“Dixie Road”
Lee Greenwood
Written by Don Goodman, Mary Ann Kennedy, and Pam Rose
Radio & Records
#1 (2 weeks)
June 14 – June 21, 1985
Billboard
#1 (1 week)
July 20, 1985
“Dixie Road” serves as the only new single from Lee Greenwood’s Greatest Hits album, and it’s one of the best records on the collection.
It features a rootsier arrangement than we usually get from Greenwood, which is a reminder that he was more versatile than he’s given credit for.
This song is from the perspective of a man who pursued fame, leaving his small town southern girl behind. It works very well with the organic arrangement, which underlies the sense of nostalgia that he has for where he came from.
Greenwood gives a measured and tasteful performance, and he emotes quite effectively. It’s my favorite of his No. 1 singles so far.
“Dixie Road” gets a B+.
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This is my favorite Lee Greenwood song with “Holdin a Good Hand” and “It Turns Me Inside Out” being other favorites. This song is really catchy and arguably his most country sounding song and I loved it from the first time I listened to it.
In previous posts, I repeatedly shared that Greenwood would have his moments, and hit his spots, as I shredded him as an artist.
This is one of those moments.
He sounds relaxed and sincere. His restrained vocals pair wonderfully with the production here.
Easily one of his best sounding singles, and one that has also aged well.