Southern Nights (song)

"Southern Nights" is a song written and performed by American musician Allen Toussaint, from his 1975 album, Southern Nights, and later recorded by American country music singer Glen Campbell. It was the first single released from Campbell's 1977 album, Southern Nights, and reached No. 1 on three separate US charts.

"Southern Nights"
Single by Allen Toussaint
from the album Southern Nights
B-side	"Out of the City"
Released	May 1975
Recorded	1975
Studio	Sea-Saint Studio, New Orleans
Genre	New Orleans R&B
Length	3:35
Label	Reprise
Songwriter(s)	Allen Toussaint
Producer(s)	Allen Touissaint, Marshall Sehorn
Allen Toussaint singles chronology
"Country John" (1975) "Southern Nights" (1975) "Happiness" (1978)

"Southern Nights"
Single by Glen Campbell
from the album Southern Nights
B-side	"William Tell Overture"
Released	January 17, 1977
Recorded	October 2, 1976
Studio	Capitol Studios, Hollywood, California
Genre	Country pop[1] soft rock[2]
Length	3:00
Label	Capitol
Songwriter(s)	Allen Toussaint
Producer(s)	Gary Klein
Glen Campbell singles chronology
"See You On Sunday" (1976) "Southern Nights" (1977) "Sunflower" (1977)

Song history

The lyrics of "Southern Nights" were inspired by childhood memories Allen Toussaint had of visiting relatives in the Louisiana backwoods, which often entailed storytelling under star-filled nighttime skies.^[3] When Campbell heard Toussaint's version, he immediately identified with the lyrics which reminded him of his own youth growing up on an Arkansas farm. In October 1976, Campbell recorded the song with slightly modified lyrics.^[3]

Accolades

In 1977, "Southern Nights" song was nominated for Song of the Year by the Country Music Association.^[4]

Chart performance

Released as a single by Campbell in January 1977, "Southern Nights" immediately caught on with both country and pop audiences. The song featured a unique guitar lick that Campbell had learned from friend Jerry Reed. In late March, "Southern Nights" spent two weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard magazine Hot Country Singles chart marking it Campbell's fifth and final No. 1 country hit.^[5]

In late April, the track reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart marking Campbell's second and last No. 1 pop hit.

The song also spent four weeks at No. 1 on the Hot Adult Contemporary chart marking Campbell's seventh hit on the chart.^[6]

Weekly charts Chart (1977) Peak position Australian Kent Music Report[7] 36 Belgian VRT Top 30 8 Canadian RPM Top Singles 1 Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary[8] 1 Canadian RPM Country Tracks 2 Dutch Top 40 12 Euro Hit 50 29 French Singles Chart 30 German Media Control Charts[9] 18 Irish Singles Chart 3 New Zealand Singles Chart 10 UK Singles Chart 28 US Billboard Hot 100[10] 1 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[11] 1 US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[12] 1 US Cash Box Top 100[13] 1

Year-end charts Chart (1977) Rank Canadian RPM Top Singles[14] 14 US Billboard Hot 100[15] 22 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[16] 5 US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[17] 8 US Cash Box Top 100 20

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[18]	Gold	75,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[19]	Silver	200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[20]	Platinum	1,000,000‡
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

In popular culture

The song is featured in the 1978 film Convoy and is featured in the film’s soundtrack.

The song is featured in the 2017 film Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and further included on the film's soundtrack album.^[21]