COUNTRY CHARTBEAT (Read 15,030 times)

[countrychartnut]

1. LYNCH IS #1, YEP, YEP: Well, after four single releases, Dustin Lynch lands his first chart topping hit with Where It's At Yep, Yep. This is the title track to his current CD. This could have been his second #1 hit had Cowboys And Angels not peaked at #2 in 2012. That was his first single. The two in between were:
1. She Cranks My Tractor-2013-#16
2. Wild In Your Smile-2013-#23
Furthermore, Lynch becomes the third artist on the Broken Bow label with a #1 following Craig Morgan and Jason Aldean.
2. HIS FIFTH, HIS SEVENTH, AND HIS THIRD: At #10 for the week is the vocal collaboration between Brantley Gilbert, Justin Moore, and Thomas Rhett called Small Town Throwdown. Together, it is their first top ten. As individual artists, it's Gilbert's fifth, Moore's seventh, and Rhett's third.
3. THE SECOND WEEK: For the second week in a row, Brad Paisley's Perfect Storm is the fastest climbing song of the week (#43 to #31).
4. BROOKS IS DOWN, BROOKS IS UP: On the airplay chart, Garth Brooks takes a four point fall to #23 with his latest single, People Loving People. On the albums chart, he is up nine to #24 with his box set, Blame It All On My Roots.
5. #1 HITS: These were the chart topping songs in 2009, 2004, 1999, 1994, and 1989:
2009: Big Green Tractor-Jason Aldean-Broken Bow
2004: Days Go By-Keith Urban-Capitol
1999: You Had Me From Hello-Kenny Chesney-BNA
1994: XXX'S And OOO'S An American Girl-Trisha Yearwood-MCA
1989: Nothing I Can Do About It Now-Willie Nelson-Columbia
6. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: Question of the week: How many of you have the 1995 box set by George Strait called Strait Out Of The Box? Good! I have it on cassette, CD, and even eight track (that would be nine eight tracks considering it is a 72 song set). The first three songs of the box set are:
1. I Just Can't Go On Dying Like This
2. That Don't Change The Way I Feel About You
3. I Don't Want To Talk It Over Anymore
Not only were those songs recorded by Strait during the late 1970s on D Records, but they were written by him as well. Fast forward three decades and Strait, as a superstar in the music business scores his first hit as a songwriter with Living For The Night, our #2 song from just five years ago this week.
Are you still looking at the box set? Good! Scan disc one and you will find another Strait-penned song called I Can't See Texas From Here (song #11). That came from his second MCA album called Strait From The Heart (1982). That album yielded the following hits:
1. Fool Hearted Memory-1982-#1
2. Marina Del Rey-1983-#6
3. Amarillo By Morning-1983-#4
4. A Fire I Can't Put Out-1983-#1
Sitting as an album cut is his version of Heartbroke, a #1 hit for Ricky Skaggs in 1982. Twenty-six years later, Strait started to get the 'songwriters itch' to write again. That year, he released his Troubadour CD which yielded the following hits:
1. I Saw God Today-2008-#1
2. Troubadour-2008-#7
3. River Of Love-2009-#1-to date, his last chart topping hit
During the chart run of River Of Love, two major events took place:
1. Strait won his first Grammy Award for Best Country Album for Troubadour.
2. Strait was picked as Artist of the Decade by the A.C.M..
During this time, Strait, George Strait, Jr. ('Bubba'), and Dean Dillon decided to write some songs together. To say Dillon has contributed to the Strait hit parade would be an understatement. Here is the complete list of hits Dillon has wrote for Strait (some are co-writes):
1. Unwound-1981-#6
2. Down And Out-1981-#16
3. Marina Del Rey-1983-#6
4. The Chair-1985-#1
5. Nobody In His Right Mind Would've Left Her-1986-#1-also a #25 hit for Dillon in 1981
6. It Ain't Cool To Be Crazy About You-1986-#1
7. Ocean Front Property-1987-#1
8. Famous Last Words Of A Fool-1988-#1-also a #67 hit for Dillon in 1983
9. I've Come To Expect It From You-1990-#1
10. If I Know Me-1991-#1
11. Easy Come, Easy Go-1993-#1
12. Lead On-1995-#7
13. The Best Day-2000-#1
14. She Let Herself Go-2006-#1
15. Living For The Night-2009-#2
16. The Breath You Take-2011-#6
17. Drinkin' Man-2012-#37
18. I Believe-2013-#50
It was time to release a new CD in 2009. Titled Twang, here is the track listing with songwriter credits:
1. Twang-Jimmy Ritchey, Kendall Marvel, and Jim Lauderdale
2. Where Have I Been All My Life-Steve Williams, Wil Nance, and Sherrie Austin
3. I Gotta Get To You-Blaine Larsen, Ritchey, and Lauderdale
4. Easy As You Go-Rick Giles and Steve Bogard
5. Living For The Night-George Strait, Bubba Strait, and Dean Dillon
6. Some Kind Of Crazy-Gary Nicholson and Delbert McClinton
7. Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind-George and Bubba Strait
8. Arkansas Dave-Bubba Strait
9. The Breath You Take-Casey Beathard, Dillon, and Jessie Jo Dillon
10. He's Got That Something Special-George and Bubba Strait and Dillon
11. Hot Grease And Zydeco-Tony Ramey and Gordon Bradberry
12. Beautiful Day For Goodbye-Doug Johnson and Pat Bunch
13. El Rey-Jose Alfredo Jimenez
As you can see, George wrote three songs for the CD while his son wrote four. Living For The Night was tapped as the lead single. Released in May (during Strait's 57th birthday), it debuted at #34. Taking fifteen week to hit #2, it looked like Strait was going to get the 45th #1 of his career and tenth of the decade. Not so. Strait peaked there for two weeks while Jason Aldean spent his third and fourth weeks at the top with his biggest hit, Big Green Tractor. Living For The Night became Strait's seventh #2 hit. The title track was next and it kicked off Strait's 2010 on a #14 note. I Gotta Get To You was the third single. Written by Larsen, best known for his hit, How Do You Get That Lonely (#18 in 2005), it peaked at #3, giving Strait 30 consecutive years of top tens (1981-2010). The era ended with The Breath You Take. It took 22 weeks to hit the top ten and it peaked at #6 in 2011.
Twang gave way to Here For A Good Time in 2011. Surprise, George kept writing. He has seven songs on this CD that he wrote (with Bubba, Dillon, and/or Bobby Boyd). The title track was first and that was written by the Straits and Dillon. Released in June, it found a home at #2 for a week. Love's Gonna Make It Alright, not written by George peaked at #3 in 2012. The era closed on a dud as Drinkin' Man peaked at #37, becoming his worst performing single to date. It should be noted that by the time Here For A Good Time (the CD) ran its course, George became a grandfather for the first time. It was during this time he announced a farewell tour called The Cowboy Rides Away Tour. His current CD is called Love Is Everything. George has four songs on this CD while Bubba has three. One of those is found on the box set, a rerecording of I Just Can't Go On Dying Like This. A non-Strait song, Give It All We Got Tonight became the ninth #2 hit (it took 29 weeks to get there) of his career which became his first platinum selling single. That was followed by the George/Bubba/Dillon tune, I Believe which peaked at #50, his worst showing on the charts. He rebounded nicely with the third and final single, I Got A Car (#17 from this year).
Strait is the current reigning C.M.A. and A.C.M. Entertainer of the Year. A live CD was released this week called The Cowboy Rides Away: Live From AT&T Stadium. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 19, 2009:
1. Big Green Tractor-Jason Aldean-Broken Bow
2. LIVING FOR THE NIGHT-GEORGE STRAIT-MCA
3. Small Town USA-Justin Moore-Valory
4. American Ride-Toby Keith-Show Dog
5. Boots On-Randy Houser-Universal South
6. Summer Nights-Rascal Flatts-Lyric Street
7. Only You Can Love Me This Way-Keith Urban-Capitol
8. I'll Just Hold On-Blake Shelton-Warner Bros.
9. Gettin' You Home The Black Dress Song-Chris Young-RCA
10. Barefoot And Crazy-Jack Ingram-Big Machine

[countrychartnut]

1. LYNCH IS TOPS AGAIN: For the second week, Dustin Lynch has the #1 song with Where It's At Yep, Yep. Since Billboard 2014 started in December 2013, Lynch becomes the first artist to have his first #1 become a multi week chart topper.
2. HUNT'S YEAR: In a year where Sam Hunt scored top tens as a songwriter, he scores his first as an artist. His Leave The Night In is at #10 for the week. He has scored top tens this year writing Cop Car for Keith Urban (#8) and gaining a #1 in Billy Currington's We Are Tonight.
3. YEARWOOD'S HERE: Well, her husband Garth Brooks signed to RCA Records this year, so Trisha Yearwood went there as well. Her debut for the label, Prizefighter (featuring Kelly Clarkson) enters the chart at #59. Her last chart appearance was with Brooks last year with The Call (#49). Her last charted single took place in 2008 with They Call It Falling For A Reason (#54).
4. MCGRAW FAST: Shotgun Rider by Tim McGraw takes a ten point jump to #31 for the fastest climbing song of the week. In the meantime, he debuts at #60 with Keep On Truckin'.
5. SOME CD NEWS: The top two CDs on the country albums chart make their debuts this week. They are:
1. I Don't Dance-Lee Brice-This is his first #1 CD with 38,000 sold in the first week. The title track recently became his fourth #1 hit.
2. Where It's At-Dustin Lynch-He has the current #1 song in country. This CD sold 31,000 copies last week.
6. A 00S LOOK: These were the chart topping hits during the last week in September during the 2000s:
2000: That's The Way-Jo Dee Messina-Curb
2001: What I Really Meant To Say-Cyndi Thomson-Capitol
2002: Beautiful Mess-Diamond Rio-Arista
2003: What Was I Thinkin'-Dierks Bentley-Capitol
2004: Days Go By-Keith Urban-Capitol
2005: A Real Fine Place To Start-Sara Evans-RCA
2006: Give It Away-George Strait-MCA
2007: Take Me There-Rascal Flatts-Lyric Street
2008: Do You Believe Me Now-Jimmy Wayne-Valory
2009: Small Town USA-Justin Moore-Valory
7. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: Brooks & Dunn announced in 2009 they would be ending their professional relationship in 2010 after a farewell tour. As a parting gift to their fans, they released a greatest hits CD called #1s...And Then Some. As a parting gift to Brooks & Dunn, the fans turned it into our top selling CD five years ago this week.
#1s...And Then Some is the fifth hits package of Brooks & Dunn's career following:
1. The Greatest Hits Collection-1997
2. Super Hits-1999
3. The Greatest This Collection II-2004
4. Playlist: The Very Best Of Brooks & Dunn-2008
The track listing of the CD is as follows:
Disc 1:
1. Honky Tonk Stomp-with Billy Gibbons-2009-#16
2. Brand New Man-1991-#1
3. Ain't Nothing 'Bout You-2001-#1-chart wise, their biggest hit
4. Hillbilly Deluxe-2007-#16
5. How Long Gone-1998-#1
6. She's Not The Cheatin' Kind-1994-#1
7. A Man This Lonely-1997-#1
8. Rock My World Little Country Girl-1994-#2
9. Red Dirt Road-2003-#1
10. The Long Goodbye-2002-#1
11. You're Gonna Miss Me When I'm Gone-1995-#1
12. If You See Him/If You See Her-with Reba McEntire-1998-#1
13. She Used To Be Mine-1993-#1
14. That Ain't No Way To Go-1994-#1
15. Boot Scootin' Boogie-1992-#1
Disc 2:
1. Indian Summer-2009-#16
2. Play Something Country-2005-#1
3. My Next Broken Heart-1991-#1
4. Cowgirls Don't Cry-with Reba McEntire-2009-#2
5. Lost And Found-1992-#6
6. Little Miss Honky Tonk-1995-#1
7. It's Getting Better All The Time-2005-#1
8. We'll Burn That Bridge-1993-#2
9. He's Got You-1998-#2
10. Only In America-2001-#1
11. I Am That Man-1996-#2
12. Husbands And Wives-1998-#1
13. Neon Moon-1992-#1
14. My Maria-1996-#1
15. Believe-2006-#8
The CD was released in September. By selling 55,000 copies in its first week, Brooks & Dunn debuted at #1 on the country chart and #5 on the top 200 chart. It became their sixth #1 CD following:
1. Waitin' On Sundown-1994
2. Borderline-1996
3. Steers & Stripes-2001
4. Red Dirt Road-2003
5. Hillbilly Deluxe-2005
6. #1s...And Then Some-2009
Two new songs became their final hits. Indian Summer was released in the spring and peaked at #16. Honky Tonk Stomp features Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top fame. That was Brooks & Dunn's 50th and final single release. That was released a month ahead of the CD and it, too peaked at #16. The #1s CD is certified platinum. They continued to tour up until September, 2010. After their final concert, both artists (still signed to Arista) went to work on their solo CDs. Ronnie Dunn has done better than Kix Brooks. Dunn's self-titled debut CD has yielded the following singles:
1. Bleed Red-2011-#10
2. Cost Of Livin'-2011-#19
3. Let The Cowboy Rock-2012-#31
His final chart appearance came from the Peace, Love, And Country Music CD from this year (after he exited Arista). It is the #60 peaking Kiss You There (2013). What Dunn will be doing next is anybody's guess. As for Brooks, his New To This Town CD produced the following singles:
1. New To This Town-with Joe Walsh-2012-#31
2. Bring It On Home-2012-#44
3. Moonshine Road-2013-#45
4. Complete 360-2013-#49
5. There's The Sun-2013-#48
You can hear Brooks every weekend doing the American Country Countdown, a show he as hosted for almost nine years. #1s...And Then Some has been rereleased as The Essential Brooks & Dunn in 2012. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 26, 2009:
1. #1S...AND THEN SOME-BROOKS & DUNN-ARISTA
2. Fearless-Taylor Swift-Big Machine
3. The Foundation-Zac Brown Band-Atlantic
4. Hannah Montana: The Movie-Soundtrack-Walt Disney
5. Twang-George Strait-MCA
6. Keep On Loving You-Reba McEntire-Valory
7. Wide Open-Jason Aldean-Broken Bow
8. NOW That's What I Call Country Vol. 2-Various Artists-Sony
9. Learn To Live-Darius Rucker-Capitol
10. The Man I Want To Be-Chris Young-RCA

[countrychartnut]

