Vicki Lawrence - The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia-How the Song Came to Be

Vicki Lawrence describes how THE NIGHT THE LIGHTS WENT OUT IN GEORGIA became an accidental smash hit
Pop Goes The Culture TV is a proud user of Tube Buddy
Help POP GOES THE CULTURE stay afloat! Check out our ebay page with great comic books and pop culture collectables from my private collection! Thanks.

Help support Pop Goes The Culture by checking out my ebay store! I'm selling my comic book collection

[moorek]

I think Vicki should be in the Country Music Hall of Fame. If it had not been for this song, Reba would not have propelled as high as she did. Plus, Vicki played Mama in Mama's Family which was Southern.

[s.h]

I remember hearing this song on the radio when I was a little girl (1975? I was 9) I am now 58 ❗❗

[helloxonsfan]

This song is timeless...!!! Love Vicki Lawrence...!!! 🎶 🎵 🎧

[Maureanna]

I must be old because I watched Carol Burnett show every week n saw the first time Vicki sang it on tv. Love ❤️ it

[debraburr]

I like Vickie Lawrence version best..because she was the first I heard sing this hit song 🎵

[southernoregoncatmom]

I remember this song! It was a "Super

[deezynar]

Her ex-husband, Bobby Russell was a well-known and respected songwriter in his day. This is a short report on Mr. Russell's achievements.
For a timeframe reference, he was nine years older than her, and they married after he had already written two bona fide hit songs, and she had been on The Carol Burnett Show for five years. This song hit #1 in the U.S. in 72 - 73, and Reba's cover of it hit #12 in 92. The two chart toppers he had written before they married were 'Little Green Apples', originally recorded by Roger Miller, which hit #5 in the U.S. in 68-69. It was covered by O.C. Smith, who hit #2 with it, and Patti Page hit #12 with her version. The other song, ' Honey', which Bobby Goldsboro took to #1 in multiple countries, including the U.S. in 68. Here is an incredible fact about those two songs, both were nominated for best song of the year in 1968 with 'Little Green Apples' winning the Grammy. The songs that 'Little Green Apples' beat that year, besides 'Honey', are familiar to you since you came here for this video. 'Harper Valley P.T.A.' was one. One more was 'Mrs. Robinson', written by Paul Simon and performed by Simon and Garfunkel. Yep, Russell beat Simon and Garfunkel. And the last of the group that he beat, was 'Hey Jude', written by Lennon and McCartney, performed by the Beatles. Yes! Your eyes are working correctly. Mr. Russell wrote two songs that got nominated for best song of the year in the same year. That's rare and impressive alone. But one of those songs took the award over 'Mrs. Robinson', and 'Hey Jude'!!!
Russell also put out three record albums of him singing his own songs. Three albums, and he couldn't get any better than #25 for 'Saturday Morning Confusion' in 71. Two of his songs were used in movie sound tracks. A number of stars have recorded his songs, a few are Frank Sinatra, Elvis, Andy Williams, Johnny Mathis, The Temptations, Bing Crosby, and Dean Martin.
Many people write one hit song, but three is a tough thing to do. Beating 'Hey Jude' is miraculous.
'The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia', tied Ms. Lawrence to him in that every time someone buys her version of the song, Mr. Russel got his royalty on it until he died. Not to mention that this song put some coin in her pocket and substantially improved her credibility as a singer.
I believe her statement that he didn't see this song's potential, and that she crusaded to get it recorded. But that doesn't mean that there was no chance that it ever could have seen the light of day without her. Many hit songs have sat around for a while before being recognized as hits and getting recorded.

I should mention that Bobby Russel died in 1992 of coronary artery disease. He was only 52 years old.

Thank you, Breck Richardson for correcting my mistakes.

[theworldisavampire]

Reba has taken all glory for this song. What a shame. I'll always love Vicki's version.

[carried]

Vicki --awesome song! One of the best songs ever!

[zacharypeacock]

My Mother loved this song. I so remember her singing it and singing it and singing it when I was a child...

[brianmallen]

More than a hit Vicki, it was a monster. Probably the most ubiquitous song of that year. And you were brilliant; your voice, the meditative, foreboding way you sang it. And yeah, sorry about the personal trauma connected but Damn !, that had to help with the singing. Through great pain comes great art. Let's face it, it was the greatest southern gothic song since "Ode to Billy Joe." And you Vicki Lawrence were a bona fide sex symbol, though to your credit you never played it up. Amazing journey, you and your alter ego Carol Burnett.

[donaldkelly]

Vicki Lots of love from New Zealand, you are amazing.

[flyrobin]

Vicki Lawrence, an awesome entertainer 💕

[winstonmarkwart]

I played this song by Vicki Lawrence when I conducted a country and western show on CKOM radio.

[jerrykenney]

That was great! I’m glad that popped up in my list.

[Chicken_Wing]

I remember hearing her version with my granny when i was a kid. Also like the Reba version as well

[Jason]

Thomas Lesslie Garrett... now, THAT takes me back.
By the way, "Mr. Allison" is one of my all-time faves.

[lucymacdonald]

I love both Vicki's and Reba's versions of this song but the credit goes to Vicki for making it famous.

[HeatherValentineMsFoodie]

Sonny was ok with Half Breed and Tramps 😂😂😂 Cher also would’ve killed it!!! SO GLAD VICKI did 💕💕💕💕💕

[ML-sybn]

Vicki's version is the best version of this song.