EVERY Billboard #1 country hit discussion thread 1980-1984

Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by W.B., Sep 11, 2019.

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  1. W.B.

    W.B. The Collector's Collector Thread Starter

    Location:
    New York, NY, USA
    We now start a new decade with a new thread. In the first year of this new decade there will be 43 toppers, but the amount per year accelerated to such an extent that this will be dealt with in two threads (in these five years, 247 songs reached the top; 1985-1989, which saw 249 make #1, will be in a separate thread to come). As this is synchronized with the pop charts, and given how few (comparatively speaking) reached the top, and how long some were there, there will be times when the #1's on here will come in fast and furious, so bear with us here.

    As the '80's unfolded there was the Urban Cowboy phenomenon and all that sprung from it (and heavily influenced trends in country at the time). By the middle of the decade we would see a new crop of stars spring up whose influences were the earlier, honky-tonk based style that prevailed prior to the advent of rock 'n' roll. (And many of whom started as the "old guard" and Urban Cowboy still prevailed, hence their breakthroughs would be delayed until this mid-point.)

    As always, "jumping ahead" like a jumping bean is a no-no, this is a linear process of following what came up to the top "at the time." After a break, our first #1 of the new decade.

    Oh, and feel free to peruse the new thread dealing with "the scene" two decades prior:

    EVERY Billboard #1 country hit of the 1960's discussion thread

    . . . the magazine's early years of the country charts:

    EVERY Billboard #1 country hit discussion thread 1955-1959
    EVERY Billboard #1 country hit discussion thread 1950-1954
    EVERY Billboard #1 country hit discussion thread 1944-1949

    . . . and the second half of the decade that just passed:

    EVERY Billboard #1 country hit of 1975 discussion thread
    EVERY Billboard #1 country hit of 1976 discussion thread.
    EVERY Billboard #1 country hit of 1977 discussion thread
    EVERY Billboard #1 country hit of 1978 discussion thread
    EVERY Billboard #1 country hit of 1979 discussion thread
     
  2. W.B.

    W.B. The Collector's Collector Thread Starter

    Location:
    New York, NY, USA
    We now unfold the new year (and decade) with another pop X-over . . .
    "Coward Of The County" by Kenny Rogers
    (#1 for 3 weeks - January 5-19, 1980)

    [​IMG]
    Wikipedia entry - #3 on Hot 100
     
  3. Grant

    Grant Life is a rock, but the radio rolled me!

    The lyrics do conjure up a graphic image, but they get the point across so there's no mistaking. I can't see a song like this getting on country radio before 1980.
     
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  4. W.B.

    W.B. The Collector's Collector Thread Starter

    Location:
    New York, NY, USA
    Shows you how times were changing in the field of country by this point . . .
     
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  5. W.B.

    W.B. The Collector's Collector Thread Starter

    Location:
    New York, NY, USA
    Moving forward . . .
    "I'll Be Coming Back For More" by T.G. Sheppard
    (#1 for 2 weeks - January 26-February 2, 1980)

    [​IMG]
    Wikipedia entry
     
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  6. W.B.

    W.B. The Collector's Collector Thread Starter

    Location:
    New York, NY, USA
    Next . . .
    "Leaving Louisiana In The Broad Daylight" by The Oak Ridge Boys
    (#1 for 1 week - February 9, 1980)

    [​IMG]
    Wikipedia entry
     
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  7. W.B.

    W.B. The Collector's Collector Thread Starter

    Location:
    New York, NY, USA
    Now for the next . . .
    "Love Me Over Again" by Don Williams
    (#1 for 1 week - February 16, 1980)

    [​IMG]
    Wikipedia entry - one MCA act replacing another (and in sequential catalogue numbers, yet) . . .
     
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  8. W.B.

    W.B. The Collector's Collector Thread Starter

    Location:
    New York, NY, USA
    Now for the third consecutive MCA single to reach the top (and yet another ABC alum) . . .
    "Years" by Barbara Mandrell
    (#1 for 1 week - February 23, 1980)

    [​IMG] [​IMG]
    Wikipedia entry
     
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  9. MikeM

    MikeM Senior Member

    Location:
    Youngstown, Ohio
    I'm still checking in regularly, but these (plus those covered in the previous thread) just seem to be really lean years for country music. Don Williams is the only artist I rate at all so far. I wasn't familiar with this song, and it sounds OK, but he had many better ones.
     
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  10. W.B.

    W.B. The Collector's Collector Thread Starter

    Location:
    New York, NY, USA
    You might've noticed these have been coming in fast and furious. It's for synchronization purposes with the "pops." As we get along the decade, we might get to the period that many thought marked country's "revival" after such "lean" years.
     
