"Drift Away" is a song written by Mentor Williams in 1970 and originally recorded by British singer and actor Mike Berry on his 1972 album Drift Away. A version by John Henry Kurtz was released two months later in November 1972. Mentor Williams was a country songwriter, and John Henry Kurtz was an actor and swamp rock singer. It was later given to soul singer Dobie Gray for whom it became a surprise international hit. In 1973, the song became Gray's biggest hit, peaking at number five on the US Billboard Hot 100 and receiving a gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The song has been covered by numerous musicians.
Dobie Gray version
Personnel Dobie Gray – vocals David Briggs – keyboards Mike Leech – bass Kenny Malone – drums Troy Seals – acoustic and electric guitar Reggie Young – acoustic and electric guitar and banjo Weldon Myrick – pedal steel guitar Buddy Spicher – violin on L.A.Lady Mentor Williams – acoustic guitar on Now That I Am Without You Gray, Dobie, Dobie Gray: Drift Away, Loving Arms, Hey Dixie, BGO Records, BGOCD1004, liner notes, 2011
Charts Weekly charts Chart (1973)PeakpositionAustralia (Kent Music Report)44Canada Top Singles (RPM)7US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)12US Hot Soul Singles (Billboard)42US Cash Box Top 100 8
Year-end charts Chart (1973)RankCanada Top Singles (RPM)83US Billboard Hot 10017US Cash Box Top 100http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/70s_files/1973YESP.html Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 29, 197318
Certifications
Other versions Narvel Felts version
A country version was recorded by American country music and rockabilly singer Narvel Felts in 1973. Felts' version — which changed the lyrics "I wanna get lost in your rock and roll" to "I wanna get lost in your country song" — peaked at number 8 on the US Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in mid-August 1973, about three months after Gray's version reached its popularity peak. This song marked Narvel's first success in the country scene, as he was known from the late 1950s as a rockabilly singer.
Charts (Narvel Felts) Chart (1973)Peak positionCanada Country Tracks (RPM)48US Hot Country Singles (Billboard)8
Michael Bolton version
American singer and songwriter Michael Bolton covered "Drift Away" and released it as the second single from his 1992 covers album, Timeless: The Classics, in December 1992 by Columbia Records. His rendition was produced by Bolton with David Foster and Walter Afanasieff. It became the only hit version of the song in the United Kingdom, where it reached number 18, and also charted in Ireland and New Zealand.
Charts Chart (1992–1993)PeakpositionAustralia (ARIA)104Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)35Europe (European Hit Radio)39Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)18UK Airplay (Music Week)10
Uncle Kracker featuring Dobie Gray version
American singer-songwriter Uncle Kracker released a cover version from his second studio album, No Stranger to Shame (2002), in January 2003. This version, which features Dobie Gray singing parts of the song with Kracker, reached number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 and spent a then-record-setting 28 weeks atop the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. It also peaked at number 25 on the New Zealand Singles Chart.
Music video The music video for the song was directed by Bronston Jones. Filmed in Kracker's hometown of Detroit, it shows him performing the song on stage to an audience (Dobie, during his parts, comes in to perform) and Kracker working at a garage (owned by his brother), unloading and stacking tires. Scenes also feature him walking alone on snowy railroad tracks, and singing on an empty stage in the garage. His mechanic's uniform is labeled "Matt," a reference to his real first name, Matthew.
Charts Weekly charts Chart (2003–2004)Peakposition
Year-end charts Chart (2003)PositionUS Billboard Hot 10019US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)3US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)2US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)34 Chart (2004)PositionUS Adult Contemporary (Billboard)4
Certifications
Release history RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)United StatesJanuary 27, 2003Hot adult contemporary radioLavaMay 5, 2003Contemporary hit radio
Other cover versions
The Rolling Stones recorded a cover of the song during the sessions for their It's Only Rock 'n Roll LP in 1974, but it did not appear on the finished album. It was finally given an official release in October 2021 as part of the Tattoo You reissue.
Rod Stewart recorded a cover of the song for the album Atlantic Crossing.
Dustin Lynch's 2023 song "Chevrolet", featuring Jelly Roll, contains lyrics set to the melody of "Drift Away".
See also List of Billboard Adult Contemporary number ones of 2003 and 2004 (U.S.)
References