| Third Rate Romance | |
| Cover: | Third Rate Romance single cover.JPG |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Amazing Rhythm Aces |
| Album: | Stacked Deck |
| B-Side: | Mystery Train |
| Released: | June 23, 1975 |
| Studio: | Phillips Recording, Memphis, Tennessee |
| Genre: | Country rock[1] |
| Length: | 3:17 |
| Label: | ABC |
| Producer: | Barry Burton |
| Next Title: | Amazing Grace (Used to Be Her Favorite Song) |
| Next Year: | 1975 |
"Third Rate Romance" is a song written by Russell Smith, first recorded in Montreal in 1974 by Jesse Winchester and his band the Rhythm Aces, assisted by Smith. It became a hit the following year by the newly re-formed Amazing Rhythm Aces on its 1975 album Stacked Deck. It was the band's debut single, reaching No.11 on the U.S. country singles chart and No.14 on the Billboard Hot 100,[2] as well as No.1 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks and Top Singles charts.
The third-person lyrics tell the story of a man and woman who meet at a restaurant and depart together for what presumably will prove to be a one-night stand at a motel (the "Family Inn"). At the door of the room, she nervously says, "I've never really done this kind of thing before—have you?" He admits that he has, "but only a time or two."
| Chart (1975) | Peak position | |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand (RIANZ)[3] | 18 | |
| US Billboard Adult Contemporary[4] | 33 |
| Chart (1975) | Rank |
|---|---|
| Canada RPM Top Singles [5] | 27 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 [6] | 97 |
| Third Rate Romance | |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Sammy Kershaw |
| Album: | Feelin' Good Train |
| B-Side: | Paradise from Nine to One |
| Released: | August 30, 1994 |
| Genre: | Country |
| Length: | 3:21 |
| Label: | Mercury Nashville |
| Producer: | Buddy Cannon, Norro Wilson |
| Prev Title: | National Working Woman's Holiday |
| Prev Year: | 1994 |
| Next Title: | Southbound |
| Next Year: | 1995 |
American country music artist Sammy Kershaw covered the song on his 1994 album Feelin' Good Train, from which it was released as a single in 1994. It peaked at No.2 in the United States country charts[7] and at No.10 in Canada. Russell Smith provided backing vocals on Kershaw's version.
The music video was directed by Michael Merriman, and premiered in late 1994. It features a woman luring an older man into going to a motel with her. She steals his money and watch and then drives off with another man, as the old man tries to chase them down.
. Joel Whitburn . 1993 . Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993 . Record Research . 15.