Album: Quinella (1981)
Charted: 29
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Songfacts®:

  • The southern rock band Atlanta Rhythm Section charted for the last time with this song, which was written by their producer Buddy Buie along with Randy Lewis and Steve McRay.

    In spite of the title, it's not about extraterrestrials or illegal immigrants; it's an existential song about loneliness, alienation, and being disconnected from virtually every aspect of one's life and surroundings. It put the group back in the limelight, but afterwards, the group went through a number of changes in both sound and personnel. They continued to perform at festivals and other events, and retained a loyal following. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Mike - Santa Barbara, CA

Comments: 1

  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn August 23rd 1981, "Alien" by the Atlanta Rhythm Section entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #88; and on October 18th, 1981 it peaked at #29 {for 2 weeks} and spent 15 weeks on the Top 100...
    It reached #16 on Billboard's Adult contemporary Tracks chart...
    Between 1974 and 1981 the Doraville*, GA sextet had fourteen Top 100 records; their two biggest hits both peaked at #7, "So In To You" for 3 weeks on April 24th,1977 and "Imaginary Lover" for 1 week on May 28th, 1978...
    *Doraville, GA is a small town about 15 miles northeast of Atlanta.
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