Country Music, Y'all!

[UYI]

And now, back to the Sirius list:

#150: Tim McGraw--“Where the Green Grass Grows”

#149: Willie Nelson--“My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys”

#148: Kenny Chesney--“Don’t Happen Twice”

#147: Toby Keith--“Wish I Didn’t Know Now”

#146: Merle Haggard and the Strangers--“Mama Tried”

#145: Sara Evans--“Suds in the Bucket”

#144: Tammy Wynette--“D-I-V-O-R-C-E”

#143: Nitty Gritty Dirt Band--“Fishin’ in the Dark”

#142: Charlie Rich--“The Most Beautiful Girl”

#141: James Otto--“Just Got Started Lovin’ You”

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2021/06/29/a-country-music-conversation-sirius-top-1000-country-songs-of-all-time-150-141/

[Bastet]

3 hours ago, UYI said:

#145: Sara Evans--“Suds in the Bucket”

Possibly my favorite of her songs, and I'm glad to see it get a proper placement on this list.

Unlike Merle Haggard's "Mama Tried" -- good gods, Sirius.

3 hours ago, UYI said:

#144: Tammy Wynette--“D-I-V-O-R-C-E”

I know I have well over 100 songs I'm going to declare to be Top 100, but my gut reaction was this should be one of them.  Thinking on it some more, I came around to this being about right.  I can't sign on to the two Too High votes, though; it's definitely Top 200.

4 hours ago, UYI said:

#143: Nitty Gritty Dirt Band--“Fishin’ in the Dark”

I'm not a big fan of theirs, but I love this song; it is one seriously catchy tune (and I think ranked about right).

3 hours ago, UYI said:

#142: Charlie Rich--“The Most Beautiful Girl”

It's quite something what Charlie Rich's beautiful voice can do to transform lyrics I hate into songs I like (see, e.g., "Behind Closed Doors").

[UYI]

Also: For those of you who don't or won't read the comments below the CU list, the reference to a Holly in the James Otto entry is a woman named Holly, apparently from East Tennessee, who is a DIEHARD fan of James Otto, sometimes referring to herself as James Otto Sweetheart. I have only seen some of her posts here and there these last few years, but apparently she's a LEGEND (for better or worse) in the country music forum/blog arena (the Yee Haw arena, if you will?), having posted LONG, enthusiastic posts about her love for James Otto since the mid-late 2000's (which was basically the only time he was even moderately successful, but whatever), and even now, bless her crazy (if well-meaning) heart, she continues on with her ride or die posts whenever she gets the chance (although at least one music forum I visit banned her, so not that one).

...And I may just unleashed an unintentional mating call. Crap. But yeah, THAT'S what Zack and Jonathan were talking about there. 

[proserpina65]

On 6/26/2021 at 11:54 AM, UYI said:

The next number one 90's country song, is THE number one 90's country song, as far as being iconic goes, not necessarily in terms of being the "best", but definitely the one that can be perceived as truly setting off the unprecedented commercial boom the country music genre would have during that decade. Come on, y'all know what it is.

(For better or worse; I personally like Mark Chesnutt's version just as much, if not more; it appears as an album track on his debut album, Too Cold for Home, which, like No Fences, the album the more famous version appears on, was also released in 1990.)

33. Garth Brooks--"Friends in Low Places"

#1 on Billboard for four weeks from October 6th, 1990-October 27th, 1990.

#1 on Radio & Records for three weeks from September 21st, 1990-October 5th, 1990.

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2021/06/26/every-1-country-single-of-the-nineties-garth-brooks-friends-in-low-places/

 

God, I hate that song!  I hate it with the fire of a thousand burning nuns!  It is the reason I hated country music for a long stretch in the 90s.

On 6/26/2021 at 7:51 PM, bankerchick said:

Yup.  If people only know one country song from the last 30 years, they know this.  It's also the song that will get everyone on the dance floor, even those who 'hate country.'  

I've never seen anyone dance to this song - guess I've been lucky.

