Song:Third Rate Romance
Album:Their Very Best
Third Rate Romance was the biggest hit for the country rock band The Amazing Rhythm Aces. They also had quite a bit of success in the country market in the 70s. Lead singer and main songwriter Russell Smith, bassist Jeff Davis and drummer Butch McDade started out in Knoxville in the late 60s as Fatback. Davis & McDade went on to work in singer songwriter Jesse Winchester's band. When Smith sang Third Rate Romance uncredited on Winchester's 1974 album Learn To Love It, the three decided to start The Amazing Rhythm Aces with guitarist Barry "Byrd" Burton, keyboard player Billy Earhart and pianist James Hooker. Smith wrote most of the songs and Burton produced their albums. They signed with ABC Records and their Third Rate Romance was the first single from their 1975 debut album Stacked Deck. The song reached #14 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #11 on the Country Singles chart. Their follow up single Amazing Grace (Used To Be Her Favorite Song) reached #9 on the Country Singles chart. They continued to have some success in the country market but not so much in the pop market. Barry Burton left in 1978 to be replaced by Cameron Duncan. Burton went on to play many recording sessions until his 2008 death. The Amazing Rhythm Aces split up in 1983. Russell Smith went on to a lot of success mostly as a songwriter and he still leads a version of The Amazing Rhythm Aces today. He also owns the recordings and licensed them to Varese Fontana for this 2009 comp. Billy Earhart joined Hank Williams Jr.'s band. Cameron Duncan joined Sawyer Brown. James Hooker played a lot of sessions and toured with Nanci Griffith. Butch McDade died of cancer in 1998. Here's The Amazing Rhythm Aces performing Third Rate Romance on Saturday Night Live Mar. 10,1980. And that is Bill Murray playing maracas. This video is not on Youtube.
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