Country Cuts: 5 Fun Tunes with “Memphis” in the Title
If America has a sound, it was born in Memphis. As the largest city on the Mississippi River, Memphis, Tennessee is not only the convergence of commerce but the confluence of cultures. Musically speaking, it is the spawning ground of the Blues, Rhythm & Blues, and Rock & Roll. Nicknamed “Bluff City”, this place also plays host to several of the most venerated locales in the history of music. These sacred spots include Beale Street, Graceland, Stax Records, and Sun Studio.
In a town that proudly boasts “The Birthplace of Rock ‘n’ Roll” and the “Home of the Blues,” Country music may seem out of place. This is far from true. Although Nashville is traditionally associated with the genre, Country music has always had a love affair with Memphis. Afterall, Music City and Bluff City are only about 200 miles apart. Here are five fun Country cuts with “Memphis” in the title.
“Memphis Beat” – Jerry Lee Lewis
“The Killer”, aka Jerry Lee Lewis, is a foundational pillar of Rock & Roll. He was Sun Records’ golden child. Lewis took the music world by storm in the late 50s with hits such as “Great Balls of Fire” and “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On.” It was a meteoric rise to stardom, followed by an equally impressive fall from grace. By the mid-1960s, Jerry Lee had been relegated to Smash Records, a subsidiary of Mercury Records. With nothing to lose and even fewer options, Smash Records decided to rebrand The Killer as a full-fledged Country artist. The decision paid off. Lewis became a staple on the Country charts, including four #1 hits. “Memphis Beat” was released in 1966. The tune shows Jerry Lee’s early shift to the genre that would define the rest of his career.
“That’s How I Got to Memphis” – Tom T. Hall
Tom T. Hall is one of the great poet tunesmiths of the twentieth century. Nicknamed “The Storyteller”, he offered a cerebral brand of folksy narrative that has been emulated by many and matched by none. Hall wrote extensively for other artists including Waylon Jennings, George Jones, and Loretta Lynn. In 1968, Tom T.’s “Harper Valley PTA” was released by Jeannie C. Riley. The tune was a phenomenon, topping both the Country charts and the Billboard Hot 100. One year later, in 1969, Hall released “That’s How I Got to Memphis.” In a career full of sensational songs, this one is his most covered. Bobby Bare took the tune to #3 on the 1970 Country charts. It is the perfect tale of forlorn love, to somehow culminate in Bluff City. The story is clear, poignant, and powerful…just like the storyteller.
“Maybe It Was Memphis” – Pam Tillis
Bluff City makes for the ideal culprit in this tale of a passionate fleeting interlude. The tune was penned in 1983 by Nashville songsmith Michael Anderson and was destined to appear on the second studio album from Pam Tillis. However, Tillis’ label scrapped the project. When Arista Records later signed her, Pam was able to convince her new company to re-record the song. “Maybe It Was Memphis” was released in late 1991 off Tillis’ second studio album, Put Yourself in My Place. In February of 1992, the tune peaked at #3 on the Country charts. It was also nominated for a Grammy and CMA Song of the Year. After hearing the final mix for the first time, Pam says, “I knew that was my best work I had done up until that moment. And if I never got to make another record, I would feel proud of that one.” In 2024, Rolling Stone Magazine included the song on their list of the 200 greatest Country songs of all time.
“Wrong Side of Memphis” – Trisha Yearwood
Written by Matraca Berg and Gary Harrison, this tune was first recorded by Country crooner John Berry in 1990. Berg calls the tune, “totally autobiographical.” It tells the tale of a struggling musician who knows she is in the right business, just in the wrong location. Berry’s version was never released as a single, however, the song would find a second life. In August of 1992, newly minted Country superstar Trisha Yearwood released “Wrong Side of Memphis.” The previous year, Yearwood’s self-titled debut album went double platinum. She could not have been hotter at the time. For her second album Hearts in Armor, this was the song that was chosen to be the lead single. It was a good choice. The tune made it to #5 on the Billboard Country charts, the most successful single on the album.
“Cinco de Mayo in Memphis” – Guy Clark
The state of Texas has produced more than its fair share of legendary troubadours, and this guy ranks among the very best. Guy Clark had an unbelievable yet understated career that spanned the better part of five decades. His influence as a songsmith permeates current Country music while artists like Johnny Cash and Alan Jackson have had hits with his songs. Clark’s signature blend of Blues and Texas swing is on full display with his tune “Cinco de Mayo in Memphis.” This number, co-written with Chuck Mead, appears on Guy’s 2006 Grammy nominated album Workbench Songs. The tune expounds the mass captivation and wide appeal of Bluff City, particularly its unrivaled musical pedigree.