[proserpina65]

3 hours ago, Bastet said:

Unlike Merle Haggard's "Mama Tried" -- good gods, Sirius.

I do have to say that "Mama tried, Sirius failed, and I blew a gasket" is just about the most perfect comment I've ever seen, though.

[UYI]

57 minutes ago, proserpina65 said:

God, I hate that song!  I hate it with the fire of a thousand burning nuns!  It is the reason I hated country music for a long stretch in the 90s.

 

Which is a shame, because 90's country was kind of incredible and legendary as a whole. ;) 

For what it's worth, @proserpina65, here's Mark Chesnutt's version; it's FAR more subdued in its tone than Garth's version is.

 

 

Edited June 30, 2021 by UYI

[UYI]

The next number one 90's country song was the final one by a legend known as the Gentle Giant. This is a personal favorite of mine, too.

37. Don Williams--"Back in My Younger Days"

#1 on Radio & Records the week of November 9th, 1990.

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2021/06/30/every-1-country-single-of-the-nineties-don-williams-back-in-my-younger-days/

[UYI]

The last number one hit for the 80's Lady (who we just lost this past December) came in 1990.

38. K.T. Oslin--"Come Next Monday"

#1 on Billboard for two weeks from November 24th, 1990-December 1st, 1990.

#1 on Radio & Records the week of November 16th, 1990.

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2021/07/01/every-1-country-single-of-the-nineties-k-t-oslin-come-next-monday/

[UYI]

Another day, another number one for one of the biggest 90's country icons.

39. Alan Jackson--"Chasin' That Neon Rainbow"

#1 on Radio & Records the week of November 23rd, 1990.

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2021/07/02/every-1-country-single-of-the-nineties-alan-jackson-chasin-that-neon-rainbow/

[UYI]

TWO more 90's country number ones for your Fourth of July weekend! :)

(Also: these two entries take us from 1990 into 1991! YEE HAW1! :D)

40. George Strait--"I've Come to Expect it From You"

#1 on Billboard for five weeks from December 8th, 1990-January 5th, 1991.

#1 on Radio & Records for two weeks from November 30th, 1990-December 7th, 1990.

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2021/07/04/every-1-country-single-of-the-nineties-george-strait-ive-come-to-expect-it-from-you/

41. Garth Brooks--"Unanswered Prayers"

#1 on Billboard for two weeks from January 12th, 1991-January 19th, 1991.

#1 on Radio & Records for four weeks from December 14th, 1990-January 4th, 1991.

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2021/07/04/every-1-country-single-of-the-nineties-garth-brooks-unanswered-prayers/

Edited July 4, 2021 by UYI

[UYI]

And to add another offering on the Fourth of July (whether it can actually be considered a "gift" at this point is clearly up for debate):

#140: Don Gibson--“Oh Lonesome Me”

#139: Eddie Rabbitt--“I Love a Rainy Night”

#138: Johnny Cash and June Carter--“Jackson”

#137: Rascal Flatts--“What Hurts the Most”

#136: Leroy Van Dyke--“Walk On By”

#135: John Michael Montgomery--“I Can Love You Like That”

#134: The Statler Brothers--“Flowers On the Wall”

#133: George Jones--“The Race is On”

#132: Mark Wills--“19 Somethin’”

#131: Sammi Smith--“Help Me Make it Through the Night”

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2021/07/04/a-country-music-conversation-sirius-top-1000-country-songs-of-all-time-140-131/

[UYI]

Two more number ones from 1991 for your Monday morning:

42. Alabama--"Forever's as Far as I'll Go"

#1 on Billboard the week of January 26th, 1991.

#1 on Radio & Records the week of January 11th, 1991.

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2021/07/05/every-1-country-single-of-the-nineties-alabama-forevers-as-far-as-ill-go/

43. Paul Overstreet--"Daddy's Come Around"

#1 on Billboard the week of February 2nd, 1991.

#1 on Radio & Records the week of January 18th, 1991.

