COUNTRY CHARTBEAT (Read 15,031 times)

[countrychartnut]

1. WHERE THERE'S SMOKE, A #1: A Thousand Horses collect their first #1 with their first single, Smoke. This is from their debut CD called Southernality. They become the first act this year to take a debut single to the top. They are the first since Maddie & Tae to take their first single to #1. Maddie & Tae did it in December, 2014 with Girl In A Country Song. Both acts record for the Big Machine family of labels as A Thousand Horses are on Republic Nashville while Maddie & Tae are on Dot Records.
2. TOP TWOS INTACT: Florida Georgia Line eases up one to #2 with Sippin' On Fire. Out of their eight singles, all of them managed to reach the top two. They are:
1. Cruise-2012-#1
2. Get Your Shine On-2013-#1
3. 'Round Here-2013-#1
4. Stay-2014-#1-chart wise, their biggest hit
5. This Is How We Roll-with Luke Bryan-2014-#2
6. Dirt-2014-#1
7. Sun Daze-2015-#1
8. Sippin' On Fire-2015-#2 so far
3. A REAL DEBUT: Jake Owen scores his highest start at #29 with Real Life. This is from an upcoming CD. His last, Days Of Gold produced three major hits. They are:
1. Days Of Gold-2013-#15
2. Beachin'-2014-#1
3. What We Ain't Got-2015-#14
4. SWINDELL FAST: Let Me See Ya Girl by Cole Swindell is the week's fastest climbing song. It jumps seven to #32.
5. OOPS!: Hunter Hayes drops eighteen spots to #50 with 21.
6. GILBERT'S BACK: Brantley Gilbert zooms from #22 to #1 on the country albums chart as a deluxe version of Just As I Am claims a fifth week at the top. 28,000 copies were sold last week. His CD ruled for two weeks in June and two weeks in August of last year.
7. THE FIRST IS THE SECOND: While Kelsea Ballerini scores Black River's first top ten hit in Love Me Like You Mean It, she scores the second top ten CD for the label. The First Time debuts at #4 after 13,000 copies were sold. It is Black River's second top ten CD following Craig Morgan's This Ole Boy from 2012 (#5).
8. A 90S LOOK PART II: These were the top selling CDs during the first week of June during the 1990s:
1990: Killin' Time-Clint Black-RCA
1991: No Fences-Garth Brooks-Capitol
1992: Some Gave All-Billy Ray Cyrus-Mercury
1993: Tell Me Why-Wynonna Judd-MCA
1994: Not A Moment Too Soon-Tim McGraw-Curb
1995: John Michael Montgomery-John Michael Montgomery-Atlantic
1996: Borderline-Brooks & Dunn-Arista
1997: Carrying Your Love With Me-George Strait-MCA
1998: The Limited Series-Garth Brooks-Capitol
1999: Come On Over-Shania Twain-Mercury
9. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: Jo Dee Messina signed to Curb Records in 1995. Eight years later, she released her first greatest hits CD. It was our top seller twelve years ago this week.
Curb collected hits from Messina's first three studio CDs. They are:
1. Jo Dee Messina-1996
2. I'm Alright-1998
3. Burn-2000
The track listing of the CD is as follows:
1. Was That My Life-2003-#21
2. I'm Alright-1998-#1
3. Heads Carolina, Tails California-1996-#2
4. Bye, Bye-1998-#1
5. Stand Beside Me-1999-#1
6. Bring On The Rain-2002-#1
7. Lesson In Leavin'-1999-#2-her biggest #2 hit
8. That's The Way-2000-#1-chart wise, her biggest hit
9. Burn-2001-#2
10. Downtime-2001-#5
11. Because You Love Me-2000-#8
12. You're Not In Kansas Anymore-1996-#7
13. Wishing Well
14. You Belong In The Sun
15. I Wish-2003-#15
Two out of the four new songs became top 40 hits. Was That My Life was released in January, 2003. It peaked at #21, just two spots higher than Dare To Dream (2002 off Burn) which is strangely absent on the greatest hits CD. I Wish (not to be confused with the Rascal Flatts hit of 2006 as My Wish) was released in July and peaked at #15 country and #75 pop. After the moderate success of those singles, Greatest Hits is certified at the gold level.
Messina's next CD was not released until 2005. Titled Delicious Surprise, the lead single, My Give A Damn's Busted became her sixth and final chart topping hit (also becoming her final pop chart appearance at #63). The title track peaked at #23. Not Going Down did go down in peak position #28 while 2006 was kicked off by the #33 peaking It's Too Late To Worry. It should be noted that like Tim McGraw, Messina was having problems with Curb Records in regards to releasing CDs (unlike McGraw's case of having too many greatest hits CDs out there). A trio of Unmistakable titles were released. Only Love was released as a CD in 2010. The others, Drive and Inspiration were music downloads. Only the Drive CD managed a chart single in Biker Chick (#48 in 2007). Her last chart appearance came in 2008 with the prophetically titled I'm Done (#34). Four years later Messina parted ways with Curb after seventeen years at the label. In 2013, she signed to Dreambound Records which released her Me CD in 2014. A trio of singles were released (Peace Sign, A Woman's Rant, and He's Messed Up) but none charted. Knowing Curb, I'm expecting more compilations on Messina. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING JUNE 7, 2003:
1. GREATEST HITS-JO DEE MESSINA-CURB
2. Unleashed-Toby Keith-DreamWorks
3. Have You Forgotten-Darryl Worley-DreamWorks
4. Up!-Shania Twain-Mercury
5. Home-the Dixie Chicks-Monument
6. No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems-Kenny Chesney-BNA
7. Greatest Hits-Martina McBride-RCA
8. Melt-Rascal Flatts-Lyric Street
9. Tim McGraw And The Dancehall Doctors-Tim McGraw-Curb
10. American IV: The Man Comes Around-Johnny Cash-American Recordings

