“Dallas”
Alan Jackson
Written by Alan Jackson and Keith Stegall
Billboard
#1 (1 week)
March 21, 1992
Radio & Records
#1 (1 week)
March 13, 1992
Alan Jackson’s seventh consecutive No. 1 single arrives.
The Road to No. 1
Don’t Rock the Jukebox had already produced a pair of No. 1 singles in 1991, on its journey to five chart-toppers overall, still the most from any Alan Jackson album.
The No. 1
“Dallas” has a clever structure in its lyric, referring to a girl from Dallas by the city’s name, allowing Jackson to wish “Dallas was in Tennessee” when she goes back home to Texas.
It might not have worked quite as well on his first Arista album as it does here, where he can deliver something a little contrived with much more confidence. Even the band seems to know they’re backing a hitmaker now, and they turn in a fantastic performance in support of the singer.
It’s enough to make “Dallas” a winner, even if it’s the least memorable of the five singles from this album.
The Road From No. 1
Alan Jackson calls on the spirit of Hank Williams with his next single. We’ll see it a little bit later in 1992.
“Dallas” gets a B+.
Every No. 1 Single of the Nineties
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Yet another one of my favorites of AJ’s early 90’s singles that brings back great memories! It sadly seems to be one of his more forgotten hits today, but I’ve personally always loved it and never forgot it. I love the cleverness in the lyrics, and just how the record sounds, overall. Almost every instrument has a memorable part, from the pretty opening with the steel, the great fiddle and guitar solos after the first chorus, and I even love the piano playing throughout the second verse. And as usual, I love Alan’s vocals on the song. It’s another classic to my ears! Did I ever mention to y’all just how much I love this late 1991/early 1992 era? :)
This is another song I remember hearing for the first time not long before we moved out of our old house. As a little kid, I remember then thinking “What’s a Dallas?” lol. Anyway, I just now remember that this song actually made it on to that same old 80’s TDK tape that I first recorded Alabama’s “Born Country” on (“A Little Bit In Love” by Patty Loveless is another one I remember being on there). It also made it on to a tape that we recorded a Ray Stevens Greatest Hits album on in early 1992. Besides “Dallas,’ the radio parts also include “Nobody Falls Like A Fool” by Earl Thomas Conley, “Sure Thing” by Foster & Lloyd, “Burn Me Down” by Marty Stuart, “Too Many Lovers” by Crystal Gayle, “Here’s A Quarter” by Travis Tritt, “There Ain’t Nothin’ Wrong With The Radio” by Aaron Tippin, and “Where Are You Now” by Clint Black.
Love that pic of a younger Alan, btw! I miss that white hat with the tall top he used to wear all the time in the 90’s. Speaking of younger Alan, there’s a few videos from one of his early 1992ish concerts floating around on YouTube, and one features him performing “Dallas.” I especially love the shot of the little girl singing along proudly at the start of the song, and Alan’s interacting with another kid who brings him a rose. So adorable! The sound quality may not be the best, but I still love finding little gems and vintage stuff like that on Youtube. :)