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)
You Turn Me On
Alabama Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You know how t'turn me on in a special way all your own
No one has been where you've gone in so long
Oh, baby, you turn me on
Your world fits right into mine with perfection time after time
And my world's where you must belong, 'cause baby, you turn me on
It's always so perfect with you every time
Oh yeah, I love you
[Chorus:]
Oh, baby, you turn me on
Baby, you know every way to turn me on and on and on
So why don't you just turn me on?
'Cause you know how to turn me on
Alabama’s song "You Turn Me On" is a romantic love song that expresses the deep affection of the singer towards his lover. In this song, the chorus is where the heart of the song resides. The singer emphasizes that his lover has a unique way of turning him on that nobody else has been able to achieve. He continues to praise her by telling her that she fits perfectly well into his world, which he thinks is where she belongs.
The singer feels that his lover is the missing piece that completes his life, which is why she has such power to turn him on. She is the only one who knows how to do it, and he loves her for it. The singer feels that every moment spent with her is perfect and he never gets enough of her because she knows how to turn him on every time. Therefore, he ends the song by asking her to turn him on because he knows no one does it better than her.
In conclusion, Alabama’s song "You Turn Me On" is a beautiful love song that expresses the deep affection of the singer for his lover. He praises her uniqueness and her ability to turn him on in a special way nobody else can. The song portrays a strong bond between two people who are deeply in love with each other.
Line by Line Meaning
You know how t'turn me on in a special way all your own
Only you can bring out my deepest emotions and ignite my passion with a unique touch.
No one has been where you've gone in so long
I haven't felt this way in ages and your ability to excite me is unmatched by anyone.
Oh, baby, you turn me on
Your mere presence sparks a desire in me that cannot be contained.
Your world fits right into mine with perfection time after time
Our lives complement each other perfectly every time we are together, like two puzzle pieces fitting seamlessly.
And my world's where you must belong, 'cause baby, you turn me on
I cannot imagine a world without you in it, because your influence over me is so powerful and captivating.
Oh, baby, you turn me on
Once again, your physical and emotional presence brings out a fiery passion within me.
It's always so perfect with you every time
Every moment spent with you feels like a fairytale come true, and there is never a dull moment.
Oh yeah, I love you
My feelings for you are intense and unwavering, and I am hopelessly in love with you.
Baby, you know every way to turn me on and on and on
You have a thorough understanding of what makes me tick, and you are able to keep my excitement going continuously.
So why don't you just turn me on?
You have the power to drive me wild, so why not take advantage of that and ignite my passion even further?
'Cause you know how to turn me on.
You possess a natural ability to captivate my heart and soul, and you know exactly what you need to do to excite me.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: RANDY OWEN, TEDDY GENTRY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Tonya Gray
One of their greatest songs ever!!!!
Lacy C
This is exactly how I feel about the man I love...how fortunate I am to have a man who cares about my needs, and not just his own. Yes!
elmo shipman
I LOVE THIS SONG!!!!
Steven Markham
Perfect song for someone special in my life! :)
Ginny
Love this Song.
Alfred Brown
Alabama great song
Sandra Koback
I love Alabama
elmo shipman
I wish there were men out there in my area who felt this way about a woman innstead of just wanting a quick rill in the hay.
April Ward
God this is my all time do favorite s k abaca song remember
rubicon1983
Randy Owen whispering in this song about turning him on is actually kind of creepy and quite cheesy even for 1981.