[countrychartnut]

1. ON FIRE AND #1: Florida Georgia Line collect their seventh #1 hit with Sippin' On Fire. It is the third chart topping hit from their current CD, Anything Goes. It follows Dirt from 2014 and Sun Daze from 2015.
2. CHILD GREATER THAN TEQUILA: Going up two to #2 is Kenny Chesney's and Grace Potter's Wild Child. This is their second charted single following the #3 peaking You And Tequila from 2011.
3. A TIE: We have two songs taking five point jumps for fastest climbers of the week. They are:
1. Long Stretch Of Love-Lady Antebellum-#38 to #33
2. 21-Hunter Hayes-#50 to #45
4. AN OUTLAW DEBUT: The Lacs debut at #3 on the country albums chart with Outlaw In Me. 14,000 copies were sold last week. This is their fifth CD to chart following:
1. Country Boy's Paradise-2011-#52
2. 190 Proof-2012-#16
3. Keep It Redneck-2013-#3
4. Nothing In Particular-2014-#20
5. Outlaw In Me-2015-#3
5. #1 HITS: These were the chart topping hits in 2010, 2005, 2000, 1995, and 1990:
2010: The House That Built Me-Miranda Lambert-Columbia
2005: Making Memories Of Us-Keith Urban-Capitol
2000: The Way You Love Me-Faith Hill-Warner Bros.
1995: Summer's Comin'-Clint Black-RCA
1990: Love Without End, Amen-George Strait-MCA
6. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: Two great chart topping streaks began in 1980. The first belongs to Ronnie Milsap when Why Don't You Spend The Night became the first of ten consecutive chart topping #1s in March. That ended in 1983 with the double-sided Inside/Carolina Dreams. Alabama began their chart topping spree in August with Tennessee River. Twenty more #1s followed until 1987's You've Got The Touch. Milsap's streak was snapped 32 years ago this week with the #5 peaking Stranger In My House.
Milsap kicked off the 1980s with the Milsap Magic album. The first single, Why Don't You Spend The Night was released in January and became his lucky thirteenth chart topper in March. The second and final single, My Heart/Silent Night After The Fight became his biggest country hit, staying at #1 for three weeks in May and June. His contribution to the Bronco Billy soundtrack, Cowboys And Clowns/Misery Loves Company hit the top in August just five weeks after Merle Haggard and Clint Eastwood claimed a #1 off the soundtrack with Bar Room Buddies. After seven years at RCA, Milsap released his first greatest hits album. A new song, Smoky Mountain Rain became his FOURTH #1 of the year while claiming a #24 peak on the pop chart and even topping the adult contemporary chart. In December, Billboard gave Milsap the Top Country Singles Artist award and named My Heart the biggest hit of the year (so did the American Country Countdown). 1981 saw Milsap pay tribute to Jim Reeves with the Out Where The Bright Lights Are Glowing album. A lone single was released in Am I Losing You. It became his fifth consecutive #1 hit in May. That was originally a #3 hit for Reeves in 1957 and a new version surfaced in 1960, peaking at #8. Milsap did a complete 180 by releasing a very poppy album called There's No Gettin' Over Me. The title track peaked at #1 country for two weeks, #5 pop for five weeks, and #2 A.C. for four weeks becoming his biggest crossover hit. I Wouldn't Have Missed It For The World started his 1982 on a #1 country note while reaching #20 pop and #3 A.C.. He released the Inside Ronnie Milsap album in 1982. Any Day Now was the lead single and it hit #1 country, #14 pop, and #1 A.C.. He Got You also hit #1 country while faltering at #59 pop and also peaking at #15 A.C.. Billboard named Any Day Now the biggest A.C. hit of the year. Third and final single, Inside/Carolina Dreams became his tenth consecutive #1 in February, 1983. It was his 22nd chart topping hit overall. It also peaked at #27 A.C..
The 1983 album, Keyed Up started with Stranger In My House. The song was written by Mike Reid who started supplying Milsap songs (like Inside). The single was released in April and got as high as #5 on the country chart. Some stations refused to play it because of the guitar solo (too rock for some). It also became a crossover hit, peaking at #23 pop and #8 A.C.. It broke Milsap's string of ten consecutive chart toppers (Alabama would claim their tenth consecutive #1 five weeks later with The Closer You Get). The album's other singles became chart toppers for Milsap. They are: Don't You Know How Much I Love You (1983-also #58 pop and his last pop chart appearance and #12 A.C.) and Show Her (1984-also #17 A.C.). Stranger In My House won Best Country Song at the Grammys. One More Try For Love filled out Milsap's 1984 with Still Losing You (#1 country and #29 A.C.) and Prisoner Of The Highway (#6 country). His second longest streak of chart topping hits was next and it was spread across three CDs: Greatest Hits, Volume 2 (the second album where you will find Stranger In My House), Lost In The Fifties Tonight, and Heart & Soul. Those were:
1. She Keeps The Home Fires Burning-1985
2. Lost In The Fifties Tonight In The Still Of The Night-1985-also #8 A.C. and the biggest hit of the year according to the American Country Countdown and Billboard
3. Happy, Happy Birthday Baby-1986
4. In Love-1986
5. How Do I Turn You On-1987
6. Snap Your Fingers-1987
7. Make No Mistake, She's Mine-with Kenny Rogers-1987-also #42 A.C.
8. Where Do The Nights Go-1988
That streak was broken by the #2 peaking duet with Reid called Old Folks (written by Reid and blocked from the top by Kathy Mattea's Eighteen Wheels And A Dozen Roses-chart wise, her biggest hit). Milsap's last #1 was A Woman In Love in 1989 and his 35th overall. His last chart appearance was 2006's Local Girls (#54). 2014 was a very good year for Milsap. He was inducted to the Country Music Hall of Fame and RCA released a box set of all of his studio albums with them. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING JUNE 11, 1983:
1. Our Love Is On The Faultline-Crystal Gayle-Warner Bros.
2. You're Out Doing What I'm Here Doing Without-Gene Watson-MCA
3. You Can't Run From Love-Eddie Rabbitt-Warner Bros.
4. The Ride-David Allan Coe-Columbia
5. STRANGER IN MY HOUSE-RONNIE MILSAP-RCA
6. Fool For Your Love-Mickey Gilley-Epic
7. Love Is On A Roll-Don Williams-MCA
8. Oh Baby Mine I Get So Lonely-Statler Brothers-Mercury
9. Lucille You Won't Do Your Daddy's Will-Waylon Jennings-RCA
10. Highway 40 Blues-Ricky Skaggs-Epic

