Seven Bridges Road

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Name = Seven Bridges Road


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Artist = Steve Young
Album = Rock Salt & Nails
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Released = 1969
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Recorded = 1969
Genre =Country
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Writer = Steve Young
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"Seven Bridges Road" is the title of a song written by Steve Young that he recorded in 1969 for his " Rock Salt & Nails" album. The definitive version is the cover recorded by The Eagles in 1980 which still receives significant airplay on classic rock stations.

History

In Hank Williams Jr.'s autobiography, "Living Proof", he mentions in the first chapter that the "seven bridges road" refers to the road in Montgomery, Alabama that leads to the Oakwood Annex Cemetery where Hank Williams' grave is located. To get there one must cross over seven bridges. However there are those who dispute this account.

The official name of the road is Woodley Road but it is still often referred to as Seven Bridges Road as it runs from Fairview Avenue in the city to Mount Zion Road many miles out in the country. There are indeed seven well-defined bridges and moss hanging from the trees. The area with the seven bridges is where Woodley Road crosses Catoma Creek and various swamps. [mscar1, [http://www.songmeanings.net/lyric.php?lid=4827] ]

The account of the song's author, Steve Young, confirms this version:

"Seven Bridges Road was real. It is still real but I don't think it exists in the same way as I remember it due to development, etc.

"I lived in Montgomery, Alabama, in the early 60s and had a group of friends there that showed me the road. It led out of town and after you had crossed seven bridges you found yourself out in the country on a dirt road. Spanish Moss hung in the trees and there were old farms with old fences and graveyards and churches and streams. A high-bank dirt road with trees. It seemed like a Disney Fantasy at times. People went there to park or get stoned or just to get away from it all. I thought my friends had made up the name 'Seven Bridges Road.' I found out later that it had been called by that name for over a hundred years. That people had been struck by the beauty of the road for a long time, however, this is not the official name of the road. It is a 'folk name.'

"I never dreamed that anyone would understand or like this song. I played it for the first time one night in Montgomery and it got a big reaction. I was very surprised and thought it just because it was a local known thing and that was why they liked it.

"It is really not a commercial song. I still don't understand why people like it so much. In 1968 I was recording an album for A&M Records. The producer wanted me to interpret songs. He didn't really want me to do any originals but we ran out of songs and I started singing Seven Bridges.

"We had been recording live with a trio; me and James Burton and a bass player. Burton said, 'This one's ready. We can do this one.' The song sounded good and so the producer said O.K. We put it down as it is now heard on the old A&M Album 'Rock Salt & Nails.'

"Thats how it happened." [Young, [http://www.songmeanings.net/lyric.php?lid=4827] ]

Cover versions

* Joan Baez covered "Seven Bridges Road" in 1970.
* Ian Matthews recorded "Seven Bridges Road" on his "Valley Hi" album in 1973 (produced by, and featuring, former Monkee Michael Nesmith on guitar). The version is identical to the version relessed by the Eagles in 1980 - acapella opening, tight four-part harmony, the works.
* The song was recorded live by the Eagles for their "Eagles Live" album in 1980; the single, b/w a live version of The Long Run, reached #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. However, the Eagles never recorded or released a studio cut of the tune.
* Glam metal band FireHouse covered the song on their "Good Acoustics" album.
* Country music group Ricochet covered the song on their 2000 album "What You Leave Behind".
* Dolly Parton covered the song on her 2001 "Little Sparrow" album.
* Alan Jackson performed a bluegrass version live at Texas Stadium in 2004. Alan regularly performs the song live
* Whiskey Falls performed a cover of this song at many venues while touring in 2007 and 2008.

References

* cite book
last = Mann| first = Brent
title = Blinded by the Lyrics
year = 2005
publisher = Citadel Press
location = New York An online version can be found at [http://books.google.com/books?id=3gSXTmg8_sIC&pg=PA181&lpg=PA181&dq=woodley+rd+montgomery+seven+bridges&source=web&ots=k-KhJvr1gI&sig=lc40q3CcefRTP3LXrawlR34uT5U] .