Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Go 'Fishin'' for Gold

Frederick Breedon, Getty Images

'Fishin' in the Dark' was a great catch for theNitty Gritty Dirt Band two decades ago, when the single topped the country charts for multiple weeks in 1987. The song continues to sail along as a classic Dirt Band performance, and has given the band its first gold digital download, certified for sales of 500,000 by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America). It was released digitally in 2009.

"I think that 'Fishin' in the Dark' became our first gold download because a lot of people identify with the song regarding a good time in their life," Dirt Band member John McEuen tells The Boot. "They can identify with the song; it's about them. I think it relates to people's own lives, rather than 'Mr. Bojangles,' which is a good story song, or 'Long Hard Road,' which is about the singer's life. People who hear the song can go 'Fishin' in the Dark;' they can put themselves in the song."

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