Alabama (Canadian band)

Alabama was a Canadian band of the early 1970s. Band members were Buster Fykes,{{cite web |last1=Delaney |first1=Larry |title=Ontario's Country Music Pioneers: Alabama |url=https://cmaontario.ca/ontarios-country-music-pioneers-alabama-april-2020/ |website=cmaontario.ca |publisher=CMA Ontario |access-date=27 November 2021}} Hector McLean, Rick Knight,{{cite web |title=Rick Knight |url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/832674-Rick-Knight |website=discogs.com |publisher=Discogs |access-date=27 November 2021}} and Len Sembaluk.{{cite web |title=Len Sembaluk |url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/2877468-Len-Sembaluk |website=discogs.com |publisher=Discogs |access-date=27 November 2021}}{{cite encyclopedia | url=http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Pop_Encyclopedia/A/Alabama.html | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120710113800/http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Pop_Encyclopedia/A/Alabama.html | url-status=usurped | archive-date=July 10, 2012 | publisher=Jam! | access-date=September 4, 2008 | encyclopedia=The Canadian Pop Encyclopedia | title=Alabama}} The band performed a mix of Progressive Rock, cajun, country and soul music, including songs written by Fykes and Knight.[https://www.allmusic.com/artist/alabama-mn0002287107 "Alabama"]. AllMusic, Biography by John Bush

History

In 1973 Alabama released their only album, Close to Home, on Smile Records. In addition to the band members, the album was recorded with Al Cherney on fiddle, and Hagood Hardy on Vibraphone. The first released single, "Song of Love", appeared on the top 100 in the RPM Magazine chart, peaking at No. 26 in June that year.[http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/item.aspx?IdNumber=6938& "RPM 100 Top Singles"]. RPM, June 9, 1973{{cite web |title=Alabama – Song Of Love |url=https://www.discogs.com/fr/release/15027461-Alabama-Song-Of-Love- |website=discogs.com |publisher=Discogs |access-date=27 November 2021}} A second single, "Highway Driving", was written by Fykes and Knight and was released through Maple Creek Music; it reached No. 42 in August 1973.[http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/item.aspx?IdNumber=7412& "RPM 100 Top Singles"]. RPM, August 18, 1973[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/70s/1975/Billboard%201975-05-17.pdf "Winners of BMI Certificate"]. Billboard, May 17, 1975, page 56.{{cite web |title=Alabama - Highway Driving (1973, Canada) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-5mVdSx4Cc |website=youtube.com |publisher=YouTube |access-date=27 November 2021}} At the Juno Awards of 1974, "Highway Driving" was nominated for Canadian Country Single of the year in 1974; Alabama also received a nomination as Best Country Group.{{cite magazine|title=Juno Award Nominations Listed|magazine=Billboard|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vAcEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA54|date=March 9, 1974|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|page=54|issn=0006-2510}} Alabama disbanded in 1974.

Discography

=Albums=

class="wikitable"

! Year

! Album

1973

| Close to Home

=Singles=

class="wikitable" ! rowspan="2"\| Year ! rowspan="2"\| Single ! colspan="3"\| Chart Positions ! rowspan="2"\| Album
width="45"\| CAN AC ! width="45"\| CAN ! width="45"\| CAN Country
rowspan="2"\| 1973 \| "Song of Love" \| align="center"\| 1 \| align="center"\| 26 \| align="center"\| — \| rowspan="2"\| Close to Home
"Highway Driving" \| align="center"\| 29 \| align="center"\| 42 \| align="center"\| 19

class="wikitable"

! rowspan="2"| Year

! rowspan="2"| Single

! colspan="3"| Chart Positions

! rowspan="2"| Album

width="45"| CAN AC

! width="45"| CAN

! width="45"| CAN Country

rowspan="2"| 1973

| "Song of Love"

| align="center"| 1

| align="center"| 26