1. A LONELY #1: Cole Swindell claims his first ever chart topper this week with Hope You Get Lonely Tonight. This is his second release from his self-titled debut CD. The first, Chillin' It peaked at #2 this year. Swindell becomes the fourth artist in Billboard 2014 (since December, 2013) to land his first #1 hit. The others:
1. Parmalee-Carolina
2. Frankie Ballard-Helluva Life
3. Dustin Lynch-Where It's At Yep, Yep
2. HIS TENTH: At #2 for the week is Luke Bryan's Roller Coaster. This is his tenth consecutive top two hit following:
1. I Don't Want This Night To End-2012-#1
2. Drunk On You-2012-#1
3. Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye-2012-#1
4. The Only Way I Know-with Jason Aldean and Eric Church-2013-#1
5. Crash My Party-2013-#1
6. That's My Kind Of Night-2013-#2
7. Drink A Beer-2014-#1
8. Play It Again-2014-#1-chart wise, his biggest hit
9. This Is How We Roll-with Florida Georgia Line-2014-#2
10. Roller Coaster-2014-#2 so far
3. TALLADEGA FAST: Eric Church has the fastest climbing song of the week as Talladega speeds up eight to #37.
4. GOING FOR A SECOND: Kenny Chesney has the Hot Shot Debut of the week at #40 with Til It's Gone. It is the second single from his current The Big Revival CD. It is the follow up to his #1 hit, American Kids. The last time Chesney charted consecutive #1s was in 2011 when Somewhere With You hit #1 and that was followed with Live A Little.
5. HIS 15TH: Tim McGraw has the top selling CD this week with Sundown Heaven Town. It sold 71,000 copies last week becoming his 15th top selling CD. It follows:
1. Not A Moment Too Soon-1994
2. All I Want-1995
3. Everywhere-1997
4. A Place In The Sun-1999
5. Greatest Hits-2000
6. Set This Circus Down-2001
7. Live Like You Were Dying-2004
8. Reflected: Greatest Hits Vol. 2-2006
9. Let It Go-2007
10. Greatest Hits: Limited Edition-2008
11. Greatest Hits 3-2008
12. Southern Voice-2009
13. Emotional Traffic-2012
14. Two Lanes Of Freedom-2013
15. Sundown Heaven Town-2014
6. THE COWBOY RIDES AWAY: George Strait lands at #2 on the albums chart with The Cowboy Rides Away: Live From AT&T Stadium. 51,000 copies were sold last week. It is his third live CD following For The Last Time: Live From The Astrodome (2003) and Live At Texas Stadium (2007). The latter features Jimmy Buffett and Alan Jackson.
7. A 00S LOOK PART II: These were the top selling CDs during the first week in October during the 2000s:
2000: George Strait-George Strait-MCA
2001: Greatest Hits-Martina McBride-RCA
2002: Home-Dixie Chicks-Monument
2003: Greatest Hits Volume II And Some Other Stuff-Alan Jackson-Arista
2004: Be Here-Keith Urban-Capitol
2005: Jasper County-Trisha Yearwood-MCA
2006: Live: Live Those Songs Again-Kenny Chesney-BNA
2007: Reba: Duets-Reba McEntire-MCA
2008: Learn To Live-Darius Rucker-Capitol
2009: Fearless-Taylor Swift-Big Machine
8. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: At awards shows, her name was pronounced 'Janie Frick' by Charlie Daniels, Elvis Costello, and Phil Collins. Her last name is Fricke, pronounced 'Fricky'. She decided to end her surname with 'ie'. After that, she claimed her ONLY chart topping album with Black & White, our top seller 28 years ago this week.
However, that was NOT the only change concerning Frickie (for the record, I have always spelled her last name with the 'ie' ending, especially when I saluted her 1983 #1 hit, He's A Heartache Looking For A Place To Happen last year). She ended a three album association with Bob Montgomery. He produced her 1985 CD, Somebody Else's Fire which produced a trio of top tens. They are:
1. She's Single Again-1985-#2
2. Somebody Else's Fire-1985-#4
3. Easy To Please-1986-#5
For the 1986 CD, she chose Norro Wilson as her producer. She moved from the pop direction Montgomery gave her to a bluesy direction Wilson provided. The track listing of the CD is as follows:
1. Till I Can't Take It Anymore
2. He's Breathing Down My Neck
3. Take Me A Little Vacation
4. Nothing Left To Say
5. Comin' Apart At The Seams
6. Always Have, Always Will
7. Don't Put It Past My Heart
8. When A Woman Cries
9. He's Making A Long Story Short
10. I'd Take You Back Again
Always Have, Always Will was picked as the lead single. Released in June, it became Frickie's tenth and final chart topper in October. The CD was released in July and found its way to the top the same week Always Have, Always Will was #1. It became her second top ten CD following Love Lies from 1983 (#10). I find it ironic Always Have, Always Will topped the chart three weeks after Reba McEntire had a #1 with Little Rock. Both artists wanted to record Little Rock, but Frickie let McEntire have it. It was the second time both artists fought over a song. BOTH ladies recorded She's Single Again (on McEntire's Have I Got A Deal For You CD). That time, Frickie released her version of the song. The second and final single, When A Woman Cries was released in December and became Frickie's last major hit at #20 in 1987. The first song on the CD, Till I Can't Take It Anymore ended up being a #2 hit for Billy Joe Royal in 1990.
A standards CD was next and that was released in 1987 called After Midnight. Are You Satisfied became her last solo top 40 hit at #32 while Baby, You're Gone peaked at #63. In the meantime, her duet with the Gatlin Brothers, From Time To Time It Feels Like Love Again managed a #21 peak. Frickie's hitmaking stretch was over. Columbia Records released a 20 song compilation called Celebration (Always Have, Always Will is the last song). Her 1988 CD, Saddle The Wind produced three chart singles (all in 1988): Where Does Love Go When It's Gone (#54), I'll Walk Before I Crawl (#64), and The Heart (#64). She released her last CD for Columbia called Labor Of Love in 1989. Her final chart appearances came from that CD (both in 1989): Love Is One Of Those Words (#56) and Give 'Em My Number (#43). After thirteen years at Columbia, Frickie was a free agent in 1990.
Frickie has released seven CDs during the 1990s on various labels and five during the 2000s. Her most extensive hits CD is Anthology from 1999 on Renaissance Records while her last CD was released in 2012 called Country Side Of Bluegrass. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TNE FOR WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 4, 1986:
1. BLACK & WHITE-JANIE FRICKIE-COLUMBIA
2. Storms Of Life-Randy Travis-Warner Bros.
3. Montana Café-Hank Williams, Jr.-Warner Bros.
4. #7-George Strait-MCA
5. Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc., Etc.-Dwight Yoakam-Reprise
6. Greatest Hits-Exile-Epic
7. Rockin' With The Rhythm-the Judds-RCA
8. Four For The Show-Statler Brothers-Mercury
9. Guitar Town-Steve Earle-MCA
10. Whoever's In New England-Reba McEntire-MCA

[countrychartnut]

1. BRYAN COASTS TO #1: Luke Bryan collects his tenth #1 this week with Roller Coaster. It is the fifth single from his current CD, Crash My Party which has already produced three other chart toppers. They are:
1. Crash My Party-2013
2. Drink A Beer-2014
3. Play It Again-2014-chart wise, his biggest hit
Furthermore, the Crash My Party CD becomes the 35th in country music to contain a quartet of chart topping hits. The others:
1. Don't Make It Easy For Me-Earl Thomas Conley
2. Roll On-Alabama
3. Why Not Me-the Judds
4. Rockin' With The Rhythm-the Judds
5. Lost In The Fifties Tonight-Ronnie Milsap
6. Hang On To Your Heart-Exile
7. Wheels-Restless Heart
8. Always & Forever-Randy Travis
9. King's Record Shop-Rosanne Cash
10. The Heart Of It All-Earl Thomas Conley
11. Southern Star-Alabama
12. Killin' Time-Clint Black
13. No Fences-Garth Brooks
14. Don't Rock The Jukebox-Alan Jackson
15. Brand New Man-Brooks & Dunn
16. I Still Believe In You-Vince Gill
17. Alibis-Tracy Lawrence
18. Who I Am-Alan Jackson
19. The Woman In Me-Shania Twain-Mercury
20. Everywhere-Tim McGraw
21. A Place In The Sun-Tim McGraw
22. Lonely Grill-Lonestar
23. Set This Circus Down-Tim McGraw
24. If You're Going Through Hell-Rodney Atkins
25. Golden Road-Keith Urban
26. Time Well Wasted-Brad Paisley
27. Carnival Ride-Carrie Underwood
28. The Foundation-Zac Brown Band
29. You Get What You Give-Zac Brown Band
30. Hemingway's Whiskey-Kenny Chesney
31. Red River Blue-Blake Shelton
32. Barefoot Blue Jean Night-Jake Owen
33. Here's To The Good Times-Florida Georgia Line
34. Night Train-Jason Aldean
35. Crash My Party-Luke Bryan
Crash My Party could have been the fourth CD with five #1s had That's My Kind Of Night not become a #2 hit.
2. AN UNDERWOOD HIGH: Debuting a song from her first greatest hits CD is Carrie Underwood. It is Something In The Water and it starts its chart life at #17. This is her highest debut ever. She has another top twenty debut with So Small from 2007 (#20). This is the second highest debut of the year following Florida Georgia Line's Dirt at #16.
3. BACK IN THE TOP TEN: Little Big Town collect their sixth top ten this week with Day Drinking at #10. It is the lead single to their upcoming CD, Pain Killer. They have not seen the top ten in awhile as their tow previous singles, Your Side Of The Bed peaked at #27 last year and Sober hit #31 this year.
4. PERRYS COVERING CAMPBELL: The Band Perry debut at #54 with their version of Gentle On My Mind. Gentle On My Mind was a #30 hit for Glen Campbell in 1967 and it was rereleased the following year, hitting #44. The Perry version is on a soundtrack called Glen Campbell...I'll Be Me.
5. PRIZEFIGHTER FAST: Trisha Yearwood has the fastest climbing song of the week as Prizefighter punches eight spots to #45.
6. A BIG DEBUT: Kenny Chesney lands his 13th #1 CD this week with The Big Revival. 130,000 copies were sold during its first week.
7. A BIG DEBUT PART II: Big & Rich land at #8 on the country albums chart with Gravity with 7000 sold. This is their debut on their namesake label after being at Warner Bros. for a decade. They are a perfect five for five as their previous four CDs (minus a greatest hits CD) landed in the top ten. They are:
1. Horse Of A Different Color-2004-#1
2. Comin' To Your City-2005-#3
3. Between Hell And Amazing Grace-2007-#1
4. Hillbilly Jedi-2012-#4
8. #1 HITS: These were the chart topping hits in 2009, 2004, 1999, 1994, and 1989:
2009: American Ride-Toby Keith-Show Dog
2004: Days Go By-Keith Urban-Capitol
1999: Something Like That-Tim McGraw-Curb
1994: She's Not The Cheatin' Kind-Brooks & Dunn-Arista
1989: Killin' Time-Clint Black-RCA
9. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: Country and pop versions of the same song have been with us forever. There have been some hotly contested versions that have competed with each other on the charts. Two classic examples from the 1950s (when the rock era was young) were Singing The Blues. Marty Robbins released his version in 1956 which became his biggest country hit (13 weeks at #1) while peaking at #17 on the pop chart. Robbins competed with Guy Mitchell, who would top the pop chart with his version. Shortly after that, Young Love by Sonny James became his biggest country hit (9 weeks at #1 in 1957). James would even peak at #2 pop. Right behind him was Tab Hunter, who would top the pop chart with his version. A more recent example had Trisha Yearwood and LeAnn Rimes duking it out with their versions of How Do I Live in 1997. Yearwood would claim a #2 country spot and peak at #23 pop. Rimes made a showing at country (#43) while peaking at #2 pop and getting a #1 at adult contemporary. An example between those happened in 1986. This time, it happened by accident. 28 years ago this week, Eddie Rabbitt and Juice Newton took their version of Both To Each Other Friends & Lovers to the top.
Rabbitt and Newton recorded their version in 1985 when Rabbitt switched labels from Warner Bros. to RCA. It was placed on his Rabbitt Trax CD that was released in 1986. Unknown to Rabbitt and Newton at the time, Gloria Loring and Carl Anderson had recorded their version as Friends And Lovers. Their version ended up as the theme song to the soap opera, Days Of Our Lives. Both artists shopped their version to various labels until USA Carrere picked it up in 1986. In the meantime, Rabbitt garnered two hits from his CD: A World Without Love (1985-#10) and Repetitive Regret (1986-#4). Rabbitt still wanted to release the duet as a single. He was hoping the Loring/Anderson version would NOT be released. Rabbitt was wrong as BOTH versions were released in June. Loring/Anderson debuted during the first week in July on the pop chart while Rabbitt/Newton debuted on the country chart a week later. Both versions zoomed up the charts until Loring/Anderson claimed a #1 on the A.C. chart dated September 6 while peaking at #2 pop for the week ending September 27. Rabbitt/Newton took their version to #1 country on October 11. It was the second #1 duet for Rabbitt as his first, You And I with Crystal Gayle (also #7 pop and #2 A.C. in 1982) was used in a soap opera, All My Children. When Both To Each Other Friends & Lovers peaked, RCA rereleased the Newton CD, Old Flame with the duet. The CD had already produced a trio of top tens:
1. You Make Me Want To Make You Mine-1985-#1
2. Hurt-1986-#1
3. Old Flame-1986-#5
Believe it or not, two MORE hits came from the CD: Cheap Love (1986-#9) and What Can I Do With My Heart (1987-#9). Rabbitt Trax yielded a further hit in Gotta Have You (1987-#9). Rabbitt would release one more CD for RCA in 1988 called I Wanna Dance With You. Four singles were produced:
1. I Wanna Dance With You-1988-#1
2. The Wanderer-1988-#1
3. We Must Be Doin' Something Right-1988-#7
4. That's Why I Fell In Love With You-1989-#66
As for Newton, she released two more CDs for RCA and three singles appeared on the chart:
1. Emotion-1987
a. First Time Caller-1987-#24
b. Tell Me True-1988-#8
2. Ain't Gonna Cry-1989
a. When Love Comes Around The Bend-1989-#40-her last chart appearance
Rabbitt switched labels from RCA to Universal (later Capitol) in 1989. Two CDs and six singles were released:
1. Jersey Boy-1990
a. On Second Thought-1990-#1
b. Runnin' With The Wind-1990-#8
c. It's Lonely Out Tonite-1990-#32
d. American Boy-1990-#11
e. Tennessee Born And Bred-1991-#58
2. Ten Rounds-1991
a. Hang Up The Phone-1991-#50-his last chart appearance
Newton's last CD was released in 2010 called Duets: Friends And Memories. Rabbitt's was Number One Hits in 2009 where you will find the duet (also repeated on Newton's Anthology CD in 1998). Sadly, both duet pairings lost members. Newton lost Rabbitt in 1998 while Loring lost Anderson in 2004. While the Loring/Anderson pairing was an 'ebony and ivory' event on pop and A.C. charts, country had its own while Rabbitt and Newton were #1: Earl Thomas Conley's and Anita Pointer's Too Many Times (see chart below). In the by the way department, Loring was married to Alan Thicke. You may know their son, Robin Thicke (Blurred Lines). This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 11, 1986:
1. BOTH TO EACH OTHER FRIENDS & LOVERS-EDDIE RABBITT AND JUICE NEWTON-RCA
2. Lonely Alone-Forester Sisters-Warner Bros.
3. Just Another Love-Tanya Tucker-Capitol
4. Cry-Crystal Gayle-Warner Bros.
5. Second To No One-Rosanne Cash-Columbia
6. It'll Be Me-Exile-Epic
7. Too Many Times-Earl Thomas Conley and Anita Pointer-RCA
8. Diggin' Up Bones-Randy Travis-Warner Bros.
9. You Can't Stop Love-Schuyler, Knobloch & Overstreet (S-K-O)-MTM
10. Doo-Wah Days-Mickey Gilley-Epic

[ozbest1]

Love this stuff--a lot I never realized, and I used to listen to all these older artists and their music you mention. That's back when I wavered between country and pop music. Listened to everything. Now I am more country/country rock, esp. since Keith Urban came on the scene-- I like to see where he and his contemporaries place in these rankings. Still trying to decide how I feel about this newer generation.

[ozbest1]

Surprised that Garth's latest single is not doing as well as a great many thought, but think he chose the wrong single. I'm waiting for the entire album, hoping that there are songs more like the Garth classics of old.

Eddie Rabbitt's history also really interesting--a talented songwriter/singer who left us too soon.

