The song and the group are both so new that, at the time this is being written, neither are picked up by Google, Wikipedia or artificial intelligence. In this Internet day and age, that is as new as new gets.
Tedious research revealed that a new Southern Rock song has been released by Apple Music. "Back to Montgomery" is a collection of song snippets of memories of growing up in Alabama’s state capital city in the 1960s and 1970s – maybe a little in the 1950s and 1980s. That would cover Montgomery natives from age 55 to 85. Two entire generations.
You can listen to (and watch) the 4:53-long song on YouTube. The site indicates the song was released on July 22 by Fried-Friar Records.
Listening to the song was free and easy to accomplish. Two clicks. For those of us in the target age group, that is a good thing.
One high school class that was right in the middle of the time period resurrected by the song was the Sidney Lanier Class of 1973. They noticed the song and posted it on their active Facebook page.
Dale Scruggs, class member who put up the post, followed later with this comment:
"Here’s what I know about this tune. Lee Young (class of ‘75) sent this to Ed Young (from our class) who sent it to me. There is no band called 'Harry and the Flatbeds', nor is anyone singing or playing instruments. THIS IS AI! I didn’t know it until I’d already listened to it. I’m impressed by the capabilities of an AI tool like this, and I’m disturbed that the next generation may be using AI rather than creativity."
Could this be true? How is AI able to re-create remembrances?
If you were raised in Montgomery anytime from 1950 to 1980, how many of the references can you recognize?
Verse 1) Back in Montgomery, where the summer sun beat down Goodwyn’s hallways were buzzin’ loud — we were kings, we were clowns Friday nights at Cramton Bowl, stadium lights ablaze Lee and Lanier playing hard, crowd lost in the haze
(Verse 2) Saturday flicks at the Paramount, its flashing bright marquee Or the Charles Theater, with popcorn and my best girl next to me Then we’d pile into my Chevy, head for that drive-in show We’d dim the lights and turn the radio down low Where the doors were always open, and no one locked the gate Mama knew all the neighbors, so we could stay out late Barefoot on the blacktop, chasing lightning bugs at night Playing ball under the streetlights, everything felt right Yeah, we laughed, we lived, we ran so free Montgomery raised the best in me
(Verse 3) Yeah, back in Montgomery, rollin’ with my crew Atlanta Highway wide open — nothin’ better to do Captain Zoomar on the TV, kickball after school We were young, wild, and Southern — breakin’ every rule
(Verse 4) Eastbrook’s Toy Town treasures, Everything looked so bright Big Bam shows at the Coliseum, guitars cuttin’ through the night Bama Bowl on Friday, then we’d sneak in Kegler’s Cove To watch Tommy Shaw sing and play — man, the crowd would explode (Bridge – with soaring guitar) Now I’m older, those streets look small But close my eyes, I hear it all Tailpipes rumblin’, laughter loud Southern nights and a hometown proud Where the doors were always open, and no one locked the gate Mama knew all the neighbors, so we could stay out late Barefoot on the blacktop, chasing lightning bugs at night Playing ball under the streetlights, everything felt right Yeah, we laughed, we lived, we ran so free Montgomery raised the best in me
(Verse 3) Yeah, back in Montgomery, that’s where my heart stays I’d give anything to ride those old highways So here’s to Montgomery, where my roots still run deep Where the nights sang our stories, and the memories keep Yeah, I’ll carry that hometown wherever I roam Montgomery’s my heartbeat --- it’ll always be my ---home
OK, Montgomery folks:
Goodwyn’s hallways?
Cramton Bowl?
Kegler’s Cove?
Tommy Shaw singing?
The Paramount and Charles Theaters?
Atlanta Highway?
It is a day and time that is gone with the wind.
Jim ‘Zig’ Zeigler’s beat is the colorful and positive about Alabama -- her people, places, events, groups and prominent deaths. He is a former Alabama Public Service Commissioner and State Auditor. You can reach him for comments at [email protected].
Don’t miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every weekday morning.
