Little Rock (Collin Raye song)

"Little Rock" is a song written by Tom Douglas and recorded by American country music singer Collin Raye. It was released in March 1994 as the second single released from his CD, Extremes, it peaked at number 2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart and number 7 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks.^[1]

Background and content

"Little Rock" centers around a man, who is a recovering alcoholic trying to rebuild his life in Little Rock, Arkansas, which also serves as a metaphor for his faltering marriage caused by his alcoholism. He explains that he sells VCR's at a Wal-Mart and that he hasn't had a drink in nineteen days. The narrator repeats the phrase "I think I'm on a roll here in Little Rock" but later explains that his only problem is that his significant other is not with him (presumably she separated or divorced him).

Critical reception

Deborah Evans Price, of Billboard magazine reviewed the song favorably saying that the "cinematic" production and "Raye's on-the-money delivery are the perfect vehicles for this moving song about a guy who's hit bottom and is climbing back up one step at a time.^[2]

Music video

The music video was directed by Sherman Halsey and premiered in mid-1994. The video follows the song storyline by depicting a recovering alcoholic.

Chart performance

The song debuted at #63 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart dated April 9, 1994. It charted for 20 weeks on that chart, and peaked at #2 on the chart dated July 2, 1994 (having been blocked from Number One by Neal McCoy's "Wink").

Charts

References