"City Lights" is an American

country music Country (also called country and western) is a genre of popular music that originated in the Southern and Southwestern United States in the early 1920s. It primarily derives from blues, church music such as Southern gospel and spirituals, ...

song written by Bill Anderson on August 27, 1957. He recorded it on a small Texas label called TNT Records in early 1958 to little acclaim. The song was first cut by Anderson in 1957 at the campus of the

University of Georgia , mottoeng = "To teach, to serve, and to inquire into the nature of things.""To serve" was later added to the motto without changing the seal; the Latin motto directly translates as "To teach and to inquire into the nature of things." , establ ...

. In June 1958, Ray Price recorded it and his version hit number 1 on the ''Billboard'' Hot Country Songs singles chart in August 1958.

Mickey Gilley Mickey Leroy Gilley (March 9, 1936 – May 7, 2022) was an American country music singer and songwriter. Although he started out singing straight-up country and western material in the 1970s, he moved towards a more pop-friendly sound in the 19 ...

's version also hit number 1 in June 1975.

About the song

"City Lights" was one of Anderson's earliest major successes. Released in June 1958, Price's version of "City Lights" stalled at #2 on the ''

Billboard magazine ''Billboard'' (stylized as ''billboard'') is an American music and entertainment magazine published weekly by Penske Media Corporation. The magazine provides music charts, news, video, opinion, reviews, events, and style related to the musi ...

'' Most Played C&W by Disc Jockeys chart later that summer. When ''Billboard'' introduced its all-encompassing chart for country music (called "Hot C&W Sides") on October 20, "City Lights" was the new chart's first #1 song. It remained atop the chart for 13 weeks, its last week being January 12, 1959. The song spent a total of 34 weeks on the chart. The song was popular enough to cross over to US Hot 100, where it peaked at #71.

Cover versions

* Dave Rich recorded this song in May 1958 and was the first to have it played on the Nashville radio stations. *

Ivory Joe Hunter Ivory Joe Hunter (October 10, 1914 – November 8, 1974) was an American rhythm-and-blues singer, songwriter, and pianist. After a series of hits on the US R&B chart starting in the mid-1940s, he became more widely known for his hit recordin ...

recorded it in 1959 during his shift to country music late in his career and his version peaked at #92 on the US Billboard charts. * Debbie Reynolds recorded it in 1960 and her version peaked at #55 on pop charts. *

Jerry Lee Lewis Jerry Lee Lewis (September 29, 1935October 28, 2022) was an American singer, songwriter and pianist. Nicknamed "The Killer", he was described as " rock & roll's first great wild man". A pioneer of rock and roll and rockabilly music, Lewis ma ...

recorded it his 1965 album, '' Country Songs for City Folks'',Jerry Lee Lewis, ''Country Songs for City Folks''
Retrieved June 15, 2012. *

recorded a piano-backed honky-tonk rendition on his 1975 album, ''City Lights'', and his version hit number 1 on the country charts in February 1975. *

Mel Tillis Lonnie Melvin Tillis (August 8, 1932 – November 19, 2017) was an American country music singer and songwriter. Although he recorded songs since the late 1950s, his biggest success occurred in the 1970s as part of the outlaw country movement, ...

's 1989 version peaked at number 67 on the ''Billboard'' Hot Country Singles chart. *Others who have recorded the song are:

Connie Smith Connie Smith (born Constance June Meador; August 14, 1941) is an American country music singer and songwriter. Her contralto vocals have been described by music writers as significant and influential to the women of country music. A similarity h ...

Rick Trevino Ricardo Treviño Jr. (born May 16, 1971) is an American country music artist. Signed to Columbia Nashville in 1993, Trevino began his career that year with the release of his debut single "Just Enough Rope", the first mainstream country music sin ...

, Conway Twitty, Johnny Bush and

Dottie West Dorothy Marie Marsh West (October 11, 1932 – September 4, 1991) was an American country music singer and songwriter. Along with her friends and fellow recording artists Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn, she is considered one of the genre's most in ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:City Lights (Bill Anderson Song) Songs about cities 1958 singles 1975 singles Songs written by Bill Anderson (singer) Bill Anderson (singer) songs Ray Price (musician) songs Debbie Reynolds songs Jerry Lee Lewis songs Mickey Gilley songs Mel Tillis songs Song recordings produced by Eddie Kilroy Columbia Records singles Playboy Records singles 1958 songs