The Story Behind Southern Nights Song: More Than Just a Glen Campbell Hit

Many are surprised to discover, just as I was, that “Southern Nights,” the chart-topping 1977 hit made famous by Glen Campbell, was actually penned and first recorded by the New Orleans music legend, Allen Toussaint. Toussaint was a prolific musician, producer, and a creative powerhouse who had been shaping the sound of popular music since the late 1950s.

Toussaint himself recounted how “Southern Nights” almost didn’t make it onto the album it was intended for. As he explained in an interview with Songfacts, a visit from Van Dyke Parks, another musical genius, sparked the song’s creation:

While I was finishing the album Van Dyke Parks visited me in the studio. He was a wonderful guy, a genius of a guy. He said, “Well, consider that you were going to die in two weeks. If you knew that, what would you think you would like to have done?” And after he said that, I wrote “Southern Nights” as soon as he left. I stood right there and wrote it. It all came at once, because I lived that story. It was one of those things that writers would like to happen all the time. We would like to write from total sheer spiritual inspiration, but many times we just write from our tools and our bible. That song was a total inspiration. It felt like a soft clear white flower settled above my head and caressed me. I really felt highly, highly inspired and very spiritual doing that song. It’s the only one I felt that much about. Some others have been inspired highly, but not as high as that one. It probably took about two hours to write. Then I went down and recorded it in the studio with just a Fender Rhodes and another guy beating on an ashtray, that little tinkling sound. It was just me on the instrument and singing, and Tony Owens playing on an ashtray. No one remarked on it, because it didn’t sound much like a commercial song, and it wasn’t. I didn’t write it to be a song like all the others on there. I just wanted to share that story with this album. It wasn’t supposed to be a commercial song, and I didn’t think it would sound like one to anyone else. But I did feel quite complete after I wrote “Southern Nights.” I felt totally finished with the album. But that didn’t mean I was ready to die!

This anecdote reveals the deeply personal and almost spiritual origin of the “Southern Nights Song” for Toussaint. It wasn’t crafted as a commercial hit, but rather as a heartfelt story drawn from his own life experiences.

Here is the original Allen Toussaint version of “Southern Nights,” taken from his excellent 1975 album also titled Southern Nights.


Allen Toussaint Southern Nights original song version, showcasing his unique piano style and the song’s mellow, soulful roots.

And here’s a captivating live studio performance by Toussaint, highlighting his exceptional piano skills and the raw emotion embedded in the “southern nights song”.


Allen Toussaint performs Southern Nights song live in the studio, emphasizing his piano artistry and the song’s intimate feel.

Glen Campbell’s rendition of “Southern Nights” took a different approach. He transformed the mellow, introspective tune into an upbeat, full-band performance, a stark contrast to Toussaint’s original. Despite the stylistic divergence, Toussaint genuinely admired Campbell’s version and was thrilled that anyone connected with the song enough to record it.

When Campbell recorded the song, Allen was surprised that somebody heard hit potential in the song. He told us: “I love Glen’s version. I had never thought of it as an uptempo and mainstream song before. I first heard it on the radio and I was delighted. It was so good to hear it like that, because I just hadn’t imagined that someone would listen closely enough to it to want to cover such a thing.”

The story of how Glen Campbell discovered Toussaint’s “Southern Nights” is also quite interesting. It involves another songwriting luminary, Jimmy Webb.

“Glen was very, very good at arranging things for Top 40 radio. He came over to my house one time and spent some time there, and I remember I was playing an Allen Toussaint record. I liked this record, it had a real lowdown kind of delta feeling, great piano, syncopated piano chops and interesting songs on it. I was playing along, and he said, ‘What was that song?’ I said, ‘Southern Nights.’ And he said, ‘Is that your record?’ And I said, ‘Yes.’ And he said, ‘Well, can I have it?’ And I said, ‘You mean you want my record?’ (laughing) And he said, ‘Yeah.’ So I said, Yeah, you could have it. And he was gone, man. He had my record and it was like one of those animated cartoons, the roadrunner – *pooow* He was gone. And he worked out that (singing) ‘do do do.’ That record, I mean, within four weeks that record was on the air. He worked at a frightening pace once he got going.” Webb adds that Campbell never did return the record, but he doesn’t mind.

Webb’s anecdote paints a vivid picture of Campbell’s enthusiasm and quick ear for a hit. He recognized the potential in “Southern Nights” immediately upon hearing Toussaint’s original recording.

Here is Glen Campbell’s highly successful version of the “southern nights song”:


Glen Campbell’s hit version of Southern Nights song, transforming the original into an upbeat country-pop anthem.

And for a delightful bonus, check out this rendition featuring Glen Campbell alongside Jerry Reed, offering yet another flavor to the “southern nights song.”


Glen Campbell and Jerry Reed collaborate on Southern Nights, adding a unique and enjoyable performance of the song.

Allen Toussaint’s contribution to music extends far beyond just this one song. He built an incredible and diverse body of work, yet remains one of popular music’s most unsung heroes. His influence as a songwriter, producer, and musician is undeniable.

In interviews, Toussaint often spoke about the profound influence of Professor Longhair on his musical style, highlighting the rich musical heritage that shaped his artistry and ultimately led to the creation of the timeless “southern nights song.” Discovering the origins of “Southern Nights” reveals a deeper appreciation for both Glen Campbell’s hit and the genius of Allen Toussaint, the song’s true creator.

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