First recorded by John Berry on his 1990 independent album Saddle the Wind, it was later released by American country music singer, Trisha Yearwood in August 1992.

"[1] Although Yearwood is mainly known for her pop-styled ballads, "Wrong Side of Memphis" is one of the few songs she has released that is considered up-tempo and twangy.

In the mid-nineties, Yearwood and her band heavily re-arranged the song to create a more soulful, bluesy feel.

Allmusic reviewed Yearwood's album Hearts in Armor, and called the song a, "a tough, near spitting rocker tempered by honky tonk fiddles was written by Matraca Berg and Gary Harrison, opened the disc and may have thrown fans of her ballad style.

[4] "Wrong Side of Memphis" was released in 1992, and became a Top 10 hit, peaking at number 5 on the Billboard Country Chart by the end of the year.