[countrychartnut]

1. CHESNEY'S CHILD IS #1: Kenny Chesney collects the 25th #1 in his career with Wild Child. It is from his current CD, The Big Revival which has spawned two other #1 hits: American Kids (2014) and Til It's Gone (2015). The last time Chesney had a trio of consecutive #1s happened with the Hemingway's Whiskey CD: The Boys Of Fall (2010), Somewhere With You (2011), and Live A Little (2011). That was broken by the #3 peaking You And Tequila. That featured the backup vocals of Grace Potter. She backs up Chesney on Wild Child, making it her first #1 as a back up artist.
2. THREE JOHNS DEBUT: Are we talking about Cash, Conlee, and Denver? No, but Keith Urban debuts a new single from an upcoming CD. John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16 grabs the Hot Shot Debut at #26. Urban's last CD, Fuse yielded a quintet of top ten hits. They are:
1. Little Bit Of Everything-2013
2. We Were Us-with Miranda Lambert-2013
3. Cop Car-2014-#8
4. Somewhere In My Car-2014-#1
5. Raise 'Em Up-with Eric Church-2015
3. A FAST STYLE: Darius Rucker has the fastest climbing song of the week as Southern Style takes a six point jump to #45.
4. WE'RE FALLING: Billy Currington takes a thirteen spot fall to #54 with Drinkin' Town With A Football Problem while Turn It On by the Eli Young Band falls to #56 from #42.
5. PANCHO & LEFTY ARE #1: Well, they went by those names back in 1983. This year, it's Django And Jimmie. Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard have the #1 country CD with Django And Jimmie. 31,000 copies were sold last week. It is their second #1 album following Pancho & Lefty from 1983. That album produced the #1 title track and Reasons To Quit (#6). It is the 16th #1 album for Haggard and the 17th for Nelson. Here is a list of BOTH artist's chart topping albums:
Haggard:
1. Swinging Doors-1966
2. Branded Man/I Threw Away The Rose-1967
3. Sing Me Back Home-1968
4. Same Train, A Different Time-1969
5. Okie From Muskogee-1970
6. The Fightin' Side Of Me-1970
7. Hag-1971
8. The Best Of The Best Of Merle Haggard-1972
9. It's Not Love But It's Not Bad-1972
10. I Love Dixie Blues So I Recorded Live In New Orleans-1973
11. Merle Haggard Presents His 30th Album-1974
12. Keep Movin' On-1975
13. It's All In The Movies-1976
14. Pancho & Lefty-with Nelson-1983
15. It's All In The Game-1984
16. Django And Jimmie-with Nelson-2015
Nelson:
1. Red Headed Stranger-1975
2. Wanted! The Outlaws-with Waylon Jennings, Jessi Colter, and Tompall Glaser-1976
3. The Sound In Your Mind-1976
4. The Troublemaker-1976
5. Waylon & Willie-with Jennings-1978
6. Stardust-1978
7. Willie And Family Live-1979
8. Honeysuckle Rose-1980
9. Somewhere Over The Rainbow-1981
10. Greatest Hits & Some That Will Be-1981
11. Always On My Mind-1982
12. Pancho & Lefty-with Haggard-1983
13. City Of New Orleans-1984
14. Highwayman-with Johnny Cash, Jennings, and Kris Kristofferson-1985
15. The Promiseland-1986
16. Band Of Brothers-2014
17. Django And Jimmie-with Haggard-2015
6. #1 CDS: These were the top selling CDs in 2010, 2005, 2000, 1995, and 1990:
2010: Need You Now-Lady Antebellum-Capitol
2005: Honkytonk University-Toby Keith-DreamWorks
2000: Fly-the Dixie Chicks-Monument
1995: John Michael Montgomery-John Michael Montgomery-Atlantic
1990: Killin' Time-Clint Black-RCA
7. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: Last week, we discussed Ronnie Milsap's chart topping streak during the 1980s. He had ten consecutive #1s between 1980-1983. It was broken by the #5 peaking Stranger In My House. Now, we will be talking about TWO chart topping streaks that ended simultaneously. The first belongs to Eddie Rabbitt who saw his five in a row snapped by the #2 peaking I Don't Know Where To Start. Mickey Gilley has the second when his six consecutive #1 streak came to an end with the #3 hit, Tears Of The Lonely. Both happened 33 years ago this week.
