On 29 August 1980, Alabama re-released “Why Lady Why” as the final single from their major-label debut, *My Home’s in Alabama*. Originally the B-side to “My Home’s in Alabama” on the group’s 1979 independent-label album, the newly reworked ballad became a major breakthrough, demonstrating that Alabama could succeed beyond their more upbeat, Southern rock-influenced material.

Producer Harold Shedd revised the earlier recording for RCA, which had signed Alabama after the band released three albums through smaller labels between 1976 and 1979. Written by bassist Teddy Gentry, the song concerns a man unable to forget a woman; Gentry said it was personal but declined to explain its inspiration. It became Alabama’s second of 21 consecutive number-one singles, a run that lasted until 1987.