Killin' Time (Clint Black song)

"Killin' Time"
Single by Clint Black
from the album Killin' Time
B-side"I'll Be Gone"
ReleasedJuly 15, 1989
Recorded1988
GenreCountry
Length2:47
LabelRCA Nashville 8945
Songwriter(s)Clint Black, Hayden Nicholas[1]
Producer(s)Mark Wright
James Stroud
Clint Black singles chronology
"A Better Man"
(1989)
"Killin' Time"
(1989)
"Nobody's Home"
(1989)

"Killin' Time" is a song written by Hayden Nicholas and American country music artist Clint Black, and recorded by Black. It was released in July 1989 as the second single and title track from his debut album. The song was his second number-one hit on the U.S. Billboard magazine Hot Country Singles chart and the Canadian RPM Country Tracks chart. When Billboard published its year-end Hot Country Singles chart for 1989, "Killin' Time" was the No. 2 song of the year — one spot behind Black's "A Better Man."[2] The successes of "A Better Man" and "Killin' Time" were instrumental in Black winning the Country Music Association's Horizon Award in 1989.[3]

Critical reception

In 2024, Rolling Stone ranked the song at #144 on its 200 Greatest Country Songs of All Time ranking.[4]

Music video

This was his second music video and was directed by Bill Young, and premiered in July 1989. It features Black singing the song at a bar named My Place (the actual name of the bar at the time of filming). He addresses a woman named Minnie in the opening (the name of the original owner of My Place). My Place located in Sealy, TX is now known as Saddleback Saloon. He was wearing a T-shirt that has Don't Mess with Texas written on it, and features him in another singing the song wearing a striped shirt. He puts the guitar down, and the video ends.

At 2:50 into, Clint's brother Brian Black makes a cameo dancing on the dance floor in front of Clint Black (in which viewers confused the guy on the dance floor as George Strait). Also making a cameo appearance in the video as an older Clint is Clint's brother Kevin Black.

Chart positions

Chart (1989) Peak
position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[5] 1
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[6] 1

Year-end charts

Chart (1989) Position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[7] 10
US Country Songs (Billboard)[8] 2

Certifications

Certifications for Killin' Time
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[9] Platinum 1,000,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Sources

References

  1. ^ "Clint Black & Hayden Nicholas: Houston Duo has Country Success". May 1991. Archived from the original on 2018-11-23. Retrieved 2023-04-04.
  2. ^ "Billboard magazine Hot Country Songs - 1989". Archived from the original on 2007-12-11. Retrieved 2013-04-01.
  3. ^ Millard, Bob, "Country Music: 70 Years of America's Favorite Music" (HarperCollins, New York, 1993 (ISBN 0-06-273244-7)), p. 161
  4. ^ "The 200 Greatest Country Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. May 24, 2014.
  5. ^ "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 6583." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. October 16, 1989. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
  6. ^ "Clint Black Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  7. ^ "RPM Top 100 Country Tracks of 1989". RPM. December 23, 1989. Archived from the original on October 16, 2013. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
  8. ^ "Best of 1989: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 1989. Archived from the original on December 11, 2007. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
  9. ^ "American single certifications – Clint Black – Killin' Time". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 12, 2022.

See also

  • Roland, Tom, "The Billboard Book of Number One Country Hits." (Billboard Books, Watson-Guptill Publications, New York, 1991 (ISBN 0-82-307553-2))