"Norma Jean Riley"
Single by Diamond Rio
from the album Diamond Rio
B-side"Pick Me Up"
ReleasedMarch 23, 1992
Recorded1991
GenreCountry
Length3:06
LabelArista Nashville 12407
Songwriter(s)Rob Honey
Monty Powell
Dan Truman
Producer(s)Tim DuBois
Monty Powell
Diamond Rio singles chronology
"Mama Don't Forget to Pray for Me"
(1991) 		"Norma Jean Riley"
(1992) 		"Nowhere Bound"
(1992)

"Norma Jean Riley" is a song written by Rob Honey, Monty Powell and Dan Truman, and recorded by American country music group Diamond Rio. It was released on March 23, 1992 as the fourth single from their self-titled album. Unlike the four other singles released from the album, a music video was not made for this song.

Content

"Norma Jean Riley" is a very upbeat, bluegrass influenced song where the narrator is pining for Norma Jean Riley's affections. In each verse, he comes up with different ways to get her attention. By the time the song is over, he is planning to propose to her.

The song was originally titled "Pretty Little Lady" until co-writer and producer Monty Powell suggested that song would be improved if the female focus had a name.[1][2]

Chart performance

The song peaked at number 2 on The Billboard Hot Country Songs chart[3] and number 3 on Canada's RPM country chart.

Chart (1992) Peak
position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[4] 3
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[5] 2

Year-end charts

Chart (1992) Position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[6] 40
US Country Songs (Billboard)[7] 34

References

  1. ^ Diamond Rio; Roland, Tom (2009). Beautiful Mess: The Story of Diamond Rio. Thomas Nelson Publishers. p. 160. ISBN 978-1-59555-268-6.
  2. ^ Christi Conover (July 17, 1992). "Provo songwriter's work tops chart". The Daily Herald. pp. D4. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
  3. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 105.
  4. ^ "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 2013." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. July 4, 1992. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
  5. ^ "Diamond Rio Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  6. ^ "RPM Top 100 Country Tracks of 1992". RPM. December 19, 1992. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
  7. ^ "Best of 1992: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 1992. Retrieved August 15, 2013.


Categories