After scoring his biggest country hit with Every Which Way But Loose (#30 pop and #26 adult contemporary), Rabbitt released his Loveline album in 1979. Lead single, Suspicions became his fifth #1 country hit while hitting #13 pop and #9 A.C.. Pour Me Another Tequila kicked off his 1980 on a #5 country note. Third and final single, Gone Too Far hit #1 country, #82 pop, and #35 A.C.. It started his longest chart topping streak. The Horizon album really made Rabbitt a crossover star. Drivin' My Life Away was the first single and the song was used in the movie Roadie. The song became Rabbitt's first top five single to hit three charts: #1 country, #5 pop, and #3 A.C.. I Love A Rainy Night hit #1 on all three charts in early 1981. The Step By Step album was next and the title track hit #1 on the country chart while peaking at #5 pop and #3 A.C.. That song made Rabbitt the ONLY country artist to score three consecutive top five pop hits (take that, Kenny Rogers). Someone Could Lose A Heart Tonight hit #1 country, #15 pop, and #10 A.C. in 1982. I Don't Know Where To Start was released in March and climbed all the way to #2, first blocked by the Bellamy Brothers' For All The Wrong Reasons and stayed there for the two weeks Slow Hand was tops by Conway Twitty (come on, Bellamys and Twitty, let your labelmate have a turn at the top). It also crossed over to #35 pop and #9 A.C..
After Rabbitt's five in a row was stopped by a #2 peaker, he had two #1 country hits off the Radio Romance album of 1982: You And I was a duet with his new labelmate, Crystal Gayle. It peaked at #7 pop and #2 A.C.. That was #1 in December while she issued her debut for the label, 'Til I Gain Control Again (#1 in 1983). You Can't Run From Love hit the top of the country chart in 1983 while peaking at #55 pop and #2 A.C.. Rabbitt would top the country chart five more times:
1. The Best Year Of My Life-1985
2. Both To Each Other Friends & Lovers-with Juice Newton-1986
3. I Wanna Dance With You-1988
4. The Wanderer-1988
5. On Second Thought-1990
His last chart appearance came in 1991 with Hang Up The Phone (#50). He died in 1998 at the age of 56. His last CD was released in 2009 called Number One Hits. Now, let us discuss Gilley's chart streak of #1 hits.
Gilley ended his 1970s with a self-titled album. The first single, My Silver Lining hit #8 while 1980 was started with A Little Gettin' Used To (#17). Gilley decided to switch producers, so he chose Jim Ed Norman. Their first single together was True Love Ways, a song first recorded by Buddy Holly just before his death in 1959. Gilley's version topped the country chart while claiming a #66 peak on the pop chart. It was Gilley's eighth #1 and first since 1977's She's Pulling Me Back Again. Gilley did not have to wait long for his next #1 hit. Three weeks later, he reeled in his ninth chart topper. It was off the Urban Cowboy soundtrack and it was another cover: Stand By Me. It was originally a #4 pop and #1 r&b hit for Ben E. King in 1961. This time, it was a #1 country, #22 pop, and #3 A.C. hit for Gilley, making it his biggest crossover hit. That's All That Matters, the title track to his 1980 album topped the country chart just before the year ended. A Headache Tomorrow Or A Heartache Tonight was the final single. It topped the chart in 1981. The You Don't Know Me album started with the title track. It was originally a #10 hit for Eddy Arnold in 1956. Jerry Vale took his version to #14 pop in 1956. Ray Charles had a huge hit with it in 1962: #2 pop, #5 r&b, and #1 A.C.. Gilley's version topped the country chart and it also hit #55 pop and #12 A.C.. Lonely Nights kicked off his 1982 on a #1 country note (Someone Could Lose A Heart Tonight followed it to the top). Tears Of The Lonely was the third and final single. It was released in March and topped off at #3 the same week I Don't Know Where To Start hit #2. Gilley's longest streak of #1s came to an end at six.
Gilley would start a new streak of #1 hits between 1982-1983 across three albums: Put Your Dreams Away, Fool For Your Love, and Paradise. They are:
1. Put Your Dreams Away-1982
2. Talk To Me-1983
3. Fool For Your Love-1983
4. Paradise Tonight-with Charly McClain-1983
The closest he came to topping the chart again was in 1984 with You've Really Got A Hold On Me (#2). His last chart appearance was in 1989 with There I've Said It Again (#53), a #1 pop hit for Bobby Vinton in 1964. His last CD was released in 2003 called Invitation Only. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING JUNE 19, 1982:
1. Slow Hand-Conway Twitty-Elektra
2. I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO START-EDDIE RABBITT-ELEKTRA
3. TEARS OF THE LONELY-MICKEY GILLEY-EPIC
4. Any Day Now-Ronnie Milsap-RCA
5. Listen To The Radio-Don Williams-MCA
6. Ring On Her Finger, Time On Her Hands-Lee Greenwood-MCA
7. Just Give Me What You Think Is Fair-Leon Everette-RCA
8. Another Chance-Tammy Wynette-Epic
9. I Don't Think She's In Love Anymore-Charley Pride-RCA
10. Everytime You Cross My Mind You Break My Heart-Razzy Bailey-RCA