[countrychartnut]

1. F.G.L. HIS PAY DIRT: For the fifth time in their career, Florida Georgia Line has the #1 song in country. This week it is Dirt, the lead single of their upcoming Anything Goes CD. In the meantime, they become the 123rd artist in country music with five #1 hits. Their quintet are:
1. Cruise-2012
2. Get Your Shine On-2013
3. 'Round Here-2013
4. Stay-2014
5. Dirt-2014
They could have had six chart toppers now but their prior release, This Is How We Roll with Luke Bryan peaked at #2.
2. EVEN MORE F.G.L.: Not waiting for Dirt to peak, Florida Georgia Line debut their second Anything Goes single, Sun Daze at #53, the Hot Shot Debut of the week.
3. GONE IS FAST: Kenny Chesney has the fastest climbing song of the week as Til It's Gone moves up nine to #25.
4. SHELTON'S SUNSHINE: Blake Shelton collects his third #1 CD this week with Bringing Back The Sunshine with 101,000 copies sold last week. It follows Red River Blue (2011) and Based On A True Story (2013) as his other top sellers.
5. LADY A'S FLYING TOO: Coming in at #2 on the country albums chart is Lady Antebellum's current CD, 747. It sold 74,000 copies last week. However, it breaks their streak of #1 CDs. Those are:
1. Lady Antebellum-2008
2. Need You Now-2010
3. Own The Night-2011
4. Golden-2013
6. #1 CDS: These were the top selling CDs in 2009, 2004, 1999, 1994, and 1989:
2009: Revolution-Miranda Lambert-Columbia
2004: Feels Like Today-Rascal Flatts-Lyric Street
1999: Fly-the Dixie Chicks-Monument
1994: Waitin' On Sundown-Brooks & Dunn-Arista
1989: Killin' Time-Clint Black-RCA
7. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: Don Williams won the 1978 C.M.A. Male Vocalist of the Year Award. Exactly two years later, he landed his biggest hit ever, I Believe In You, our top song 34 years ago this week.
At the time of his award, Williams was charting the lead single of his Expressions album, Tulsa Time. It became the eighth #1 of his career and the first chart topping hit of 1979. The A.C.M. named Tulsa Time its Single of the Year. Eric Clapton recorded Tulsa Time and made it a #30 pop hit in 1980. During this time, the label Williams was on, ABC was absorbed by MCA Records. Lay Down Beside Me followed and it hit #3. It Must Be Love closed the era out on a #1 note. It returned to #1 in 2000 as a remake by Alan Jackson. Portrait was the last album Williams released during the 1970s. Love Me Over Again kicked off the 1980s for Williams on a chart topping note. Good Ole Boys Like Me followed, becoming his biggest #2 hit (he just could not top Ronnie Milsap's My Heart to get to #1). It was time for Williams to release his first album of the 1980s. Williams recorded a song written in 1979 called I Believe In You. That was originally written by Roger Cook. However, he needed additional help and Sam Hogin stepped in. Williams even suggested changes in the song to which the songwriters made including adding a bridge. Released in August, I Believe In You (the title track) became his eleventh #1 in Williams' career. By staying at #1 for two weeks, it also became his biggest hit. It also became his ONLY crossover hit by peaking at #24 pop. He followed that with Falling Again, which peaked at #6 in 1981.
He released an album in 1981 called Especially For You. Miracles was the first single and it hit #4. His excellent duet with Emmylou Harris, If I Needed You was off her album, Cimarron and repeated on his album. It proceeded to a #3 peak. While they were on the chart with their duet, Williams won the C.M.A. Award for Album of the Year for I Believe In You. Third and final single, Lord, I Hope This Day Is Good kicked off his 1982 on a chart topping note. It was recorded by Lee Ann Womack for her 2000 CD, I Hope You Dance. Williams added about another decade of hits to his resume. A few lasts:
1. Last #1: Heartbeat In The Darkness-1986
2. Last top ten/Last top 40: Lord Have Mercy On A Country Boy-1991-#7
3. Last chart appearance: Too Much Love-1992-#72
4. Last CD: Reflections-2014
Williams was inducted to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2010. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 18, 1980:
1. I BELIEVE IN YOU-DON WILLIAMS-MCA
2. Theme From The Dukes Of Hazzard Good Ol' Boys-Waylon Jennings-RCA
3. Faded Love-Willie Nelson and Ray Price-Columbia
4. On The Road Again-Willie Nelson-Columbia
5. I'm Not Ready Yet-George Jones-Epic
6. Could I Have This Dance-Anne Murray-Capitol
7. Old Habits-Hank Williams, Jr.-Elektra
8. Loving Up A Storm-Razzy Bailey-RCA
9. Sweet Sexy Eyes-Cristy Lane-United Artists
10. Steppin' Out-Mel Tillis-Elektra

[ozbest1]

Enjoyed this, esp. Don Williams' musical history. Funny thing about him, I never was a big fan (although my husband was a huge fan) when he was an A-lister although I did really like his I Believe in Love. It was Keith Urban, strangely enough, who brought attention to him; now I can see how good he really was/still is. He had some great songs, and I love his voice.

[countrychartnut]

1. ALDEAN'S BURNIN' AT #1: Jason Aldean scores his twelfth #1 this week with Burnin' It Down. It is the lead single to his current CD, Old Boots, New Dirt. It is his third consecutive chart topper following Night Train (2013) and When She Says Baby (2014).
2. KEITH HIGH: Toby Keith has the Hot Shot Debut of the week with Drunk Americans at #31. This is from his upcoming CD, 35 MPH Town. His last CD, Drinks After Work yielded the title track (#17 in 2013) and Shut Up And Hold On (#48 in 2014). His last top ten was in 2012 with Beers Ago (#6).
3. SUN FAST: Florida Georgia Line have the fastest climbing song of the week as Sun Daze vaults fifteen spots to #38.
4. NOT SO SWEET: Justin Moore's version of the Motley Crue hit, Home Sweet Home (with Vince Neil) takes a fourteen point drop to #51.
5. BETWEEN CAMPBELLS: At #37 for the week is the Band Perry's version of Gentle On My Mind. It is the second best charted version of the song as Glen Campbell hit #30 in 1967 and rereleased it in 1968, hitting #44.
6. ALDEAN IS #1 PART II: Over on the country albums chart and at #1 for the week is Jason Aldean's current CD, Old Boots, New Dirt. It sold 278,000 copies becoming his fourth chart topping CD following:
1. Relentless-2007
2. My Kinda Party-2010
3. Night Train-2012
4. Old Boots, New Dirt-2014
7. #1 HITS: These were the chart topping hits in 2009, 2004, 1999, 1994, and 1989:
2009: Gettin' You Home The Black Dress Song-Chris Young-RCA
2004: I Hate Everything-George Strait-MCA
1999: Something Like That-Tim McGraw-Curb
1994: She's Not The Cheatin' Kind-Brooks & Dunn-Arista
1989: Living Proof-Ricky Van Shelton-Columbia
8. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: Shortly after Elvis Presley died in August 1977, he had nine albums on the country chart. Those were:
1. From Elvis Presley Boulevard Memphis, Tennessee
2. Welcome To My World
3. Moody Blue
4. Pure Gold
5. His Hand In Mine
6. Elvis-A Legendary Performer, Volume 2
7. How Great Thou Art
8. Elvis In Concert
9. Elvis Sings The Wonderful World Of Christmas
While Presley owns the mark for dead entertainers for most albums on the chart at the same time, Hank Williams, Jr. has the mark for living entertainers (take that, Garth Brooks). He matched Presley's mark when his first greatest hits album for Elektra became his ninth album on the chart. He accomplished that feat 32 years ago this week. Those Bocephus albums sharing the same chart space were:
1. Family Tradition
2. Whiskey Bent And Hell Bound
3. Habits Old And New
4. Rowdy
5. The Pressure Is On
6. One Night Stands
7. The New South
8. High Notes
9. Hank Williams, Jr.'s Greatest Hits
So, without further ado, let us reveal the chart where Hank Jr. owned 12% of the listed albums. Ready?

BILLBOARD TOP 75 FOR WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 23, 1982:
1. Always On My Mind-Willie Nelson-Columbia
2. Just Sylvia-Sylvia-RCA
3. Mountain Music-Alabama-RCA
4. A Taste Of Yesterday's Wine-Merle Haggard and George Jones-Epic
5. Waitin' For The Sun To Shine-Ricky Skaggs-Epic
6. Big City-Merle Haggard-Epic
7. The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas-Soundtrack-MCA
8. Highways & Heartaches-Ricky Skaggs-Epic
9. The Family's Fine But This One's All Mine-David Frizzell-Warner Bros.
10. Somewhere In The Stars-Rosanne Cash-Columbia
11. Quiet Lies-Juice Newton-Capitol
12. Put Your Dreams Away-Mickey Gilley-Epic
13. Love Will Turn You Around-Kenny Rogers-Liberty
14. Michael Martin Murphey-Michael Martin Murphey-Liberty
15. HIGH NOTES-HANK WILLIAMS, JR.-ELEKTRA
16. Inside Ronnie Milsap-Ronnie Milsap-RCA
17. Feels So Right-Alabama-RCA
18. Greatest Hits-Dolly Parton-RCA
19. Willie Nelson's Greatest Hits & Some That Will Be-Willie Nelson-Columbia
20. The Legend Goes On-Statler Brothers-Mercury
21. Somewhere Between Right And Wrong-Earl Thomas Conley-RCA
22. Conway's #1 Classics, Vol. One-Conway Twitty-Elektra
23. Dream Maker-Conway Twitty-Elektra
24. Greatest Hits-Bellamy Brothers-Warner Bros.
25. The Man With The Golden Thumb-Jerry Reed-RCA
26. Just Hooked On Country-Atlanta Pops Orchestra-Epic
27. THE PRESSURE IS ON-HANK WILLIAMS, JR.-ELEKTRA
28. Inside And Out-Lee Greenwood-MCA
29. 16th Avenue-Lacy J. Dalton-Columbia
30. Greatest Hits-Kenny Rogers-Liberty
31. My Home's In Alabama-Alabama-RCA
32. The Hottest Night Of The Year-Anne Murray-Capitol
33. Strait From The Heart-George Strait-MCA
34. Unlimited-Reba McEntire-Mercury
35. Southern Comfort-Conway Twitty-Elektra
36. Number Ones-Conway Twitty-MCA
37. Come Back To Me-Marty Robbins-Columbia
38. Busted-John Conlee-MCA
39. Too Good To Hurry-Charly McClain-Epic
40. She's Not Really Cheatin' She's Just Gettin' Even-Moe Bandy-Columbia
41. Stickin' Together-the Kendalls-Mercury
42. The David Frizzell And Shelly West Album-David Frizzell and Shelly West-Warner Bros.
43. FAMILY TRADITION-HANK WILLIAMS, JR.-ELEKTRA
44. WHISKEY BENT AND HELL BOUND-HANK WILLIAMS, JR.-ELEKTRA
45. Last Train To Heaven-Boxcar Willie-Main Street
46. HABITS OLD AND NEW-HANK WILLIAMS, JR.-ELEKTRA
47. HANK WILLIAMS, JR.'S GREATEST HITS-HANK WILLIAMS, JR.-ELEKTRA
48. Greatest Hits-Oak Ridge Boys-MCA
49. Greatest Hits-Ronnie Milsap-RCA
50. I Am What I Am-George Jones-Epic
51. Stardust-Willie Nelson-Columbia
52. Amazing Grace-Cristy Lane-Liberty
53. Carryin' On The Family Names-David Frizzell and Shelly West-Warner Bros.
54. ONE NIGHT STANDS-HANK WILLIAMS, JR.-ELEKTRA
55. Strait Country-George Strait-MCA
56. THE NEW SOUTH-HANK WILLIAMS, JR.-ELEKTRA
57. Greatest Hits-Anne Murray-Capitol
58. The Osmond Brothers-Osmond Brothers-Elektra
59. Black On Black-Waylon Jennings-RCA
60. Tom Jones Country-Tom Jones-Mercury
61. The Roy Clark Show Live From Austin City Limits-Roy Clark-Chruchill
62. He Set My Life To Music-Barbara Mandrell-MCA
63. It Ain't Easy-Janie Frickie-Columbia
64. WWII-Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson-RCA
65. Sure Feels Like Love-Gatlin Brothers-Columbia
66. Fancy Free-Oak Ridge Boys-MCA
67. Bobbie Sue-Oak Ridge Boys-MCA
68. ROWDY-HANK WILLIAMS, JR.-ELEKTRA
69. Juice-Juice Newton-Capitol
70. In Black & White-Barbara Mandrell-MCA
71. Still The Same Ole Me-George Jones-Epic
72. Listen To The Radio-Don Williams-MCA
73. The Best Of Willie-Willie Nelson-RCA
74. This Dream's On Me-Gene Watson-MCA
75. Greatest Hits-Waylon Jennings-RCA

[countrychartnut]

1. STILL BURNIN': Jason Aldean reigns for a second week with Burnin' It Down. It is the lead single from his current CD, Old Boots, New Dirt. He opens this CD like his last, Night Train on a multi week #1 note. That CD started with the three week chart topper, Take A Little Ride.
2. DOT'S IN THE TOP TEN: Maddie & Tae were the first act to sign with the newly relaunched Dot Records this year. Their debut single, Girl In A COuntry Song is at #9 for the week. The last time Dot was in the top ten was in early 1978 when Barbara Mandrell took Woman To Woman to #4 (as ABC/Dot).
3. NIFTY FIFTY: At #10 for the week is Chase Rice's Ready Set Roll. It has been on the chart for 50 weeks becoming the sixth song to spend that much time charting. The others:
1. Love Like Crazy-Lee Brice-2010-56 weeks
2. Bouquet Of Roses-Eddy Arnold-1948-54 weeks
3. Outta My Head-Craig Campbell-2013-54 weeks
4. Fraulein-Bobby Helms-1957-52 weeks
5. Voices-Chris Young-2011-52 weeks
6. Ready Set Roll-Chase Rice-2014-50 weeks
4. FREESTYLE FAST: Lady Antebellum takes a fifteen point jump to #40 with Freestyle, the fastest climbing song of the week.
5. THEIR SECOND: Florida Georgia Line collect their second #1 CD with Anything Goes. It sold 197,000 copies last week. Their debut CD, Here's To The Good Times reached the top in 2013.
6. A SWON DEBUT: The Swon Brothers start at #6 on the albums chart after their self-titled debut sold 10,000 copies. They were on The Voice and join Cassadee Pope's Frame By Frame (#1 in 2013) and Danielle Bradbery's self-titled CD (#5 in 2013) as the other contestants with top ten CDs.
7. A 90S LOOK: These were the chart topping hits during the last week of October during the 1990s:
1990: You Lie-Reba McEntire-MCA
1991: Anymore-Travis Tritt-Warner Bros.
1992: No One Else On Earth-Wynonna Judd-MCA
1993: Easy Come, Easy Go-George Strait-MCA
1994: Livin' On Love-Alan Jackson-Arista
1995: Dust On The Bottle-David Lee Murphy-MCA
1996: Like The Rain-Clint Black-RCA
1997: Everywhere-Tim McGraw-Curb
1998: Honey, I'm Home-Shania Twain-Mercury
1999: I Love You-Martina McBride-RCA
8. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: One of the biggest stories this year is the signing of Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood to RCA Records. Seventeen years ago this week, they got together (professionally) when they peaked at #2 with In Another's Eyes.
As we all know, Brooks and Yearwood have known each other BEFORE both came to national prominence (Brooks in 1989 and Yearwood in 1991). Yearwood contributed back up vocals on Brooks' debut CD while Brooks did the same for Yearwood's debut CD. Brooks even wrote Yearwood's second single (following the chart topping success of She's In Love With The Boy), Like We Never Had A Broken Heart (#4 in 1991) and does back up vocals on that one. While that song was on the charts, Yearwood repaid Brooks by backing him on his #1 hit, Shameless. While there are other examples, I will limit it to those two. In 1997, it was time for Yearwood to release her first greatest hits CD called Songbook A Collection Of Hits. The first single, How Do I Live climbed to #2 country and #23 pop. It was used in the Con Air movie. A version by LeAnn Rimes reached #43 country, #2 pop, and #1 adult contemporary. Second single, In Another's Eyes was the first full-fledged duet between Yearwood and Brooks. Released in August, it found a home at #2 for two weeks behind Tim McGraw's Everywhere and Love Gets Me Every Time by Shania Twain (see chart below). During its chart run, Yearwood won her first C.M.A. Award for Female Vocalist of the Year while Brooks won his third Entertainer of the Year honor. In Another's Eyes eventually made its way to the much anticipated Brooks CD, Sevens. That CD yielded the following hits:
1. Longneck Bottle-1997-#1
2. She's Gonna Make It-1998-#2
3. Two Pina Coladas-1998-#1
4. You Move Me-1998-#3
5. Do What You Gotta Do-2000-#13
The third single from Yearwood's CD, A Perfect Love became her fifth and final chart topping hit in 1998 (chart wise, her biggest hit). While A Perfect Love was on the chart, In Another's Eyes won the Grammy for Best Country Collaboration With Vocals. She released a studio CD that year called Where Your Road Leads. She hit #2 with the first single, There Goes My Baby. Another Yearwood/Brooks duet, the title track hit #18. While their second duet was charting, they repeated at the C.M.A.s for Female and Entertainer, respectively (at the time of the awards, they were in my hometown of Buffalo playing a series of concerts). In 2001, Brooks recorded his last CD for Capitol called Scarecrow. By this time, the unthinkable happened: Garth divorced his first wife Sandy after fifteen years of marriage. Yearwood had already been divorced to Mavericks member Robert Reynolds in 1999. Its first single, Wrapped Up In You peaked at #5 in early 2002. It was followed by a duet with Yearwood called Squeeze Me In (#16).
2005 was a pivotal year for both Yearwood and Brooks. First, Brooks released a box set through WalMart called The Limited Series. One of the CDs in the box set is called The Lost Sessions. First single, Good Ride Cowboy, his tribute to Chris LeDoux who died earlier in the year peaked at #3 in early 2006. Just before that song peaked, Brooks and Yearwood married each other in December, 2005. The newlyweds charted with Love Will Always Win (#23). In 2007, after sixteen years at MCA, Yearwood signed to the Big Machine label. Only one CD was released called Heaven, Heartache, And The Power Of Love. The title track peaked at #19 becoming her last major hit to date. While she was on the charts with her song, Brooks released his history making, chart topping debuting single, More Than A Memory. That came from his Ultimate Hits CD where you will find In Another's Eyes...which ended up being placed in his 2013 box set, Blame It All On My Roots. They charted another duet, The Call (#49).
This year saw the two of them sign to RCA Records. Brooks was first to release a single called People Loving People (#19). Yearwood is currently charting with PrizeFighter with some help from Kelly Clarkson. Brooks' upcoming CD is titled Man Against Machine while Yearwood's will be PrizeFighter: Hit After Hit. In Another's Eyes will be on that CD. Seeing since both are on RCA, does that mean a duets CD is in the works? Stay tuned! This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 1, 1997:
1. Everywhere-Tim McGraw-Curb
2. IN ANOTHER'S EYES-TRISHA YEARWOOD AND GARTH BROOKS-MCA
3. Love Gets Me Every Time-Shania Twain-Mercury
4. Honky Tonk Truth-Brooks & Dunn-Arista
5. If You Love Somebody-Kevin Sharp-Asylum
6. How Do I Get There-Deana Carter-Capitol
7. This Night Won't Last Forever-Sawyer Brown-Curb
8. Love Is The Right Place-Bryan White-Asylum
9. Thank God For Believers-Mark Chesnutt-Decca
10. Something That We Do-Clint Black-RCA

