Pickup Man
"Pickup Man" is a song written by Kerry Kurt Phillips and Howard Perdew, and recorded by American country music artist Joe Diffie. It was released in October 1994 as the second single from the album Third Rock from the Sun. The song was his longest-lasting Number One hit, having spent four weeks at Number One on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs) charts between December 1994 and January 1995.
"Pickup Man" | ||||
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Single by Joe Diffie | ||||
from the album Third Rock from the Sun | ||||
B-side | "From Here on Out" | |||
Released | October 17, 1994 | |||
Genre | Country | |||
Length | 3:36 | |||
Label | Epic | |||
Songwriter(s) | Howard Perdew Kerry Kurt Phillips | |||
Producer(s) | Johnny Slate, Bob Montgomery | |||
Joe Diffie singles chronology | ||||
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Content
The song, a moderate up-tempo, is about a man who reasons he can meet the woman of his dreams by driving a pickup truck. At one point, he is able to secure a ride for a high school homecoming queen. "Pickup man", in this sense, has a double meaning — i.e., he is not only driving a pickup truck, but he is also "picking up" women in it.
Music video
The music video was directed by Deaton-Flanigen Productions. The majority of the music video for this song was filmed on location at a drive-in theater in Lewisburg, Tennessee.
In popular culture
In 2005, a rewritten version of "Pickup Man" was used in television commercials for the restaurant chain Applebee's, to promote their "Carside To Go" service.[1]
Country singer Jason Aldean's Top 10 single "1994", a tribute to Diffie which appeared on Aldean's 2012 album Night Train, references "Pickup Man" in the chorus.
Chart positions
"Pickup Man" debuted at number 56 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks for the week of October 22, 1994.
Chart (1994–1995) | Peak position |
---|---|
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[2] | 9 |
US Billboard Hot 100[3] | 60 |
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[4] | 1 |
Year-end charts
Chart (1995) | Position |
---|---|
US Country Songs (Billboard)[5] | 66 |
References
- "Diffie's "Pickup Man" Remade for Applebee's Ad". CMT.com. Retrieved 2007-07-24.
- "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 2680." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. December 12, 1994. Retrieved July 21, 2013.
- "Joe Diffie Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
- "Joe Diffie Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
- "Best of 1995: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 1995. Retrieved July 21, 2013.