Heart of the Night (song)
"Heart of the Night" | ||||
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Single by Poco | ||||
from the album Legend | ||||
B-side | "The Last Goodbye" | |||
Released | May 1979 | |||
Recorded | 1978 | |||
Genre | Soft rock,[1] country rock | |||
Length | 4:49 (album) 3:20 (single) | |||
Label | MCA | |||
Songwriter(s) | Paul Cotton | |||
Producer(s) | Richard Sanford Orshoff | |||
Poco singles chronology | ||||
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"Heart of the Night" is a song on the 1978 album release by the country-rock group Poco entitled Legend; the 1979 hit single is also featured on the group retrospective 20th Century Masters, as well as The Essential Poco.[2]
Background
The song's lead vocalist and composer
from Our Favorite Country Songs About Every Southern State in Southern Living 21 July 2017 |
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This song is such a heartfelt tribute to the city of New Orleans, the eros of the great state of Louisiana. Its reference to the Dixie moon over the Pontchartrain, the Southern rain and the ebb and flow of the river rising shines a light on the natural beauty that exists alongside the many cultural and celebratory things the city is known for. Anna Wilson of Troubadour 77[6] |
"Heart of the Night" is highlighted by an
In 1978, with Poco seemingly disbanded, Cotton and Rusty Young (Young quote:) "got a little rehearsal hall, put together a band, and played [several songs including] 'Crazy Love' and 'Heart of the Night'" for ABC Records executives who okayed Cotton and Young recording an album as the Cotton-Young Band;[8] however by the time the album - recorded at Crystal City Studios (Los Angeles) between April and August 1978 - had been completed ABC had decided to issue it as a new Poco album, a decision which effectively promoted Steve Chapman and Charlie Harrison from being one-off session players to tenured members of Poco.[7]
Reception
Chart performance
The album Legend was released in November 1978 with the lead single "Crazy Love" released in January 1979 to become Poco's first Top 40 hit. "Heart of the Night" was issued as the second single from Legend in May 1979, reaching a Hot 100 peak of #20.[11] Billboard ranked "Heart of the Night" as a #5 Easy Listening hit.[12] The track also appeared on the C&W chart at #96. In Canada "Heart of the Night" peaked at #18.
Other performances
A live performance by Poco of "Heart of the Night" appears on the November 1979 multi-artist album No Nukes: The Muse Concerts for a Non-Nuclear Future which contains selections from the September 1979 Madison Square Garden concerts by Musicians United for Safe Energy. A live rendition of "Heart of the Night" - featuring sax player Phil Kenzie from the original recording - is also featured on the 2004 Poco concert album Keeping the Legend Alive recorded May 20, 2004 at the Belcourt Theatre in Nashville.[13]
References
- ^ "Crazy Loving: The Best of Poco 1975-1982 - Poco | Release Info". AllMusic.
- ^ "Poco - Chart history". Billboard. Retrieved 2016-10-15.
- ^ Keeping the Legend Alive DVD 23 November 2004 Madacy Inc. ASIN: B00067Z2LO
- ^ "Music Scene". December 2016.
- ^ a b "Paul Cotton by Mark T. Gould". Swaves.com. Retrieved July 11, 2013.
- ^ "Our Favorite Country Songs About Every Southern State". Southern Living.
- ^ a b "Phil Kenzie - an interview with the sax player who worked with the Beatles, the Eagles, Rod Stewart, al Stewart, and many more.."I feel very lucky to have grown up when I did"".
- ^ "Heart of the Night". The Daily Gazette. No. July 18, 2002. p. 46.
- ^ "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. May 12, 1979. p. 17. Retrieved 2022-01-01.
- ^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. May 12, 1979. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2013). Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012. Record Research. p. 665.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 194.
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