Behind Closed Doors (Charlie Rich Song) - Wikipedia

1973 single by Charlie Rich

"Behind Closed Doors"
Single by Charlie Rich
from the album Behind Closed Doors
B-side	"A Sunday Kind of Woman"
Released	17 January 1973[1]
Recorded	1972
Studio	Columbia (Nashville, Tennessee)[2]
Genre	Country pop[3]
Length	2:56
Label	Epic
Songwriter	Kenny O'Dell
Producer	Billy Sherrill
Charlie Rich singles chronology
"I Take It on Home" (1972) "Behind Closed Doors" (1973) "The Most Beautiful Girl" (1973)
Official audio
"Behind Closed Doors" on YouTube

"Behind Closed Doors" is a country song written by Kenny O'Dell. It was first recorded by Charlie Rich for his 1973 album Behind Closed Doors. The single was Rich's first No.1 hit on the country charts, spent 20 weeks on this chart, and was also a crossover hit on the pop charts. It was certified Platinum by the RIAA for U.S. sales in excess of two million copies.[4] Background vocals were provided by The Nashville Edition.

Rich's producer, Billy Sherrill, encouraged O'Dell to write music for the singer. O'Dell recalled the creation of "Behind Closed Doors" to Tom Roland in The Billboard Book of Number One Country Hits. "It was just a title I had written down, and I had a little guitar riff that I'd carried with me for a couple of years. The chorus was pretty much a little deviation on that." Sherrill later changed some lines at the end of the second verse, but some radio stations banned the record initially as being racy.[5]

"Behind Closed Doors" earned awards for Song of the Year for O'Dell and Single of the Year for Rich from both the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music. Both O'Dell and Rich also received a Grammy Awards for "Behind Closed Doors: Best Country Song for O'Dell and Best Country Vocal Performance, Male for Rich. In 2003, it ranked No.9 in CMT's 100 Greatest Songs in Country Music.

The pianist was Hargus "Pig" Robbins.[6]

Chart performance

[edit] Charlie Rich

Chart (1973–74)	Peakposition
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[7]	1
US Billboard Hot 100[8]	15
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[9]	8
US Cash Box Top 100[10]	17
Australia (Kent Music Report)[11]	18
Canadian RPM Country Tracks	1
Canadian RPM Top Singles	5
Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary Tracks	37
Irish Singles Chart	9
UK Singles Chart	16
Dutch Top 40	25

Diana Ross

Chart (1974)	Peakposition
South Africa (Springbok)[12]	14

Personnel

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• Charlie Rich – vocals
• Billy Sanford, Dale Sellers, Harold Bradley, Jerry Kennedy, Ray Edenton – guitar
• Pete Drake, Lloyd Green – steel guitar
• Bob Moore – bass
• Hargus "Pig" Robbins – piano
• Buddy Harman, Kenny Buttrey – drums
• The Jordanaires, Nashville Edition – background vocals

Cover versions

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Numerous other artists have covered the song "Behind Closed Doors", using the original or slightly modified lyrics. For example, Loretta Lynn and Dolly Parton sang versions in which the genders were reversed and a few words changed or added,[13] [14] while Diana Ross sang a version with both gender change and added lines. Ross's version reached No.14 in South Africa.[12]

Other artists who covered this song include Bettye LaVette, Ronnie Milsap, Hank Thompson, Cal Smith, Perry Como, Percy Sledge, Little Milton, Mike Cooley, Stan Ridgway, Tom Jones, Bobby Womack, and Buddy Jewell.

Joe Diffie covered the song on the 1998 album Tribute to Tradition. His version peaked at No.64 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.[15]

Brett Kissel covered the song on his 2023 release The Compass Project - West Album.[16]

References

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1. ^ "Charlie Rich – Behind Closed Doors" – via www.45cat.com.
2. ^ Kosser, Michael (2006). How Nashville Became Music City, U.S.A.: A History Of Music Row. Lanham, Maryland, US: Backbeat Books. pp. 155–160. ISBN 978-1-49306-512-7.
3. ^ Marsh, Dave (1989). The Heart of Rock & Soul: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made. Plume. p. 473. ISBN 0-452-26305-0.
4. ^ Stambler, Irwin; Grelun Landon (2000). Country Music: The Encyclopedia (Third ed.). New York: St. Martin's Press. p. 400. ISBN 978-0-312-15121-8. Retrieved August 5, 2009.
5. ^ Roland, Tom, "The Billboard Book of Number One Country Hits" (Billboard Books, Watson-Guptill Publications, New York, 1991 (ISBN 0-82-307553-2), p. 87.
6. ^ "Hargus "Pig" Robbins".
7. ^ "Charlie Rich Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
8. ^ "Charlie Rich Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
9. ^ "Charlie Rich Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
10. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2014). Cash Box Pop Hits: 1952-1996. Record Research.
11. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 251. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
12. ^ a b "SA Charts 1965 – March 1989". Retrieved 14 January 2020.
13. ^ "Loretta Lynn's Behind Closed Doors lyrics". Tabcrawler.com. Retrieved 2012-05-12.
14. ^ "Dolly Parton's Behind Closed Doors Lyrics". Genius. Retrieved 17 April 2025.
15. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2013). Hot Country Songs 1944–2012. Record Research, Inc. p. 101. ISBN 978-0-89820-203-8.
16. ^ Daykin, James (November 3, 2023). "Brett Kissel – 'The Compass Project: West' album review". Entertainment Focus.