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2021/07/05/every-1-country-single-of-the-nineties-paul-overstreet-daddys-come-around/

 

[proserpina65]

I actually think Jackson is ranked about right, and so is The Race Is On.  I prefer Charlie Pride's version of Help Me Make Through The Night, but the song itself deserves to be in the top 20.

That John Michael Montgomery song sucks, and if I never have to hear What Hurts The Most again, I'd be a happy camper.

[UYI]

Two more number one songs from 1991, one from an era defining superstar, the other from a then-up and coming neotraditionalist:

44. Reba McEntire--"Rumor Has It"

#1 on Radio & Records the week of January 25th, 1991.

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2021/07/09/every-1-country-single-of-the-nineties-reba-mcentire-rumor-has-it/

45. Mark Chesnutt--"Brother Jukebox"

#1 on Billboard for two weeks from February 9th, 1991-February 16th, 1991.

#1 on Radio & Records the week of February 1st, 1991.

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2021/07/09/every-1-country-single-of-the-nineties-mark-chesnutt-brother-jukebox/

On 7/5/2021 at 10:00 PM, proserpina65 said:

 Charlie Pride

Minor nitpick: It's actually Charley Pride. ;) 

[proserpina65]

1 hour ago, UYI said:

Minor nitpick: It's actually Charley Pride. ;) 

OMG, of course it is.  I can't believe I did that.

[UYI]

Two more number ones, this time from an NFL player (!!!!!!) and another from a great neo-traditionalist who we sadly lost last year.

46. Mike Reid--"Walk on Faith"

#1 on Billboard for two weeks from February 23rd, 1991-March 2nd, 1991.

#1 on Radio & Records the week of February 8th, 1991.

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2021/07/10/every-1-country-single-of-the-nineties-mike-reid-walk-on-faith/

47. Joe Diffie--"If You Want Me To"

#1 on Radio & Records the week of February 15th, 1991.

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2021/07/10/every-1-country-single-of-the-nineties-joe-diffie-if-you-want-me-to/

[UYI]

I know she may technically have "better" songs, but there are truly few songs by this (VERY underrated, IMO) second generation country star that I love more. SUCH a jam!

48. Pam Tillis--"Don't Tell Me What to Do"

#1 on Radio & Records the week of February 22nd, 1991.

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2021/07/11/every-1-country-single-of-the-nineties-pam-tillis-dont-tell-me-what-to-do/

[UYI]

We're getting closer and closer, folks! The next ten entries are below.

#130: Alan Jackson--“Little Bitty”

#129: Lynn Anderson--“Rose Garden”

#128: Darius Rucker--“Don’t Think I Don’t Think About it”

#127: Marty Robbins--“Devil Woman”

#126: George Strait--“Amarillo By Morning”

#125: Craig Morgan--“That’s What I Love About Sunday”

#124: The Highwaymen--“Highwayman”

#123: Clint Black--“Desperado”

#122: Floyd Cramer--“Last Date”

#121: Rodney Atkins--“Take a Back Road”

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2021/07/11/a-country-music-conversation-sirius-top-1000-country-songs-of-all-time-130-121/

[Bastet]

Quote

ZK: Along with the sunshine, you’ve given us a crap-ton of rain, Sirius.

Testify.

We're supposed to be in the top 130 country songs in the history of time!  I should be nodding my head right off my shoulders at every entry, talking about what a great song that is and should it maybe even be ranked higher. 

What even is this shit instead?  "Litty Bitty"?  Clint Black's "Desperado" cover?  Anything by Darius Rucker?  Two songs I'd never even heard of until looking them up just now (Craig Morgan's "That's What I Love About Sunday" and Rodney Atkins's "Take a Back Road")?  They're fine (well, fine might be a stretch with the "Desperado" cover, and I really did not care for the Atkins song), but they're not top 130 of all time by a mile!

And then "Amarillo By Morning" and "Rose Garden" are down here swimming among them?

 

[UYI]

This next song gave this artist his first number one on both Billboard AND Radio & Records.

