackson singles chronology
"Gone Country"
(1994)		 "Song for the Life"
(1995)		 "I Don't Even Know Your Name"
(1995)

Recording history

The first version of "Song for the Life" was recorded by the Seldom Scene for their 1976 album The New Seldom Scene Album, with John Starling singing the lead. Singer-songwriter Jonathan Edwards also recorded the song for his 1976 release Rockin Chair produced by Brian Ahern. The following year Rodney Crowell put it on his 1978 debut album Ain't Living Long Like This, with backing vocals from Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris and Nicolette Larson.[2] Crowell's version was released a single in November 1978.[3] Jerry Jeff Walker covered the song on his 1977 album Man Must Carry On, as did Johnny Cash on his 1978 album Gone Girl, John Denver on his 1980 album Autograph, Waylon Jennings on his 1982 album Black on Black, Tony Rice on his 1983 album Cold on the Shoulder, and Kathy Mattea on her 1986 album Walk the Way the Wind Blows. Mattea's version of the song was the b-side to her 1987 single "You're the Power".[4] Alison Krauss recorded the song on her debut album with Union Station in 1987, "Too Late to Cry" at the age of 16. A version was also recorded by The Waterboys for their album Room to Roam in 1990, although it wasn't released until 2008 on the remastered edition of the same album.[5] However, the Waterboys version of the song did appear on the BBC television 1991 series "Bringing it all Back Home - the influence of Irish Music" and was released on the supporting CD and DVD of the series.

Alan Jackson recorded it for his 1994 album Who I Am. His version was released in February 1995 as a single, reaching a peak of number six on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts.[1]

Critical reception

Jackson's rendition was given favorable reviews: Mario Tarradell of the Dallas Morning News called it "the quintessential Alan Jackson ballad",[6] and Thom Jurek of Allmusic said, "in a version that rivals Crowell's own, Jackson's balladry in three-forths [sic] time is heartbreakingly beautiful."[7] Ron Young of the San Antonio Express-News said that although it "pales next to Jerry Jeff Walker's, it's a good attempt and an excellent choice."[8]

Chart performance

Jackson's rendition debuted at number 73 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs) charts dated for February 11, 1995. It peaked at number 6 on the week of May 6.

Chart (1995) Peak
position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[9] 11
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[10] 6

Year-end charts
Chart (1995) Position
US Country Songs (Billboard)[11] 56

References
  1. Whitburn, Joel (2017). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2017. Record Research, Inc. pp. 175–177. ISBN 978-0-89820-229-8.
  2. "Things look and sound different as years pass". GJSentinel.com. 2007-08-09. Retrieved 2008-12-02.
  3. "Top Single Picks" (PDF). Billboard. November 25, 1978.
  4. Whitburn, p. 260
  5. Room to Roam (Media notes). The Waterboys. 2008.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. Tarradell, Mario (1995-06-30). "Jackson joins country's best at Texas stadium". Dallas Morning News. Retrieved 2008-12-02.
  7. Jurek, Thom. "Who I Am review". Allmusic. Retrieved 2008-12-02.
  8. Young, Ron (1994-09-30). "Who I Am review". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved 2008-12-02.
  9. "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 9017." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. May 8, 1995. Retrieved July 21, 2013.
  10. "Alan Jackson Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  11. "Best of 1995: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 1995. Retrieved July 21, 2013.
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