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. Rick Bartlett

    Rick Bartlett Forum Resident

    My least favorite decade for country music.
    It all gets a little too 'PoPpy' and 'stale' for my taste.
    Particularly heading into the mid to late 80's.
    These earlier years aren't so bad.....
    Throw in the new thin sounding digital recording techniques, and I'm really a fish out of water.
    The full use of digital reverb on vocals and the drum sounds are just darn awful.
    Just not a sound I favor. So many great songs and recordings that could use a remix.
    Personal opinion, of course....
     
  2. W.B.

    W.B. The Collector's Collector Thread Starter

    Location:
    New York, NY, USA
    Next . . .
    "Beneath Still Waters" by Emmylou Harris
    (#1 for 1 week - May 10, 1980)

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

    W.B. The Collector's Collector Thread Starter

    Location:
    New York, NY, USA
    Now for . . .
    "Gone Too Far" by Eddie Rabbitt
    (#1 for 1 week - May 17, 1980)

    [​IMG]
    Wikipedia entry
     
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  4. EggBreakfast

    EggBreakfast Forum Resident

    Location:
    Puyallup, WA
    Fool Hearted Memory, by King George. :love:

     
  5. W.B.

    W.B. The Collector's Collector Thread Starter

    Location:
    New York, NY, USA
    Aren't we getting a bit ahead of ourselves here?
     
  6. W.B.

    W.B. The Collector's Collector Thread Starter

    Location:
    New York, NY, USA
    Meanwhile, in the linear timeline, this one topped the charts after that latest Rabbitt pulled out of the hat (pun definitely intended) . . .
    "Starting Over Again" by Dolly Parton
    (#1 for 1 week - May 24, 1980)

    [​IMG]
    Wikipedia entry - co-written by the "Queen of Disco," Donna Summer.
     
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  7. EggBreakfast

    EggBreakfast Forum Resident

    Location:
    Puyallup, WA
    "The song was Strait's first number 1 single (Billboard Magazine, 1982)" [Wikipedia]
    Hmm, did I miss something?
     
  8. W.B.

    W.B. The Collector's Collector Thread Starter

    Location:
    New York, NY, USA
    Yeah, we're not at 1982 yet.
     
  9. W.B.

    W.B. The Collector's Collector Thread Starter

    Location:
    New York, NY, USA
    Now, back to 1980 . . .
    "My Heart" / "Silent Night (After The Fight)" by Ronnie Milsap
    (#1 for 3 weeks - May 31-June 14, 1980)

    and its B side
    [​IMG] [​IMG]
    Wikipedia entry for "My Heart"
     
  10. BradOlson

    BradOlson Country/Christian Music Maven

    Despite the Urban Cowboy controversy with purists, this was a great period for the country music industry with many wonderful classics that sold huge numbers to even people who aren't traditional country fans. Many classics of them are already mentioned.
     
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  11. EggBreakfast

    EggBreakfast Forum Resident

    Location:
    Puyallup, WA
    Sorry. I didn't read the first post thoroughly and, in my haste to post George Strait(!), I missed the rules.
     
  12. W.B.

    W.B. The Collector's Collector Thread Starter

    Location:
    New York, NY, USA
    Continuing on . . .
    "One Day At A Time" by Cristy Lane
    (#1 for 1 week - June 21, 1980)

    [​IMG]
    Wikipedia entry - despite her becoming a late-night TV icon with her mail order record ads later in the decade, this would be Ms. Lane's only chart-topper. Not to be confused (obviously) with the TV sitcom of the same title airing during this period.
     
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  13. W.B.

    W.B. The Collector's Collector Thread Starter

    Location:
    New York, NY, USA
    And on . . .
    "Trying To Love Two Women" by The Oak Ridge Boys
    (#1 for 1 week - June 28, 1980)

    [​IMG] [​IMG]
    Wikipedia entry
     
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  14. RSteven

    RSteven Forum Resident

    Location:
    Brookings, Oregon
    Written by the legendary country music songwriter Sonny Throckmorton, who also wrote Last Cheaters Waltz for T.G. Sheppard and Friday Night Blues for John Conlee, among many other well known country hit singles.
     
  15. bare trees

    bare trees Senior Member

    Are You On The Road To Loving Me Again : No I'm not. Next.

