"Carolina in the Pines" is a song written and recorded by American country music artist
Michael Martin Murphey
Michael Martin Murphey (born March 14, 1945) is an American singer-songwriter best known for writing and performing Western music, country music and popular music. A multiple Grammy nominee, Murphey has six gold albums, including ''Cowboy Songs' ...
. It was released in August 1975 as the second and final single from the album ''
Blue Sky - Night Thunder''. It peaked at number 21 on the U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart, number 4 on the Adult Contemporary chart, and number 25 on the Canadian ''RPM'' Top Singles chart in late 1975. The song was re-recorded with
John McEuen
John McEuen, born December 19, 1945 in Oakland, California, is an American folk musician and a founding member of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.
Career Solo work
John McEuen was born in Oakland, California. In 1964, at age 18, he became intereste ...
on banjo and released in May 1985 from his compilation album ''
The Best of Michael Martin Murphey
''The Best of Michael Martin Murphey'' is the first compilation album by the American singer-songwriter Michael Martin Murphey. It was released in 1985 via EMI America Records. The album includes the singles "What She Wants
"What She Wants" is ...
''. The re-release peaked at number 9 on the U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot Country Singles chart and at number 11 on the Canadian ''RPM'' Country Tracks chart in mid-1985. Bluegrass band
The Special Consensus
The Special Consensus is an acoustic bluegrass group led by banjoist Greg Cahill.http://specialc.com
Biography History
In 1973, graduate student Cahill jammed with other bluegrass musicians at the University of Chicago Folk Festival. They began ...
recorded the song on their 2002 album, ''Route 10''.
Background
"Carolina in the Pines" addresses Martin's wife whose actual name was Caroline: "I tried to write a love song about my wife without trying to relegate her to a secondary position as a supporter of me. I tried to make it about her as an individual. That's what
he and Itry to do in life." Caroline Hogue was the second of Murphey's five wives: the couple had married in 1973 and would divorce in 1978.
Critical reception
''
Billboard
A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...
'' magazine reviewed the song favorably, calling it "a countryish tune in a distinct
John Denver
Henry John Deutschendorf Jr. (December 31, 1943 – October 12, 1997), known professionally as John Denver, was an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, actor, activist, and humanitarian whose greatest commercial success was as a solo singe ...
vein."
['']Billboard
A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...
'', August 16, 1975
Personnel
*
Michael Murphey
Michael Martin Murphey (born March 14, 1945) is an American singer-songwriter best known for writing and performing Western music, country music and popular music. A multiple Grammy nominee, Murphey has six gold albums, including ''Cowboy Songs' ...
– vocals
* Jac Murphy – piano
*
John McEuen
John McEuen, born December 19, 1945 in Oakland, California, is an American folk musician and a founding member of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.
Career Solo work
John McEuen was born in Oakland, California. In 1964, at age 18, he became intereste ...
- banjo
Chart performance
Original release
Re-release
References
{{authority control
1975 songs
1975 singles
1985 singles
Michael Martin Murphey songs
Songs written by Michael Martin Murphey
Song recordings produced by Bob Johnston
Warner Records singles