I Know How the River Feels

"I Know How the River Feels" is a song written by Steven Dale Jones and Amy Powers. First recorded by Ty Herndon, it has been released as a single by both Diamond Rio and McAlyster.

"I Know How the River Feels"
Single by Diamond Rio
from the album Unbelievable
B-side"What More Do You Want from Me"[1]
ReleasedMarch 29, 1999
GenreCountry
Length3:40
LabelArista Nashville
Songwriter(s)Steven Dale Jones
Amy Powers
Producer(s)Mike Clute
Diamond Rio
Diamond Rio singles chronology
"Unbelievable"
(1998)		 "I Know How the River Feels"
(1999)		 "Stuff"
(2000)

History

The song was originally recorded by Ty Herndon on his 1996 album Living in a Moment. Herndon said that he chose to record the song after a friend had died from cancer. Doug Johnson, then the senior vice president of Epic Records, told Billboard, "I think there is magic in the way he delivers that song."[2]

Diamond Rio then covered the song for their album Unbelievable, and released it as the album's third single in March 1999. It was the first song in the band's career to feature outside musicians; specifically, a string section.[3]

A year later, McAlyster recorded a demo, which was submitted to MCA Nashville and released as the group's only single.[4]

Critical reception

Mikel Toombs of the San Diego Union-Tribune described Diamond Rio's version negatively in his review of the album, saying that "There's nothing too embarrassing here, save the anything-for-a-metaphor 'I Know How the River Feels'.[5]

Billboard gave the McAlyster version a mixed review, calling it "a pretty song and a promising performance, but where it fits in the country format remains to be seen."[6]

Chart performance

Diamond Rio

"I Know How the River Feels" debuted at number 74 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks for the week of March 27, 1999.

Chart (1999) Peak
position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[7] 28
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[8] 33

McAlyster
Chart (2000) Peak
position
U.S. Hot Country Songs (Billboard) 69[9]
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References
  1. Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. p. 124. ISBN 0-89820-177-2.
  2. Price, Deborah Evans (July 13, 1996). "Herndon is 'living' with honesty". Billboard: 34, 36.
  3. Van Wyk, Anika (13 July 1999). "Diamond Rio keeps mind on music". canoe.ca. Retrieved 6 April 2012.
  4. "MCA to Release Demo as Single". CMT. 24 August 2000.
  5. Toombs, Mikel (30 July 1998). "Album reviews: Country". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 6 April 2012.
  6. "Single reviews: Country". Billboard: 29. 18 November 2000.
  7. "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 8400." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. July 12, 1999. Retrieved July 8, 2013.
  8. "Diamond Rio Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  9. Whitburn, p. 261
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