Videos:
I Don't Know Where To Start: www.youtube.com/watch?v=dasdqE8mwVM
Tears Of The Lonely: www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7GPd5sfYIc

[countrychartnut]

1. SHE MEANS IT: Kelsea Ballerini scores her first #1 hit this week with Love Me Like You Mean It. It is also her debut on the chart and Black River's first ever chart topping hit. Ballerini joins these other female artists in taking their debut single to #1:
1. Connie Smith-Once A Day-1964-chart wise, her biggest hit
2. Marie Osmond-Paper Roses-1973-chart wise, her biggest hit
3. Trisha Yearwood-She's In Love With The Boy-1991
4. Wynonna Judd-She Is His Only Need-1992
5. Faith Hill-Wild One-1994
6. Deana Carter-Strawberry Wine-1996
7. Jamie O'Neal-There Is No Arizona-2001
8. Cyndi Thomson-What I Really Meant To Say-2001-chart wise, her biggest hit
9. Gretchen Wilson-Redneck Woman-2004-chart wise, her biggest hit
10. Carrie Underwood-Jesus, Take The Wheel-2006-chart wise, her biggest hit
11. Kelsea Ballerini-Love Me Like You Mean It-2015
Furthermore, Ballerini is the first solo female to top the chart since Underwood's Blown Away from October, 2012. Miranda Lambert topped the chart with Keith Urban on We Were Us in December, 2013.
2. GOING FOR 15: Blake Shelton is at #2 for the week with Sangria. If it hits the top, he will have his fifteenth consecutive #1 hit. This is a streak that dates back to 2010 when Hillbilly Bone, his duet with Trace Adkins started it all.
3. HER FOURTH, THEIR FIFTH: Miranda Lambert debuts her fourth Platinum single, Smokin' And Drinkin' at #55, the Hot Shot Debut of the week. It is a duet with Little Big Town. This is on RCA Records which means this is the fifth label Little Big Town has charted following Monument, Equity, Mercury, and Capitol. The biggest hit off Platinum remains Automatic (#3 in 2014).
4. ANYTHING FAST: Florida Georgia Line score the fastest climbing song of the week with Anything Goes. It climbs eleven to #39.
5. NOW IS #1: The top selling country CD this week is NOW That's What I Call Country, Volume 8. It sold 19,000 copies last week. Let us review the chart peaks of the other volumes:
1. Volume 1-2008-#1
2. Volume 2-2009-#4
3. Volume 3-2010-#3
4. Volume 4-2011-#3
5. Volume 5-2012-#4
6. Volume 6-2013-#4
7. Volume 7-2014-#3
8. Volume 8-2015-#1
6. A THOUSAND DEBUTS: Buoyed by their #1 debut single Smoke, A Thousand Horses debut at #3 on the country albums chart with Southernality. 17,000 were sold last week.
7. AN 80S LOOK: These were the chart topping hits during the last week in June during the 1980s:
1980: Trying To Love Two Women-Oak Ridge Boys-MCA
1981: Blessed Are The Believers-Anne Murray-Capitol
1982: Any Day Now-Ronnie Milsap-RCA
1983: Love Is On A Roll-Don Williams-MCA
1984: I Can Tell By The Way You Dance You're Gonna Love Me Tonight-Vern Gosdin-Compleat
1985: She Keeps The Home Fires Burning-Ronnie Milsap-RCA
1986: Living In The Promiseland-Willie Nelson-Columbia
1987: Forever And Ever, Amen-Randy Travis-Warner Bros.
1988: If It Don't Come Easy-Tanya Tucker-Capitol
1989: Come From The Heart-Kathy Mattea-Mercury
8. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: Kenny Chesney is currently celebrating his 25th #1 hit, Wild Child. That is the third release (and third #1) from his current CD, The Big Revival. Six years ago this week, he was tops for the seventeenth time in his career with Out Last Night, a single from his Greatest Hits II CD.