Video:
www.bing.com/videos/search?q=in+another%27s+eyes+trisha+yearwood+and+garth+brooks&FORM=HDRSC3#view=detail&mid=553E502ADB81B34CB35C553E502ADB81B34CB35C

[ozbest1]

Thanks for this! I am a big fan of Garth's and am glad he is back. I like Trisha and think she has a beautiful voice, but she has never been one of my favorite female singers. I do like the songs she has done with Garth--their voices blend beautifully. But no question, his own songs have and are the stronger and more successful of the two. Love his voice and hope his new album has stronger songs than PLP--I have a feeling it will. I really want his comeback album to be a very succesful one.

It's obvious that he is pushing her new album every chance he gets. Not surprising since he believes that she is the better singer of the two and feels she has not been given the acclaim she deserves.

I will be watching and following his own new album with great interest. It also will be interesting to see how Trisha's album fares.

[countrychartnut]

1. HIS NIGHT IS #1: Sam Hunt's maiden voyage up the charts ends at #1. His second single, Leave The Night On is this week's top song. His first single, Raised On It did not chart in 2013. His #1 hit comes from his debut CD, Montevallo. Hunt becomes the ONLY artist this year to score a chart topping hit in their first go round.
2. PRIMING FOR #13: Blake Shelton stops by at #2 for the week with his first Bringing Back The Sunshine single, Neon Light. If Shelton can claim the top spot, it will be his lucky 13th consecutive chart topper.
3. THEIR SECOND: Big & Rich debuted in 2003 with Wild West Show (#21 in 2004). Their second single, Save A Horse Ride A Cowboy almost became their first top ten (#11). They had to wait three years for their first, Lost In This Moment (#1). Now, seven years later, they collect their second with Look At You at #9. It is their debut on their namesake label.
4. BACK TO #31: After debuting at #31 three weeks ago with Drunk Americans, Toby Keith comes back to that position this week after being at #36 last week.
5. THEY GET IN TROUBLE FAST: Gloriana score the fastest climbing song of the week as Trouble makes an easy sixteen point jump to #41.
6. A LITTLE BIG DEBUT: Coming in at #3 on the country albums chart is Little Big Town and their current CD, Pain Killer. 42,000 copies were sold last week. Their last CD, 2012's Tornado debuted at #1 with 113,000 sold.
7. A 90S LOOK PART II: These were the top selling CDs during the first week of November during the 1990s:
1990: No Fences-Garth Brooks-Capitol
1991: Ropin' The Wind-Garth Brooks-Capitol
1992: The Chase-Garth Books-Capitol
1993: Common Thread: The Songs Of The Eagles-Various Artists-Giant
1994: Stones In The Road-Mary Chapin Carpenter-Columbia
1995: All I Want-Tim McGraw-Curb
1996: Blue-LeAnn Rimes-Curb
1997: You Light Up My Life: Inspirational Songs-LeAnn Rimes-Curb
1998: Come On Over-Shania Twain-Mercury
1999: Fly-the Dixie Chicks-Monument
8. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: Are you ready for a double dose of George Strait? Good! Strait had the top song 27 years ago this week. That song was repeated on his second greatest hits CD, which was our top seller 27 years ago this week. Respectively, it is Am I Blue and Greatest Hits Volume Two.
Am I Blue was the third single from Strait's history making CD, Ocean Front Property. However, that CD was recorded during a personal tragedy. His daughter, Jenifer died in a car accident in June, 1986. Strait was riding high with his first #7 single, Nobody In His Right Mind Would've Left Her (#1). Second and final single, It Ain't Cool To Be Crazy About You also reached the top. During its chart run, Strait won the C.M.A Award for Male Vocalist of the Year. He dedicated the award in Jenifer's memory. He was working on the Ocean Front Property CD at the time. The first single, the title track became his milestone tenth #1 hit. He topped that achievement by having the CD debut at #1 on the country albums chart, a first for country music. Second single, All My Ex's Live In Texas hit the top of the charts during the summer. Am I Blue was released in August and it became an even dozen chart toppers for Strait in November. The Ocean Front Property CD became his second to yield a trio of chart topping hits. The first, Right Or Wrong contained (all in 1984):
1. You Look So Good In Love
2. Right Or Wrong
3. Let's Fall To Pieces Together
This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 7, 1987:
1. AM I BLUE-GEORGE STRAIT-MCA
2. Love Me Like You Used To-Tanya Tucker-Capitol
3. Maybe Your Baby's Got The Blues-the Judds-RCA
4. I Won't Need You Anymore Always And Forever-Randy Travis-Warner Bros.
5. Crazy From The Heart-Bellamy Brothers-MCA
6. Lynda-Steve Wariner-MCA
7. Somebody Lied-Ricky Van Shelton-Columbia
8. Tar Top-Alabama-RCA
9. Only When I Love-Holly Dunn-MTM
10. The Last One To Know-Reba McEntire-MCA

Am I Blue ended up being the last song of Strait's second hits CD. His first was released in 1985. The track listing is as follows:
1. Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind-1985-#1
2. The Cowboy Rides Away-1985-#5
3. The Fireman-1985-#5
4. The Chair-1985-#1
5. You're Something Special To Me-1986-#4
6. Nobody In His Right Mind Would've Left Her-1986-#1
7. It Ain't Cool To Be Crazy About You-1986-#1
8. Ocean Front Property-1987-#1
9. All My Ex's Live In Texas-1987-#1
10. Am I Blue-1987-#1
The CD was released in September. It became Strait's sixth #1 CD in November. The CD is certified at the triple platinum level. All the songs mentioned here are found in his 1995 release, Strait Out Of The Box. Strait was inducted to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2006. His last chart appearance was this year's I Got A Car (#17). He is currently charting a live album called The Cowboy Rides Away: Live From AT&T Stadium. He is the current C.M.A. and A.C.M. Entertainer of the Year. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 7, 1987:
1. GREATEST HITS VOLUME TWO-GEORGE STRAIT-MCA
2. Just Us-Alabama-RCA
3. Always & Forever-Randy Travis-Warner Bros.
4. Born To Boogie-Hank Williams, Jr.-Warner Bros.
5. The Last One To Know-Reba McEntire-MCA
6. Hillbilly Deluxe-Dwight Yoakam-Reprise
7. Heartland-the Judds-RCA
8. Greatest Hits-Reba McEntire-MCA
9. Ocean Front Property-George Strait-MCA
10. 80s Ladies-K.T. Oslin-RCA

[ozbest1]

Looking at all these singles and albums makes me love George all over again--so many singles that I loved back then and still love today. Just happened to see a video of his single, "I'm Just an old Troubador" on CMT a little while ago. Felt a lump in my throat.

[suzanne]

Nov 5, 2014 16:36:35 GMT -6 ozbest1 said:

Looking at all these singles and albums makes me love George all over again--so many singles that I loved back then and still love today. Just happened to see a video of his single, "I'm Just an old Troubador" on CMT a little while ago. Felt a lump in my throat.

Oh boy that one is one of my favorites.  I get that same lump!!

[countrychartnut]

1. LUCKY #13: Blake Shelton nabs his eighteenth chart topping hit this week with Neon Light. It is the lead single to his current CD, Bringing Back The Sunshine. It is also his thirteenth consecutive chart topper going back to Hillbilly Bone with Trace Adkins in 2010. Going over Shelton's career, the only time a lead single did not hit the top was Don't Make Me, a #12 hit in 2007 off Pure BS.
2. C.M.A. CHART: This year's winners on this week's chart:
1. Neon Light-Blake Shelton-Male Vocalist
3. Day Drinking-Little Big Town-Vocal Group
4. Somewhere In My Car-Keith Urban-Vocal Event
11. Perfect Storm-Brad Paisley-C.M.A. Host
12. Something In The Water-Carrie Underwood-C.M.A. Hostess
18. Sun Daze-Florida Georgia Line-Vocal Duo
21. Mean To Me-Brett Eldredge-New Artist
36. Say You Do-Dierks Bentley-Video of the Year
43. I See You-Luke Bryan-Entertainer of the Year
3. GOING FOR FIVE: Luke Bryan debuts at #43 with his sixth Crash My Party single, I See You. He is hoping that gets to #1. If it does, it will be the fifth chart topper from the CD. The others:
1. Crash My Party-2013
2. Drink A Beer-2014
3. Play It Again-2014
4. Roller Coaster-2014
The second single, That's My Kind Of Night peaked at #2 last year.
4. JUST GETTIN' FAST: Jason Aldean has the fastest climbing song of the week as Just Gettin' Started zooms twelve to #45.
5. HUNT TOPS ANOTHER CHART: Sam Hunt just celebrated his first #1 hit, Leave The Night On. Now, he has the top selling country CD with Montevallo. It sold 70,000 copies last week.
6. CHRISTMAS IS HERE: We have two Christmas CDs on this week's chart. They are:
1. Home For The Holidays-Darius Rucker-#7
2. Full Of Cheer-Home Free-#14
7. #1 HITS: These were the chart topping songs in 2009, 2004, 1999, 1994, and 1989:
2009: Toes-Zac Brown Band-Atlantic
2004: In A Real Love-Phil Vassar-Arista
1999: I Love You-Martina McBride-RCA
1994: Livin' On Love-Alan Jackson-Arista
1989: Bayou Boys-Eddy Raven-Universal
8. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: Fifteen years ago this week, we had a battle of covers CDs on the country albums chart. LeAnn Rimes came in at #1 with her self-titled CD while Alan Jackson settled for second with Under The Influence.
Rimes took the country music world by storm in 1996 with her debut single, Blue (#10 and the title track). While she was on the charts with that song, she turned 14. However, listening to the song, you would not know someone that young sounded like Patsy Cline. Even the songwriter pitched Blue to Cline, but she ended up dying in a plane crash in 1963 (two decades before Rimes was born). Her second single, One Way Ticket Because I Can was written by 1980s hitmaker, Judy Rodman. To date, it is the ONLY #1 hit in Rimes' career. She released her second CD, Unchained Melody/The Early Years which produced the title track (#3 in 1997). When that song was released, Rimes won the Grammy Award for Best New Artist. The Blue CD was represented one more time with The Light In Your Eyes (#5). She released a third CD in 1997 (how prolific was she during this time period) called You Light Up My Life: Inspirational Songs. On The Side Of Angels kicked off her 1998 on a #4 note. While she was charting with that song, the C.M.A. gave her the Horizon Award. After two years on the national scene, she released a fourth CD in Sittin' On Top Of The World. Two hits came from that CD (both in 1998): Commitment (#4) and Nothin' New Under The Moon (#10). Next came the covers CD simply called LeAnn Rimes. The track listing for the CD is as follows:
1. Crazy
2. Don't Worry
3. Leavin' On Your Mind
4. Faded Love
5. Born To Lose
6. Crying Time
7. She's Got You
8. I Fall To Pieces
9. Your Cheatin' Heart
10. Lovesick Blues
11. Me And Bobby McGee
12. Big Deal
Rimes' affinity for Cline is represented on tracks 1, 3, 4, 7, and 8. However, only one new song is on the CD and that is Big Deal. That was released in August, 1999 and peaked at #6 in early 2000. While Rimes was on the charts with her song and CD, Jackson was prepping his called Under The Influence. Its track listing is:
1. Pop A Top
2. Farewell Party
3. Kiss An Angel Good Mornin'
4. Right In The Palm Of Your Hand
5. The Blues Man
6. Revenoor Man
7. My Own Kind Of Hat
8. She Just Started Liking Cheatin' Songs
9. The Way I Am
10. It Must Be Love
11. Once You've Had The Best
12. Margaritaville-with Jimmy Buffett
Jackson released Pop A Top in September, 1999. That was a #3 hit for Jim Ed Brown in 1967. This time, it hit #6 for Jackson in 1999. Jackson's most famous C.M.A. performance (prior to 2001) happened when he sang Pop A Top. After singing the first verse and an instrumental, he launched into Choices, a top 40 hit George Jones had that year. Jones was involved in a car crash earlier that year, but survived. The C.M.A.s would not let Jones sing his song without shortening it. Jackson reasoned that had Jones died, the C.M.A.s would have given Jones a long tribute, but he pulled through and would not give him three minutes to sing his song. After the Pop A Top/Choices mashup, Jackson received a standing ovation and he simply walked off the stage. In the meantime, BOTH Rimes' and Jackson's CDs were released on the same day. Who would come out on top? Rimes did. She debuted at #1 country and #8 top 200 with 115,000 sold while Jackson entered at #2 country and #9 top 200 with 114,000 copies sold. A photo finish to be sure. BOTH CDs are certified platinum. The Blues Man was his second single and that barely scraped the top 40 at #37 in 2000. That was his first failure in many years since his first, Blue Blooded Woman in 19990 (#45). He gained a top 40 hit when his duet with George Strait, Murder On Music Row hit #38. He was back on top with the third single, It Must Be Love (his 17th chart topper). That was originally a #1 for Don Williams in 1979. Other songs charted from the CD:
1. My Own Kind Of Hat-#71-originally a #4 hit for Merle Haggard in 1979
2. She Just Started Liking Cheatin' Songs-#72-a #13 hit for John Anderson in 1980
3. Margaritaville-#63-a #13 hit for Buffett in 1977-that was a precursor for another Jackson/Buffett duet, It's Five O'clock Somewhere in 2003
As for Rimes, the only other song released from the CD was Crazy, but it did not chart. Her last chart appearance was in 2011 with Give (#47). Her current CD is called Dance Like You Don't Give A...Greatest Hits Remixes. Jackson's last chart appearance was You Go Your Way in 2012 (#41). His current CD is called The Bluegrass Album. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 13, 1999:
1. LEANN RIMES-LEANN RIMES-CURB
2. UNDER THE INFLUENCE-ALAN JACKSON-ARISTA
3. Fly-the Dixie Chicks-Monument
4. Come On Over-Shania Twain-Mercury
5. A Place In The Sun-Tim McGraw-Curb
6. Wide Open Spaces- the Dixie Chicks-Monument
7. Emotion-Martina McBride-RCA
8. Lonely Grill-Lonestar-BNA
9. Smoke Rings In The Dark-Gary Allan-MCA
10. D'lectrified-Clint Black-RCA

