Hurricane (Leon Everette song)
"Hurricane" is a song co-written by Thom Schuyler, Keith Stegall, and Stewart Harris. Levon Helm recorded it for his 1980 album American Son. It was later recorded by American country music singer Leon Everette. It was released in July 1981 as the lead single and title track from Everette's album Hurricane. It is Everette's highest-charting single, peaking at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in September 1981. Band of Heathens, an American rock band, also charted a rendition of the song in 2018.
| "Hurricane" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Leon Everette | ||||
| from the album Hurricane | ||||
| B-side | "Make Me Stop Loving Her"[1] | |||
| Released | July 13, 1981 | |||
| Genre | Urban cowboy, country rock | |||
| Length | 3:22 | |||
| Label | RCA | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Thom Schuyler Keith Stegall Stewart Harris[2] | |||
| Producer(s) | Ronnie Dean Leon Everette | |||
| Leon Everette singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Content edit
The song is about an old man who lives in the famed New Orleans French Quarter. The man is unfazed when told that a hurricane was about to hit the city; even when "a man from Chicago" claims that the levees need to be raised, he claims that the levees will hold and the man will be "on his way to Illinois".[3]
Critical reception edit
Jerry Sharpe of The Pittsburgh Press wrote that the song "defeats the standard old formulas for successful country music lyrics — no love story, no sex, no booze, no tragedy."[3] An uncredited review in Billboard said that "Everette's distinctive vocals are the perfect vehicle for this tale of man's struggle against the elements."[4] Dave Marsh was less favorable in The New Rolling Stone Record Guide, calling Everette a "poor man's Johnny Lee" and said the song was "almost an interesting ballad".[5]
Charts edit
Weekly charts edit
| Year-end charts edit
|
Cover versions edit
American rock band Band of Heathens charted a rendition of "Hurricane" in 2018, reaching number 18 on Hot Rock Songs.[9]
American country band Shane Smith and The Saints released a cover of "Hurricane" in 2018.[10]
Neotraditional country trio The Castellows released a cover of "Hurricane" in November 2023.[11]
References edit
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. p. 139. ISBN 978-0-89820-177-2.
- ^ "Search results". Broadcast Music Incorporated. Archived from the original on July 15, 2012. Retrieved June 1, 2011.
- ^ a b Sharpe, Jerry (January 31, 1982). "'Hurricane' Storming Country Scene". The Pittsburgh Press. pp. J–6. Retrieved June 1, 2011.
- ^ "Top Single Picks". Billboard. July 11, 1981. p. 64.
- ^ Marsh, Dave; Swenson, John (1983). The new Rolling stone record guide. Random House/Rolling Stone Press. p. 167. ISBN 0-394-72107-1.
- ^ "Leon Everette Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
- ^ "RPM Country Tracks for November 7, 1981". RPM. Retrieved June 1, 2011.
- ^ "Hot Country Songs – Year-End 1981". Billboard. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
- ^ "Chart position for "Hurricane"". Billboard. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
- ^ "The Most Anticipated Country Albums for 2019 + Rumors". Saving Country Music. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
- ^ "The Castellows release cover of Levon Helm's "Hurricane"". Warner Music Nashville. 2023-03-06. Retrieved January 15, 2024.