Drift Away

For the Sons of Zion song, see Drift Away (Sons of Zion song). For the Cat Empire song, see Where the Angels Fall. For the song from Steven Universe: The Movie, see Steven Universe: The Movie (soundtrack). For the 2021 French film, see Drift Away (film).

"Drift Away" is a song written by Mentor Williams in 1970 and first recorded by British singer Mike Berry on his 1972 album Drift Away. A version by John Henry Kurtz was released two months later in November 1972.^[1][2] Mentor Williams was a country songwriter, and John Henry Kurtz was an actor and swamp rock singer. It was later given to soul singer Dobie Gray for whom it became a surprise international hit. In 1973, the song became Gray's biggest hit, peaking at number five on the US Billboard Hot 100 and receiving a gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The song has been covered by numerous musicians.

"Drift Away"
Song by Mike Berry
from the album Drift Away
Released	1972
Length	3:13
Label	York
Songwriter(s)	Mentor Williams

"Drift Away"
Single by John Henry Kurtz
from the album Reunion
Written	1970
Released	1972
Genre	Swamp rock
Length	3:30
Label	ABC
Songwriter(s)	Mentor Williams
Producer(s)	Steve Barri Dan Walsh Harvey Price
John Henry Kurtz singles chronology
"Drift Away" (1972) "One Tin Soldier" (1973)

Dobie Gray version

"Drift Away"
Single by Dobie Gray
from the album Drift Away
B-side	"City Stars"
Released	1973
Genre	Soft rock[3] soul[4]
Length	3:54
Label	Decca
Producer(s)	Mentor Williams
Dobie Gray singles chronology
"Rose Garden" (1972) "Drift Away" (1973) "Loving Arms" (1973)

Personnel

• Dobie Gray – vocals
• David Briggs – keyboards
• Mike Leech – bass
• Kenny Malone – drums
• Troy Seals – acoustic and electric guitar
• Reggie Young – acoustic and electric guitar and banjo
• Weldon Myrick – pedal steel guitar
• Buddy Spicher – violin on L.A.Lady
• Mentor Williams – acoustic guitar on Now That I Am Without You^[5]

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1973) Peak position Australia (Kent Music Report)[6] 44 Canada Top Singles (RPM) 7 US Billboard Hot 100[7] 5 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[8] 12 US Hot Soul Singles (Billboard) 42 US Cash Box Top 100 8

Year-end charts Chart (1973) Rank Canada Top Singles (RPM)[9] 83 US Billboard Hot 100[10] 17 US Cash Box Top 100[11] 18

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[12]	Gold	1,000,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Other versions

Narvel Felts version

"Drift Away"
Single by Narvel Felts
from the album Drift Away
B-side	"Foggy Misty Morning"
Released	1973
Length	3:15
Label	Cinnamon
Producer(s)	Farah Productions[13]
Narvel Felts singles chronology
"Rockin' Little Angel" (1973) "Drift Away" (1973) "All in the Name of Love" (1973)

A country version was recorded by American country music and rockabilly singer Narvel Felts in 1973. 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 number 8 on the US Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in mid-August 1973, about three months after Gray's version reached its popularity peak.^[14] This song marked Narvel's first success in the country scene, as he was known from the late 1950s as a rockabilly singer.

Charts (Narvel Felts)

Chart (1973)	Peak position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)	48
US Hot Country Singles (Billboard)	8

Michael Bolton version

"Drift Away"
Single by Michael Bolton
from the album Timeless: The Classics
Released	December 14, 1992 (1992-12-14)[15]
Length	6:07
Label	Columbia
Producer(s)	David Foster Walter Afanasieff Michael Bolton
Michael Bolton singles chronology
"To Love Somebody" (1992) "Drift Away" (1992) "Reach Out I'll Be There" (1992)

American singer and songwriter Michael Bolton covered "Drift Away" and released it as the second single from his 1992 covers album, Timeless: The Classics, in December 1992 by Columbia. His rendition was produced by Bolton with David Foster and Walter Afanasieff. It became the only hit version of the song in the United Kingdom, where it reached number 18, and also charted in Ireland and New Zealand.

Charts

Chart (1992–1993)	Peak position
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[16]	35
Europe (European Hit Radio)[17]	39
Ireland (IRMA)[18]	15
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[19]	23
UK Singles (OCC)[20]	18

Uncle Kracker featuring Dobie Gray version

"Drift Away"
Single by Uncle Kracker featuring Dobie Gray
from the album No Stranger to Shame
Released	January 27, 2003 (2003-01-27)
Length	4:15 (album version) 3:40 (radio edit)
Label	Lava
Producer(s)	Michael Bradford Uncle Kracker
Uncle Kracker singles chronology
"In a Little While" (2002) "Drift Away" (2003) "Memphis Soul Song" (2003)
Dobie Gray singles chronology
"Take It Real Easy" (1987) "Drift Away" (2003)

American singer-songwriter Uncle Kracker released a cover version from his second studio album, No Stranger to Shame (2002), in January 2003. This version, which featured Dobie Gray singing the bridge and singing backing vocals and the final verse with Kracker, reached number nine on the Hot 100. The song was in the year-end top 20 just like the original 1973 version. It spent a then-record-setting 28 weeks atop the adult contemporary chart in the US. It also peaked at number 25 on the New Zealand Singles Chart.

Music video

The music video for the song was directed by Bronston Jones. Filmed in Kracker's hometown of Detroit, it shows him performing the song on stage to an audience (Dobie, during his parts, comes in to perform) and Kracker working at a garage (owned by his brother), unloading and stacking tires. Scenes also feature him walking alone on snowy railroad tracks, and singing on an empty stage in the garage. His mechanic's uniform is labeled "Matt," a reference to his real first name, Matthew.

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2003–2004)	Peak position
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[21]	25
US Billboard Hot 100[22]	9
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[23]	1
US Adult Pop Airplay (Billboard)[24]	2
US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[25]	10

Year-end charts

Chart (2003)	Position
US Billboard Hot 100[26]	19
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[27]	3
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[27]	2
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[28]	34

Chart (2004)	Position
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[29]	4

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United States	January 27, 2003	Hot adult contemporary radio	Lava	[30]
	May 5, 2003	Contemporary hit radio		[31]

Other cover versions

The Rolling Stones recorded a cover of the song during the sessions for their It's Only Rock 'n Roll LP in 1974, but it did not appear on the finished album.^[32] It was finally given an official release in October 2021 as part of the Tattoo You reissue.

Dustin Lynch's 2023 song "Chevrolet", featuring Jelly Roll, contains lyrics set to the melody of "Drift Away".

See also

• List of Billboard Adult Contemporary number ones of 2003 and 2004 (U.S.)