"Third Rate Romance"
Single by Amazing Rhythm Aces
from the album Stacked Deck
B-side"Mystery Train"
ReleasedJune 23, 1975
GenreCountry rock
Length3:17
LabelABC
Songwriter(s)Russell Smith
Producer(s)Barry Burton
Amazing Rhythm Aces singles chronology
"Third Rate Romance"
(1975)
"Amazing Grace (Used to Be Her Favorite Song)"
(1975)

"Third Rate Romance" is a song written by Russell Smith, first recorded in Montreal in 1974 by Jesse Winchester and his band the Rhythm Aces, assisted by Smith. It became a hit the following year by the newly re-formed Amazing Rhythm Aces on its 1975 album Stacked Deck. It was the band's debut single, reaching No.11 on the U.S. country singles chart and No.14 on the Billboard Hot 100,[1] as well as No.1 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks and Top Singles charts.

Content

The third-person lyrics tell the story of a man and woman who meet at a restaurant and depart together for what presumably will prove to be a one-night stand at a motel (the "Family Inn"). At the door of the room, she nervously says, "I've never really done this kind of thing before—have you?" He admits that he has, "but only a time or two."

Chart performance

Sammy Kershaw version

"Third Rate Romance"
Single by Sammy Kershaw
from the album Feelin' Good Train
B-side"Paradise from Nine to One"
ReleasedAugust 30, 1994
GenreCountry
Length3:21
LabelMercury Nashville
Songwriter(s)Russell Smith
Producer(s)Buddy Cannon, Norro Wilson
Sammy Kershaw singles chronology
"National Working Woman's Holiday"
(1994)
"Third Rate Romance"
(1994)
"Southbound"
(1995)

American country music artist Sammy Kershaw covered the song on his 1994 album Feelin' Good Train, from which it was released as a single in 1994. It peaked at No.2 in the United States country charts[11] and at No.10 in Canada. Russell Smith provided backing vocals on Kershaw's version.

Music video

The music video was directed by Michael Merriman, and premiered in late 1994. It features a woman luring an older man into going to a motel with her. She steals his money and watch and then drives off with another man, as the old man tries to chase them down.

Chart performance

Chart (1994) Peak
position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[12] 10
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[13] 5
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[14] 2

Other versions

References

  1. Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. p. 24. ISBN 978-0-89820-177-2.
  2. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 6486." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
  3. "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 4038." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
  4. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 6131a." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
  5. Flavour of New Zealand, 24 October 1975
  6. "The Amazing Rhythm Aces Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  7. "The Amazing Rhythm Aces Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  8. Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 15.
  9. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". collectionscanada.gc.ca.
  10. Musicoutfitters.com
  11. Whitburn, p. 224
  12. "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 2653." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. November 14, 1994. Retrieved August 4, 2013.
  13. "Sammy Kershaw Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard.
  14. "Sammy Kershaw Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
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