Midnight Train to Georgia

“Midnight Train to Georgia” is a song by Gladys Knight & the Pips, their second release after departing Motown Records for Buddah Records. Written by Jim Weatherly, and included on the Pips’ 1973 LP Imagination, “Midnight Train to Georgia” became the group’s first single to top the Billboard Hot 100. It also won the 1974 Grammy Award for Best R&B Vocal Performance By A Duo, Group Or Chorus and has become Knight’s signature song. The single debuted on the Hot 100 at number 71 and became the group’s first number-one hit eight weeks later when it jumped from number 5 to number 1 on October 27, 1973, replacing “Angie” by the Rolling Stones. It remained in the top position for two weeks. It was replaced by “Keep On Truckin’ (Part 1)” by Eddie Kendricks. It also reached number one on the soul singles chart, their fifth on that chart. The record was awarded an RIAA Gold single (for selling one million copies) on October 18, 1973. On the UK Singles Chart, it peaked at number ten on June 5, 1976. In 1999, “Midnight Train to Georgia” was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. It currently ranks #470 on Rolling Stone’s updated list of their 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.