49. Alan Jackson--"I'd Love You All Over Again"

#1 on Billboard for two weeks from March 9th, 1991-March 16th, 1991.

#1 on Radio & Records the week of March 1st, 1991.

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2021/07/12/every-1-country-single-of-the-nineties-alan-jackson-id-love-you-all-over-again/

 

[UYI]

This next number one song is the second single of the follow up album of one of the most successful debut albums in country music history.

For some reason, after all five singles on Killin' Time reached the top spot, the lead single and title track of his second album, "Put Yourself in My Shoes", wound up missing out on number one--but anyway:

50. Clint Black--"Loving Blind"

#1 on Billboard for two weeks from March 23rd, 1991-March 30th, 1991.

#1 on Radio & Records the week of March 8th, 1991.

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2021/07/13/every-1-country-single-of-the-nineties-clint-black-loving-blind/

Edited July 13, 2021 by UYI

[UYI]

It took FAR too long, but her debut album is FINALLY coming. Bookmark September 24th on your calendars! :D

 

[UYI]

Another number one from the biggest 90's country superstar of them all. 

51. Garth Brooks--"Two of a Kind, Workin' On a Full House"

#1 on Billboard the week of April 6th, 1991.

#1 on Radio & Records for two weeks from March 15th, 1991-March 22nd, 1991.

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2021/07/14/every-1-country-single-of-the-nineties-garth-brooks-two-of-a-kind-workin-on-a-full-house/

[UYI]

We are getting closer and closer to the double digits of this list!

#120: Loretta Lynn--“You Ain’t Woman Enough”

#119: Kenny Rogers--“Lady”

#118: Johnny Paycheck--“She’s All I Got”

#117: Brad Paisley & Carrie Underwood--“Remind Me”

#116: Hank Williams--“Cold, Cold Heart”

#115: Trisha Yearwood--“She’s in Love With the Boy”

#114: Billy Currington--“Good Directions”

#113: Johnny Cash--“Tennessee Flat Top Box”

#112: George Strait--“I Cross My Heart”

#111: Patsy Cline--“Sweet Dreams”

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2021/07/14/a-country-music-conversation-sirius-top-1000-country-songs-of-all-time-120-111/

[Bastet]

4 hours ago, UYI said:

#116: Hank Williams--“Cold, Cold Heart”

The hell?  This is arguably top 50, definitely top 75, and they don't even have it as top 100.

4 hours ago, UYI said:

#113: Johnny Cash--“Tennessee Flat Top Box”

I agree with the CU commentary - this is ranked too high, and Rosanne's version is a lot better.

I also agree with all the commentary on "Lady" being ranked too high, and that the overall placement of Kenny Rogers songs on this list is an "utter mess".

[proserpina65]

5 hours ago, UYI said:

#120: Loretta Lynn--“You Ain’t Woman Enough”

As they said in the commentary, this ranking would be about right IF Don't Come Home a Drinkin' was in the top 25 where it belongs.

And Cold, Cold Heart at 116?  I can't even.  For me, that's one of his very best songs.

[UYI]

Another number one for a country legend from North Carolina:

52. Randy Travis--"Heroes and Friends"

#1 on Radio & Records the week of March 29th, 1991.

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2021/07/15/every-1-country-single-of-the-nineties-randy-travis-heroes-and-friends/

 

[UYI]

The next 90's number one comes from its most prominent country band, followed by another for the southern rocker of the 90's country scene.

53. Alabama--"Down Home"

#1 on Billboard for three weeks from April 13th, 1991-April 27th, 1991.

#1 on Radio & Records for two weeks from April 5th, 1991-April 12th, 1991.

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2021/07/17/every-1-country-single-of-the-nineties-alabama-down-home/

54. Travis Tritt--"Drift Off to Dream"

#1 on Radio & Records the week of April 19th, 1991.

