Don’t We All Have the Right, a song written by Roger Miller, was recorded by Ricky Van Shelton for the Columbia label, was recorded on October 15, 1986, along with two other songs, in Nashville, TN, at the recording session Ricky was accompanied by: Don Potter (acoustic guitar), Larry Byrom (acoustic guitar), Richard Bennett (guitar), Steve Buckingham (guitar), Steve Gibson (electric guitar), Dennis Burnside (piano), Paul Franklin and Sonny Garrish (steel), David Hungate, Tom Robb and Michael Rhodes (bass guitar), Junior Huskey (bass), Eddie Bayers and Tommy Wells (drums), Harry Stinson (percussion), Hoot Hester (fiddle), Randy McCormick and Tony Migliore (piano), John Wesley Ryles, Bergen White and Dennis Wilson (background vocals).With the production of Steve Buckingham, the song was released on April 11, 1988, and on July 30, 1988, reached # 1 in the US Hot Country Songs charts, a total of 20 weeks remained in the charts. One week then, on August 6, 1988, it also reached # 1 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks charts. It was the third number one in Ricky’s career.
The song was included in Ricky’s debut album, Wild-Eyed Dream (Columbia 1987), the album was released on February 26, 1987, and re-released on October 25, 1990. On March 5, 1988, he reached # 1 on the charts of the US Top Country Albums, for two weeks in a row, and a total of 201 weeks remained on the charts. The album was certified platinum by the RIAA on July 24, 1989.
The song was first recorded by Roger Miller, on June 10, 1970, for the Mercury label, was released in July 1970, and reached number # 15, on October 17, 1970.
Few from the time period honored by Shelton wrote better songs than Roger Miller, the brilliant mind behind more than just humorous material. Shelton covered one of Miller’s finest songs about heartbreak on debut album Wild-Eyed Dream