Introduction:
“Love in the First Degree,” a quintessential song by the iconic American country music band Alabama, was officially released as a single in October 1981. It is prominently featured on their highly successful album, “Feels So Right,” which had been released earlier that year, in February 1981. This track, co-written by Jim Hurt and Tim DuBois, firmly established itself within the country pop genre, showcasing Alabama’s signature blend of traditional country instrumentation with accessible, melodic pop sensibilities.
The song proved to be a monumental success for the band, marking their fifth consecutive number-one hit on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart, and their second multi-week chart-topper. Beyond its undeniable dominance in the country music sphere, “Love in the First Degree” also achieved significant crossover success, a testament to Alabama’s growing appeal beyond their core country audience. It impressively peaked at number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart in early 1982, demonstrating its widespread mainstream appeal. Furthermore, it reached number 5 on the US Adult Contemporary (Billboard) chart, and also topped both the Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary Tracks and Canadian RPM Country Tracks charts. This broad success across multiple formats solidified Alabama’s status as a crossover phenomenon and was instrumental in propelling “Feels So Right” to eventually achieve quadruple platinum certification. “Love in the First Degree” remains one of Alabama’s most beloved and enduring hits, a cornerstone of their sound throughout the 1980s and a shining example of the band’s ability to craft universally appealing songs that resonated deeply with a diverse audience.