My 100 Favorite Charted Pop Songs: Seven Bridges Road

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If you don’t like country music, you’re not getting any relief on this side of the countdown today. Sorry. But that’s how it goes when the songs are alphabetical…and when you get someone who’s a sucker for harmony making the lists. Here’s today’s song. Seven Bridges Road - Eagles A few things about this song that you might not know. First, this arrangement was basically stolen from the Iain Matthews version in 1973. I guess no one wanted to hear an English guy singing about a road in Alabama, but he pulled it off splendidly. (Matthews was a member of Fairport Convention at one time.) It sounds more “authentic” coming from a Southern California band, right? And yes, the road is real. It’s not named “Seven Bridges Road,” but there are seven bridges on it. It’s Woodley Road, outside of Montgomery, Alabama. You’re welcome. But let’s face it, if the Eagles hadn’t recorded this song it’d probably still be relegated to the deepest of deep-cut album tracks. Matthews had one US hit, 1979’s top 20 song “Shake It,” but that’s not enough to make people go running in search of other things. Steve Young had a number of hits as a songwriter (such as “Lonesome, On’ry and Mean” by Waylon Jennings and “Montgomery in the Rain” by Hank Jr.) but never made a splash with his own recordings. He died in 2016, the same year that Eagles co-founder Glenn Frey passed away. In the depths of the albums you’ll find some great songs. I’m sure glad the Eagles found this one and brought it to everyone’s attention. Seven Bridges Road Written by Steve Young Recorded by the Eagles From Eagles Live, 1980 Peak chart position: #21 (also charted #55 country) Today’s country song: “Sing Me Back Home” Running like a child from these warm stars: