Backroads (song)

"Backroads" is a song written by Canadian country music artist Charlie Major, and recorded by American country music singer Ricky Van Shelton. It was released in March 1992 as the fourth single and title track from his album Backroads. It had previously served as the b-side to that album's earlier single "I Am a Simple Man."[1]

"Backroads"
Single by Ricky Van Shelton
from the album Backroads
B-side	"Call Me Up"[1]
Released	March 16, 1992
Recorded	December 20, 1990
Genre	Country
Length	3:43
Label	Columbia Nashville #74258
Songwriter(s)	Charlie Major
Producer(s)	Steve Buckingham
Ricky Van Shelton singles chronology
"After the Lights Go Out" (1991) "Backroads" (1992) "Wear My Ring Around Your Neck" (1992)

Major won SOCAN Song of the Year at the 1993 Canadian Country Music Association Awards.[2] He later recorded the song on his 2004 album Inside Out.

Chart performance

"Backroads" spent twenty weeks on the Hot Country Songs charts, peaking at number 2 for one week, behind "Achy Breaky Heart" by Billy Ray Cyrus. It also reached number 3 on the Canadian country music charts published by RPM.[3]

Chart (1992)	Peak position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[4]	3
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[5]	2

Year-end charts

Chart (1992)	Position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[6]	33
US Country Songs (Billboard)[7]	35

References

1. Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. p. 377. ISBN 0-89820-177-2.
2. Mitch Potter (19 September 1993). "Country star sweeps 4 awards". Toronto Star. Retrieved 6 September 2010.
3. "RPM Country Tracks for June 6, 1992". RPM. Retrieved 6 September 2010.
4. "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 2149." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. June 6, 1992. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
5. "Ricky Van Shelton Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
6. "RPM Top 100 Country Tracks of 1992". RPM. December 19, 1992. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
7. "Best of 1992: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 1992. Retrieved August 15, 2013.