POPULAR DEVIATION
  • Home
  • BLOG
  • Haystack Commentary
  • Political Hay
  • Contact

Picture
Atlanta was formed in 1982 by Brad Griffis (vocals), Bill Davidson (vocals, rhythm guitar), Tony Ingram (vocals, fiddle), Alan David (lead guitar), Allen Collay (keyboards), Bill Packard (keyboards), Jeff Baker (harmonica), Dick Stevens (bass guitar) and John Holder (drums). Prior to the foundation, Ingram had recorded on Epic Records in the band Spurzz, and Stevens, Davidson, Griffis and David had previously toured as a re-establishment of The Vogues. The group was founded through the assistance of record producer Larry McBride, who had also launched the career of Alabama. With nine members, Atlanta was the largest country music band at the time. "Atlanta Burned Again Last Night" was the band's debut single, released in 1983 on the independent MDJ record label, which McBride owned. This recording spent seventeen weeks on the Billboard country singles charts, peaking at number 9.This single was one of the highest-charting debut singles by an independently-signed country music act.

After it came the number 11 "Dixie Dreaming", the band's second and final MDJ release. By early 1984, MCA Records assumed promotion of the band's singles and albums, releasing "Sweet Country Music" early in the year. This became the band's highest-charting hit, reaching number 5 on the Billboard country charts. MCA released the band's debut album Pictures in 1984. MCA also released the singles "Pictures" and "Wishful Drinkin'," the latter of which was included in the film Ellie. Atlanta released its self-titled second album for MCA in 1985. It included the singles "My Sweet-Eyed Georgia Girl" and "Why Not Tonight," both of which peaked outside the country Top 40. The band later moved to the Southern Tracks label, releasing "We Always Agree on Love" and "Sad Clichés.
Picture
1984
Picture

======[c]2013-2025 Popular Deviation======

-“Journalism largely consists in saying "Lord Jones is dead" to people who never knew Lord Jones was alive.”  ― G.K. Chesterton
​“So much for Objective Journalism. Don't bother to look for it here--not under any byline of mine; or anyone else I can think of. With the possible exception of things like box scores, race results, and stock market tabulations, there is no such thing as Objective Journalism. The phrase itself is a pompous contradiction in terms.”― Hunter S. Thompson, Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail '72
“People sometimes imagine that just because they have access to so many newspapers, radio and TV channels, they will get an infinity of different opinions. Then they discover that things are just the opposite: the power of these loudspeakers only amplifies the opinion prevalent at a certain time, to the point where it covers any other opinion.”   ― Amin Maalouf, The First Century After Beatrice
​“Heartless gossips pose as professional press, they get a few quotes and run with the story like Seabiscuit to the finish line. They’re nothing more than conmen, salesmen, pitchmen, pompous men professing to be of public service—and they have the freedom to do so. There’s no price to pay.”  ― Pamela L Hamilton, Lady Be Good Lib/E: The Life and Times of Dorothy Hale
  • Home
  • BLOG
  • Haystack Commentary
  • Political Hay
  • Contact