Keep It in the Middle of the Road

"Keep It in the Middle of the Road" is a song written by J.P. Pennington and Sonny LeMaire, and recorded by American country music group Exile. It was released in December 1989 as the first single from the album Still Standing. The song reached number 17 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.[1]

"Keep It in the Middle of the Road"
Single by Exile
from the album Still Standing
B-side"Yet"
ReleasedDecember 16, 1989
GenreCountry
Length3:18
LabelArista
Songwriter(s)J.P. Pennington, Sonny LeMaire
Producer(s)Randy Sharp, Tim DuBois
Exile singles chronology
"It's You Again"
(1988)		 "Keep It in the Middle of the Road"
(1989)		 "Nobody's Talking"
(1990)

Composition

The song is in the key of G major with a "bright country shuffle" beat. The main chord pattern is G7♯9-C7-C♯dim7-G-D7-D7♯9-G.[2]

Critical reception

An uncredited review in Billboard was positive, stating that "Hot guitar and piano licks strike like lightning throughout this lively, tightly performed number."[3]

Chart performance
Chart (1989–1990) Peak
position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[4] 19
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[5] 17

References
  1. Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 118.
  2. 'Keep It in the Middle of the Road' sheet music. Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Hal Leonard Corporation. 1989.
  3. "Reviews" (PDF). Billboard: 73. December 16, 1989.
  4. "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 9237." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. March 17, 1990. Retrieved August 23, 2013.
  5. "Exile Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.


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