In 1982, Alabama released their album Mountain Music and cemented their place one of country music’s greatest acts. In addition to the smash title track, the multi-platinum album featured “Close Enough to Perfect,” which went on to become the Ft. Payne-based group’s eighth Number One song. 

Singer Jake Owen was hardly even old enough to walk at the time, but still cites Alabama as a seminal influence on his recording career. In a recent video, he sings a reverent cover of “Close Enough to Perfect” armed with only an electric guitar and voice. Seated in front of a window and balcony, Owen lets his warm, resonant vocals search out the song’s emotional core. It’s a message that flows into Owen’s newly-released single “American Country Love Song,” which touches on the perfect imperfection of kids trying to navigate their way through relationships.

Owen found a unique way to promote the new release, driving a 1966 VW bus — nicknamed the “Love Bus” — from Nashville all the way to Key West, Florida in a short span. The trip was filmed by director Jeff Venable and will be used for the forthcoming “American Country Love Song” video.