Search - Alabama :: My Home's in Alabama

One of the Greatest Southern Bands

Brent H. Williams | Huntington, WV United States | 09/01/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I had the pleasure of actually meeting some of the guys in Alabama at the Bowery in Myrtle Beach, SC in 1979. I was not a fan of country music, on the contrary, did not care for it at all, but was talked into going to listen to them. Now I am glad that I went, because I discovered a group that was destined to make it big. During one of their breaks, I wanted to tell them how good I thought they were so I went to the table where bassist Teddy Gentry was sitting. We chatted for a bit, discussed music and at the time, I was drumming in a band in West Virginia. I asked them where they were headed and he told me they were negotiating a recording contract. Without hesitation I told Teddy that I'd give them a year and they would be the #1 band in the country. He smiled, thanked me for the vote of confidence and then went to finish another set. I handed him one of my band's business cards, wished him good luck and then enjoyed the rest of their music.
I purchased from them, a vinyl album jacketed with a white cover and black pen and ink drawing entitled "Alabama Band #3" which was recorded in an obscure Nashville studio, and I proceeded to wear it out. It contained those timeless classics they grew to be famous for, such as "Why, Lady, Why?", "Can't Forget About You" and of course "My Home's in Alabama". The guys in my band had never heard of them but when they listened to the music, they knew that Alabama would soon to be superstars.
This CD is the debut release, and while a great CD in its own right, you really should hear the previous mentioned "#3" album, it is Alabama in their pure state before corporate recording companies got hold of them. One cut on "#3" that is missing is a song called "Fantasy". It should have been included but was apparently replaced by other songs. "My Home's in Alabama" is the start to a really great collection of this fantastic band."

First Commercial LP and Finest

Hwy. 275 | 05/13/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Alabama's pre-fame material remains unfortunately mostly unavailable, and fans still await the reissue of the material of those three albums: Wild Country, Deuces Wild and Alabama No. 3. While those contained original recordings of several of their most famous hits, this first commercial LP sampled some of those songs and made them major hits.



"I Wanna Come Over", produced on MDJ Records, became their first Top 40 country hit in 1979 and was a major regional hit, notably in the Atlanta area. "My Homes In Alabama" also followed on the same label, hitting the Top 20 the following year. While these issues were on smaller labels, the following two commercially produced singles "Tennessee River" and "Why Lady Why" both were instantly #1 hits and were included with those first two Top 40 country charting singles to complete a masterpiece of an album.



Alabama should not be looked at as a singles artist in their earliest years. The first album is a masterpiece with the well-crafted ballads including "Getting Over You" and "Keep On Dreamin'", the second sung by Jeff Cook. Alabama also even tested the limits with disco-charged "Get It While It's Hot" and created a toe tapper with "Hangin' Up My Travelin' Shoes". While not every song may be considered hit material, this first attempt and summary of the tough seven years that preceeded it is an essential part of any Alabama collection and will not disappoint."