Videos:
Big Deal: www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAM5ypo9gOU
Pop A Top: www.youtube.com/watch?v=pm-zduI7zcE

[countrychartnut]

1. SUNSHINE & WHISKEY & #1: Frankie Ballard collects his second chart topping hit this week with Sunshine & Whiskey. It follows Helluva Life from March. Out of those artists who scored their first #1 in 2014, Ballard is the first to score a second.
2. A TIE: We have two songs talking fifteen point jumps for fastest climbers of the week. They are:
1. I See You-Luke Bryan-#43 to #28
2. Just Gettin' Started-Jason Aldean-#45 to #30
3. #14?: Blake Shelton debuts his second Bringing Back The Sunshine single, Lonely Tonight with Ashley Monroe at #38. If it manages a #1 ranking, it will be his fourteenth consecutive chart topping hit. Buck Owens managed a streak of fourteen consecutive #1s between 1963-1967. Only Sonny James has more with sixteen (1967-1971).
4. DOOBIE COUNTRY: Southbound, a tribute CD by country artists to the Doobie Brothers enters the country albums chart at #7 after 16,000 were sold.
5. MORE CHRISTMAS: A third Christmas CD enters the chart at #23. This time, it is Christmas With Nashville from the ABC show.
6. #1 CDS: These were the top selling CDs in 2009, 2004, 1999, 1994, and 1989:
2009: Play On-Carrie Underwood-Arista
2004: 50 Number Ones-George Strait-MCA
1999: LeAnn Rimes-LeAnn Rimes-Curb
1994: Stones In The Road-Mary Chapin Carpenter-Columbia
1989: No Holdin' Back-Randy Travis-Warner Bros.
7. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: Alan Jackson was saluted last week with his covers CD, Under The Influence. This week, we are saluting his last chart topping hit (to date), his duet with the Zac Brown Band on As She's Walking Away, our top song from just four years ago this week.
As for the Band (this is how I will refer to them from here on out), they were formed during the early 2000s. Zac formed his own Home Grown label. They partnered with Live Nation in preparation for their debut CD in 2008. Right when they released their debut single, Live Nation pulled out and Atlantic stepped in for distribution. That debut single, Chicken Fried was originally a #52 peaking song for the Lost Trailers in 2006. In the hands of the Band, it became their first #1 hit, joining groups like Diamond Rio and Heartland in scoring a chart topping hit with their debut. That certainly laid the foundation for their debut CD, The Foundation. Its second single, kicked off the Band's 2009 on a #2 note, Whatever It Is. They collected chart topping hits with Toes (2009), Highway 20 Ride (2010), and Free (2010). During this time, they won awards for A.C.M. New Vocal Group and the Grammy for Best New Artist. With a quintet of top two hits behind them, the Band went to work on their second CD, You Get What You Give. First single, As She's Walking Away was a duet with fellow Georgian, Alan Jackson. Released in August 2010, it found its way to the top in November, becoming the Band's fifth #1 and Jackson's 26th chart topping hit. When it hit #1, Jackson achieved the following:
1. It put him in eighth place on the list of those artists with the most #1s between Charley Pride's 29 (#7) and Dolly Parton's 25 (#9).
2. It was his first #1 on the Atlantic label. His first 25 are on Arista Records.
3. It gave him chart toppers during the 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s.
While the duet was on the charts, the C.M.A. gave the Band their New Artist award. Colder Weather kicked off their 2011 on a #1 note. While they were on the charts with that song, the duet won the Grammy Award for Best Country Collaboration With Vocals and the A.C.M. for Vocal Event of the Year. Another duet was released called Knee Deep with Jimmy Buffett (#1). Their biggest hit was next and that was Keep Me In Mind (four weeks at the top between 2011-2012). A fifth single, No Hurry became their second #2 hit in 2012.
After two very successful CDs under their belt, the Band went to work on their third CD, Uncaged. Lead single, The Wind broke their top two streak by peaking at #11. Goodbye In Her Eyes brought the Band back to the top ten at #1. After that, the Band won the Grammy for Best Country Album for Uncaged. Jump Right In marched its way to #2 in 2013. Sweet Annie was the fourth and final single and that became their milestone tenth chart topping hit in 2014. They announced their split from Atlantic after five years and formed a partnership (read label change) with Big Machine Records (presumably with Dot). An EP was released this year called The Grohl Sessions, Vol. 1. A major hit was produced in All Alright (#17). In the meantime, their greatest hits CD, Greatest Hits So Far...was released this month. They announced they will release their fourth CD next year.
As for Jackson, the duet came at a pivotal point in his career. He released his final CD for Arista called Freight Train. It yielded a pair of top 20 hits (both in 2010): It's Just That Way (#16) and Hard Hat And A Hammer (#17). As She's Walking Away made its debut on a Jackson CD, the two CD set called 34 Number Ones (later the Essential Alan Jackson). His final Arista single is on there-his remake of the Johnny Cash classic, Ring Of Fire (#45). In 2011, after 22 years at Arista, he signed to the EMI label in conjunction with his Alan's Country Records label. Thirty Miles West was released and a trio of singles were released. They are:
1. Long Way To Go-2011-#24
2. So You Don't Have To Love Me Anymore-2012-#25
3. You Go Your Way-2012-#41
He released The Bluegrass Album last year. He is set to tour next year during his silver anniversary of being a recording artist. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 20, 2010:
1. AS SHE'S WALKING AWAY-ZAC BROWN BAND AND ALAN JACKSON-ATLANTIC
2. Stuck Like Glue-Sugarland-Mercury
3. Anything Like Me-Brad Paisley-Arista
4. Come Back Song-Darius Rucker-Capitol
5. Farmer's Daughter-Rodney Atkins-Curb
6. If I Die Young-Band Perry-Republic Nashville
7. Mine-Taylor Swift-Big Machine
8. Why Wait-Rascal Flatts-Big Machine
9. Turn On The Radio-Reba McEntire-Valory
10. My Kinda Party-Jason Aldean-Broken Bow

[countrychartnut]

1. URBAN'S #1 CAR: For the seventeenth time in Keith Urban's career, he has the top song in country music. This week, the fourth Fuse single, Somewhere In My Car tops the chart. It follows the other Fuse singles to the top: A Little Bit Of Everything and We Were Us with Miranda Lambert, both from last year. Third single, Cop Car peaked at #8 this year. Furthermore, Fuse is Urban's second consecutive CD to yield a trio of chart topping hits. His prior CD, Get Closer produced:
1. Without You-2011
2. Long Hot Summer-2011
3. You Gonna Fly-2012
2. LONELY FAST: Blake Shelton and Ashley Monroe have the fastest climbing song of the week as Lonely Tonight jumps up nine to #29.
3. BROOKS' MOM DEBUTS: Garth Brooks' second RCA single, Mom has the Hot Shot Debut of the week at #50. His first, People Loving People debuted and peaked at #19.
4. BROOKS' MACHINE DEBUTS: Garth Brooks' latest CD, Man Against Machine debuts at #1 on the country albums chart after 130,000 copies were sold last week. All of his studio CDs except his self-titled debut (#2) have hit the top.
5. ZAC'S GREATEST: The Zac Brown Band's first hits CD, Greatest Hits So Far enters the album chart at #5 after 20,000 were sold.
6. A CORRECTION: Last week, the duet between the Zac Brown Band and Alan Jackson was saluted in this space. However, a key fact was wrong. As She's Walking Away became Jackson's 26th #1 hit (fact). It put him in the top ten of those artists with the most #1s at eight (fact). However, that put Jackson between Eddy Arnold (#7 with 28) and Dolly Parton (#9 with 25). I had stated Jackson was between Charley Pride and Parton. I have already given myself the wet noodle treatment. If you want to, go right ahead.
7. AN 80S LOOK: These were the chart topping hits during the last week of November during the 1980s:
1980: If You Ever Change Your Mind-Crystal Gayle-Columbia
1981: My Favorite Memory-Merle Haggard-Epic
1982: It Ain't Easy Bein' Easy-Janie Frickie-Columbia
1983: A Little Good News-Anne Murray-Capitol
1984: Your Heart's Not In It-Janie Frickie-Columbia
1985: Too Much On My Heart-Statler Brothers-Mercury
1986: Touch Me When We're Dancing-Alabama-RCA
1987: Lynda-Steve Wariner-MCA
1988: I Know How He Feels-Reba McEntire-MCA
1989: It's Just A Matter Of Time-Randy Travis-Warner Bros.
8. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: Shania Twain's decade of dominance happened between 1995-2005. However, it has been a decade since she has released a CD. That CD was our top seller ten years ago this week and it was a greatest hits package.
The CD collected hits from Twain's three diamond-selling discs: The Woman In Me (1995), Come On Over (1997), and Up! (2002). However, the sequence of hits fell in backwards order. The track listing for the CD is:
1. Forever And For Always-2003-#4
2. I'm Gonna Getcha Good!-2002-#7
3. Up!-2003-#12
4. Come On Over-1996-#6
5. Man! I Feel Like A Woman!-1999-#4
6. That Don't Impress Me Much-1999-#8
7. From This Moment On-1998-#6
8. Honey, I'm Home-1998-#1
9. You're Still The One-1998-#1
10. Don't Be Stupid You Know I Love You-1998-#6
11. Love Gets Me Every Time-1997-#1-chart wise, her biggest hit
12. No One Needs To Know-1996-#1
13. You Win My Love-1996-#1
14. If You're Not In It For Love I'm Outta Here!-1996-#1
15. The Woman In Me Needs The Man In You-1995-#14
16. Any Man Of Mine-1995-#1
17. Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under-1995-#11
18. Party For Two-with Mark McGrath-2004-#58 pop and #16 adult contemporary
19. Don't!-2005-#24
20. Party For Two-with Billy Currington-2004-#7 country
21. I Ain't No Quitter-2005-#45
Three new songs were added to the mix (titles 18-21). Party For Two was the first single. It was a hit on three charts depending on who was singing with Twain. It hit #7 country with Currington, becoming her sixteenth and to date, final top ten and his third. The version with McGrath (from the group Sugar Ray and the TV show, Don't Forget The Lyrics), hit #58 pop and #16 A.C.. In the meantime, Greatest Hits was released and that debuted at #1 country and #2 top 200 with 530,000 copies sold during the first week. It was the top selling country CD for eleven weeks from November, 2004 to February, 2005. It is at the quadruple platinum level. 2005 started with Twain releasing Don't! which hit #24. I Ain't No Quitter ended the era on a #45 note. Billboard named Greatest Hits its #1 country album of the year for 2005.
Twain participated in the Desperate Housewives soundtrack. Her offering, Shoes was a #29 country hit just before 2005 ended. Then came a six year gap between chart appearances. She released a single in 2011 called Today Is Your Day (#36). That flickered the hope in many Twain fans that a new CD would be released. Nothing has happened yet in that department. It should be noted that during this time, Twain was doing a very successful residency in Las Vegas, playing sold out shows every night. However, that did not stop her from participating in the Lionel Richie duets CD, Tuskegee. She recorded his classic duet, Endless Love and that became a #12 A.C. hit in 2012.
So, the question remains: Will Twain EVER release another CD? Only time will tell. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 27, 2004:
1. GREATEST HITS-SHANIA TWAIN-MERCURY
2. Greatest Hits 2-Toby Keith-DreamWorks
3. 50 Number Ones-George Strait-MCA
4. Here For The Party-Gretchen Wilson-Epic
5. Live Like You Were Dying-Tim McGraw-Curb
6. Horse Of A Different Color-Big & Rich-Warner Bros.
7. Feels Like Today-Rascal Flatts-Lyric Street
8. When The Sun Goes Down-Kenny Chesney-BNA
9. The Greatest Hits Collection II-Brooks & Dunn-Arista
10. Be Here-Keith Urban-Capitol

P.S.:  Happy Thanksgiving!

[ozbest1]

Thanks for continually updating all these statistics/charts, CCN. I love checking them out and learning things I never realized until you brought them to my attention. Happy Thanksgiving to you too!

[countrychartnut]