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2021/07/17/every-1-country-single-of-the-nineties-travis-tritt-drift-off-to-dream/

 

[UYI]

To quote Kevin John Coyne at the top of this list of entries: "900 Down, 100 to go."

#110: Gary Allan--“Watching Airplanes”

#109: Tom T. Hall--“I Love”

#108: Diamond Rio--“Meet in the Middle”

#107: Roger Miller--"Chug-a-Lug”

#106: Garth Brooks--“The Thunder Rolls”

#105: Linda Ronstadt--“Crazy”

#104: Kenny Chesney--“Young”

#103: Bobbie Gentry--“Ode to Billie Joe”

#102: Juice Newton--“Angel of the Morning”

#101: Buck Owens and His Buckaroos--“I’ve Got a Tiger By the Tail”

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2021/07/17/a-country-music-conversation-sirius-top-1000-country-songs-of-all-time-110-101/

 

 

[UYI]

Our next country number one is a duet, between a country legend and one of the many neo-traditionalists of the time (although he was really one of the ones who led the way for that era, I should say):

55. Dolly Parton with Ricky Van Shelton--"Rockin' Years"

#1 on Billboard the week of May 4th, 1991.

#1 on Radio & Records the week of April 26th, 1991.

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2021/07/18/every-1-country-single-of-the-nineties-dolly-parton-with-ricky-van-shelton-rockin-years/

[Bastet]

Good grief, the overwhelming majority of songs ranked from 101-110 do not belong that high on the list. This thing is a total shit show.

[UYI]

Our next two number ones, one from King George, the other from yet another bright neo-traditionalist country light of the 90's:

56. George Strait--"If I Know Me"

#1 on Billboard for two weeks from  May 11th, 1991-May 18th, 1991.

#1 on Radio & Records the week of May 3rd, 1991.

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2021/07/20/every-1-country-single-of-the-nineties-george-strait-if-i-know-me/

57. Doug Stone--"In a Different Light"

#1 on Billboard the week of May 25th, 1991.

#1 on Radio & Records the week of May 10th, 1991.

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2021/07/20/every-1-country-single-of-the-nineties-doug-stone-in-a-different-light/

[UYI]

The next two country number ones are a debut single from a prominent country band, and another number one from a great neo-traditionalist. The nineties had a lot of those. ;)

58. Diamond Rio--"Meet in the Middle"

#1 on Billboard for two weeks from June 1st, 1991-June 8th, 1991.

#1 on Radio & Records the week of May 17th, 1991.

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2021/07/22/every-1-country-single-of-the-nineties-diamond-rio-meet-in-the-middle/

59. Mark Chesnutt--"Blame it On Texas"

#1 on Radio & Records the week of May 24th, 1991.

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2021/07/22/every-1-country-single-of-the-nineties-mark-chesnutt-blame-it-on-texas/

 

 

[UYI]

And now, the top 100 begins.

#100: Chris Young--“I’m Comin’ Over”

#99: Lonestar--“Amazed”

#98: Willie Nelson--“Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain”

#97: Blake Shelton--“Honey Bee”

#96: Alabama--“If You’re Gonna Play in Texas (You Gotta Have a Fiddle in the Band)”

#95: Hank Williams with His Drifting Cowboys--“I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry”

#94: Kenny Chesney--“She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy”

#93: Tennessee Ernie Ford--“Sixteen Tons”

#92: Bellamy Brothers--“Let Your Love Flow”

#91: Charley Pride--“Is Anybody Going to San Antone”

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2021/07/22/a-country-music-conversation-sirius-top-1000-country-songs-of-all-time-100-91/

 

[Bastet]

I'll just raise a glass to the first line of the CU write-up for this section of the list:

Quote

Now that we’re in the top hundred, all of the entries are brilliant classics worthy of….oh, who are we kidding?

Because, yeah.  "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" and "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain" are ranked too low, but it's even more aggravating how many songs are ranked too high (or don't even belong anywhere on the list).