    Beneath Still Waters : This is my first time hearing this song. Emmylou Harris knows how to put across a song in a way that appeal to casual listeners such as myself.

    Gone Too Far : I remember this getting some AC airplay in my area at the time. This is where Rabbitt's sound drifted into a poppier direction that irked some purists. However, I have fond memories associated not only with this song but the string of follow up hits that he would have over the next two years or so.

    Starting Over Again : Dolly Parton is a wonderful singer but this doesn't do anything for me.

    My Heart : This is nice. It's country with a bit of pop thrown in. It hints at the more crossover direction his music would take over the next few years.

    One Day At A Time : A little to MOR for me. Sorry.

    Trying To Love Two Wome
    n
    : It's a little repetitive but it sticks in your head. The musicianship and harmonies are top notch as well.
     
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  16. W.B.

    W.B. The Collector's Collector Thread Starter

    Location:
    New York, NY, USA
    Now for this track that soon enough became synonymous with this individual . . .
    "He Stopped Loving Her Today" by George Jones
    (#1 for 1 week - July 5, 1980)

    [​IMG]
    Wikipedia entry - the title always sounded to me like an answer to that of "Today I Started Loving Her Again."
     
    McLover, JamieC, dalem5467 and 2 others like this.
  17. RSteven

    RSteven Forum Resident

    Location:
    Brookings, Oregon
    Arguably the greatest country song ever written and sung by perhaps the greatest male country singer ever. It also features a swelling and majestic string arrangement by legendary Nashville conductor Bill McElhiney, known for his fine string arrangements for Patsy Cline, Roy Orbison and Charlie Rich, among dozens and dozens of other iconic country artists. He Stopped Loving Her Today also features a stupendous soprano obligato solo by Millie Kirkham, one of Nashville's greatest and most recorded background voices.
     
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  18. bare trees

    bare trees Senior Member

    "He Stopped Loving Her Today" is a perfect example of how the right arrangement can turn a simple three chord song into something memorable. The rhythm section is laid back but locked in and the strings add some drama.The background vocal during the second verse is a nice touch as well, adding a little color without being intrusive.
     
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  19. MikeM

    MikeM Senior Member

    Location:
    Youngstown, Ohio
    I know I'm going decidedly against the grain, but I think many people identify "He Stopped Loving Her Today" as "the greatest country song ever" because they've been told that it is.

    I don't deny that it's a good song with a good story behind it, and George gives his usual fine vocal performance. But I can think of a hundred country songs that do much more in terms of emotionally moving me. It just barely escapes being maudlin, though I guess on balance it does. And while the arrangement is good until they get to the chorus, I'm just not a fan of bombastic string arrangements and keening backing vocals in country songs.

    No offense intended to anyone who really likes this song; just my take on it.
     
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  20. W.B.

    W.B. The Collector's Collector Thread Starter

    Location:
    New York, NY, USA
    Billy Sherrill was known for that sort of thing, "No-Show" Jones was one of the few to cut through his style of music.
     
  21. MikeM

    MikeM Senior Member

    Location:
    Youngstown, Ohio
    He was, but there were still lots of Sherrill-era George Jones songs that managed to stay true to his straight country roots, such as "Once You've Had the Best," "Nothing Ever Hurt Me Half as Bad as Losing You," "The King Is Gone" and "The One I Loved Before."
     
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  22. W.B.

    W.B. The Collector's Collector Thread Starter

    Location:
    New York, NY, USA
    That was what I meant.
     
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  23. W.B.

    W.B. The Collector's Collector Thread Starter

    Location:
    New York, NY, USA
    Next . . .
    "You Win Again" by Charley Pride
    (#1 for 1 week - July 12, 1980)

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

    W.B. The Collector's Collector Thread Starter

    Location:
    New York, NY, USA
    Followed by . . .
    "True Love Ways" by Mickey Gilley
    (#1 for 1 week - July 19, 1980)

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

    W.B. The Collector's Collector Thread Starter

    Location:
    New York, NY, USA
    Now for what on paper would be an unlikely combo . . .
    "Bar Room Buddies" by Merle Haggard and Clint Eastwood
    (#1 for 1 week - July 26, 1980)

    [​IMG] [​IMG]
    Wikipedia entry - of course, seeing the label and that entry, it's clear why they duetted in the first place . . .
     
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