"Amarillo by Morning" | ||||
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Single by Terry Stafford | ||||
from the album Say, Has Anybody Seen My Sweet Gypsy Rose | ||||
Released | 1973 | |||
Format | 7" (45 rpm) | |||
Genre | Country | |||
Length | 2:28 | |||
Label | Atlantic | |||
Writer(s) | Paul Fraser Terry Stafford |
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Producer | Blake Mevis | |||
Terry Stafford singles chronology | ||||
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"Amarillo by Morning" is a country music song written by Terry Stafford and Paul Fraser, and recorded by Stafford in 1973. Several cover versions have since been made, including a major 1980s hit for George Strait.
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Stafford conceived of the song after playing with his band at a rodeo in San Antonio, Texas, and then driving back to his home in Amarillo, Texas.[1][2]
Stafford recorded the song on his Say, Has Anybody Seen My Sweet Gypsy Rose album, released in 1973.[3][4] The single was released August 2, 1973, by Atlantic Records with the Master number 26867. The single "Say, Has Anybody Seen My Sweet Gypsy Rose" had been previously released as an A-side 45 (Atlantic Master 26868; June 7, 1973), but due to the success of "Amarillo by Morning", the single was re-released October 4, 1973 as the A-side (Atlantic Master 26867-1 stereo and Atlantic Master 26867-2 mono), with "Say, Has Anybody Seen My Sweet Gypsy Rose" on the B-side.[5] The song entered the Cash Box Country Looking Ahead chart November 3, 1973, the Cash Box Country chart on December 15, 1973, peaking at #37, the Billboard Country chart December 1, 1973, peaking at #31, the Record World Country chart December 15, 1973, peaking at #50, and Canada RPM Country chart January 26, 1974, peaking at #38.[4]
The song has been covered by numerous artists, including rodeo champion Chris LeDoux in 1975 on his album Life as a Rodeo Man, Terry Bullard, Kelly Schoppa, Asleep at the Wheel, in 1981 by San Angelo based band Arroyo, and more recently by Clifton Jansky. A cover was also recorded by John Arthur Martinez on his 2004 album Lone Starry Night. Brazilian singer Zé Ramalho has also recorded the song.
"Amarillo by Morning" | ||||
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Single by George Strait | ||||
from the album Strait from the Heart | ||||
B-side | "Lover in Disguise" | |||
Released | January 13, 1983 | |||
Format | 7" 45 RPM | |||
Recorded | April 13, 1982 | |||
Genre | Country | |||
Length | 2:52 | |||
Label | MCA 52162 | |||
Producer | Blake Mevis | |||
George Strait singles chronology | ||||
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George Strait covered the song in 1982. It appeared on Strait's 1982 album Strait from the Heart (LP MCA 5320). It was released on MCA as a single, release number 52162. The publisher's release was January 14, 1983, and the full release came February 16, 1983. The single entered the Billboard Country chart February 12, 1983, peaking at #4.[6]
Kevin John Coyne of Country Universe gave the song an A grade, saying that he has "finally found his niche as a performer." He goes on to say that the "simple arrangement and understated delivery are the defining elements of just about every Strait record since."[7]
Chart (1983) | Peak position |
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U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 4 |
Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 1 |
Preceded by "Dixieland Delight" by Alabama |
RPM Country Tracks number-one single April 30, 1983 |
Succeeded by "Whatever Happened to Old-Fashioned Love" by B. J. Thomas |
The song is regularly played at rodeos.[6] The song was named "#12 country song of all-time" by Country Music Television.[8][9] Development Counsellors International and USA Today named the song one of the top ten songs about a place, number 7.[1][10]