The band was founded by Randy Owen (lead vocals, rhythm guitar) and his cousin Teddy Gentry (bass, backing vocals). They were soon joined by another cousin, Jeff Cook (lead guitar, fiddle, and keyboards). First operating under the name Wild Country, the group toured the Southeast bar circuit in the early 1970s, and began writing original songs. They changed their name to Alabama in 1977 and following the chart success of two singles, were approached by RCA Nashville for a record deal.
Alabama's biggest success came in the 1980s, where the band had over 27 #1 hits, seven multi-platinum albums and received numerous awards. Alabama's first single on RCA Records, "Tennessee River", began a streak of 21 #1 singles, including "Love in the First Degree" (1981), "Mountain Music" (1982), "Dixieland Delight" (1983), "If You're Gonna Play in Texas (You Gotta Have a Fiddle in the Band)" (1984) and "Song of the South" (1988). The band's popularity waned slightly in the 1990s although they continued to produce hit singles and multi-platinum album sales. Alabama disbanded in 2004 following a farewell tour and two albums of inspirational music but reunited in 2010 and have continued to record and tour worldwide.
Owen was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2010, but he was later given a clean bill of health, which led to the band's reunion, without Herndon. Following a series of tornadoes destroying homes and businesses throughout their state in 2011, Alabama assembled a benefit concert in Birmingham, called Bama Rising. Featuring the band's first set since 2004, alongside Luke Bryan, Sheryl Crow and Brad Paisley, the concert raised $2.1 million. "I guess we realized that maybe we missed the playing ... and five or six years had gone by and we were like, 'Maybe that wasn't as bad as we remember it being,'" said Gentry. In celebration of the group's 40th anniversary, Alabama resumed touring in 2013 for the Back to the Bowery tour, referencing the Myrtle Beach club where they first became professional musicians. They also undertook a short cruise, The Alabama & Friends Festival at Sea, which left for the Bahamas on Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Pearl ship. In addition, the band released Alabama & Friends, a tribute album encompassing covers from newer artists such as Jason Aldean and Florida Georgia Line, in addition to two new tracks by Alabama.
The band released their first new studio album in 14 years, Southern Drawl, on September 18, 2015, via BMG Chrysalis. In 2016, Alabama was selected as one of 30 artists to perform on "Forever Country", a mash-up track of "Take Me Home, Country Roads", "On the Road Again", and "I Will Always Love You" that celebrates 50 years of the CMA Awards.
In April 2017, guitarist Jeff Cook announced in a video that he would reduce the number of shows for which he would be in attendance while the band was on tour, due to his struggle with Parkinson's. He had been diagnosed four years prior, and this was his first public announcement about his condition.
In August 2021, the band sold its interest in its recorded music rights catalog to Reservoir Media. Cook died from complications of Parkinson's disease on November 7, 2022.
The band's blend of traditional country music and Southern rock combined with elements of bluegrass, folk, gospel and pop music gave it a crossover appeal that helped lead to their success. They also toured extensively and incorporated production elements such as lighting and "sets" inspired by rock concerts into their shows.
Alabama was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in 2019 and were awarded with the first ever Life Time Achievement Award from this institution.
The members of Alabama are:
- Randy Owen (lead vocals and rhythm guitar)
- Teddy Gentry (bass guitar and backing vocals)
Love in the First Degree
Alabama Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A place I didn't want to be
But long ago I made a decision
To be footloose and fancy free
But you came and I was so tempted
To gamble on love just one time
I never thought that I would get caught
It seemed like a perfect crime
Baby, you left me defenseless
I've only got one plea
Lock me away inside of your love
And throw away the key
I'm guilty of love in the first degree
I thought it would be so simple
Like a thousand times before
I take what I wanted and just walk away
But I never made it to the door
Now babe I'm not begging for mercy
Go ahead and throw the book at me
If loving you's a crime
I know that I'm as guilty as a man can be
Baby, you left me defenseless
I've only got one plea
Lock me away inside of your love
And throw away the key
I'm guilty of love in the first degree
(Love in the first degree) Oh yeah, oh yeah
Baby, you left me defenseless
I've only got one plea
Lock me away inside of your love
And throw away the key
I'm guilty of love in the first degree
Love in the first degree oh yea
Love in the first degree
Love in the first degree oh yea
Love in the first degree
Love in the first degree
The song "Love in the First Degree" by Alabama is a mid-tempo ballad that describes a transformation of the singer's perspective on love. The lyrics imply that love used to be a prison to him, something that he did not want to be confined to. However, after meeting the woman he is addressing, he realizes that love is worth the risk. He is tempted to take a chance on love with her, and it seemed like a perfect crime. But he was caught in the act of falling in love, and now he is guilty of it in the first degree. He is at the mercy of his lover and pleading for her to lock him away inside her love and throw away the key.
