"Down in Tennessee" is a song written by Wayland Holyfield and recorded by American country music artist John Anderson. It was released in November 1985 as the second single from the album Tokyo, Oklahoma. The song reached number 12 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.[1]

"Down in Tennessee"
Single by John Anderson
from the album Tokyo, Oklahoma
B-side"I've Got Me a Woman"[1]
ReleasedNovember 4, 1985
GenreCountry
Length3:23
LabelWarner Bros. Nashville
Songwriter(s)Wayland Holyfield
Producer(s)
John Anderson singles chronology
"Tokyo, Oklahoma"
(1985)
"Down in Tennessee"
(1985)
"You Can't Keep a Good Memory Down"
(1986)

Critical reception

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Kip Kirby, of Billboard magazine reviewed the song favorably, saying that "the heartsick blues are well handled here by an artist who sings ballads with tears in every syllable."[2]

Chart performance

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Chart (1985–1986) Peak
position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[3] 12
Canadian RPM Country Tracks 35

Mark Chesnutt version

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"Down in Tennessee"
Single by Mark Chesnutt
from the album What a Way to Live
B-side"This Side of the Door"[4]
ReleasedJune 12, 1995
GenreCountry
Length3:21
LabelDecca
Songwriter(s)Wayland Holyfield
Producer(s)Mark Wright
Mark Chesnutt singles chronology
"Gonna Get a Life"
(1995)
"Down in Tennessee"
(1995)
"Trouble"
(1995)

"Down in Tennessee" was also recorded by American country music artist Mark Chesnutt. It was released in June 1995 as the fourth single from the album What a Way to Live. The song reached number 23 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.[4] It also peaked at number 7 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks chart.

Critical reception

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Deborah Evans Price, of Billboard magazine reviewed the song favorably, saying that Chesnutt's version is "just as compelling on this powerful ballad of a man dealing with lost love." She goes on to say that Chesnutt "makes you feel like hurting right along with him."[5]

Chart performance

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"Down in Tennessee" debuted at number 66 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks for the week of June 17, 1995.

Chart (1995) Peak
position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[6] 7
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[7] 23

References

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  1. ^ a b Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. pp. 26–27. ISBN 978-0-89820-177-2.
  2. ^ Billboard, November 2, 1985 , Vol. 97, No. 44, Page 78.
  3. ^ "John Anderson Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  4. ^ a b Whitburn, pp. 92-93
  5. ^ Billboard, June 17, 1995, Vol. 107, No. 24, Page 57.
  6. ^ "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 2740." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. August 28, 1995. Retrieved July 21, 2013.
  7. ^ "Mark Chesnutt Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.