1. URBAN IS DOUBLE PARKED: For the second week, Keith Urban has the top song in Somewhere In My Car. It is his first multi week #1 since last year's Little Bit Of Everything (two weeks). Urban has not had a chart topping hit to stay at #1 longer than two weeks since Better Life from 2005 spent six weeks at the top becoming his second biggest hit.
2. HER 20TH: Carrie Underwood collects her twentieth top ten this week with Something In The Water at #9. This is from her upcoming Greatest Hits: Decade #1 release. It is also her twentieth consecutive top ten as well. Let us review her hit list:
1. Jesus, Take The Wheel-2006-#1-chart wise, her biggest hit
2. Don't Forget To Remember Me-2006-#2
3. Before He Cheats-2006-#1
4. Wasted-2007-#1
5. So Small-2007-#1
6. All-American Girl-2008-#1
7. Last Name-2008-#1
8. Just A Dream-2008-#1
9. I Told You So-with Randy Travis-2009-#2
10. Cowboy Casanova-2009-#1
11. Temporary Home-2010-#1
12. Undo It-2010-#1
13. Mama's Song-2011-#2
14. Remind Me-with Brad Paisley-2011-#1
15. Good Girl-2012-#1
16. Blown Away-2012-#1
17. Two Black Cadillacs-2013-#2
18. See You Again-2013-#2
19. Somethin' Bad-with Miranda Lambert-2014-#7
20. Something In The Water-2014-#9 so far
3. ONE BETTER: At #29 for the week is the Band Perry with their version of Gentle On My Mind. Glen Campbell's version from 1967 peaked at #30.
4. GARTH'S MOM IS FAST: Garth Brooks has the fastest climbing song of the week as Mom moves up nine to #41.
5. GIVE 'EM HELL: We have two songs that have the word 'hell' in them and they are neighbors this week: At #49 is Hell Of A Night by Dustin Lynch and Brantley Gilbert is at #50 with One Hell Of An Amen.
6. MORE CHRISTMAS: Sara Evans debuts at #21 on the country albums chart with At Christmas. 4000 copies were sold to get her a place on the chart.
7. AN 80S LOOK PART II: These were the top selling albums during the first week of December during the 1980s:
1980: Greatest Hits-Kenny Rogers-Liberty
1981: Willie Nelson's Greatest Hits & Some That Will Be-Willie Nelson-Columbia
1982: Mountain Music-Alabama-RCA
1983: Eyes That See In The Dark-Kenny Rogers-RCA
1984: City Of New Orleans-Willie Nelson-Columbia
1985: Rhythm & Romance-Rosanne Cash-Columbia
1986: The Touch-Alabama-RCA
1987: Always & Forever-Randy Travis-Warner Bros.
1988: Loving Proof-Ricky Van Shelton-Columbia
1989: No Holdin' back-Randy Travis-Warner Bros.
8. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: Let us review those topics covered in this section of this column from this past year. Ready?
1. A review of #1 hits in 1988.
2. Too Much Is Not Enough is a #1 hit for the Bellamy Brothers and Forester Sisters in 1986.
3. The Heart Of The Matter is a top seller for Kenny Rogers in 1985.
4. The first Billboard Country Singles chart in 1944.
5. The first Billboard Country Albums chart in 1964.
6. Eddie Rabbitt scores a crossover smash, I Love A Rainy Night in 1981.
7. Look Heart, No Hands is a #1 hit for Randy Travis in 1993.
8. George Strait's CD, Ten Strait Hits sells big in 1992.
9. Mark Chesnutt's It's A Little Too Late is #1 in 1997.
10. Johnny Rodriguez makes That's The Way Love Goes a #1 hit in 1974. Merle Haggard does the same in 1984.
11. Straight To The Heart becomes Crystal Gayle's last #1 in 1987.
12. Tanya Tucker, Paul Davis, and Paul Overstreet have a #1 vocal collaboration, I Won't Take Less Than Your Love in 1988.
13. Toby Keith and Diamond Rio play a tug of war for the top spot in 2001.
14. Ricky Van Shelton remakes From A Jack To A King in 1989.
15. Sweet Thing is a #1 hit for Keith Urban while Taylor Swift has a #1 CD, Fearless in 2009.
16. I'd Love To Lay You Down becomes Conway Twitty's record breaking 29th #1 hit in 1980.
17. Randy Travis' Hard Rock Bottom Of Your Heart spends its fourth and final week at #1 in 1990.
18. Based On A True Story is a top seller for Blake Shelton in 2013.
19. River Of Love is to date George Strait's last #1 in 2009.
20. Now And Forever You And Me becomes Anne Murray's last #1 hit in 1986.
21. Dolly Parton and Ricky Van Shelton get together for a #1 duet, Rockin' Years in 1991.
22. Emmylou Harris makes Beneath Still Waters a classic in 1980.
23. George Strait keeps Collin Raye, Alabama, and Tracy Lawrence out of the top spot in 1997.
24. Dwight Yoakam lands a big #2 hit, Ain't That Lonely Yet in 1993.
25. Ronnie Milsap scores his first #1, Pure Love in 1974 and his biggest hit, My Heart in 1980.
26. Dolly Parton scores a classic, I Will Always Love You in 1974.
27. The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and T.G. Sheppard can't topple Randy Travis in 1987.
28. El Paso City becomes a classic hit for Marty Robbins in 1976.
29. I Don't Want To Spoil The Party is Rosanne Cash's final #1 in 1989.
30. Ronnie Milsap scores a crossover hit, Any Day Now in 1982.
31. Fire And Smoke is Earl Thomas Conley's first #1 in 1981.
32. Chattahoochee is a huge hit for Alan Jackson in 1993.
33. Greatest Hits Collection Volume 1 is a top seller for Trace Adkins in 2003.
34. Forty Hour Week For A Livin' is Alabama's record breaking 17th consecutive #1 in 1985.
35. Storms Of Life is Randy Travis' big selling CD in 1986.
36. John Schneider, T.G. Sheppard, Don Williams, and Conway Twitty land their final #1s in 1986.
37. Sylvia scores a classic, Nobody in 1982.
38. Born To Boogie is a top seller for Hank Williams, Jr. in 1987.
39. You Look Good In My Shirt is a #1 for Keith Urban in 2008.
40. Kenny Rogers and Ronnie Milsap score a #1 duet, Make No Mistake, She's Mine in 1987.
41. Living For The Night becomes George Strait's first self-penned hit in 2009.
42. Brooks & Dunn's #1s...And Then Some is a top seller in 2009.
43. Janie Frickie's Black & White becomes her only #1 album in 1986.
44. Both To Each Other Friends & Lovers is a #1 duet for Eddie Rabbitt and Juice Newton in 1986.
45. I Believe In You is Don Williams' biggest hit in 1980.
46. Hank Williams, Jr. has nine albums on the chart at the same time in 1982.
47. Trisha Yearwood and Garth Brooks score a #2 duet, In Another's Eyes in 1997.
48. George Strait has the #1 song, Am I Blue and #1 CD, Greatest Hits Volume Two in 1987.
49. LeAnn Rimes and Alan Jackson duke it out with their covers CDs in 1999.
50. The Zac Brown Band and Alan Jackson have a #1 duet, As She's Walking Away in 2010.
51. Shania Twain has a top seller, Greatest Hits in 2004.

More to come!

[ozbest1]

As always, loved going thru all this info and looking forward to your "more to come."

BTW, love your "doubled-parked" description of Keth's 2-week stay on to of BB. Made me smile.

[countrychartnut]

1. AN M&T #1: Maddie & Tae's debut single, Girl In A Country Song is this week's top hit. With it, a few chart achievements are set:
1. They become the first duo to take a debut single to #1 since Florida Georgia Line did the trick in 2012 with Cruise.
2. They become the first female duo to top the chart since The Wreckers in 2006 with their debut, Leave The Pieces.
3. They become the fourth female duo to have a #1 single. Before them were The Wreckers, The Judds, and The Davis Sisters.
4. This single is on the newly reactivated Dot Records. The last time Dot topped the chart was back in 1977 when Don Williams landed his seventh #1, I'm Just A Country Boy on the ABC/Dot label.
5. Dot is part of the Big Machine family of labels that includes Big Machine, Valory, and Republic Nashville. All of those labels have #1 hits. A fifth, Nash Icon just opened. Maybe Reba McEntire can give them a chart topping hit for a clean sweep.
2. GOING FOR #26: At #2 for the week is Tim McGraw's Shotgun Rider. If it hits the top, McGraw will have 26 chart topping hits, granting him entrance into the top ten of those artists with the most #1s at #9.
3. A MCCREERY FIRST: For the first time in his career, Scotty McCreery has charted back to back top tens. He lands at #10 this week with Feelin' It. It is the follow up to his first, See You Tonight (#8 this year).
4. BROOKS DOES IT AGAIN: For the second week, Garth Brooks has the fastest climbing song of the week with Mom (#41 to #34).
5. ANOTHER CHRISTMAS CD: Debuting at #21 on the albums chart is Nashville Christmas, a various artists release.
6. #1 HITS: These were the chart topping hits in 2009, 2004, 1999, 1994, and 1989:
2009: Need You Now-Lady Antebellum-Capitol
2004: Nothing On But The Radio-Gary Allan-MCA
1999: He Didn't Have To Be-Brad Paisley-Arista
1994: If You've Got Love-John Michael Montgomery-Atlantic
1989: Two Dozen Roses-Shenandoah-Columbia
7. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: Willie Nelson signed to Columbia Records in 1975. It took him six years to release a greatest hits album. When he did, it became our top seller 33 years ago this week.
The track listing for Willie Nelson's Greatest Hits & Some That Will Be is as follows:
1. Railroad Lady
2. Heartaches Of A Fool-1981-#39
3. Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain-1975-#1
4. Whiskey River-1979-#12
5. Good Hearted Woman-with Waylon Jennings-1976-#1
6. Georgia On My Mind-1978-#1
7. If You've Got The Money, I've Got The Time-1976-#1
8. Look What Thoughts Will Do
9. Uncloudy Day-1977-#4
10. Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys-with Waylon Jennings-1978-#1
11. My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys-1980-#1
12. Help Me Make It Through The Night-1980-#4
13. Angel Flying Too Close To The Ground-1981-#1
14. I'd Have To Be Crazy-1976-#11
15. Faded Love-with Ray Price-1980-#3
16. On The Road Again-1980-#1
17. Heartbreak Hotel-with Leon Russell-1979-#1
18. If You Could Touch Her At All-1978-#5
19. Till I Gain Control Again
20. Stay A Little Longer
Some highlights include:
1. Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain-After charting fifteen top 40 hits between 1962-1974, this was Nelson's first Columbia single and first #1 hit. He finally made it out of the 'Nashville wilderness' after being a top songwriter (Crazy by Patsy Cline). He really embraced the outlaw look and movement at this time. This sparsely produced track even peaked at #21 pop, becoming his first crossover hit. It even won a Grammy for Best Male Country Vocal Performance.
2. Good Hearted Woman and Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys-His two duets were #1 hits with his outlaw brother, Jennings. These were on RCA Records, a label Nelson was signed to during the 1960s and 1970s. His biggest hit there was Bring Me Sunshine (#13 in 1969). The only times Nelson had #1s on RCA was with Jennings as another duet, Just To Satisfy You hit the top in 1982. I give Nelson full credit on Jennings' biggest hit Luckenbach, Texas Back To The Basics Of Love (1977).
3. Georgia On My Mind-This is from Nelson's first standards album, Stardust. Nelson enjoyed covering country, pop, jazz, and folk classics here. Georgia On My Mind was covered by Ray Charles in 1960 (#1 pop and #3 r&b). Blue Skies followed Georgia to #1 while All Of Me hit #3. September Song hit #15 in 1979. The album stayed on the chart for 551 weeks (10.6 years), a record.
4. Railroad Lady, If You've Got The Money, I've Got The Time, and Look What Thoughts Will Do-Nelson always had an affinity for Lefty Frizzell. That was evident after Frizzell died in 1975. The second song is off Nelson's 1976 album, The Sound In Your Mind while the third is off the To Lefty From Willie album of 1977. The latter album also contains another hit, I Love You A Thousand Ways (#9 in 1977).
5. My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys, On The Road Again, and Angel Flying Too Close To The Ground-After conquering the country charts during the second half of the 1970s, Nelson entered the 1980s adding the title of movie star to his resume. The first song is off The Electric Horseman soundtrack while the other two are off The Honeysuckle Rose soundtrack. Heroes peaked at #44 pop while Road hit #20 on that chart. Both were #1 country hits along with Angel.
6. Help Me Make It Through The Night-Nelson started the 1980s (recorded in 1979) by covering the Sammi Smith 1971 classic (#1 country and #8 pop).
7. Faded Love-This duet with Price became Price's last top ten on Columbia, a label he was on between 1952-1974. This came at a transitional time for Price as he switched labels from Monument to Dimension. It also gave him top tens during the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s.
8. Heartbreak Hotel-Nelson covered this Elvis Presley classic and made it his own with the help of Russell. This was Russell's only top 40 country hit.
9. Till I Gain Control Again-This Rodney Crowell tune was made famous by Crystal Gayle in 1983 (#1). This was recorded by Nelson in 1978 for the Willie And Family Live album which gave us Whiskey River and Stay A Little Longer.
10. Heartaches Of A Fool-The only new song here. It barely dented the top 40 at #39.
As far as the album is concerned, that was released in September, 1981. It finally hit the top of the albums chart for three weeks in December and for another week in January, 1982. It is certified at the six times platinum mark. The next album Nelson released was his superb landmark LP, Always On My Mind. That became his longest reigning #1 album at 22 weeks while placing at #2 on the top 200 chart for four weeks (his highest charted album there). The title track (#1 country, #5 pop, and #2 adult contemporary), Let It Be Me (#2 country, #40 pop, and #11 A.C.), and Last Thing I Needed First Thing This Morning (#2 country) propelled it to quadruple platinum status. The album and single won a ton of awards for Nelson.
In 2003, in observance of Nelson's 70th birthday, Greatest Hits was reissued with three new songs. Those were:
1. All Of Me-1978-#3
2. Remember Me-1976-#2
3. Midnight Rider-1980-#6
2003 saw Nelson score his biggest hit, Beer For My Horses with Toby Keith off the Keith CD, Unleashed. To date, Nelson's last chart appearance was 2010's Baby, It's Cold Outside with Norah Jones (#55). His current CD, Band Of Brothers debuted at the top of the country chart this year and became his first #1 CD since 1986's The Promiseland. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 12, 1981:
1. WILLIE NELSON'S GREATEST HITS & SOME THAT WILL BE-WILLIE NELSON-COLUMBIA
2. Feels So Right-Alabama-RCA
3. Fancy Free-Oak Ridge Boys-MCA
4. There's No Gettin' Over Me-Ronnie Milsap-RCA
5. The Pressure Is On-Hank Williams, Jr.-Elektra
6. Step By Step-Eddie Rabbitt-Elektra
7. Hollywood, Tennessee-Crystal Gayle-Columbia
8. Barbara Mandrell Live-Barbara Mandrell-MCA
9. Bet Your Heart On Me-Johnny Lee-Full Moon
10. Not Guilty-Gatlin Brothers-Columbia

[countrychartnut]