The track listing of Greatest Hits II is as follows:
1. Out Last Night-2009-#1
2. Living In Fast Forward-2006-#1
3. Young-2002-#2
4. Summertime-2006-#1
5. Down The Road-with Mac McAnally-2009-#1
6. Beer In Mexico-2007-#1
7. There Goes My Life-2003-#1
8. When The Sun Goes Down-with Uncle Kracker-2004-#1
9. Anything But Mine-2005-#1
10. Be As You Are
11. I Go Back-2004-#2-his biggest #2 hit
12. No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems-2003-#2
13. The Good Stuff-2002-#1-chart wise, his biggest hit
14. Never Wanted Nothing More-2007-#1
15. I'm Alive-with Dave Matthews-2009-#6
16. This Is Our Moment
17. Ain't Back Yet-2010-#3
The first single, Out Last Night was released in April and climbed all the way to the top, becoming his 17th chart topping hit. I'm Alive, his duet with Dave Matthews stopped at #6 during the fall. Chesney kicked off his 2010 by rereleasing the CD with bonus tracks (songs #16 and #17). Ain't Back Yet was released and it peaked at #3. This Is Our Moment was not officially a released as a single, but made a chart appearance and rested at #46 during its peak. The CD is certified platinum.
Chesney followed up that CD with Hemingway's Whiskey. It started with the football themed The Boys Of Fall which became his 18th #1 during the fall of 2010. Somewhere With You kicked off his 2011 on a chart topping note while Live A Little did the same later on. Chesney turned to two females for his next hit, You And Tequila. Deana Carter, from Strawberry Wine fame in 1996 wrote it while Grace Potter did backup vocals. It peaked at #3. The fifth and final single, Reality topped the chart in 2012. In the meantime, Hemingway's Whiskey became his first CD to contain a quartet of chart topping hits. His next CD, Welcome To The Fishbowl had Chesney singing with his good friend Tim McGraw on the lead single, Feel Like A Rock Star. Despite debuting at #13, it only managed to reach #11 becoming Chesney's first miss of the top ten since The Tin Man peaked at #19 in 2001. Right after that, Chesney's label BNA vanished and Columbia took its place (both Sony labels). That single came at a pivotal time for McGraw as he ended his twenty year association with Curb Records and signed to the Big Machine label. Come Over saw Chesney top the chart while El Cerrito Place peaked at #10 in 2013. That features Potter on backup vocals. His 2013 CD, Life On A Rock only saw two singles during the year: Pirate Flag (#3) and When I See This Bar (#14).
The Big Revival, his current CD has seen Chesney come back in a big way. Three singles have been released and three #1s have been produced. They are:
1. American Kids-2014
2. Til It's Gone-2015
3. Wild Child-2015-Potter comes back to do background vocals
A fourth single has just been released in Save It For A Rainy Day. Will The Big Revival follow in Hemingway's Whiskey's footsteps and yield four chart toppers? Stay tuned! This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING JUNE 27, 2009:
1. OUT LAST NIGHT-KENNY CHESNEY-BNA
2. Then-Brad Paisley-Arista
3. Sideways-Dierks Bentley-Capitol
4. Kiss A Girl-Keith Urban-Capitol
5. Whatever It Is-Zac Brown Band-Atlantic
6. I Run To You-Lady Antebellum-Capitol
7. People Are Crazy-Billy Currington-Mercury
8. You Belong With Me-Taylor Swift-Big Machine
9. Alright-Darius Rucker-Capitol
10. Lost You Anyway-Toby Keith-Show Dog/Universal

