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"Midnight Rider" is a popular and widely covered song by The Allman Brothers Band, from their album Idlewild South. Written by Gregg Allman and Richard Payne, the song has become a fixture of the band's live performances and an enduring standard. Renditions by Joe Cocker, Gregg Allman himself, and Willie Nelson have all reached the charts as singles.

Overview

"Midnight Rider" uses traditional folk and blues themes of desperation, determination, and a man on the run:

I've got one more silver dollar,

But I'm not gonna let 'em catch me, no ...

Not gonna let 'em catch

The midnight rider.

The verses arrangement features Duane Allman's acoustic guitar carrying the song's changes, underpinned by a congas-led rhythm section and soft, swirling organ. Dickey Betts' lead guitar phrases ornament the choruses and the instrumental break, while Gregg Allman's powerful, soulful singing, featuring harmony-producing reverb, has led to the song becoming known by some as Allman's signature piece. Music writer Jean-Charles Costa stated in 1973 that, "'Midnight Rider' has been recorded by other bands and it's easy to see why. The verse construction, the desperate lyrics, and the taut arrangement make it standout material," while musician and writer Bill Janovitz said that the recording successfully blended elements of blues, country music, soul music, and Southern rock.

"Midnight Rider" has been a concert staple for the band in decades since; it is usually played fairly closely to the original template, and was not used as the basis for long jams until the Allman Brothers' annual New York City run in 2010.

Charted versions

"Midnight Rider" was never released as a single by The Allman Brothers Band, but it has charted four times in subsequent recordings.

In November 1972, British rock singer Joe Cocker, who specialized in treating recently-written songs by others, released a version on his album Joe Cocker, the single from which reached #27 on the Billboard Hot 100; it was billed as Joe Cocker with The Chris Stainton Band.

In Fall 1973, Gregg Allman released a re-imagined version of the song on his first solo album, Laid Back, that featured the addition of horns and a solo rather than harmony vocal line. It reached #19 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1974.

In early 1976, a reggae version by the Jamaican singer, Paul Davidson, reached #10 in the UK Singles Chart.

In 1980, Willie Nelson recorded a cover of the song for inclusion in the soundtrack to the film The Electric Horseman. Nelson's version was released as a single, and peaked at #6 on the Hot Country Singles chart. Nelson later re-released the song in 2004 as a duet with Toby Keith, although this rendition did not chart.

Other versions

Many other versions have been recorded as well, starting in 1973 when jazz guitarist Maynard Parker released a version on an album named for the song. Since that time, the song has gone on to be The Allman Brothers Band's most covered song, performed by artists ranging from country legend Waylon Jennings to punk rock legend Patti Smith; from bluegrass fiddler/singer Alison Krauss to ska revivalists Bad Manners to doo-wop vocalists The Drifters. O.A.R. also covers Midnight Rider frequently at live shows, as well as Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora, who sometimes uses it as an intro to Wanted Dead or Alive; during his solo tours, he had also sung "Midnight Rider" before the mentioned. Buckcherry has also played "Midnight Rider" before live, Michael McDonald does a rendition of "Midnight Rider", and it has also appeared on a Hank Williams, Jr. album. Bob Seger covered the song on his long out of print Back in '72 album. An edited and remastered version of his version, which eliminates the breakdown and Seger's scatting towards the end of the track, appears on his 2009 Early Seger Vol. 1 album.

"Midnight Rider" has been featured in soundtracks for the movies Wild Hogs, The Devil's Rejects, Unbreakable, and Warren Miller's Storm. Gregg Allman's solo version is featured during the opening scenes of the 2004 remake of Walking Tall featuring The Rock. The concert film Earth vs. The Radiators: the First 25 features Gregg Allman performing the song with swamp rockers The Radiators during that band's 25th anniversary celebration.

On October 27, 2009 Stephen Stills played "Midnight Rider" on The Howard Stern Show saying that he and Gregg Allman used to sing it together. In Summer 2010, he and his bandmates in Crosby, Stills and Nash performed the song on their European tour, during a covers section in their set. The song is one of a number of songs under consideration for inclusion on an album of cover versions they are to record.

References

1. For many years, the songwriting credit was given solely to Allman; then Payne was added.
2. ^ Bill Janovitz. "Review of Midnight Rider". Allmusic. Retrieved 2007-08-17.
3. ^ Jean-Charles Costa, liner notes, Beginnings, Atco Records, 1973.
4. ^ Joel Whitburn, The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, Billboard Publications, 1983. ISBN 0-8230-7511-7.
5. "Search results" EveryHit.com. Retrieved 2009-07-31.
6. "Midnight Rider". Billboard Hot Country Songs. 1980-06-12. Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2007-08-16.
7. "Midnight Rider by Maynard Parker". Allmusic. Retrieved 2007-08-17.
8. "Song search results for "Midnight Rider"". Allmusic. Retrieved 2007-08-17.

• 1970 songs
• 1972 singles
• 1973 singles
• 1980 singles
• The Allman Brothers Band songs
• Joe Cocker songs
• Willie Nelson songs
• Patti Smith songs
• RPM Country Tracks number-one singles
• Songs written by Gregg Allman