Flashback – Country Universe

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[ December 1, 2023 ] Every #1 Country Single of the Eighties: Alabama, “Forty Hour Week (For a Livin’)” 1985
[ November 30, 2023 ] Every #1 Country Single of the Eighties: The Oak Ridge Boys, “Little Things” 1985
[ November 29, 2023 ] Every #1 Country Single of the Eighties: Ricky Skaggs, “Country Boy” 1985
[ November 28, 2023 ] Every #1 Country Single of the Eighties: Lee Greenwood, “Dixie Road” 1985
[ November 27, 2023 ] Every #1 Country Single of the Eighties: Merle Haggard, “Natural High” 1985
[ November 27, 2023 ] Every #1 Country Single of the Eighties: Exile, “She’s a Miracle” 1985
[ November 24, 2023 ] Every #1 Country Single of the Eighties: Charly McClain, “Radio Heart” 1985

Where Did You Come From? Where Did You Go? 25 Years of “Cotton Eye Joe”

August 12, 2019 Jonathan Keefe 6

It’s a fool’s game trying to predict which songs will truly endure. The biggest pop hits of 1994 were Ace of Base’s “The Sign,” All-4-One’s cover of John Michael Montgomery’s “I Swear,” and Boyz II

Hugh Prestwood, Kathy Mattea, and “The Song Remembers When”

December 21, 2017 Kevin John Coyne 5

A brief history on the writing and recording of “The Song Remembers When.”

Six Pack: Classic Country Songs for International Women’s Day

March 8, 2015 Kevin John Coyne 22

Today is International Women’s Day. Historically speaking, country music has never enjoyed a reputation for being socially progressive. For the general public, the definitive statement the genre made was “Stand By Your Man.” That Tammy

CU10: What a Turkey! The Worst Singles of the Last Ten Years

November 27, 2014 Kevin John Coyne 14

Country Universe has reviewed more than a thousand singles during its ten year run. Some of them have been real turkeys. Here are some of the worst, with highlights and links to the original reviews.

CU10 Flashback: Carrie Underwood, Shania Twain and Gender in Country Music

July 23, 2014 Tara Seetharam 7

In 2008, I was finishing up my degree in journalism and trying to understand what it meant to be a professional writer. I wanted to write about music, but the divide between fan and critic