[countrychartnut]

1. 20 AND 15: Blake Shelton collects his twentieth chart topping hit this week with Sangria. It is his fifteenth consecutive #1 hit as well. It is the third single and third chart topper off his current CD, Bringing Back The Sunshine. In the meantime, let us list his #1s and weeks at the top:
1. Austin-2001-5-chart wise, his biggest hit
2. The Baby-2003-3
3. Some Beach-2004-4
4. Home-2008-2
5. She Wouldn't Be Gone-2009-2
6. Hillbilly Bone-with Trace Adkins-2010-1
7. All About Tonight-2010-3
8. Who Are You When I'm Not Looking-2011-1
9. Honey Bee-2011-4
10. God Gave Me You-2011-3
11. Drink On It-2012-2
12. Over-2012-2
13. Sure Be Cool If You Did-2013-2
14. Boys 'Round Here-2013-1
15. Mine Would Be You-2013-3
16. Doin' What She Likes-2014-2
17. My Eyes-2014-1
18. Neon Light-2014-1
19. Lonely Tonight-2015-1
20. Sangria-2015-1 so far
Shelton has now spent 44 weeks at #1.
2. BACK IN THE TOP TWO: After seeing her top two streak snapped by the #3 peaking Something In The Water, Carrie Underwood is at #2 with the second Greatest Hits: Decade #1 single, Little Toy Guns. Underwood scored eighteen consecutive top two hits from 2006's Jesus, Take The Wheel (#1) to 2013's See You Again (#2).
3. SAVE IT FAST: Kenny Chesney has the fastest climbing song of the week with Save It For A Rainy Day. It climbs eighteen to #41.
4. SOUNDS LIKE JONES: The Cadillac Three make their third chart appearance with White Lightning at #55. The title is reminiscent of George Jones' first #1 from 1959.
5. 70 HITS: Over on the country albums chart, a pair of 35 Biggest Hits CDs debut. One by Tim McGraw at #8 after 8000 were sold and another by Hank Williams, Jr. at #16 after 4000 were sold.
6. AN 80S LOOK PART II: These were the top selling albums during the first week of July during the 1980s:
1980: Gideon-Kenny Rogers-United Artists
1981: Feels So Right-Alabama-RCA
1982: Mountain Music-Alabama-RCA
1983: Pancho & Lefty-Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson-Epic
1984: Roll On-Alabama-RCA
1985: Five-O-Hank Williams, Jr.-Warner Bros.
1986: Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc., Etc.-Dwight Yoakam-Reprise
1987: Always & Forever-Randy Travis-Warner Bros.
1988: Reba-Reba McEntire-MCA
1989: Sweet Sixteen-Reba McEntire-MCA
7. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: I know I can say the following: I was country when country WASN'T cool and I am country when country IS cool. I know one artist that said that in a big way in 1981: Barbara Mandrell. She topped the chart 34 years ago this week with I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool. George Jones came along for the ride.
The track listing for Barbara Mandrell Live is as follows:
1. Sleeping Single In A Double Bed
2. Unsung Heroes
3. She's Out There Dancin' Alone
4. Doin' It Right
5. Medley: Years/Love Is Fair
6. Hey Good Lookin'
7. Wish You Were Here-1981-#2
8. Instrumental Medley: Mountain Dew/Fireball Mail/Old Joe Clark/Uncle Joe's Boogie
9. In My Heart
10. I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool-with George Jones-1981-#1
11. The Battle Hymn Of The Republic
12. Country Girl
However, I Was Country was recorded in March, 1981. It was written by the hottest songwriting duo at the time, Kye Fleming and Dennis Morgan. They wrote the following lyric: 'I remember circlin' the drive-in, pullin' up and turnin' down George Jones'. Tom Collins, Mandrell's producer at the time decided to ask Jones to participate in the recording. He agreed and did his part in one take. Collins also used canned applause to make it a 'live recording'. Released as a single in April, it became Mandrell's fourth #1 hit in July. Jones, to this day remains uncredited for his contribution, yet it's undeniable. Because of that, I consider it his eleventh chart topping hit. Because of it, Jones landed #1s on five labels: Mercury, United Artists, Musicor, Epic, and MCA. As a matter of fact, I Was Country hit the top during the first anniversary of He Stopped Loving Her Today doing the same. In the interim, Jones scored a quartet of major hits. They are:
1. I'm Not Ready Yet-1980-#2
2. A Pair Of Old Sneakers-with Tammy Wynette-1980-#19
3. You Better Move On-with Johnny Paycheck-1981-#18
4. If Drinkin' Don't Kill Me Her Memory Will-1981-#8
During that same time, Mandrell scored a trio of top twenty hits. Those were:
1. Crackers-1980-#3
2. The Best Of Strangers-1980-#6
3. Love Is Fair/Sometime, Somewhere, Somehow-1981-#13
However, the album itself came from a performance Mandrell did at the Roy Acuff Theater at Opryland during the first week of June (while I Was Country was at #13 on the chart). A month later, Mandrell/Jones were at the top of the chart. Two months later, Barbara Mandrell Live was released. It hit #4 on the country albums chart and #86 on the top 200 chart. That became her highest placing on BOTH charts. The second single, Wish You Were Here was released and it proceeded to a #2 peak on the country chart (All My Rowdy Friends Have Settled Down by Hank Williams, Jr. was #1) and #40 on the adult contemporary chart. During its chart run, Mandrell made history at the C.M.A. Awards by becoming the first repeat winner of the Entertainer of the Year Award (while winning Female Vocalist for the second time-first was in 1979). Jones would win his second Male Vocalist Award as well. Three weeks after Wish You Were Here peaked, Jones grabbed a chart topping hit with Still Doin' Time. After the album ran its course, it became her third gold album following a pair of Best Of Barbara Mandrell discs (one from Columbia in 1977 and one from ABC in 1979).
Mandrell would continue to chart for eight more years until Mirror, Mirror became her last chart appearance in 1989 (#49). Her last CD was released in 2000 called 20th Century Masters: The Millenium Collection. Jones' last chart appearance came in 2010 on the Aaron Lewis release, Country Boy (#50 with Charlie Daniels). His last CD was Amazing Grace in 2013. Both Jones (1992) and Mandrell (2009) have been inducted to the Country Music Hall of Fame. A tribute CD to Mandrell called She Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool was released in 2006. I Was Country was recorded by Reba McEntire and Kenny Chesney. Sadly, Jones passed away in 2013 at the age of 81. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING JULY 4, 1981:
1. I WAS COUNTRY WHEN COUNTRY WASN'T COOL-BARBARA MANDRELL AND GEORGE JONES-MCA
2. Fire And Smoke-Earl Thomas Conley-Sunbird
3. Feels So Right-Alabama-RCA
4. Lovin' Her Was Easier Than Anything I'll Ever Do Again-Glaser Brothers-Elektra
5. Surround Me With Love-Charly McClain-Epic
6. By Now-Steve Wariner-RCA
7. The Matador-Sylvia-RCA
8. Fool By Your Side-Dave & Sugar-Elektra
9. Prisoner Of Hope-Johnny Lee-Asylum
10. Dixie On My Mind-Hank Williams, Jr.-Elektra

