Whitney sent me a note asking about a song she hears when line dancing. She thinks it's called, Sweet Country Music. Well yes, it was a BIG hit, from a band called Atlanta!
Seldom has a country band come out with expectations as lofty as theirs. Almost as large as the band itself, which had 9 members. They had a big, full sound and many in Nashville thought they were going to be THE band that mounted a charge on super group Alabama, which was without question the number one act in all of Country and beyond. Alabama's popularity was enormous at that time, and that time was 1983. For the record, I loved Atlanta's first album, as it was powerful, original, and really well done. They were beyond terrific vocally with the firepower of a battalion of instruments backing them up.
Sweet Country Music - Was A Smash!
They formed in 1982 from a very talented group of musicians, and a producer who had a lot to do with the early success of Alabama. It was all there for success, the musicians, the right people, and seemingly the right climate. Alabama, from a country group perspective, was unchallenged then. There was literally no other country band having any success, just solo acts. (The Oak Ridge Boys and Statler Brothers were relevant then, but to me, they were vocal groups - not bands). Atlanta was big, new, young, and had a logo that looked a lot like Alabama's. (I was not sure the logo was a good idea for a lot of reasons. I think in the long run, it was a bad one.)
Their First Song Was A Great Debut Single That Fans Loved
The first album, Pictures was a darn good one. It spawned 5 releases with 3 going top ten. Sweet Country Music swept into the top 5. But to me, it was a #1 song as their third release. That song was very special. There was not one thing wrong with it, as it showcased all the great things they could do. We could see why people were excited about them.
Their first hit was a kick-butt song, Atlanta Burned Again Last Night, which went to #9. Then the great Dixie Dreamin' made it to #10. I feel that song deserved a better chart number as well. The title cut, Pictures was next, a song I liked, but didn't do well, and neither did Wishful Drinkin'. They may have gone too deep on that album as far as singles are concerned. But Atlanta had it going in the right direction. A big first album with a real chart presence. But things would change.
Dixie Dreamin' - Was A Great Song! - Look Beyond The Silly Video
I have always believed that in Country Music the first album is easy, and the second album is hard. I say that in this spirit, (No album is easy, clearly) but there have been many country artists that record a really great debut album, and a not so good second one. Some never to be heard from again. Whether Atlanta's second album was good or not of course is subjective, but there was no success on the charts at all. And poof, it was over as fast as it began. By 1988, it was like it never happened. The song, Why Not Tonight from the second album was supposed to get them back on track. It did not.
Why Not Tonight - Not The Success They Wanted From This Song.
Sweet Country Music still gets played at clubs, bars and celebrations, as it was a legit big hit. But Atlanta is a great example of how tough it can be to really make it. They were poised for a long run, but there were obstacles. One - Alabama, fans loved them. Two, country was starting to very slowly pivot about the time of their introduction. The new traditionalists were arriving quickly, and even Alabama would eventually feel that change and their long run would slow down and finally end. Pop Country songs with big arrangements were being phased out, with a more simple, rooty approach from Randy Travis, Dwight Yoakam, Patty Loveless, Holly Dunn, Keith Whitley and others. I feel musically, Atlanta was a victim of times. There was word too of behind the scenes issues, but who really knows?
But, the Pictures album is worth a listen, a download or a YouTube session. For a brief time, we all loved them and I think we were cheering for them. But in the end, they were great musicians and a good story. Glad for the digital saving of music, you can find them if you wish.
