In 1972, songwriter Bobby Russell penned what would become one of the most famous murder ballads in popular music history. Ironically, Russell wasn't particularly fond of his own creation. The song seemed flat to him, and he lacked inspiration about its potential—so much so that he refused to even record a demo of it.
Russell was married to Vicki Lawrence, a comedian and actress best known for her work on The Carol Burnett Show and later as the star of Mama's Family. Lawrence was not known as a singer, but she felt differently about the song than her husband did. While Russell saw little promise in the dark Southern Gothic tale, Lawrence recognized something special in the murder ballad.
Lawrence decided to record the song with the backing of the legendary session musicians known as The Wrecking Crew. Released in late 1972, the single became a massive surprise hit. For someone known primarily as a television comedian, the success was shocking—the song climbed all the way to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in April 1973, where it stayed for two weeks.
The song tells a dark tale of murder, betrayal, and vigilante justice set in rural Georgia. As a Southern Gothic murder ballad, it tapped into country music's long tradition of exploring life's darker themes, but with a pop sensibility that made it accessible to mainstream audiences.
Lawrence's version became the definitive recording, though the song would later be successfully covered by other artists, most notably Reba McEntire in 1991. The success of "The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia" proved that sometimes the artist can see potential in a song that even the songwriter cannot—and that comedy actresses can surprise everyone by delivering powerful dramatic performances in music.
The irony remains that one of the biggest hits of 1973 came from a song its own writer thought was mediocre, recorded by a comedian who wasn't known for singing, backed by session musicians who helped create magic that nobody quite expected.
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