Delta Dawn
Encyclopedia
"Delta Dawn" is a song written by former child rockabilly
star Larry Collins and songwriter
Alex Harvey (who more often goes by the name Alexander Harvey today, and is not to be confused with the late Glaswegian rocker Alex Harvey
), best known as a 1972 top ten C&W
hit for Tanya Tucker
and a number-one hit for Helen Reddy
in 1973.
from Brownsville, Tennessee
, who at forty-one is obsessed to unreason by the long ago memory of an errant suitor. The song's lyrics describe how the woman regularly "walks downtown with a suitcase in her hand/ Looking for a mysterious dark haired man" who she says is "meeting her…today/ To take [her] to his mansion in the sky". Reddy's recording in particular has choir-like inspirational overtones as well.
ous album released in November 1971. Although Harvey opened for Helen Reddy - his Capitol
labelmate - at the Troubadour in January 1972, Reddy made no apparent connection with any of Harvey's compositions at that time.
Dianne Davidson, who sang backup on Harvey's recording was the first artist to record a cover and chart in 1971-72. Tracy Nelson
, who sang backup on Harvey's recording, performed "Delta Dawn" in her live act. After hearing Nelson sing "Delta Dawn" at the Bottom Line in New York City, Bette Midler added the song to her repertoire. Nashville-based producer Billy Sherrill heard Midler sing "Delta Dawn" on The Tonight Show
and wanted to sign her to Epic Records
and have her record the song. Finding out that Midler was already signed to Atlantic Records
, Sherrill cut the song with Tanya Tucker who was newly signed to Epic and Tucker's version was released April 1972 to reach #6 C&W
that spring.
Record producer Tom Catalano prepped an instrumental track of "Delta Dawn", virtually replicating that of Tucker's single, and - despite Catalano having worked with Helen Reddy - the track was first offered to Barbra Streisand
, upon whose refusal Catalano had Reddy add her vocals to the track.
In the meantime Bette Midler had recorded "Delta Dawn" for her The Divine Miss M
debut album from which her bluesy version was planned as the lead single. The June 1973 single release of Reddy's version was two days prior to Midler's, necessitating the amendment of the latter's single so that the original B-side "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy
" was shopped to radio, becoming a Top Ten hit. Reddy's version, with a cold intro and nonstop vocals throughout, entered the Top Ten on 18 August 1973 on its way to its lone frame at #1, on 15 September 1973, becoming Reddy's second number-one hit after 1972's "I Am Woman
" and before 1974's "Angie Baby
", which would prove to be Reddy's third and final #1. "Delta Dawn" also became the first of Reddy's six consecutive - and eight overall - #1 hits on the Easy Listening chart
in Billboard
.
In Reddy's native Australia, where she'd reached #2 with both "I Don't Know How to Love Him
" and "I Am Woman
", "Delta Dawn" became Reddy's first #1 hit, spending five weeks atop the chart in August and September 1973. The follow-up single "Leave Me Alone (Ruby Red Dress)
" gave Reddy a second consecutive - and final - Australian #1.
"Delta Dawn" also marked Reddy's only chart appearance in South Africa, reaching #13 in the autumn of 1973.
The Statler Brothers also recorded "Delta Dawn" and released it for their 1973 Mercury album, The Statler Brothers Sing Country Symphonies in E Major.
Rockabilly
Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music, dating to the early 1950s.The term rockabilly is a portmanteau of rock and hillbilly, the latter a reference to the country music that contributed strongly to the style's development...
star Larry Collins and songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
Alex Harvey (who more often goes by the name Alexander Harvey today, and is not to be confused with the late Glaswegian rocker Alex Harvey
Alex Harvey (musician)
Alex Harvey was a Scottish rock musician. With The Sensational Alex Harvey Band, he built a reputation as an exciting live performer during the 1970s glam rock era.-Biography:...
), best known as a 1972 top ten C&W
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
hit for Tanya Tucker
Tanya Tucker
Tanya Denise Tucker is a female American country music artist who had her first hit, "Delta Dawn", in 1972 at the age of 13...
and a number-one hit for Helen Reddy
Helen Reddy
Helen Reddy , often referred to as "The Queen of 70s Pop", is an Australian-American singer and actress. In the 1970s, she enjoyed international success, especially in the United States, where she placed fifteen singles in the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100. Six of those 15 songs made the Top 10...
in 1973.
Lyrical story
The title character is a faded southern belleSouthern belle
A southern belle is an archetype for a young woman of the American Old South's upper class....
from Brownsville, Tennessee
Brownsville, Tennessee
Brownsville is a city in Haywood County, Tennessee, United States. It is the county seat of Haywood County. The city is named after Jacob Jennings Brown, an officer who served during The War of 1812.-Geography:...
, who at forty-one is obsessed to unreason by the long ago memory of an errant suitor. The song's lyrics describe how the woman regularly "walks downtown with a suitcase in her hand/ Looking for a mysterious dark haired man" who she says is "meeting her…today/ To take [her] to his mansion in the sky". Reddy's recording in particular has choir-like inspirational overtones as well.
Background and recording history
The first recording of "Delta Dawn" was made by Harvey for his eponymEponym
An eponym is the name of a person or thing, whether real or fictitious, after which a particular place, tribe, era, discovery, or other item is named or thought to be named...
ous album released in November 1971. Although Harvey opened for Helen Reddy - his Capitol
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
labelmate - at the Troubadour in January 1972, Reddy made no apparent connection with any of Harvey's compositions at that time.
