Passionate Kisses

"Passionate Kisses" is a song written and performed by American singer-songwriter Lucinda Williams. It was released in 1989 as the fourth single from her third album, Lucinda Williams (1988).

"Passionate Kisses"
Single by Lucinda Williams
from the album Lucinda Williams
B-side	"Side of the Road"
Released	1989
Genre	Blues folk world country
Length	2:35
Label	Rough Trade
Songwriter(s)	Lucinda Williams
Producer(s)	Lucinda Williams Dusty Wakeman Gurf Morlix
Lucinda Williams singles chronology
"I Just Wanted to See You So Bad" (1989) "Passionate Kisses" (1989) "Six Blocks Away" (1992)

The song was covered by Mary Chapin Carpenter for her 1992 album Come On Come On, and released as the album's third single.

Critical reception

Hailed as the definitive version,^[1][2] Williams's original take has received widespread critical acclaim. Robin Denselow, writing in The Guardian, called the song a "rousing country rocker."^[3] Country music website The Boot ranked "Passionate Kisses" No. 1 on their list of the best Lucinda Williams songs, describing it as "a modern-day feminist anthem about having it all — a comfortable bed, food, a rock band and passionate kisses."

In 2021, "Passionate Kisses" ranked No. 437 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.^[4] The same outlet ranked the song at No. 100 on its list of the 200 Greatest Country Songs of All Time in 2024.^[5]

Music video

Williams filmed and released a music video for the track in August 1989.^[6] It would be the last time Williams starred in one of her own music videos until "Rock n Roll Heart" in 2023.^[7]

Track listing

CD single^[8]

• "Passionate Kisses" – 2:35
• "Nothing In Rambling" – 4:45
• "Disgusted" – 3:09
• "Goin' Back Home" – 3:22
• "Side Of The Road" – 3:27

Charts

Chart (1989)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)[9]	169

Mary Chapin Carpenter version

"Passionate Kisses"
Single by Mary Chapin Carpenter
from the album Come On Come On
B-side	"Middle Ground"
Released	January 19, 1993
Genre	Country
Length	3:23
Label	Columbia
Songwriter(s)	Lucinda Williams
Producer(s)	Mary Chapin Carpenter John Jennings
Mary Chapin Carpenter singles chronology
"Not Too Much to Ask" (1992) "Passionate Kisses" (1993) "The Hard Way" (1993)

Released in January 1993, "Passionate Kisses" was the third single from Carpenter's fourth album Come On Come On. The song reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in March 1993,^[10] and No. 54 on the Billboard Hot 100. Carpenter's version adheres closely in tempo, feel, and instrumentation to Williams' original recording, similarly relying on the catchy guitar riff to anchor the record.^[11]

The recording enhanced Carpenter's crossover appeal and earned her the Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance in 1994,^[12] in addition to securing the Grammy Award for Best Country Song for Williams.^[13] Carpenter filmed a music video for the track in Washington, D.C. and it premiered in early 1993.^[14]

Awards

Year	Award	Category	Work	Recipient	Result	Ref.
1994	Grammy Award	Best Female Country Vocal Performance	"Passionate Kisses"	Mary Chapin Carpenter	Won	[12]
		Best Country Song		Lucinda Williams (songwriter)	Won	[13]

Track listing

CD single^[15]

• "Passionate Kisses" – 3:23
• "Downtown Train" – 4:11
• "The Bug" – 3:48
• "Quittin' Time" – 3:52

Charts

Chart (1993) Peak position Canada Top Singles (RPM)[16] 39 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[17] 17 Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[18] 5 US Billboard Hot 100[19] 57 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[20] 11 US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[21] 4

Year-end charts Chart (1993) Position Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[22] 69 US Country Songs (Billboard)[23] 67