v t e Charlie Rich
Studio albums	The Fabulous Charlie Rich I Do My Swingin' at Home Behind Closed Doors
Notable singles	"Life's Little Ups and Downs" "Behind Closed Doors" "The Most Beautiful Girl" "There Won't Be Anymore" "A Very Special Love Song" "I Don't See Me in Your Eyes Anymore" "A Field of Yellow Daisies" "I Love My Friend" "She Called Me Baby" "My Elusive Dreams" "Every Time You Touch Me (I Get High)" "America the Beautiful" "Rollin' with the Flow" "On My Knees" "Spanish Eyes" "Even a Fool Would Let Go"
Related articles	Discography

v t e Buddy Jewell
Studio albums	Buddy Jewell Times Like These
Singles	"Help Pour Out the Rain (Lacey's Song)" "Sweet Southern Comfort" "Behind Closed Doors" "Dance with My Father"

Awards for "Behind Closed Doors"

v t e American Music Award for Favorite Country Song 1970s "Behind Closed Doors" – Charlie Rich (1974) "The Most Beautiful Girl" – Charlie Rich (1975) "Rhinestone Cowboy" – Glen Campbell (1976) "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain" – Willie Nelson (1977) "Lucille" – Kenny Rogers (1978) "Blue Bayou" – Linda Ronstadt (1979) 1980s "Sleeping Single in a Double Bed" – Barbara Mandrell (1980) "Coward of the County" – Kenny Rogers (1981) "Could I Have This Dance" – Anne Murray / "On the Road Again" – Willie Nelson (1982) "Love Will Turn You Around" – Kenny Rogers (1983) "Islands in the Stream" – Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton (1984) "Islands in the Stream" – Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton (1985) "Forgiving You Was Easy" – Willie Nelson (1986) "Grandpa (Tell Me 'Bout the Good Old Days)" – The Judds (1987) "Forever and Ever, Amen" – Randy Travis (1988) "I Told You So" – Randy Travis (1989) 1990s "Deeper Than the Holler" – Randy Travis (1990) "If Tomorrow Never Comes" – Garth Brooks (1991) "The Thunder Rolls" – Garth Brooks (1992) "Achy Breaky Heart" – Billy Ray Cyrus (1993) "Chattahoochee" – Alan Jackson (1994) "Whenever You Come Around" – Vince Gill (1995) 2010s "Humble and Kind" – Tim McGraw (2016) "Blue Ain't Your Color" – Keith Urban (2017) "Heaven" – Kane Brown (2018) "Speechless" – Dan + Shay (2019) 2020s "10,000 Hours" – Dan + Shay and Justin Bieber (2020) "The Good Ones" – Gabby Barrett (2021) "Wasted on You" – Morgan Wallen (2022) "I Had Some Help" – Post Malone featuring Morgan Wallen (2025) Between 1996–2015, the category was retired. v t e CMA Single of the Year 1967−1970 "There Goes My Everything" (1967) "Harper Valley PTA" (1968) "A Boy Named Sue" (1969) "Okie from Muskogee" (1970) 1971−1980 "Help Me Make It Through the Night" (1971) "The Happiest Girl in the Whole U.S.A." (1972) "Behind Closed Doors" (1973) "Country Bumpkin" (1974) "Before the Next Teardrop Falls" (1975) "Good Hearted Woman" (1976) "Lucille" (1977) "Heaven's Just a Sin Away" (1978) "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" (1979) "He Stopped Loving Her Today" (1980) 1981−1990 "Elvira" (1981) "Always on My Mind" (1982) "Swingin'" (1983) "A Little Good News" (1984) "Why Not Me" (1985) "Bop" (1986) "Forever and Ever, Amen" (1987) "Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses" (1988) "I'm No Stranger to the Rain" (1989) "When I Call Your Name" (1990) 1991−2000 "Friends in Low Places" (1991) "Achy Breaky Heart" (1992) "Chattahoochee" (1993) "I Swear" (1994) "When You Say Nothing at All" (1995) "Check Yes or No" (1996) "Strawberry Wine" (1997) "Holes in the Floor of Heaven" (1998) "Wide Open Spaces" (1999) "I Hope You Dance" (2000) 2001−2010 "I am a Man Of Constant Sorrow" (2001) "Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)" (2002) "Hurt" (2003) "Live Like You Were Dying" (2004) "I May Hate Myself in the Morning" (2005) "Believe" (2006) "Before He Cheats" (2007) "I Saw God Today" (2008) "I Run to You" (2009) "Need You Now" (2010) 2011−2020 "If I Die Young" (2011) "Pontoon" (2012) "Cruise" (2013) "Automatic" (2014) "Girl