Posts from — March 2008

El Paso – Marty Robbins

Spending seven full weeks at Number One, this ballad established Robbins’ signature western writing style, earning best Country & Western Performance at 1960’s Grammy Awards, and landing Robbins in country music’s elite.

Crazy – Patsy Cline

When Owen Bradley convinced her to come back out of retirement in 1960 to record for Decca, Cline broke into the stratosphere with the help of this Willie Nelson-penned 1961 monster hit that remains a huge fan favorite today.

And now, Part 2 of our series that looks at some of country music’s biggest stars, greatest songs, and what might have been. Enjoy.

• Ronnie Milsap and Dollie Parton – Stranger In My Coat Of Many Colors
• Hank Williams and Billy Ray Cyrus – Your Achy Breaky Cheatin’ Heart
• Jim Reeves and Carrie Underwood – He’ll Have To Go Before He Cheats
• Randy Travis and Lee Ann Womack – I Hope You Dance Forever And Ever, Amen

Coal Miner’s Daughter – Loretta Lynn

A true reflection of her original American country roots, this autobiographical hit launched a book and a major motion picture, ultimately becoming the trademark for one of American country’s true living legends.

Country Universe has begun the daunting task of counting down the top 100 greatest women of country music. The list will feature a historical perspective as well as a musical perspective as the “story of women in country music tells the story of women in America over the past century.” The list be released week by week, woman by woman (Very similar to OAC’s own Top 30 weekly list reveal). The number 100 woman has already been announced here.

Big Bad John – Jimmy Dean

1961’s monster story-song and cross-over ballad went on to sell 2 million records, earning Best Country & Western Grammy and launching the national network television career of writer/artist Dean, winning him millions of new devoted fans.

Better Man – Clint Black
Co-written by the artist, this is the song that in 1989 broke Black into country music’s big time, seemingly overnight. The chart-buster earned him the Academy of Country Music’s Best Single & Best Male Vocalist of the year – then catapulted him to winner of the coveted Horizon award in his first year as a country artist.