Late Night OTB – CCR (The Other One)

Continuing the back home theme (yes, we made it), here’s Cross Canadian Ragweed with “Alabama.” Hardly the anthem of last night’s selection or, indeed, having much to do with the state. Still, a pretty good song by an excellent band that has gotten far less attention than they deserve.

Band background via Wikipedia:

Cross Canadian Ragweed is an alternative country band of the Red Dirt scene, formed in Yukon, Oklahoma, in 1994. It is composed of frontman/guitarist Cody Canada, drummer Randy Ragsdale, rhythm guitarist Grady Cross, and bassist Jeremy Plato. The band’s name is derived from the band members’ surnames: Grady Cross, Cody Canada, Randy Ragsdale and original bassist Matt Weid. There is a common misconception that the name is a reference to the Canadian River, which runs through Oklahoma and Texas.

After forming, they moved to the college town of Stillwater, Oklahoma, where acts like Mike McClure’s The Great Divide and singer-songwriter Jimmy LaFave had established enough of a local scene to earn Stillwater the nickname “North Austin” (or, depending on your perspective, “West Nashville”).

Known for their never-ending tours (200+ shows per year), the group had already received significant college radio airplay before it released its first album, Carney in 1998. They soon released Live and Loud at the Wormy Dog in 1999 and Highway 377 in 2001, all on their own independent label Underground Sound.

With the release of a self-titled album also known as “the Purple album” due to its cover color, which is a tribute to the band’s “little sister” Mandi Ragsdale who had recently died in an auto accident and that was her favorite color, the band moved into the mainstream eye. Their 2004 offering “Soul Gravy” debuted at #4 on the Billboard charts.

The band frequently plays with country music star Dierks Bentley, “Texas Country” star Pat Green, and other stars of the Red Dirt music scene including Micky & The Motorcars, Reckless Kelly, Wade Bowen, Stoney LaRue, No Justice, and Robert Earl Keen. In October 2005, the band released their album Garage, which featured the single “Fightin’ For.”

The band released a double live CD and Dvd on October 31, 2006, Back To Tulsa – Live and Loud at Cain’s Ballroom

Cross Canadian Ragweed recorded Mission California, their 6th studio album, at the end of March 2007. They spent 25 days in the studio; the first 5 cutting 15 tracks, the next 20 polishing each. It was recorded in San Diego, California in the same studio the Rolling Stones recorded the album Bridges to Babylon. Lee Ann Womack laid down background vocals on 3 of the tracks to include the excellent Chris Knight cover Cry Lonely. Mission California is set to be released on October 2, 2007.

Lyrics via Sing365:

She picked up the telephone
All she heard was dial tone
She really thought she heard it ring this time
She said what am I thinking I must be only dreaming
Or maybe it’s the hundred times he’s crossed my mind
Just tonight

(chorus)

She said maybe I miss your lovin’
Maybe I miss your kiss just a little bit
Maybe I miss your body lyin’ right next to mine
Maybe I miss your touch a little too much

Tossing and turning her skins still burning
From the fire in his hands
Runnin’ on empty she needs somebody
But somebody wouldn’t understand
Then the telephone rings

(chorus)

They talked about Savannah
Sweet home Alabama
And how he missed the way she always smiled
Are you coming back soon
By the Harvest moon
If I have to walk every mile on my knees

(chorus)
(chorus)

Lyrics to the “New” version of the song:

She picked up the telephone
All she heard was dial tone
She really thought she heard it ring this time
She said what am I thinking I must be only dreaming
Or maybe it’s the hundred times he’s crossed my mind
Just tonight

(Chorus)

She said maybe I miss your lovin’
Maybe I miss your kiss just a little bit
Maybe I miss your body lyin’ right next to mine
Maybe I miss your touch a little too much

Tossing and turning her skins still burning
From the fire in his hands
Runnin’ on empty she needs somebody
But somebody wouldn’t understand
Then the telephone rings

(Chorus)

They talked about Savannah
Sweet home Alabama
And how he missed the way she always smiled
Are you coming back soon
By the Harvest moon
If I have to walk every mile on my knees

(Chorus)

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James Joyner
About James Joyner
James Joyner is Professor and Department Head of Security Studies at Marine Corps University's Command and Staff College. He's a former Army officer and Desert Storm veteran. Views expressed here are his own. Follow James on Twitter @DrJJoyner.

Comments

  1. R. Alex says:

    Cross Canadian Ragweed is a great band and Alabama is an awesome song. I got to see them in Houston when they were only drawing crowds of a couple dozen. It’s great to see that they’re making it.