Show me someone who says they don’t like 90’s Alan Jackson, and I’ll show you a liar.
As I’ve said time and time again, it is truly hard to beat the country music that came out of the 1990’s.
Jackson was certainly on a tear during the decade, and one of the songs that helped kick off his incredible run was “Don’t Rock the Jukebox” in 1991.
On this date, over 30 years ago, Alan Jackson’s hit song that was somewhat “anti-rock” and “pro-George Jones” was at the number one spot on Billboard Hot Country charts.
Jackson wrote the song with the help of Keith Stegall and Roger Murrah, and it ended up being the lead single from his album of the same name, Don’t Rock the Jukebox.
In 1992, the tune was recognized by the ASCAP as the Country Song of the Year, solidifying both the song’s place in the industry as well as Jackson as a country artist.
“Don’t Rock the Jukebox” was so successful that it even spawned an Alvin and the Chipmunks cover, with Alan Jackson adding in commentary in the song that was featured on their album Chipmunks in Low Places.
Which, if we’re being honest, is just as much of an honor as the ASCAP award…
In the music video for the country classic, Alan Jackson speaks on how the song came to life and what real life event inspired the idea:
“I want to tell you a little story about an incident that happened on the road a couple of years ago. Me and my band The Strayhorns were playing this little truck stop lounge up in Dawesville, Virginia at a place called Geraldine’s.
We had been there for four or five nights, you know, playing those dance sets, and it had been a long night and I took a break. I walked over to the jukebox and Roger, my bass player, he was already over there reading the records on the jukebox.
And I leaned up on the corner of it, and one of the legs was broken off of it, and the jukebox was kind of wobbling around. Roger looked over at me and said, ‘Don’t Rock the Jukebox.'”
As you’ll see as you watch the music video, he doesn’t actually get to saying “don’t rock the jukebox,” because the beginning of the song kicks in right when he is about to.
A very nice touch, and classic Alan Jackson. He was always known to make an entertaining music video, and he always brought it with his catchy lyrics as well:
“Don’t rock the jukebox
I wanna hear some Jones
‘Cause my heart ain’t ready
For the Rolling Stones
I don’t feel like rocking
Since my baby’s gone
So don’t rock the jukebox
Play me a country song.”
As you might assume, the song is written from the perspective of a heartbroken person at a bar who simply can’t stand to listen to rock and roll for now, and knows that only the smooth stylings of George Jones will mend his broken soul.
I’m sorry that this song will be stuck in your head for the rest of the day, but you are welcome for bringing this Alan Jackson song back into the limelight.
Turn it all the way up and hit play:
