Song:Imaginary Lover
Album:20th Century Masters: the Millenium Collection: The Best Of Atlanta Rhythm Section
The Atlanta Rhythm Section rode the wave of the popularity of Southern Rock in the 70s. They had a somewhat softer sound than some of the other bands and Imaginary Lover was one of their two top ten hits. The group came out of the Atlanta studio scene and was put together by producer Buddy Buie. Along with music publisher Bill Lowery, he opened Studio One in Doraville, GA in 1970. Buie, songwriter guitarist JR Cobb and keyboard player Dean Daughtry had been in Classics IV. Cobb wrote their hit Spooky. Daughtry had been in Roy Orbison's backup band The Candymen with singer Rodney Justo and drummer Robert Nix. Then they brought in session musicians Barry Bailey on guitar and Paul Goddard on bass. They decided to start working as a band with Buie producing. They recorded an album for MCA in 1971. It didn't sell and Justo left and was replaced by Ronnie Hammond. He was a much better singer and after three albums for MCA, they moved to Polydor in 1974. They toured and started building a regional following. But they didn't have much success until So Into You reached #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1977. Their 1978 album Champagne Jam was their biggest seller and Imaginary Lover reached #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1978. So now they're established but they left Polydor for Columbia in 1980. This comp has their Polydor hits. Their second album for Columbia was rejected and they were dropped in 1982. Hammond went solo and Buie and Cobb have continued to work together outside ARS. Dean Daughtry leads a version of Atlanta Rhythm Section today. Here's the video for Imaginary Lover by Atlanta Rhythm Section.
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