Crush" (2015) "Die a Happy Man" (2016) "Blue Ain't Your Color" (2017) "Broken Halos" (2018) "God's Country" (2019) "The Bones" (2020) 2021−2030 "Starting Over" (2021) "'Til You Can't" (2022) "Fast Car" (2023) "White Horse" (2024) "You Look Like You Love Me" (2025) v t e Grammy Award for Best Country Song Awarded to songwriters 1960s "Dang Me" – Roger Miller (1965) "King of the Road" – Roger Miller (1966) "Almost Persuaded" – Billy Sherrill & Glenn Sutton (1967) "Gentle on My Mind" – John Hartford (1968) "Little Green Apples" – Bobby Russell (1969) 1970s "A Boy Named Sue" – Shel Silverstein (1970) "My Woman, My Woman, My Wife" – Marty Robbins (1971) "Help Me Make It Through the Night" – Kris Kristofferson (1972) "Kiss an Angel Good Mornin'" – Ben Peters (1973) "Behind Closed Doors" – Kenny O'Dell (1974) "A Very Special Love Song" – Norro Wilson & Billy Sherrill (1975) "(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song" – Chips Moman & Larry Butler (1976) "Broken Lady" – Larry Gatlin (1977) "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue" – Richard Leigh (1978) "The Gambler" – Don Schlitz (1979) 1980s "You Decorated My Life" – Debbie Hupp & Bob Morrison (1980) "On the Road Again" – Willie Nelson (1981) "9 to 5" – Dolly Parton (1982) "Always on My Mind" – Wayne Carson, Johnny Christopher & Mark James (1983) "Stranger in My House" – Mike Reid (1984) "City of New Orleans" – Steve Goodman (1985) "Highwayman" – Jimmy Webb (1986) "Grandpa (Tell Me 'Bout the Good Old Days)" – Jamie O'Hara (1987) "Forever and Ever, Amen" – Paul Overstreet & Don Schlitz (1988) "Hold Me" – K. T. Oslin (1989) 1990s "After All This Time" – Rodney Crowell (1980) "Where've You Been" – Don Henry & Jon Vezner (1991) "Love Can Build a Bridge" – John Barlow Jarvis, Naomi Judd & Paul Overstreet (1992) "I Still Believe in You" – Vince Gill & John Barlow Jarvis (1993) "Passionate Kisses" – Lucinda Williams (1994) "I Swear" – Gary Baker & Frank J. Myers (1995) "Go Rest High on That Mountain" – Vince Gill (1996) "Blue" – Bill Mack (1997) "Butterfly Kisses" – Bob Carlisle & Randy Thomas (1998) "You're Still the One" – Robert John "Mutt" Lange & Shania Twain (1999) 2000s "Come On Over" – Robert John "Mutt" Lange & Shania Twain (2000) "I Hope You Dance" – Mark D. Sanders & Tia Sillers (2001) "The Lucky One" – Robert Lee Castleman (2002) "Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)" – Alan Jackson (2003) "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" – Jim "Moose" Brown & Don Rollins (2004) "Live Like You Were Dying" – Tim Nichols & Craig Wiseman (2005) "Bless the Broken Road" – Bobby Boyd, Jeff Hanna, & Marcus Hummon (2006) "Jesus, Take the Wheel" – Hillary Lindsey, Brett James & Gordie Sampson (2007) "Before He Cheats" – Chris Tompkins & Josh Kear (2008) "Stay" – Jennifer Nettles (2009) 2010s "White Horse" – Liz Rose & Taylor Swift (2010) "Need You Now" – Dave Haywood, Josh Kear, Charles Kelley & Hillary Scott (2011) "Mean" – Taylor Swift (2012) "Blown Away" – Josh Kear & Chris Tompkins (2013) "Merry Go 'Round" – Shane McAnally, Kacey Musgraves & Josh Osborne (2014) "I'm Not Gonna Miss You" – Glen Campbell & Julian Raymond (2015) "Girl Crush" – Hillary Lindsey, Lori McKenna, & Liz Rose (2016) "Humble and Kind" – Lori McKenna (2017) "Broken Halos" – Mike Henderson & Chris Stapleton (2018) "Space Cowboy" – Luke Laird, Shane McAnally, & Kacey Musgraves (2019) 2020s "Bring My Flowers Now" – Brandi Carlile, Phil Hanseroth, Tim Hanseroth, & Tanya Tucker (2020) "Crowded Table" – Brandi Carlile, Natalie Hemby & Lori McKenna (2021) "Cold" – Dave Cobb, J.T. Cure, Derek Mixon & Chris Stapleton (2022) "'Til You Can't" – Matt Rogers & Ben Stennis (2023) "White Horse" – Chris Stapleton & Dan Wilson (2024) "The Architect" – Shane McAnally, Kacey Musgraves & Josh Osborne (2025) "Bitin' List" – Tyler Childers (2026)

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