[UYI]

Another country number one by the late artist sometimes nicknamed "Joe Ditty":

60. Joe Diffie--"If the Devil Danced (in Empty Pockets)"

#1 on Billboard the week of June 15th, 1991.

#1 on Radio & Records the week of May 31st, 1991.

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2021/07/23/every-1-country-single-of-the-nineties-joe-diffie-if-the-devil-danced-in-empty-pockets/

[UYI]

Next up: The one song that even the biggest of Garth Brooks' detractors tend to love, and the lead single to a budding 90's superstar's second album.

61. Garth Brooks--"The Thunder Rolls"

#1 on Billboard for two weeks from June 22nd, 1991-June 29th, 1991.

#1 on Radio & Records for three weeks from June 7th, 1991-June 21st, 1991.

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2021/07/25/every-1-country-single-of-the-nineties-garth-brooks-the-thunder-rolls/

62. Alan Jackson--"Don't Rock the Jukebox"

#1 on Billboard for three weeks from July 6th, 1991-July 20th, 1991.

#1 on Radio & Records for two weeks from June 28th, 1991-July 5th, 1991.

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2021/07/25/every-1-country-single-of-the-nineties-alan-jackson-dont-rock-the-jukebox/

[bankerchick]

I like both of these songs, though not a huge fan of either artist.

[Bastet]

6 hours ago, UYI said:

The one song that even the biggest of Garth Brooks' detractors tend to love,

Martina McBride's similarly-themed "Independence Day" is far superior, but, yeah, it's the one song of his I like.

[UYI]

Insert "the first number one for a 90's country star" post here:

63. Billy Dean--"Somewhere in My Broken Heart"

#1 on Radio & Records the week of July 12th, 1991.

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2021/07/26/every-1-country-single-of-the-nineties-billy-dean-somewhere-in-my-broken-heart/

[UYI]

And now, the Sirius list. Again. Some more. We're getting closer and closer to the end, folks.

#90: Tim McGraw--“Something Like That”

#89: Roger Miller--“Dang Me”

#88: Ronnie Milsap--“Smoky Mountain Rain"

#87: Loretta Lynn & Conway Twitty--“Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man”

#86: Dierks Bentley--“Drunk On a Plane”

#85: Sammy Kershaw--“She Don’t Know She’s Beautiful”

#84: Jimmy Dean--“Big Bad John”

#83: Don Williams--“Tulsa Time”

#82: Luke Bryan--“Drink a Beer”

#81: Jimmy Buffett--“Margaritaville”

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2021/07/26/a-country-music-conversation-sirius-top-1000-country-songs-of-all-time-90-81/

[UYI]

Our next two number ones come courtesy of two Georgia natives: the first, another number one from the genre's resident southern rocker of the decade (whose title uses what would become an iconic, if now dated, saying in country music following its release), the second, the debut single of one of the greatest vocalists, male or female, to come out of the genre in the past thirty years (yes, this year marks the 30th anniversary of her self-titled debut album).

64. Travis Tritt--"Here's a Quarter (Call Someone Who Cares)"

#1 on Radio & Records the week of July 19th, 1991.

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2021/07/28/every-1-country-single-of-the-nineties-travis-tritt-heres-a-quarter-call-someone-who-cares/

65. Trisha Yearwood--"She's in Love With the Boy"

#1 on Billboard for two weeks from August 3rd, 1991-August 10th, 1991.

#1 on Radio & Records the week of July 26th, 1991.

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2021/07/28/every-1-country-single-of-the-nineties-trisha-yearwood-shes-in-love-with-the-boy/

 

[Bastet]

I think every single song from 90-81 on the Sirius list other than "Big Bad John" is ranked too high.  But at least I like most of them.  (I didn't know "Drunk On a Plane" or "Drink a Beer", so listened to those -- eh, fine, especially "Drunk on a Plane", but I don't ever need to listen to them again, let alone rank them in the top 100 of country music; WTcontinualF, Sirius?)