The song has a catchy melody and a relatable sentiment about the risks and rewards of love. The storyteller is describing the feeling of falling in love and how it can come on strong, making one feel defenseless and powerless. He knows that he's guilty of love, but he doesn't care; he's happy to be in love, even if it's at the cost of his freedom. The song's title alludes to the legal term used for deliberate, premeditated, and intentional murder, emphasizing the severity of the singer's feelings of love.
Line by Line Meaning
I once thought of love as a prison
Love used to feel like a trap to me
A place I didn't want to be
I didn't want to feel trapped by my emotions
But long ago I made a decision
I decided to live a life free of emotional commitment
To be footloose and fancy-free
To not be tied down by love or relationships
But you came and I was so tempted
You caught my eye and I had a strong desire for you
To gamble on love just one time
I decided to take a chance on love with you
I never thought that I would get caught
I thought I could avoid getting emotionally attached
It seemed like a perfect crime
It felt like I could enjoy love without being trapped by it
Baby, you left me defenseless
You left me vulnerable and unable to resist you
I've only got one plea
I can only beg for one thing
Lock me away inside of your love
Let me be fully committed to loving you
And throw away the key
Don't let me escape or back out of this commitment
I'm guilty of love in the first degree
I'm fully committed and responsible for the love I feel for you
I thought it would be so simple
I thought love would be easy and uncomplicated
Like a thousand times before
I thought it would be like all the other fleeting connections I've had
I take what I wanted and just walk away
I thought I could use you for what I wanted and leave
But I never made it to the door
I couldn't leave because I had already fallen for you
Now babe I'm not begging for mercy
I'm not asking for forgiveness or to be let off the hook
Go ahead and throw the book at me
Punish me for my full commitment to you
If loving you's a crime
If fully committing to you is wrong
I know that I'm as guilty as a man can be
I know I am fully responsible and committed to loving you
Love in the first degree
I am completely and fully committed to loving you
Oh yeah, oh yeah
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jim Hurt, Tim J. Dubois, Timothy James Dubois
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
LeDon Wissner
Mr. Jeff Cook- blessed you graced us with your iconic, smooth, beautiful singing vocals and music. Thank you, Sir. REST WELL with the Angels. xx
Randy Owen
👆👆
Cheryl Baker
Alabama with discovered in Myrtle Beach South Carolina at the Bowery come out in my senior year of high that's been over forty years ago and they're still just as good as they ever were and yes rest in peace Jeff Cook you are surely missed and loved by many thank you
Angela Gilmore
@Randy Owen loved your music Randy for my whole life your amazing God bless you rip Mr Jeff 💗
Myra Barrett
Amen
heatherhinsdale
I knew the one guy had cancer but I didn't realize he had passed away
Dawn Crowl
Alabama is the most popular country singers along with all the other old country songs but if u sit an really listen to the words it's all real for the true love from the heart an soul...God bless all the old music an keep playing them there the real words still this day for us ones who was raised around it were still here fighting to be strong ....
Josh Stephens
This is some 1982 country music right here. It's also a crossover hit, charting in the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts 40 years ago.
Raymond Edmonds
Was just 4 yrs old in 1982 miss the 80s
Shannon Campbell
My favorite country band.
Thank you making the best music out there. 40 yrs later and I'm still singing along