This song proves once again…’90s country f**ks.
On this date, in 1998, Alan Jackson released what would become his 16th number-one single, “Right On The Money.” The single was housed on High Mileage and released as the second single for the album.
“Right On The Money” was written by Charlie Black and Phil Vassar, produced by Keith Stegall, and released via Arista Nashville. While the album as a whole highlights some heavy-hitting messages, “Right On The Money” highlights a light-hearted jukebox love song. The tender ditty highlights that Jackson feels like he has hit the jackpot by falling in love with his little lady.
“She’s right on the moneyShe goes direct to my heartWhen it comes to lovin’ meShe’s everything I need, bulls eye-perfectShe’s right on the money..”
The track debuted at number 75 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart, climbing its way week by week, and it reached number one on the country charts in both the United States and Canada.
The track brought Jackson great success and other singles from High Mileage, making it a notable album in his discography. “Right On The Money” forever remains one of my favorite love songs from Alan Jackson.
‘High Mileage’
The 90s was a simpler time when country music was (arguably) at its peak, and you had to go to a physical store to rent a movie. Luckily for us, we can just access whatever TV show or movie we want with the touch of a button now, and we can also easily travel back and revisit Alan Jackson‘s 1998 project High Mileage, whenever we want.
The album was released 25 years ago and featured a number of hit songs for Jackson. “Right On The Money” actually reached the top spot on the Hot Country Songs chart, while the other three singles for High Mileage (“I’ll Go On Loving You,” “Gone Crazy,” and “Little Man”) peaked as high as number three.
If you were to listen through the entire album, you might notice that many of the themes of Jackson’s seventh studio project were not as “happy-go-lucky” as the artist has usually tended to be throughout his country career.
When AJ was being interviewed about his album When Somebody Loves You in 2000, he actually looked back and revealed why his previous project was a little more somber:
“I guess the last album I made, not the cover-song album, ‘Under the Influence,’ but ‘High Mileage’ was a little on the dark side. I love that album, but some of it’s a little heavy.
Of course, some of my life was a little dark at that time, and that’s probably why it ended up that way.”
Regardless of the overall tone of the album, country music fans still loved Alan Jackson’s work. The project made it all the way to the number one spot on the Top Country Albums chart, and even reached number four on the U.S. Billboard 200. One month after High Mileage was released, it was certified platinum by the RIAA.
That platinum certification was probably thanks to people loving some of Jackson’s most personal and intimate work within the album, such as the song “I’ll Go On Loving You” linked below: