Alabama - Tar Top

[breid1966]

This album came out while I was in the Navy in the mid 80's. Being from Alabama myself, this song really hit home. Alabama's music for me back then was like hearing from friends and family back home. I saw them on tour MANY times in the 80's and it was a great comfort to hear them sing about home and things or places I knew.

[Mopar21277]

Too bad this wasn't a #1 song, shows how messed up radio is... This is Randy's best writing, a true autobiographical song about him and the band. Tar Top is Randy's nickname.

"A business that's seldom what it seems" "where's JC & the chosen few" -reference to Jeff Cook; "EV went to Malibu" is their 1st drummer who left & was replaced by Mark; "there's no flash without TGentry" - Teddy

"Is it country enough" in 1987 when half of country was Pop and 1/2 was coming back to New Tradional

[geofffreylfreeman]

Does anyone know the details or history behind the Interstate 40 sign that appears in the video? I-40 doesn't pass through Alabama, so there has to be a story about that sign.

[wildcman]

actualy "Christmas In Dixie" truly broke theistring of #1's but that usualy is not counted and yes this is one of their best songs and should have went to #1

[Hossfly308]

One of their more underappreciated songs. Very good work.

[DaveWollenberg]

Randy Owen's nickname. Broke Alabama's streak of consecutive #1 hits. Made #7 in Billboard, 10-31-87. God bless ya, Alabama cousins!

[lavendercalendar]

Thanks for posting this --one of my favorite Alabama songs!

[countrygirl4life18]

at 1:15 did he say "wheres Jay-Z and the chosen few?"

[KevinR38]

@countrygirl4life18 No, it's Where's JC and the Chosen Few. That was Jeff Cook's original band in the 60's.

[amandanseth6116]

Randy said this is his favorite video when I met him in Birmingham Al. He said his favorite song is mountain music !!!!

[BaleLover32]

If you read Randy Owen's biography "Born Country" Then you will understand the meaning of Tar Top. I love this song... It should have been a number 1 hit..

[novemberwolf117]

@BaleLover32 I agree!!!

[DaveWollenberg]

Alabama's biography. Hit #7 in Billboard. God bless!

[winplaceshow845]

my favorite,,,,,,,,,,,,song of there's

[crydun2004]

same here!

[JVernon83]

Alabama is AWESOME!!!

[eowens88]

I have been an Alabama fan for as long as I have been able to recognise their songs but this one I hadn't heard before I found it here. Now I keep comming back to it. Good song.

[KevinR38]

This is a great auto-biographical song of theirs, it did wind up ending their string of straight #1's but it's still a great song (I think it reached #2 but I don't remember now).

[DaveWollenberg]

@KevinR38 Actually, Kevin, it hit #7 in Billboard. God bless!

[renegade47m]

@KevinR38

it ended a string of 21 # 1's, as it ended up at #7 on the country chart

[cruxton31]

@eowens88  its on just us

[oursongs7]

@eowens88 Hi, my brother Michael and I wrote Alabama's first Top 40 record. It's called "I Wanna Come Over".

Thought you might enjoy the video. Richard Berardi. Click on oursongs7

[chevellejack]

One of my favs. I was only 23 when this came out.

Also, I had real long hair and a beard.

Now I'm getting bald and have a slingblade look.HAHAHA

[trampis67]

22 yrs !! Seems like just yesterday.....My favorite Alabama song of 'em all!!

[KevinR38]

Did you find the album? I see you removed your other question. Just in case you didn't find it, it's from Just Us.

[jignum1]

I love this. thanks for the upload!

[putt3399]

BV was a guy who used to play with Alabama when they first started playing at Myrtle Beach back in 1974. He left the group and moved away.

[brutusmcleod]

Anyone know who BV is???

[JVernon83]

BV is Bennett Vartanian who was their former drummer.

[novemberwolf117]

One of my favorite's, thanks!

[83darcy]

Thanks for the video. This was always one of my favorites. After reading Randy's book, I know the whole meaning of the song and now I like it even more.

[Ken4Pyro]

83,

If you read the book, please fill us in. It's been killing me for months now because I read who "B.V." referred to some years ago, and can't remember. I guess that's because I'm so damn old.

Fill us in? Who is/was B.V?

[JVernon83]

BV is Bennett Vartanian who was their former drummer.

[Gronad]

God this brings back memories. we're country as we can be up here in Syracuse NY ya know. have been as long as i can remember. seems like i used to wake up to this or Love me like ya used to from Tanya every morning at about 4am just before work in the 80's.I didn't like it at first, then it grew on me, now it's an awesome classic to me. one of my favorite from Alabama. Happy New Year people! thanks for posting it.

[msuprep]

I live in DeKalb County (location of Fort Payne) and have read Randy's book besides going to all the Jams, concerts, etc. Randy's mom has played at my church several times and I have seen Randy visit my high school when his daughter played basketball more times than I can count. This song is awesome and it ties to the album "JUST US" within the song TAR TOP. This song reflects the boys making it from rural Alabama to SC and everywhere in between.

[sportspinb]

This is an awesome song, I had the great pleasure of knowing JC, he was a great man, and will be missed greatly.

[KevinR38]

Please explain, who will be missed? JC from JC and the Chosen Few is Jeff Cook. To my knowledge Jeff is doing well, unless there's been something happen that I haven't heard yet.

[sportspinb]

I'm talking about Jimmie Chambers.

[brutusmcleod]

I dunno who Jimmie Chambers is, but they are referring to Jeff Cook. Way back in the 60's before there was Alabama, Jeff Cook had his own band called JC and The Chosen Few. What I don't know is who BV is???

[JVernon83]

BV is Bennett Vartanian who was their former drummer.

[csxeddie]

one of my favorites by alabama, thank you for putting it on here

[wildfire19861987]

One of my favoorite songs from 1987. I taped this off TNN back then and again on CMT about 10 years ago. Nice to see it on here.

[jrod3280]

whoever put this on youtube...THANKS ALOT!!!!!...I SURE DO APPRECIATE IT

[KevinR38]

No problem, it's one of my favorites too. It's a shame that this song stopped their record of #1's but it's an awesome song.