1. RIDING TO #1: Tim McGraw has the #1 song for the 26th time in his career. This week, the third Sundown Heaven Town does the trick and it is Shotgun Rider. This sets a few achievements:
1. McGraw officially lands in the top ten of those artists with the most #1s. The top ten:
1. George Strait-44
2. Conway Twitty-40
3. Merle Haggard-38
4. Ronnie Milsap-35
5. Alabama-33
6. Charley Pride-29
7. Eddy Arnold-28
8. Alan Jackson-26
9. Tim McGraw-26
10. Dolly Parton-25
2. McGraw has now spent 74 weeks at #1 with his 26 chart toppers. The list of those songs and weeks at #1 are:
1. Don't Take The Girl-1994-2
2. Not A Moment Too Soon-1995-2
3. I Like It, I Love It-1995-5
4. She Never Lets It Go To Her Heart-1996-2
5. It's Your Love-with Faith Hill-1997-6
6. Everywhere-1997-2
7. Just To See You Smile-1998-6
8. Where The Green Grass Grows-1998-4
9. Please Remember Me-1999-5
10. Something Like That-1999-5
11. My Best Friend-2000-2
12. My Next Thirty Years-2000-5
13. Grown Men Don't Cry-2001-1
14. Angry All The Time-2001-2
15. The Cowboy In Me-2002-1
16. Unbroken-2002-1
17. Real Good Man-2003-2
18. Watch The Wind Blow By-2004-2
19. Live Like You Were Dying-2004-7-chart wise, his biggest hit
20. Back When-2004-1
21. Last Dollar Fly Away-2007-1
22. Southern Voice-2010-1
23. Felt Good On My Lips-2011-3
24. One Of Those Nights-2013-3
25. Highway Don't Care-with Taylor Swift-2013-2
26. Shotgun Rider-2014-1 so far
3. McGraw's 74 weeks at #1 place him in sixth place on that list. The top ten:
1. Eddy Arnold-145
2. Webb Pierce-111
3. George Strait-84
4. Hank Williams, Sr.-82
5. Buck Owens-82
6. Tim McGraw-74
7. Johnny Cash-69
8. Kenny Chesney-67
9. Sonny James-66
10. Marty Robbins-63
4. He finally gets a #1 with his current CD. Shotgun Rider follows: Lookin' For That Girl-#15 and Meanwhile Back At Mama's-#2 (both from this year).
2. NOT #2 AGAIN: Brad Paisley scoots two to #2 with the second Moonshine In The Trunk single, Perfect Storm. It is the follow up to another #2, River Bank. Paisley has not seen the top in three years as his duet with Carrie Underwood, Remind Me is his last chart topper to date. He has two other #2s in that span: Southern Comfort Zone and Beat This Summer (both 2013).
3. TAKE YOUR TIME-NOT: Sam Hunt has the fastest climbing song of the week as Take Your Time moves up eight to #32.
4. ANOTHER HUNT SIGHTING: He also debuts at #57 with House Party.
5. A.C.C. CHART: This year's winners on this week's chart:
6. Talladega-Eric Church-Album of the Year
9. Sun Daze-Florida Georgia Line-Group/Duo, Collaboration, and Digital Song
10. I See You-Luke Bryan-Male Vocalist, Collaboration, and Digital Song
12. Mean To Me-Brett Eldredge-Song of the Year
16. Just Gettin' Started-Jason Aldean-Artist of the Year
6. MORE CHRISTMAS: LeAnn Rimes debuts her Christmas offering at #20 on the album chart called One Christmas: Chapter 1.
7. #1 CDS: These were the top selling CDs in 2009, 2004, 1999, 1994, and 1989:
2009: Fearless-Taylor Swift-Big Machine
2004: Greatest Hits-Shania Twain-Mercury
1999: Come On Over-Shania Twain-Mercury
1994: Not A Moment Too Soon-Tim McGraw-Curb
1989: No Holdin' Back-Randy Travis-Warner Bros.
8. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: One of the most consistent but underrated country artists of the 1980s and 1990s was Steve Wariner. He landed ten chart toppers during the period. His first, All Roads Lead To You was our top song 33 years ago this week.
Wariner's musical journey began while he was in high school. At age 17, he joined Dottie West on stage and opened shows for her. His love of playing guitar was evident and he even played on her Country Sunshine single (#2 in 1973). After three years with West, Wariner joined Bob Luman as his sideman. He played on Luman's final Epic singles between 1974-1976. The bicentennial year was a pivotal one for Wariner. He signed to RCA Records through his idol, Chet Atkins. Atkins became his producer as well. They decided Wariner needed more time to develop as an artist, so they did nothing during Wariner's first year at RCA as far as recording was concerned. They finally decided to record in August, 1977. However, Elvis Presley died during this time and everyone was busy asking Atkins about Presley (Atkins worked with Presley during the 1970s). Undeterred, Wariner sat there and watched what was going on and learning what everything was about. They finally decided to cut a song Wariner wrote called I'm Already Taken. That became his first single and it found a spot on the charts at #63 in 1978. That was going to be from an album called Down In Tennessee. Because of the single's poor performance, RCA did NOT release the album. Instead, they released singles throughout the rest of the 1970s going into 1980:
1. So Sad To Watch Good Love Go Bad-1978-#76
2. Marie-1978-#94-while Wariner was charting with this song, Luman died at the age of 41
3. Beside Me-1979-#60
4. Forget Me Not-1979-#49
5. The Easy Part's Over-1980-#41
It was decided during this time that Atkins would no longer produce Wariner. Tom Collins took over and they were determined to get Wariner's first album out. Whatever the reason, good things were just around the corner. Your Memory was released in late 1980 and peaked at #7 in early 1981, becoming the first of 33 top tens for Wariner. By Now hit #6. The next single, All Roads Lead To You was released in September. Written by Kye Fleming and Dennis Morgan (the hottest songwriting duo in Nashville between the late 1970s to early 1980s), it rang the bell in December, just one week prior to Wariner's 27th birthday (born on Christmas Day, 1954-his middle name is Noel). RCA continued to release singles from the upcoming album in 1982: Kansas City Lights (#15) and Don't It Break Your Heart (#30). Finally, after six years of being a recording artist, the self-titled album was released. A further single was released called Don't Plan On Sleeping Tonight (#27 in 1983).
After the first album was a success, Wariner decided to change producers for the upcoming Midnight Fire album. Tony Brown suggested toughening up the sound and Wariner complied. Don't Your Memory ever Sleep At Night was the first single and it hit #23 in 1983. The title track was next and it brought him back to the top ten after a two year absence at #5. 1984 started on a #4 note with Lonely Women Make Good Lovers, originally a #4 hit for Luman in 1972. Why Goodbye became his last major hit at RCA at #12 and his final single, Don't You Give Up On Love hit #49. The Down In Tennessee album was FINALLY released in 1984.
Well, after eight years, three producers, three albums, and seventeen singles, Wariner decided to change labels from RCA to MCA. Not only did he release his first single and CD for MCA in 1985, his first greatest hits album on RCA came out that year. During his seven years at MCA (1984-1991), Wariner earned eight chart toppers. They are:
1. Some Fools Never Learn-1985
2. You Can Dream Of Me-1986
3. Life's Highway-1986
4. Small Town Girl-1987-my favorite Wariner song
5. The Weekend-1987
6. Lynda-1987-Billboard names Wariner Country Singles Artist of the Year
7. Where Did I Go Wrong-1989
8. I Got Dreams-1989
Wariner participated with Mark O'Connor, Vince Gill, and Ricky Skaggs on Restless (#25 in 1991). It won a Grammy Award for Best Country Vocal Collaboration. His first mentor, West died of injuries after two car accidents in September. Wariner went label hopping again, this time to Arista Records. He only released two CDs for them called I Am Ready (1992) and Drive (1993). Eight top 40 hits were produced. The biggest, The Tips Of My Fingers hit #3 in 1992. That was a hit for the FIFTH time following versions by:
1. Bill Anderson-1960-#7
2. Roy Clark-1963-#10
3. Eddy Arnold-1966-#3
4. Jean Shepard-1975-#16
A fourth label was on the horizon for Wariner. Capitol signed him in 1997. However, his first musical statement happened via a duet with Anita Cochran called What If I Said off her Back To You CD. It hit #1 in February, 1998 becoming her ONLY chart topper and Wariner's tenth and final #1. He released his first Capitol single that month called Holes In The Floor Of Heaven (#2). That won Wariner his ONLY C.M.A. Awards for Single and Song of the Year. During this time, other artists were scoring hits with Wariner penned tunes. They are:
1. Garth Brooks-Longneck Bottle-1997-#1
2. Bryan White-One Small Miracle-1998-#16
3. Clint Black-Nothin' But The Taillights-1998-#1
In 1999, a rerecording of I'm Already Taken finally became a big hit, peaking at #3. Atkins, responsible for bring Wariner to the national stage died in 2001. Wariner stayed at Capitol until 2002. After 26 years at four labels, Wariner started his own Selectone Records. So far, his last chart appearance came from that label, Snowfall On The Sand (#52 in 2003) and his last CD was released in 2013 called It Ain't All Bad. You can find All Roads Lead To You on two compilation CDs:
1. Super Hits-1998-a combination of RCA and Arista hits
2. Ultimate Collection-2000-his RCA, MCA, and Arista hits are represented here
Wariner is set to turn 60 next week (Happy Birthday and Merry Christmas to you!). This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 19, 1981:
1. ALL ROADS LEAD TO YOU-STEVE WARINER-RCA
2. Love In The First Degree-Alabama-RCA
3. Fourteen Carat Mind-Gene Watson-MCA
4. What Are We Doin' Lonesome-Gatlin Brothers-Columbia
5. The Woman In Me-Crystal Gayle-Columbia
6. I Wouldn't Have Missed It For The World-Ronnie Milsap-RCA
7. You're My Favorite Star-Bellamy Borthers-Warner Bros.
8. Red Neckin' Love Makin' Night-Conway Twitty-MCA
9. Headed For A Heartache-Gary Morris-Warner Bros.
10. The Sweetest Thing I've Ever Known-Juice Newton-Capitol

[countrychartnut]

1. STILL RIDING: Tim McGraw continues to top the chart with his 26th #1, Shotgun Rider. In the meantime, he has now spent 75 weeks at the top of the singles chart.
2. A LITTLE FAST: Little Big Town have the fastest climbing song of the week as Girl Crush vaults ten to #45.
3. FINALLY CHRISTMAS: We have three Christmas songs making their debut on the chart. They are:
1. Christmas In Blue Chair Bay-Kenny Chesney-#55
2. Holly Jolly Christmas-Jerrod Niemann-#57
3. What God Wants For Christmas-Darius Rucker-#58
4. UNDERWOOD'S HITS ARE TOPS: Carrie Underwood tops the album chart with her first greatest hits CD, Greatest Hits: Decade #1 after 94,000 were sold. It joins her other chart topping CDs: Some Hearts (2005), Carnival Ride (2007), Play On (2009), and Blown Away (2012).
5. #1 HITS: These were the top country hits in 2009, 2004, 1999, 1994, and 1989:
2009: Need You Now-Lady Antebellum-Capitol
2004: Some Beach-Blake Shelton-Warner Bros.
1999: Breathe-Faith Hill-Warner Bros.
1994: Pickup Man-Joe Diffie-Epic
1989: A Woman In Love-Ronnie Milsap-RCA
6. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: This section is taking a week off. Will be back next week!

[ozbest1]

Happy New Year, CCN, and thanks for for posting all these statistical charts.

Also thanks for popping in at times on the SIMC thread. We always enjoy hearing your thoughts there as well.

[countrychartnut]

1. MCGRAW'S STILL RIDNG: For the third week in a row, Tim McGraw has the top song with Shotgun Rider. It is his first three week #1 since One Of Those Nights from last year. If it manages a fourth week at the top, it will match Where The Green Grass Grows from 1998 as his second four week #1 hit.
2. A FAST CHRISTMAS: Darius Rucker has the fastest climbing song of the week as What God Wants For Christmas vaults twelve to #46.
3. MORE CHRISTMAS: We have two more songs joining this week's chart. They are:
1. Blue Christmas-Tyler Farr-#56
2. I'll Be Home For Christmas-Darius Rucker-#59
4. STILL LOOKING FOR A #1: Miranda Lambert debuts her third Platinum single, Little Red Wagon at #60. So far, the CD has produced a #3 hit in Automatic and the #7 peaking duet with Carrie Underwood on Somethin' Bad.
5. A 70S LOOK: These were the chart topping hits during the last week of December during the 1970s:
1970: Rose Garden-Lynn Anderson-Columbia
1971: Kiss An Angel Good Mornin'-Charley Pride-RCA
1972: She's Got To Be A Saint-Ray Price-Columbia
1973: If We Make It Through December-Merle Haggard-Capitol
1974: What A Man, My Man Is-Lynn Anderson-Columbia
1975: Convoy-C.W. McCall-MGM
1976: Sweet Dreams-Emmylou Harris-Reprise
1977: Here You Come Again-Dolly Parton-RCA
1978: The Gambler-Kenny Rogers-United Artists
1979: Happy Birthday Darlin'-Conway Twitty-MCA
6. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: Reba McEntire recently announced that she is the first artist signed to the new Nash Icon label. That is her fourth label in nearly 40 years. A timeline of labels she's been signed to:
1. Mercury-1975-1983
2. MCA-1983-2008
3. Valory-2008-2014
4. Nash Icon-2014-present
Just five years ago this week, she enjoyed the biggest hit of her career called Consider Me Gone.
In 2007, her sitcom Reba was cancelled. She returned to music by releasing a CD called Reba: Duets. The first single, Because Of You was a remake of her duet partner's hit. Her partner on that song ended up being her daughter-in-law years later: Kelly Clarkson. That song was a #7 pop and #3 adult contemporary hit for Clarkson in 2006. This time, it was a #2 country duet for McEntire/Clarkson. The CD was released and it was the first McEntire CD to debut at #1 country ands top 200 after 301,000 copies were sold during the first week. That fantastic achievement was followed by a dubious one: Second single, The Only Promise That Remains with Justin Timberlake failed to chart altogether. That was the first time a McEntire single did not chart since I've Waited All My Life For You in 1978. Every Other Weekend, the third single and duet with Kenny Chesney peaked at #15 in 2008. Chesney was charting another duet himself at the time with George Strait on Shiftwork (#2 in 2008). While McEntire/Chesney were on the chart, McEntire announced that after 25 years at MCA, she was signing to the new Valory label, a subsidiary label with Big Machine through a partnership of her Starstruck Entertainment. A three CD set called 50 Greatest Hits was released in 2008 (Because Of You being the last song in the set).
Her debut on Valory called Keep On Loving You (2009) started off in fine fashion when the CD opened at #1 on both country and top 200 charts with 96,000 sold. First single, Strange debuted at #39, her highest start to date. However, it only managed to climb another 28 spaces to peak at #11, the first time a McEntire single fell a peg short of a top ten. Second single, Consider Me Gone was released in July, 2009 and it debuted at #51. Five months later, McEntire not only collected her 58th top ten hit, but her 24th chart topper as well. With it, she had #1s in the 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s. By staying at #1 for four weeks, Consider Me Gone is McEntire's biggest hit. She only had to wait three and a half decades to achieve that. It became her first chart topper since Somebody in 2004. The title track wrapped up the era on a #7 note.
With her debut Valory CD a success, McEntire went to work on her second called All The Women I Am (2010). It debuted at #3 country and #7 top 200 with its first week's sales of 64,000. Turn On The Radio was a landmark release. It topped the chart during the first week of 2011, giving McEntire a career making 60th top ten hit and 25th #1 hit. It also gave her a span of 28 years of chart toppers as her first, Can't Even Get The Blues topped the chart in January, 1983. However, the three other singles gave McEntire diminishing returns on the chart. Her remake of the Beyoncé hit, If I Were A Boy peaked at #22. When Love Gets A Hold Of You barely became a top 40 hit at #40 while Somebody's Chelsea missed the top 40 at #44. So far, All The Women I Am remains her last studio CD. She was inducted to the Country Music Hall of Fame during this time period.
So far, her last chart appearance remains Silent Night with Clarkson and Trisha Yearwood (#51 in 2013). Seeing since she has announced her signing to Nash Icon, a single has been announced called Going Out Like That. What the CD's title is going to be is anyone's guess. 2015 promises to be big for McEntire as she will be celebrating her 60th birthday in March and she will be celebrating her 40th year in country music. Hope all goes well for her this upcoming year. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING JANUARY 2, 2010:
1. CONSIDER ME GONE-REBA MCENTIRE-VALORY
2. Need You Now-Lady Antebellum-Capitol
3. Do I-Luke Bryan-Capitol
4. I Wanna Make You Close Your Eyes-Dierks Bentley-Capitol
5. Southern Voice-Tim McGraw-Curb
6. White Liar-Miranda Lambert-Columbia
7. Bonfire-Craig Morgan-BNA
8. The Truth-Jason Aldean-Broken Bow
9. Red Light-David Nail-MCA
10. History In The Making-Darius Rucker-Capitol

P.S.: Happy New Year!

[ozbest1]

Happy New Year to you as well!

