Drift Away
| "Drift Away" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Dobie Gray | ||||
| from the album Drift Away | ||||
| B-side | "City Stars" | |||
| Released | February 1973 | |||
| Format | 7" (45 rpm) | |||
| Genre | Rock, soul, soft rock | |||
| Label | Decca | |||
| Writer(s) | Mentor Williams | |||
| Producer(s) | Mentor Williams | |||
| Dobie Gray singles chronology | ||||
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"Drift Away" is a song written by Mentor Williams and originally recorded by John Henry Kurtz on his 1972 album Reunion. In 1973 the song became Dobie Gray's biggest hit, peaking at number five on the Billboard Hot 100. A new version by Uncle Kracker, with Gray, became a major hit in 2003.
This song is also a famous "goodbye" or ending song for concerts. Its use is often as filler for a last song, usually in preparation for an encore, since it has a catchy beat and a guitar solo can be easily added to the end of the song in order to generate excitement before the encore. As such, many live covers have been performed by a multitude of bands and it has become a hit among soft rock fans. Appropriately, it was the final pop hit for Decca Records in the United States.
Gray's version of "Drift Away" remains a staple on many classic rock and oldies stations.
Chart performance (Dobie Gray)
| Chart (1973) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canadian RPM Top Singles | 7 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 5 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles | 42 |
Covers
"Drift Away" has been covered by many bands and vocalists around the world. Versions include those of Roy Orbison, Ike and Tina Turner, Humble Pie, Mud, Rod Stewart, Steppenwolf, Waylon Jennings, Ray Charles, Neville Brothers, Michael Bolton, Jim Hollis, Christian Kane, The Nylons, Ringo Starr, Bruce Springsteen, Judson Spence, and John Kay.[1] There is an unreleased 1973 recording of this song by The Rolling Stones. This version features all of the members of the then-current lineup of the Stones with the exception of Keith Richards and the addition of keyboardist Nicky Hopkins.[citation needed] The Heptones recorded a reggae version which is included on many compilation cds. Street Corner Symphony also sang a version of this song as their swan song on the season 2 finale of the NBC series, The Sing-Off; that version is arranged by Deke Sharon.[2] Bon Jovi usually played the song live in 1987: a version was recorded as part of a Westwood One radio live series concert. Dolly Parton and Anne Murray performed the song together in 1976 on Parton's variety show Dolly!, though they sang the lyrics of the Felts version ("I want to get lost in your country song").
The Doobie Brothers' "Give Me The Beat Boys" is a re-title version of "Drift Away."
Garth Brooks for the 2013 "Blue-Eyed Soul" album in the "Blame It All on My Roots: Five Decades of Influences" compilation.
Narvel Felts version
| "Drift Away" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Narvel Felts | ||||
| from the album Drift Away | ||||
| B-side | "Foggy Misty Morning" | |||
| Released | 1973 | |||
| Format | 7" single | |||
| Genre | Country | |||
| Length | 3:15 | |||
| Label | Cinnamon | |||
| Producer(s) | Farah Productions[3] | |||
| Narvel Felts singles chronology | ||||
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A country version was recorded by Narvel Felts in 1973. His was a mid-tempo country ballad version, compared to Gray's bluesy rendition. Felts' version — which changed the lyrics "I wanna get lost in your rock and roll" to "I wanna get lost in your country song" — peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard' Hot Country Singles chart in mid-August 1973, about three months after Gray's version reached its popularity peak.[4]
Chart performance (Narvel Felts)
| Chart (1973) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 48 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 8 |
Uncle Kracker featuring Dobie Gray version
| "Drift Away" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Uncle Kracker featuring Dobie Gray | ||||
| from the album No Stranger to Shame | ||||
| Released | March 17, 2003 | |||
| Format | CD single | |||
| Genre | Pop rock, Adult contemporary | |||
| Length | 4:15 | |||
| Label | Lava | |||
| Producer(s) | Michael Bradford, Uncle Kracker | |||
| Uncle Kracker featuring Dobie Gray singles chronology | ||||
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A cover version was released by Uncle Kracker in 2003. This version, which featured Dobie Gray singing the final verse, reached number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It spent a record-setting 28 weeks atop the adult contemporary chart in the U.S. It also peaked at number 25 on the New Zealand Singles chart.
Music video
The music video was directed by Bronston Jones.
Chart performance (Uncle Kracker)
| Chart (2003–04) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| New Zealand Singles Chart | 25 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 9 |
| US Billboard Pop Songs | 10 |
| US Billboard Adult Pop Songs | 2 |
| US Billboard Adult Contemporary | 1 |
| Preceded by "The Game of Love" by Santana |
Billboard Adult Contemporary number-one single Uncle Kracker featuring Dobie Gray (2003-2004 version) June 7 - November 8, 2003 (first run) |
Succeeded by "Forever and for Always" by Shania Twain |
| Preceded by "Forever and for Always" by Shania Twain" |
Billboard Adult Contemporary number-one single November 22- November 29, 2003 (second run) |
Succeeded by "Forever and for Always" by Shania Twain |
| Preceded by "Sending You a Little Christmas" by Jim Brickman / Kristy Starling |
Billboard Adult Contemporary number-one single January 10–17, 2004 (third run) |
Succeeded by "Calling All Angels" by Train |
| Preceded by "Calling All Angels" by Train" |
Billboard Adult Contemporary number-one single January 31 - February 7, 2004 (fourth run) |
Succeeded by "Calling All Angels" by Train |
In popular culture
- Nashville Star contestant Coffey Anderson sang the song during the sixth season of the singing competition.[5]
References
- ↑ SecondHandSongs.com: "Drift Away" page
- ↑ Sharon, Deke; Dietz, Robert (2005). "Drift Away". Modern A Cappella Volume 1 SATB (div). Hal Leonard Corporation. ISBN 1-423-40048-8.
- ↑ http://www.45cat.com/record/abc4119
- ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. p. 143. ISBN 0-89820-177-2.
- ↑ Coffey Anderson performance of "Drift Away" during Nashville Star
External links
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