Alabama’s “Feels So Right:” A Song That Used To Be Too Intimate For Radio

Alabama’s “Feels So Right,” despite its risqué undertones and intimate vibes that pushed the boundaries for radio play, soared to the top of the charts, securing a multi-week stint as No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart and even reaching No. 20 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song, released in 1981 and emanating a deeply sensual aura, has remained a beloved classic for over four decades.

As the second single and the title track from Alabama’s album, “Feels So Right” not only became the band’s fourth straight No. 1 country hit but also marked their initial foray into crossover success. This track laid the foundation for Alabama’s dominance in the country music scene through the ’80s and ’90s, solidifying its status as one of the band’s most iconic hits.

The creation of “Feels So Right” came from the heart and mind of Randy Owen at the tender age of seventeen, driven by a deep sense of inspiration rather than the mere act of songwriting. The muse for this song was his girlfriend at the time, with whom he shared a couple of years. Remarkably, Owen assembled the song in just fifteen minutes one evening.

Despite presenting it to numerous publishers in Nashville over the years, Owen consistently received feedback that the song was promising but lacked a bridge. Unwilling to alter his creation to meet industry norms, Owen preserved the song in its original form for a decade.

It wasn’t until one memorable night at The Bowery in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, that “Feels So Right” truly found its audience. The country ballad resonated with the crowd, eventually capturing the interest of producer Harold Shedd, who insisted that the time to record the song was then or never.

 

 

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