On this day in 1979: “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” by the Charlie Daniels Band reached number one on the country chart.

The song was released on their 1979 album Million Mile Reflections.

The song is written in the key of D minor. Vassar Clements originally wrote the basic melody an octave lower, in a tune called “Lonesome Fiddle Blues” released on Clements’ self-titled 1975 album on which Charlie Daniels played guitar.  The song was the band’s biggest hit, also reaching number three on the Billboard Hot 100, prevented from further chart movement by “After The Love Has Gone” by Earth, Wind and Fire and “My Sharona” by The Knack.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5j69aEZ8xE