[countrychartnut]

1. A PERFECT #1: Brad Paisley collects his 19th #1 this week with Perfect Storm. It is the second single from his Moonshine In The Trunk CD. First single, River Bank peaked at #2. This is the first time Paisley has topped the chart in over three years. His last chart topper, Remind Me was a duet with Carrie Underwood in 2011. He has done well since despite a dearth of #1s. The singles between Remind Me and Perfect Storm are:
1. Camouflage-2012-#15
2. Southern Comfort Zone-2013-#2
3. Beat This Summer-2013-#2
4. I Can't Change The World-2013-#22
5. The Mona Lisa-2014-#19
6. River Bank-2014-#2
Remember, this is the same Paisley that topped the chart ten consecutive times from 2006's When I Get Where I'm Going with Dolly Parton to 2009's Then.
2. BULLET CITY: Every title except at #56 House Party by Sam Hunt and #60 Broken Windshield View by Chris Lane have bullets as radio returns to playing all country after the Christmas holiday.
3. A LITTLE FAST: Miranda Lambert has the fastest climbing song of the week as Little Red Wagon moves from #60 to #52.
4. A 70S LOOK PART II: These were the top selling albums during the first week of January during the 1970s:
1970: The Best Of Charley Pride-Charley Pride-RCA
1971: For The Good Times-Ray Price-Columbia
1972: Charley Pride Sings Heart Songs-Charley Pride-RCA
1973: The Best Of The Best Of Merle Haggard-Merle Haggard-Capitol
1974: Behind Closed Doors-Charlie Rich-Epic
1975: Back Home Again-John Denver-RCA
1976: Black Bear Road-C.W. McCall-MGM
1977: Conway Twitty's Greatest Hits Vol. II-Conway Twitty-MCA
1978: Here You Come Again-Dolly Parton-RCA
1979: Willie And Family Live-Willie Nelson-Columbia
5. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: Michael Johnson had a brief pop and adult contemporary run of hits during the late 1970s. He moved on over to country where he had a short run between 1985-1989. He managed two chart topping hits during his country career. The first, Give Me Wings was our top song 28 years ago this week.
Johnson was born in Colorado in 1944. As a teenager, he learned to play guitar. While attending college, he entered a talent show and won it, enabling him to sign with Epic Records for a one single deal. During the mid 1960s, Johnson studied classical guitar in Spain. Returning to America, he had a brief association with a group called New Society. In 1967, he joined the Chad Mitchell Trio which included John Denver. The other member in the group was David Boise. They found out they could no longer use the name 'Chad Mitchell', so they went by 'Denver, Boise, and Johnson' instead. They were together for about a year and split when they had limited success. After that, Johnson did a 180 and started acting in the off Broadway production, Jacques Brel Is Alive And Well And Living In Paris. He decided to resume his singing career by signing to Atco Records in 1971 (two years after Denver signed to RCA Records). However, his debut album, There Is A Breeze was released in 1973. A single was released called On The Road, but it managed a #18 peak on the bubbling under chart. Two more albums were released on the Sanskrit label: For All You Mad Musicians (1975) and Ain't Dis Da Life (1977). Feeling that success was just around the corner, Johnson signed to EMI Records in 1977. The Michael Johnson Album appeared in 1978 with its single, Bluer Than Blue. That peaked at #12 pop while becoming his ONLY chart topping A.C. hit. Almost Like Being In Love followed, hitting #32 pop and #4 A.C.. After having his first successful album behind him, Johnson released Dialogue in 1979. Only one big hit was released and that was This Night Won't Last Forever (#19 pop and #5 A.C.). I'll Always Love You failed to chart while The Very First Time hit #1 on the bubbling under chart. His sixth album, You Can Call Me Blue yielded the title track (#86 in 1980) which became his last appearance on the pop chart. EMI released two more albums: Home Free (1981) and Lifetime Guarantee (1983).
Sensing a change in musical direction, Johnson signed a country contract with RCA Records in 1985. He even teamed up with Brent Maher, who produced his pop and A.C. hits. Johnson said at the time it felt natural to continue working with Maher. However, Johnson's introduction to country came via a Sylvia CD called One Step Closer. Their duet, I Love You By Heart was released during the fall of 1985 and peaked at #9 during the early part of 1986. It was her eleventh and final top ten while becoming the first of six top tens for him. Finally, the Wings CD was released with its first single, Gotta Learn To Love Without You. The single was released in May, 1986 and peaked at #12 during the summer. Give Me Wings was released in September and it became the first chart topping hit of 1987. The Moon Is Still Over Her Shoulder followed Give Me Wings to #1 in May, 1987. Ponies ended the era on a #26 note. If you play the Wings CD in its entirety, two other songs should sound familiar: It's Only Over For You (#8 for Tanya Tucker in 1987) and That's What Your Love Does To Me (#5 for Holly Dunn in 1988). Give Me Wings was named Top Country Single in Billboard for 1987 (the American Country Countdown gave it to Forever And Ever, Amen).
Happily, the hits continued for another year for Johnson with the release of the That's That CD of 1988. For some reason, RCA repeated The Moon Is Still Over Her Shoulder here. Crying Shame was released during the fall of 1987 and it hit #4 in early 1988. I Will Whisper Your Name followed, peaking at #7 while the title track hit #9. 1989 saw Johnson charting for the last time with the fourth single, Roller Coaster Run Up Too Slow, Down Too Fast at #52. After two CDs, Johnson's country career ended with a greatest hits CD called The Best Of Michael Johnson in 1990 (check out Life's A Bitch And Then You Die).
Three CDs were released during the 1990s on three different labels: Michael Johnson on Atlantic in 1992 and Departure on Vanguard in 1995. Intersound released Then And Now, a CD of rerecorded Johnson hits in 1997. Johnson continued influencing country music during the 1990s. First, Polydor group 4 Runner scored a top 40 hit in 1995 called Cain's Blood (#26), written by Johnson. Second, Sawyer Brown released their version of This Night Won't Last Forever in 1997 (#6).
The most complete collection in Johnson's career can be found on the Razor & Tie release of 1999 called The Very Best Of Michael Johnson: Bluer Than Blue (1978-1995). His last CD was released in 2005 called Always-Roberto Bianco With Michael Johnson. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING JANUARY 10, 1987:
1. GIVE ME WINGS-MICHAEL JOHNSON-RCA
2. What Am I Gonna Do About You-Reba McEntire-MCA
3. Cry Myself To Sleep-the Judds-RCA
4. Love's Gonna Get You Someday-Ricky Skaggs-Epic
5. Then It's Love-Don Williams-Capitol
6. Fallin' For You For Years-Conway Twitty-Warner Bros.
7. Half Past Forever Till I'm Blue In The Heart-T.G. Sheppard-Columbia
8. You Still Move Me-Dan Seals-EMI America
9. She Thinks That She'll Marry-Judy Rodman-MTM
10. Leave Me Lonely-Gary Morris-Warner Bros.

[countrychartnut]

1. STILL STORMY: Brad Paisley leads the chart for the second week with Perfect Storm. It is his first multi week #1 since his duet with Alabama with Old Alabama led the chart for two weeks in 2011.
2. HIS 34TH: For the 34th time in his career, Kenny Chesney finds himself in the top two. His current single, Til It's Gone is at #2 for the week. His chart stats has him having 23 #1s and ten #2 hits. He is hoping he will be tops next week.
3. A NASH ICON DEBUT: At #45 for the week is Reba McEntire's Nash Icon debut, Going Out Like That. Considering she was the first signing, it makes sense she is the first to chart. This is coming from an upcoming CD. The last time she switched labels, her Valory debut, Strange started at #39 in 2009.
4. A TIE: We have two songs taking six point jumps for fastest climbing songs of the week:
1. Riot-Rascal Flatts-#46 to #40
2. Little Red Wagon-Miranda Lambert-#52 to #46
5. #1 HITS: These were the chart topping hits in 2010, 2005, 2000, 1995, and 1990:
2010: Consider Me Gone-Reba McEntire-Valory
2005: Some Beach-Blake Shelton-Warner Bros.
2000: Breathe-Faith Hill-Warner Bros.
1995: Not A Moment Too Soon-Tim McGraw-Curb
1990: It Ain't Nothin'-Keith Whitley-RCA
6. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: A song that was originally recorded for one album reappeared on this artist's first greatest hits CD. That song was One Friend, the artist's name was Dan Seals, and the CD was The Best. One Friend was our top song 27 years ago this week.
The track listing for Seals' first greatest hits CD is as follows:
1. Three Time Loser-1987-#1
2. God Must Be A Cowboy-1984-#10
3. My Baby's Got Good Timing-1985-#2
4. You Still Move Me-1987-#1
5. Bop-1986-#1
6. Everything That Glitters Is Not Gold-1986-#1
7. Meet Me In Montana-with Marie Osmond-1985-#1
8. You Bring Out The Wild Side Of Me-1984-#9
9. My Old Yellow Car-1985-#9
10. I Will Be There-1987-#1
11. One Friend-1988-#1
One Friend originally appeared on Seals' 1984 CD, San Antone. The singles released from that CD were: You Bring Out The Wild Side Of Me, My Baby's Got Good Timing, and My Old Yellow Car. His version of She Thinks I Still Care is represented. That was a #1 hit for George Jones in 1962 and a #1 hit for Anne Murray as He Thinks I Still Care in 1974. The version of One Friend that is on the San Antone CD is just two minutes long. Seals knew the song had merit, so he and his producer, Kyle Lehning went to work on it. They rearranged the song and lengthened it to three minutes. They decided to put it on Seals' first greatest hits CD and it was his first release under the Capitol Records banner after he charted on the Liberty and EMI America nameplates over the previous four years. One Friend was released in October, 1987 and it hit the top spot the following January. It was his seventh consecutive #1 hit going back to his duet with Marie Osmond, Meet Me In Montana. The Best remains Seals' ONLY platinum CD.
However, the next single did not appear for another six months. That was Addicted from the Rage On CD. The Cheryl Wheeler composition hit #1 in September, 1988. That was followed by another #1 in 1989, Big Wheels In The Moonlight. The nine in a row streak was snapped by the title track (#5). Seals entered the 1990s by releasing his final CD for Capitol called On Arrival. Love On Arrival, chart-wise his biggest hit, stayed at the top for three weeks. Good Times, the Sam Cooke song was a two week #1 and became Seals' final top ten hit. Bordertown ended his 1990 on a #49 note while Water Under The Bridge hit #57 in 1991.
After a greatest hits CD was released in 1991, Seals was dropped by Capitol and signed to Warner Bros. Records. His debut for them, Walking The Wire yielded three chart singles:
1. Sweet Little Shoe-1991-#62
2. Mason Dixon Line-1992-#43
3. When Love Comes Around The Bend-1992-#51
His second and final CD for them, Fired Up contains his final chart appearance in All Fired Up (#66 in 1994). You can find an acoustic version of One Friend on Seals' 1995 release, In A Quiet Room which contains other Seals hits (In A Quiet Room II from 1998 continues the pattern).
The Best was reissued in 2005 as The Best Of Dan Seals. Seals received radiation treatments for mantle cell lymphoma in 2008. Sadly, he passed away in March, 2009 at the age of 61. The most complete collection of Seals' music can be found on the 2011 CD, The Very Best Of Dan Seals on the Varese Sarabande label. Shortly after Seals' death, there was talk of a Seals & Seals CD with his brother James Seals (from Seals & Crofts). What happened to that anyway? This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING JANUARY 16, 1988:
1. ONE FRIEND-DAN SEALS-CAPITOL
2. Where Do The Nights Go-Ronnie Milsap-RCA
3. Goin' Gone-Kathy Mattea-Mercury
4. Wheels-Restless Heart-RCA
5. Still Within The Sound Of My Voice-Glen Campbell-MCA
6. Crying Shame-Michael Johnson-RCA
7. Just Lovin' You-the O'Kanes-Columbia
8. I Can't Get Close Enough-Exile-Epic
9. I'll Pin A Note On Your Pillow-Billy Joe Royal-Atlantic America
10. Tennessee Flat Top Box-Rosanne Cash-Columbia

[countrychartnut]

1. #1 AND GONE: For the 24th time in his career, Kenny Chesney has the #1 song. He does it this week with Til It's Gone, the second single from The Big Revival CD. The first, American Kids topped the chart last year. This is Chesney's first time charting consecutive #1s since Somewhere With You and Live A Little in 2011.
2. A HOMEGROWN DEBUT: Starting at their highest point yet is the Zac Brown Band with Homegrown at #23. This is their first time charting since linking up with the Big Machine label. This beats their previous high debut of #27 with The Wind in 2012. That peaked at #11.
3. SMOKIN' FAST: A Thousand Horses have the fastest climbing song of the week with Smoke. It rises 22 to #26.
4. A FIFTH OF URBAN: Keith Urban debuts his fifth Fuse single this week, a duet with Eric Church called Raise 'Em Up at #53. This follows other Fuse singles:
1. Little Bit Of Everything-2013-#1
2. We Were Us-with Miranda Lambert-2013-#1
3. Cop Car-2014-#8
4. Somewhere In My Car-2014-#1
The last time Urban pulled five singles from a CD was 2009's Defying Gravity. Its quintet of hits were:
1. Sweet Thing-2009-#1
2. Kiss A Girl-2009-#3
3. Only You Can Love Me This Way-2009-#1
4. Til Summer Comes Around-2010-#3
5. I'm In-2010-#2
Church is currently at #2 with Talladega.
5. MAYBE?: Big & Rich debut their second Gravity single, Run Away With You at #59. This is the follow up to their second top ten, Look At You #7 from last year. Can they chart consecutive top tens for the first time in their career? Stay tuned!
6. #1 CDS: These were the top selling CDs in 2010, 2005, 2000, 1995, and 1990:
2010: Fearless-Taylor Swift-Big Machine
2005: Greatest Hits-Shania Twain-Mercury
2000: Fly-the Dixie Chicks-Monument
1995: The Hits-Garth Brooks-Capitol
1990: Killin' Time-Clint Black-RCA
7. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: When Brooks & Dunn released their first greatest hits CD in 1997, a new song reached the #2 spot the following year. That song was He's Got You, our runner up hit seventeen years ago this week.
The track listing for The Greatest Hits Collection is as follows:
1. My Maria-1996-#1
2. Honky Tonk Truth-1997-#3
3. You're Gonna Miss Me When I'm Gone-1995-#1
4. Boot Scootin' Boogie-1992-#1
5. He's Got You-1998-#2
6. Hard Workin' Man-1993-#4
7. That Ain't No Way To Go-1994-#1
8. Rock My World Little Country Girl-1994-#2
9. Neon Moon-1992-#1
10. Lost And Found-1992-#6
11. She's Not The Cheatin' Kind-1994-#1
12. Brand New Man-1991-#1
13. Days Of Thunder
14. We'll Burn That Bridge-1993-#2
15. She Used To Be Mine-1993-#1
16. Mama Don't Get Dressed Up For Nothing-1996-#13
17. My Next Broken Heart-1991-#1
18. Whiskey Under The Bridge-1995-#5
19. Little Miss Honky Tonk-1995-#1
The two new songs on the CD became hits. Honky Tonk Truth was released in the summer of 1997 and proceeded to a #3 peak. He's Got You was next. Released in October 1997, it found a home at #2 for two weeks in January, unable to dislodge Tim McGraw's Just To See You Smile from the top. The McGraw hit became the biggest hit of 1998 (McGraw would succeed himself in that category as his duet with Faith Hill, It's Your Love was the biggest hit of 1997). He's Got You was Brooks & Dunn's fourth #2 hit of their career. After that song peaked, they waited six years to release their second greatest hits CD. Lightning struck twice as its two new songs became hits: That's What It's All About (2004-#2) and It's Getting Better All The Time (2005-#1).
In 2009, Brooks & Dunn announced a farewell tour that would last until 2010, their 20th anniversary of being a duo. Another greatest hits CD was released called #1s...And Then Some. Brooks & Dunn went three for three as the two new songs on the CD became their final hits (both in 2009 and both peaking at #16): Indian Summer and Honky Tonk Stomp with Billy Gibbons. After that, BOTH Ronnie Dunn and Kix Brooks started solo careers. Dunn has done better than Brooks as Ronnie's biggest hit during this time is Bleed Red (2011-#10) while Kix's highest placing is the #31 peaking duet with Joe Walsh, New To This Town (2012). Good news for Brooks & Dunn fans: They have reunited and will start a Las Vegas residency with Reba McEntire for a series of concerts. Expect to hear their two big duets, If You See Him/If You See Her (1998-#1) and Cowgirls Don't Cry (2009-#2). Even better news if you're a fan of Dunn's: He is the third artist signed to the new Nash Icon label. He follows Martina McBride and McEntire there. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING JANUARY 24, 1998:
1. Just To See You Smile-Tim McGraw-Curb
2. HE'S GOT YOU-BROOKS & DUNN-ARISTA
3. Love Of My Life-Sammy Kershaw-Mercury
4. I'm So Happy I Can't Stop Crying-Toby Keith and Sting-Mercury
5. Between The Devil And Me-Alan Jackson-Arista
6. Angel In My Eyes-John Michael Montgomery-Atlantic
7. A Broken Wing-Martina McBride-RCA
8. On The Side Of Angels-LeAnn Rimes-Curb
9. I Wanna Fall In Love-Lila McCann-Asylum
10. Imagine That-Diamond Rio-Arista

[ozbest1]

Thanks, CCN. I miss Brooks and Dunn. And I still think Ronnie Dunn has one of the best voices in country music. Wish they would tour again.