Ol' Red

"Ol' Red" is a song written by James "Bo" Bohon, Don Goodman, and Mark Sherrill. The song was originally recorded by George Jones on his 1990 album You Oughta Be Here with Me and covered by Kenny Rogers on his 1993 album If Only My Heart Had a Voice. Rogers' version was released as a single in August 1993.[1] It was later recorded by Blake Shelton, and his version of the song was released in March 2002 as the third and final single from his self-titled debut album. Shelton's rendition was also a Top 20 hit on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, having peaked at number 14.

"Ol' Red"
Single by Blake Shelton
from the album Blake Shelton
ReleasedMarch 18, 2002
Recorded2001
GenreCountry
Length3:42
LabelWarner Bros. Nashville
Songwriter(s)James "Bo" Bohon
Don Goodman
Mark Sherrill
Producer(s)Bobby Braddock
Blake Shelton singles chronology
"All Over Me"
(2001)		 "Ol' Red"
(2002)		 "The Baby"
(2002)

Content

The narrator is a prisoner serving a 99-year sentence on a prison farm in southern Georgia for committing a crime of domestic violence after catching his wife in an affair with another man, presumably killing one or both of them. Two years into his incarceration (12 years in both the George Jones and Kenny Rogers versions), and with some good behavior and a charm offensive, the warden tasks the prisoner with tending Ol' Red, the warden's prized Bloodhound who helps catch those who try to escape. The warden in fact dares the prisoners to try to escape as none has ever been successful under the warden's and Red's watch.

The prisoner concocts a scheme by mail with a cousin in Tennessee, who ships a Bluetick Coonhound and parks her in the Okefenokee Swamp. When the prisoner takes Ol' Red for his daily rounds, he passes by the swamp, hoping Ol' Red and the Bluetick will mate. Once they start doing so consistently, the prisoner intentionally keeps the dogs apart for a half-week before resuming the normal pattern, so that Ol' Red is so eager for "his lady" that he completely ignores the prisoner making his break: he heads for Tennessee and Ol' Red is headed for Florida. In the end, with the prisoner free and Ol' Red having sired a litter of "red-haired Blueticks" found "all in the South", the narrator delivers the upshot: "Love got me in here, and love got me out."

Although it did not reach the Top 10 on the U.S. country charts, "Ol' Red" is one of Shelton's most commonly requested songs in concert (as well as one of his best-known hits). As a direct result, he considers it his signature song.[2]

Shelton's rendition of the song includes a backing vocal from Rachel Proctor.[3]

Music video

The music video was directed by Peter Zavadil. It features a cameo by NASCAR driver Elliott Sadler (as his cousin), Bobby Braddock (as a prison inmate), who produced Shelton's version, J.K. Simmons (is not the warden), and Kirsti Manna (who co-wrote Blake's previous hit "Austin,” as Blake's bailiff). It was filmed at the Tennessee State Prison. Many of the cameos would later have a part in Blake's 2004 "Some Beach" video, also directed by Zavadil.

Chart performance

"Ol' Red" debuted at number 60 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks for the week of March 30, 2002.[4]

Chart (2002) Peak
position
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[5] 1
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[6] 14

Year-end charts
Chart (2002) Position
US Country Songs (Billboard)[7] 49

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[8] Platinum 1,000,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Merchandising

Shelton, in partnership with Ryman Hospitality Properties,[9] operates a chain of restaurants with the name "Ol' Red" in Tishomingo, Oklahoma; Gatlinburg, Tennessee; and Nashville, Tennessee's lower Broadway area.[10]

References
  1. "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. August 14, 1993.
  2. "Blake Shelton: Celebrating Country Life". Ada Evening News. 2009-04-25. Archived from the original on 2009-04-29. Retrieved 2009-04-28.
  3. Blake Shelton (CD insert). Blake Shelton. Warner Bros. Records. 2001. 24731.CS1 maint: others (link)
  4. "Billboard Chart Search: Artist=Blake Shelton / Title=Ol' Red / Chart=Hot Country Songs". Retrieved April 25, 2014.
  5. "Blake Shelton Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 8, 2013.
  6. "Blake Shelton Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 29, 2011.
  7. "Best of 2002: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2002. Retrieved August 13, 2012.
  8. "American single certifications – Blake Shelton – Ol%27 Red". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 16, 2016. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
  9. https://www.whiskeyriff.com/2019/09/06/blake-sheltons-ole-red-loses-lawsuit-judge-bans-use-of-red-exterior-lights/
  10. "Blake Shelton, Ryman to open Ole Red venue in Gatlinburg". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved 2018-06-13.
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