5 hours ago, UYI said:

65. Trisha Yearwood--"She's in Love With the Boy"

If you just handed me the lyrics, I would most likely write it off as insipid and corn-pone, which would be tragically short changing it, as Mama's interjection* is perfect.  And Yearwood, of course, makes it art.

*When the song first came out, I thought she said, "... who didn't have a motorhome" and it took me a few listens to realize it was "who didn't have a row to hoe".  Oh, yeah - that would make more sense with hayseed plowboy.

Edited July 28, 2021 by Bastet

[bankerchick]

Two great songs.  I love pretty much anything by Travis Tritt and while not that big a fan of Trisha Yearwood, I get teary every time Mama tells Daddy 'Katie looks at Tommy the way I still look at you.'

I haven't been a fan of country all of my life, but my Dad listened to it and I have been listening for a few years now, and I am baffled by many songs and their placement on the Top 1000 list.  I don't feel qualified to comment on whether the most recent 10 songs belong where they are, but I can at least say that I am exceedingly familiar with most of them and given some of the songs that were listed way, way back, I find it hard to believe that anything by Dierks Bentley or Luke Bryan is among the top 100 songs in country music (though I do like that Luke Bryan song Strip It Down - but not even in my personal top 100.)

I guess my personal country tastes are different from the mainstream.  The artists that brought me to country music (Earl Thomas Conley, Vern Gosdin, Gene Watson, Gary Stewart for example) are never, ever mentioned by anyone on any lists or as favourite artists or influences, with the exception of my new favourite band, Midland, who often say they were influenced by Gary Stewart.  My twangy-country faves like Travis Tritt, Randy Travis, and Dwight Yoakam seem to be much more mainstream though I think a non-country fan would probably enjoy the smoothness of The Voice Vern Gosdin more than the honky-tonk stylings of Dwight Yoakam.

[UYI]

We have a whopping FOUR country number ones to list today:

The first: Another number one from a leading neo-traditionlist.

The second: Another number one from the most country band of all time.

The third: Another number one for King George!

The fourth: The one and only chart topper for a wonderful artist--a New York native, and a folkie turned-unlikely country star and fan favorite--who we sadly lost last year after a long battle with dementia.

66. Ricky Van Shelton--"I am a Simple Man"

#1 on Billboard the week of July 27th, 1991.

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2021/08/01/every-1-country-single-of-the-nineties-ricky-van-shelton-i-am-a-simple-man/

67. Alabama--"Here We Are"

#1 on Billboard the week of August 2nd, 1991.

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2021/08/01/every-1-country-single-of-the-nineties-alabama-here-we-are/

68. George Strait--"You Know Me Better Than That"

#1 on Billboard for three weeks from August 17th, 1991-August 31st, 1991.

#1 on Radio & Records the week of August 9th, 1991.

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2021/08/01/every-1-country-single-of-the-nineties-george-strait-you-know-me-better-than-that/

69. Hal Ketchum--"Small Town Saturday Night"

#1 on Billboard for two weeks from August 3rd, 1991-August 10th, 1991.

#1 on Radio & Records the week of August 16th, 1991.

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2021/08/01/every-1-country-single-of-the-nineties-hal-ketchum-small-town-saturday-night/

Edited August 1, 2021 by UYI

[UYI]

On 7/30/2021 at 11:29 AM, bankerchick said:

I guess my personal country tastes are different from the mainstream.  The artists that brought me to country music (Earl Thomas Conley, Vern Gosdin, Gene Watson, Gary Stewart for example) are never, ever mentioned by anyone on any lists or as favourite artists or influences.

Well, I can at least tell you the reason why ETC and Vern Gosdin in particular are often overlooked: They had their peak of popularity in the eighties, which is often looked at as the lesser decade for country compared to the two decades it's sandwiched in between (the country rock/outlaw movement of the seventies, and the unprecedented commercial country boom of the nineties), and as a result, there are a LOT of country stars/songs who are unjustly overlooked or forgotten, with the exception of the Urban Cowboy inspired hits/pop crossover hits of the early eighties, and the neo-traditionalist movement of the late eighties, which set the stage for nineties country. As a result, everything else gets kind of stuck on the outside looking in. I personally think eighties country is CRIMINALLY underrated for a lot of these reasons mentioned above, and while it's not popular to do, I find myself MUCH more interested in checking out a lot of the lost/lesser known stars of country in the eighties/overall than some of the more obvious legends/more "acceptable" to like outside of country circles type artists.