Dianne Davidson, who sang backup on Harvey's recording was the first artist to record a cover and chart in 1971-72. Tracy Nelson
Tracy Nelson (singer)
-Youth in Wisconsin:Nelson was born and grew up in Madison, Wisconsin. There she first learned about R&B music from WLAC radio in Nashville. In her teens, Nelson sang folk music in coffeehouses and with a group called The Fuller's Wood Singers and was lead singer in a band called The Fabulous...
, who sang backup on Harvey's recording, performed "Delta Dawn" in her live act. After hearing Nelson sing "Delta Dawn" at the Bottom Line in New York City, Bette Midler added the song to her repertoire. Nashville-based producer Billy Sherrill heard Midler sing "Delta Dawn" on The Tonight Show
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson is a talk show hosted by Johnny Carson under the Tonight Show franchise from 1962 to 1992. It originally aired during late-night....
and wanted to sign her to Epic Records
Epic Records
Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
and have her record the song. Finding out that Midler was already signed to Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
, Sherrill cut the song with Tanya Tucker who was newly signed to Epic and Tucker's version was released April 1972 to reach #6 C&W
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
that spring.
Record producer Tom Catalano prepped an instrumental track of "Delta Dawn", virtually replicating that of Tucker's single, and - despite Catalano having worked with Helen Reddy - the track was first offered to Barbra Streisand
Barbra Streisand
Barbra Joan Streisand is an American singer, actress, film producer and director. She has won two Academy Awards, eight Grammy Awards, four Emmy Awards, a Special Tony Award, an American Film Institute award, a Peabody Award, and is one of the few entertainers who have won an Oscar, Emmy, Grammy,...
, upon whose refusal Catalano had Reddy add her vocals to the track.
In the meantime Bette Midler had recorded "Delta Dawn" for her The Divine Miss M
The Divine Miss M (album)
The Divine Miss M is the debut album by American female vocalist Bette Midler, released in 1972 on the Atlantic Records label. The title of the album refers to Midler's famous stage persona...
debut album from which her bluesy version was planned as the lead single. The June 1973 single release of Reddy's version was two days prior to Midler's, necessitating the amendment of the latter's single so that the original B-side "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy
Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy
"Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" was a major hit for The Andrews Sisters and an iconic World War II tune. This song can be considered an early jump blues recording...
" was shopped to radio, becoming a Top Ten hit. Reddy's version, with a cold intro and nonstop vocals throughout, entered the Top Ten on 18 August 1973 on its way to its lone frame at #1, on 15 September 1973, becoming Reddy's second number-one hit after 1972's "I Am Woman
I Am Woman
"I Am Woman" is a song cowritten by Helen Reddy and singer/songwriter/guitarist Ray Burton and performed by Reddy. Released in its most well-known version in 1970, the song became an enduring anthem for the women’s liberation movement.-Success:...
" and before 1974's "Angie Baby
Angie Baby
"Angie Baby" is a popular song that was written by American Alan O'Day, and became a hit for Australian singer Helen Reddy. The song reached #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart at the end of December of 1974 and became one of Reddy's biggest-selling singles. The song also topped the U.S...
", which would prove to be Reddy's third and final #1. "Delta Dawn" also became the first of Reddy's six consecutive - and eight overall - #1 hits on the Easy Listening chart
Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks
The Adult Contemporary chart is a weekly chart published in Billboard magazine that lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary and "lite-pop" radio stations in the United States...
in Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
.
In Reddy's native Australia, where she'd reached #2 with both "I Don't Know How to Love Him
I Don't Know How to Love Him
"I Don't Know How to Love Him" is a song from the 1970 rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice , a torch ballad sung by the character of Mary Magdalene who in Jesus Christ Superstar is presented as bearing an unrequited love for the title character...
" and "I Am Woman
I Am Woman
"I Am Woman" is a song cowritten by Helen Reddy and singer/songwriter/guitarist Ray Burton and performed by Reddy. Released in its most well-known version in 1970, the song became an enduring anthem for the women’s liberation movement.-Success:...
", "Delta Dawn" became Reddy's first #1 hit, spending five weeks atop the chart in August and September 1973. The follow-up single "Leave Me Alone (Ruby Red Dress)
Leave Me Alone (Ruby Red Dress)
"Leave Me Alone " was a Top Ten hit single for Helen Reddy in 1973-74.The song was written by Linda Laurie, a sometime recording artist best known for the 1959 novelty record "Ambrose Part 5" although she had cut mainstream Pop records up until 1964; Laurie subsequently moved into songwriting,...
" gave Reddy a second consecutive - and final - Australian #1.
"Delta Dawn" also marked Reddy's only chart appearance in South Africa, reaching #13 in the autumn of 1973.
The Statler Brothers also recorded "Delta Dawn" and released it for their 1973 Mercury album, The Statler Brothers Sing Country Symphonies in E Major.
Chart performance (Tanya Tucker)
| Chart (1972) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 72 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 6 |
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 3 |
See also
- List of number-one adult contemporary singles of 1973 (U.S.)
- List of Hot 100 number-one singles of 1973 (U.S.)