That's How I Got to Memphis
"That's How I Got to Memphis" is a country music standard written by Tom T. Hall. The song tells a man's story of coming to Memphis to look for a former lover who probably does not want to be found. The song first appeared on Hall's 1969 album Ballad of Forty Dollars & His Other Great Songs. It has been widely covered, most notably by Bobby Bare in 1970, Deryl Dodd in 1996, and Charley Crockett in 2018.
Bobby Bare version[]
"How I Got to Memphis" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Bobby Bare | ||||
from the album This Is Bare Country | ||||
B-side | "It's Freezing in El Paso"[1] | |||
Released | August 1970 | |||
Genre | Country | |||
Length | 2:31 | |||
Label | Mercury | |||
Songwriter(s) | Tom T. Hall | |||
Producer(s) | Jerry Kennedy | |||
Bobby Bare singles chronology | ||||
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Bobby Bare covered the song on his 1970 album This Is Bare Country.[2]
Critical reception[]
An uncredited review in Billboard called the song "potent Tom T. Hall material, delivered in one of Bare's finest performances."[3]
Chart performance[]
Bobby Bare's version spent 16 weeks on the Hot Country Songs charts, peaking at number 3.[1]
Chart (1970) | Peak position |
---|---|
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[4] | 3 |
Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 22 |
Deryl Dodd version[]
"That's How I Got to Memphis" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Deryl Dodd | ||||
from the album One Ride in Vegas | ||||
Released | November 9, 1996 | |||
Genre | Country | |||
Length | 3:14 | |||
Label | Columbia | |||
Songwriter(s) | Tom T. Hall | |||
Producer(s) | Blake Chancey, Chip Young | |||
Deryl Dodd singles chronology | ||||
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In late 1996, Deryl Dodd covered the song for his debut album One Ride in Vegas. The song was the album's second single. In place of a b-side, the single release contained album snippets.[5]
Critical reception[]
Don Yates of Country Standard Time called Dodd's version of the song "impassioned".[6]
Chart performance[]
Dodd's version charted on Hot Country Songs for 20 weeks, peaking at number 36 in early 1997.[5]
Chart (1996–97) | Peak position |
---|---|
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[7] | 38 |
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[8] | 36 |
Other versions[]
The song has been widely covered by other artists and is now considered a standard.[9]
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. pp. 42–43. ISBN 978-0-89820-177-2.
- ^ "Album reviews". Billboard: 20. August 8, 1970.
- ^ "Singles". Billboard: 72. July 18, 1970.
- ^ "Bobby Bare Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Whitburn, pp. 127-28
- ^ Yates, Don. "One Ride in Vegas review". Country Standard Time. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
- ^ "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 9897." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. March 3, 1997. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
- ^ "Deryl Dodd Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
- ^ Hall, Rashaun (9 February 2002). "Pearl Snaps". Billboard: 22.
External links[]
- 1970 singles
- 1996 singles
- 1969 songs
- Bobby Bare songs
- Tom T. Hall songs
- Rosanne Cash songs
- Deryl Dodd songs
- Mercury Records singles
- Columbia Records singles
- Song recordings produced by Jerry Kennedy
- Song recordings produced by Blake Chancey
- Songs written by Tom T. Hall
- Songs about Memphis, Tennessee