January 22, 2021 —– Chart #75

Hello Musical Friends,

It’s Friday again music friends. We made it to another weekend!

I have received feedback many of you who enjoy reading these summaries and playing the charts as a way to learn new tunes. In 2021 I hope to expand the mailing list so please send me names and email address of your music friends who would enjoy this Chart of the Day.

Todays Chart of the Day is a song written by Rodney Crowell and recorded on his 1978 album Aint’ Living Long Like This. An American Dream was later recorded by American country-rock music group the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, but using the shortened name “The Dirt Band.” It was released in November 1979 as the only single and title track from the album An American Dream. The song reached number 58 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart, number 13 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, and number 16 on the Adult Contemporary chart. In Canada, it reached number three. The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s version features a backing vocal from Linda Ronstadt; as such, it is sometimes included in Ronstadt greatest hits collections, such as the 2014 Capitol release, Icon.

The song was adapted into Norwegian as “Ein nordmann sin draum” by Olav Stedje.

The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band is an American country rock band. The group has existed in various forms since its founding in Long Beach, California, in 1966. The band’s membership has had at least a dozen changes over the years, including a period from 1976 to 1981 when the band performed and recorded as the Dirt Band.

Constant members since the early times are singer-guitarist Jeff Hanna and drummer Jimmie Fadden. Multi-instrumentalist John McEuen was with the band from 1966 to 1986 and returned during 2001, staying 16 years, then departing again in November 2017. Keyboardist Bob Carpenter joined the band in 1977. The band is often cited as instrumental to the progression of contemporary country and roots music.

The band’s successes include a cover version of Jerry Jeff Walker’s “Mr. Bojangles”. Albums include 1972’s Will the Circle be Unbroken, featuring such traditional country artists as Mother Maybelle Carter, Earl Scruggs, Roy Acuff, Doc Watson, Merle Travis, and Jimmy Martin. A follow-up album based on the same concept, Will the Circle Be Unbroken: Volume Two was released in 1989, was certified gold, won two Grammys, and was named Album of the Year at the Country Music Association Awards.

Pour yourself a margarita and enjoy this music . . . .

The official audio from The Dirt Band: 

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Live:  https://youtu.be/GFSiisBYZ3U 

Rodney Crowell’s version of “Viola, an American Dream”: https://youtu.be/n_kSG7SQtdA

Keep rockin’ my friends,

Stan