"Another Neon Night" is a song written by Carolyn Sue Howard and Joanne Spain that was originally recorded by American country singer Jean Shepard. It was released as the second single from her studio album I'm a Believer, reaching country chart positions in both the US and Canada. Describing a one-night-stand, the song has been described as being one of Shepard's best tracks and one of her favorite recordings as well.
| "Another Neon Night" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Jean Shepard | ||||
| from the album I'm a Believer | ||||
| B-side | "(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song" | |||
| Released | December 1975 | |||
| Recorded | July 1975 | |||
| Genre | Country[1] | |||
| Length | 3:03 | |||
| Label | United Artists | |||
| Songwriter(s) |
| |||
| Producer(s) | Larry Butler | |||
| Jean Shepard singles chronology | ||||
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Background
editJean Shepard signed with United Artists Records in 1973 after many years on Capitol Records. Her first-label single, "Slippin' Away", returned her to the top ten of the country charts. At her new label and under new producer Larry Butler, she began experimenting with new song choices, including those that discussed sexuality. Among songs that discussed the latter theme was "Another Neon Night".[2] Written by Carolyn Sue Howard and Joanne Spain,[3] the song describes a one night stand[2] and its main character is eluded to possibly being a prostitute, according to Nashville Scene.[4] Under Butler's production, "Another Neon Night" was recorded at the Jack Clement Studio (located in Nashville, Tennessee) in July 1975.[3]
Release and chart performance
edit"Another Neon Night" was released as a single by United Artists Records in December 1975. It was distributed as a seven-inch vinyl single, featuring a cover of "(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song" on the B-side.[3] It reached the number 44 position on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, becoming among her final charting US country singles.[5] It also climbed into the top 40 on Canada's RPM Country Tracks chart, peaking at number 31. It would be Shepard's final-charting single in Canada.[6] It was the second single spawned from Shepard's 1975 album I'm a Believer.[7]
Reception
editCashbox magazine described the song's main character as a "girl of the night" and further commented, "it has a strong lyric and music content and predicted strong chart action."[1] In 2016, Nashville Scene magazine called the track "one of the most powerful recordings Shepard ever made".[4] In an interview, Shepard named the song among one of her controversial recordings but said it had "such a haunting melody and it told a good story".[8] In her autobiography, Shepard named "Another Neon Night" among her favorite songs that she recorded in her career. "'Another Neon Night', that's a well-written song; it's a song with a lot of truth in it. I love a song that's well-written and put together".[9]
Track listings
edit- 7" vinyl single[3]
- "Another Neon Night" – 3:03
- "(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song" – 2:59
Charts
edit| Chart (1975–1976) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[6] | 31 |
| US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[10] | 44 |
References
edit- ^ a b "Cashbox country reviews: singles" (PDF). Cashbox. December 6, 1975. p. 28. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
- ^ a b Bufwack, Mary A.; Oermann, Robert K. (2003). Finding Her Voice: Women in Country Music: 1800–2000. Nashville, TN: The Country Music Press & Vanderbilt University Press. p. 356. ISBN 0-8265-1432-4.
- ^ a b c d Shepard, Jean (December 1975). ""Another Neon Night"/"(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song" (7" vinyl single)". United Artists Records. UA-XW745-Y.
- ^ a b Hurt, Edd (September 26, 2016). "Remembering Jean Shepard". Nashville Scene. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research.
- ^ a b "Search results for "Jean Shepard" under RPM Country Singles". RPM. Archived from the original on October 24, 2012. Retrieved September 10, 2011.
- ^ Shepard, Jean (November 1975). "I'm a Believer (Liner Notes)". United Artists Records. UALA-525G.
- ^ "Jean Shepard Interview". Country Stars Central. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
- ^ Shepard, Jean (2014). Down Through the Years. Don Wise Productions. p. 166. ISBN 978-0944391068.
- ^ "Jean Shepard Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 12, 2024.