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"If the Devil Danced (In Empty Pockets)"
Single by Joe Diffie
from the album A Thousand Winding Roads
B-side"I Ain't Leavin' 'Til She's Gone"
ReleasedApril 2, 1991
Genre Country
Length2:45
Label Epic
Songwriter(s)Ken Spooner, Kim Williams
Producer(s) Bob Montgomery, Johnny Slate
Joe Diffie singles chronology
" If You Want Me To"
(1990)
"If the Devil Danced (In Empty Pockets)"
(1991)
" New Way (To Light Up an Old Flame)"
(1991)

"If the Devil Danced (In Empty Pockets)" is a song written by Ken Spooner and Kim Williams, and recorded by American country music singer Joe Diffie. The song reached the top of the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs) chart. It was released in April 1991 as the third single from his debut album, A Thousand Winding Roads. [1]

Music video

The music video was directed by Michael Salomon and premiered in early 1991.

Critical reception

Cashbox magazine published a positive review of the song, stating that it "focuses on a much lighter storyline, compared to previous releases. This cut humorously sheds a 'devil-made-me-do-it' theme swallowed up by a fun and bouncy tempo." [2]

Chart performance

The song debuted at No. 47 on the Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart dated April 6, 1991. It charted for 20 weeks on that chart, and peaked at No. 1 on the country chart dated June 15, 1991, giving Diffie his second No. 1 single.

Charts

Chart (1991) Peak
position
Canada Country Tracks ( RPM) [3] 4
US Hot Country Songs ( Billboard) [4] 1

Year-end charts

Chart (1991) Position
Canada Country Tracks ( RPM) [5] 64
US Country Songs ( Billboard) [6] 22

References

  1. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. ISBN  978-0-89820-177-2.
  2. ^ "Single releases" (PDF). Cashbox: 29. March 30, 1991.
  3. ^ " Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 1562." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. July 6, 1991. Retrieved August 16, 2013.
  4. ^ "Joe Diffie Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  5. ^ "RPM Top 100 Country Tracks of 1991". RPM. December 21, 1991. Retrieved August 16, 2013.
  6. ^ "Best of 1991: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 1991. Retrieved August 16, 2013.