And to address the bold part above: There is a HUGE exception to that for ETC: He was, and is, Blake Shelton's country music HERO. BS has ALWAYS acknowledged Conley in those terms, to the point where they became friends, and Blake even broke the news of ETC's passing on social media in 2019. So there's at least one person who has never forgotten him/acknowledged him as his biggest influence.

 

[UYI]

And on that note, let's continue with the Sirius XM list, shall we? (Well, you don't really have a choice here; I've committed to this, and I'm sharing to the bitter, bitter end, so there!)

#80: Faron Young--“Hello Walls”

#79: Chris Young--“Gettin’ You Home (The Black Dress Song)”

#78: Eddie Rabbitt--“Drivin’ My Life Away”

#77: Johnny Cash--“I Walk the Line”

#76: Toby Keith--“Should’ve Been a Cowboy”

#75: Billy Currington--“People are Crazy”

#74: Merle Haggard and the Strangers--“The Fightin’ Side of Me”

#73: Martina McBride--“Independence Day”

#72: Brad Paisley--“Mud On the Tires”

#71: Hank Williams--“Jambalaya (On the Bayou)”

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2021/08/01/a-country-music-conversation-sirius-top-1000-country-songs-of-all-time-80-71/

[Bastet]

33 minutes ago, UYI said:

#79: Chris Young--“Gettin’ You Home (The Black Dress Song)”

The only song of his I like, and I like it I do - it's sexy and he has a great voice for it.  But number 79 of all time?!

35 minutes ago, UYI said:

#75: Billy Currington--“People are Crazy”

I didn't know this one, so just had a listen.  It's perfectly fine, but generic, and has absolutely no business in the top 100.  Or top 500.  Or top 1000, really.

37 minutes ago, UYI said:

#72: Brad Paisley--“Mud On the Tires”

Copy and paste my reaction to #75.

[pinkandsparkly13]

On 7/30/2021 at 10:29 AM, bankerchick said:

Two great songs.  I love pretty much anything by Travis Tritt and while not that big a fan of Trisha Yearwood, I get teary every time Mama tells Daddy 'Katie looks at Tommy the way I still look at you.'

Wow I never knew that was the lyric. Ha I've heard it a hundred times, I just never looked it up. 

[bankerchick]

3 hours ago, Bastet said:

3 hours ago, UYI said:

#79: Chris Young--“Gettin’ You Home (The Black Dress Song)”

The only song of his I like, and I like it I do - it's sexy and he has a great voice for it.  But number 79 of all time?!

Agreed.  It reminds me of the Luke Bryan song I just talked about (Strip It Down) and there are also a couple of songs by Josh Turner (Why Don't we Just Dance and Your Man) that I like and thought they were all the same song when I first heard them.

Uyi, thank you for your explanation.  I did actually know that Blake Shelton was a fan of ETC, in fact it's probably the only time I have ever heard his name mentioned by anyone.  It's like watching a Youtube of Gene Watson on the old country show that used to be on when CMT was the Country Music TV.  He's singing Farewell Party, surrounded by stars such as Roy Clark, Waylon Jennings, Bill Anderson, Lorrie Morgan and many others and they are all blown away when he sings the final, 'when I'm goooonnnneee.'  I found it at #753 on the list and actually, this comment made by one of the reviewers captures my feelings exactly:  JK: … And now I’m furious again. I’d put this single alongside “El Paso” and “Chiseled in Stone” as the three finest male vocal performances in country music history. This is a top 50 record, at least. Too Low.  'Chiseled In Stone' of course being Vern Gosdin (#867!!)