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  11. MikeM

    MikeM Senior Member

    Location:
    Youngstown, Ohio
    Yes. By 1987, when I returned to DJ-ing at a country station after more than 10 years away from it, things had improved dramatically! The bland "countrypolitan" thing had faded, and a new generation came in with music that pulled from diverse influences while still remaining identifiably country.
     
  12. W.B.

    W.B. The Collector's Collector Thread Starter

    Location:
    New York, NY, USA
    Meanwhile . . .
    "I Ain't Living Long Like This" by Waylon
    (#1 for 1 week - March 1, 1980)

    [​IMG]
    Wikipedia entry
     
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  13. W.B.

    W.B. The Collector's Collector Thread Starter

    Location:
    New York, NY, USA
    Now for the other half of a certain duo to replace the one above at the top . . .
    "My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys" by Willie Nelson
    (#1 for 2 weeks - March 8-15, 1980)

    [​IMG]
    Wikipedia entry
     
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  14. bare trees

    bare trees Senior Member

    eCoward Of The County : I was 8 and already a Kenny Rogers fan when this hit. Understandably, I was a little too young to grasp what the lyrics were about.

    Love Me Over Again : Don Williams had a style that drew not only on country but pop and adult contemporary as well. I do remember hearing this one on of our pop stations at the time.
     
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  15. W.B.

    W.B. The Collector's Collector Thread Starter

    Location:
    New York, NY, USA
    Next . . .
    "Why Don't You Spend The Night" by Ronnie Milsap
    (#1 for 1 week - March 22, 1980)

    [​IMG]
    Wikipedia entry
     
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  16. W.B.

    W.B. The Collector's Collector Thread Starter

    Location:
    New York, NY, USA
    And movin' on . . .
    "I'd Just Love To Lay You Down" by Conway Twitty
    (#1 for 1 week - March 29, 1980)

    [​IMG]
    Wikipedia entry - I had a vague memory of hearing this "way back when" - then I heard the descending chords towards the end, and it brought back memories.
     
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  17. W.B.

    W.B. The Collector's Collector Thread Starter

    Location:
    New York, NY, USA
    And the next one to take its turn . . .
    "Sugar Daddy" by the Bellamy Brothers
    (#1 for 1 week - April 5, 1980)

    [​IMG]
    Wikipedia entry
     
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  18. W.B.

    W.B. The Collector's Collector Thread Starter

    Location:
    New York, NY, USA
    And on . . .
    "Honky Tonk Blues" by Charley Pride
    (#1 for 1 week - April 12, 1980)

    [​IMG]
    Wikipedia entry
     
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  19. MikeM

    MikeM Senior Member

    Location:
    Youngstown, Ohio
    Technically, what happens toward the end of this song is that the chord pattern modulates — but in contrast to nearly every other instance of modulation, it goes to a lower root chord rather than a higher one.

    Typically, modulation happens in the opposite direction — for a good example of it, see "A Lover's Concerto" by The Toys, which modulates to the next higher chord sequence between virtually every verse.
     
  20. W.B.

    W.B. The Collector's Collector Thread Starter

    Location:
    New York, NY, USA
    Technically, Conway went down two semitones in his number. Which I do remember hearing "at the time." Though I would've thought this to have been earlier than 1980.
     
  21. W.B.

    W.B. The Collector's Collector Thread Starter

    Location:
    New York, NY, USA
    Next . . .
    "It's Like We Never Said Goodbye" by Crystal Gayle
    (#1 for 1 week - April 19, 1980)

    [​IMG]
    Wikipedia entry
     
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  22. bare trees

    bare trees Senior Member

    It's Like We Never Said Goodbye : I am not a big Crystal Gayle fan but I like this song. A very memorable and well written chorus.
     
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  23. W.B.

    W.B. The Collector's Collector Thread Starter

    Location:
    New York, NY, USA
    And the next . . .
    "A Lesson In Leavin' " by Dottie West
    (#1 for 1 week - April 26, 1980)

    [​IMG]
    Wikipedia entry
     
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  24. bare trees

    bare trees Senior Member

    I only heard this for the first time a couple of years ago but it has become a favorite due to the slinky groove and the tight musicianship.
     
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  25. W.B.

    W.B. The Collector's Collector Thread Starter

    Location:
    New York, NY, USA
    Now for . . .
    "Are You On The Road To Lovin' Me Again" by Debby Boone
    (#1 for 1 week - May 3, 1980)

    [​IMG]
    Wikipedia entry - the only country #1 from the one who monopolized the top of the pop charts nearly three years before with "You Light Up My Life"
     
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