Features

#80 Brand New Man Brooks & Dunn 1991 Their monster debut album is still their most memorable, mostly because the formula sounded so fresh the first time out. There’s a contagious energy to the production

#90 Put Yourself In My Shoes Clint Black 1990 Following up what is arguably the greatest debut country album of all-time was no easy feat, but Black acquitted himself admirably with his second collection. The

#100 Alibis Tracy Lawrence 1993 Lawrence was one of the top hit makers of the nineties, and he achieved that status by releasing ridiculously catchy up-tempo hits coupled with beautiful, waltzing ballads. His second album,

Something about these CMT lists just gets my juices flowing. This weekend, the cable network presented a barely publicized entry into their countdown series: 40 Greatest Albums. This one was apparently worth so little fanfare,

200 Essential 80’s Singles Part 8: #25-#1 #25 “A Little Good News” Anne Murray 1984 Peak: #1 Murray took home CMA Single of the Year with her surprisingly topical record wishing for better, more uplifting

200 Essential 80’s Singles Part 7: #50-#26 #50 “She and I” Alabama 1986 Peak: #1 Upon its release, this was one of the freshest-sounding singles on the radio. Alabama sound absolutely rejuvenated, as if finding

#75 “I Did” Patty Loveless 1987 Peak: #56 The first album by Patty Loveless was a scattered affair, as she searched for a style she could call her own. Interestingly, it was this single she

200 Essential 80’s Singles Part 5: #100-#76 #100 “Tennessee Homesick Blues” Dolly Parton 1984 Peak: #1 Parton sings in the voice of a homesick Tennessean turned off by the coldness of New York City. In

Last year, I posted the top twelve worthy inductees into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Sadly, the CMA only took one of my three suggestions: Glen Campbell, with the other two slots going to

200 Essential 80’s Singles Part 4: #125-#101 #125 “All My Ex’s Live In Texas” George Strait 1987 Peak: #1 Classic Texas swing from the modern master. Strait almost sounds relieved to be hiding out in