"Twenty Years Ago" is a song written by Dan Tyler, Wood Newton, Michael Noble and C. Michael Spriggs. It was recorded by Juice Newton for her 1983 album Dirty Looks. In 1986, the song was covered by Kenny Rogers and released in January 1987 as the second single from his album They Don't Make Them Like They Used To. Backup vocals were provided by Bill Champlin. It reached number two on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart.[1]

"Twenty Years Ago"
Single by Kenny Rogers
from the album They Don't Make Them Like They Used To
B-side"The Heart of the Matter"
ReleasedJanuary 5, 1987
GenreCountry
Length3:44
LabelRCA Records
Songwriter(s)Dan Tyler
Wood Newton
Michael Noble
C. Michael Spriggs
Producer(s)Jay Graydon, Kenny Mims
Kenny Rogers singles chronology
"They Don't Make Them Like They Used To"
(1986)
"Twenty Years Ago"
(1987)
"Make No Mistake, She's Mine"
(1987)

Content edit

In the song, the narrator talks about visiting the old town where he grew up in and mentions how much simpler and possibly better life was back then. He mentions the old movie house and the drug store where he worked and his childhood friend who died in Vietnam. The music video was shot in Clarksville, Tennessee largely on Franklin Street.

Charts edit

Weekly charts edit

Chart (1987) Peak
position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[2] 2
Canadian RPM Country Tracks 2

Year-end charts edit

Chart (1987) Position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[3] 33

References edit

  1. ^ Whitburn, Joel. The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 299.
  2. ^ "Kenny Rogers Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  3. ^ "Hot Country Songs – Year-End 1987". Billboard. Retrieved June 26, 2021.