See Jake Owen Sing Alabama’s ‘Close Enough to Perfect’

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.