P.S.: Happy Independence Day!

[ozbest1]

Thanks for this really great read, CCN--a lot of work on your part. I am remembering Barbara Mandrell and her several great songs. I loved her TV show with her 2 sisters too. It was really good. My favorite of her songs was I Was Country when Country Wasn't Cool. Loved it when she sang it at one of the award shows, and George Jones came up out of the audience to sing his part. It was really something else! He really did make a great song even greater.

Have a great holiday weekend!

[countrychartnut]

Jul 2, 2015 7:54:19 GMT -6 ozbest1 said:

Thanks for this really great read, CCN--a lot of work on your part. I am remembering Barbara Mandrell and her several great songs. I loved her TV show with her 2 sisters too. It was really good. My favorite of her songs was I Was Country when Country Wasn't Cool. Loved it when she sang it at one of the award shows, and George Jones came up out of the audience to sing his part. It was really something else! He really did make a great song even greater.

Have a great holiday weekend!

You're welcome. Thanks for the comments. I do remember Barbara Mandrell's TV show, too. She acted like the boss of her sisters, Louise, who had a mildly successful career during the 1970s and 1980s and Irlene. It was a very funny show. Lots of skits and country singers were there. The show ran from 1980-1982. That is why she won the C.M.A. Entertainer Award in 1980 and 1981. Have a wonderful Independence Day yourself!

[countrychartnut]

1. SHELTON STILL TOPS: Blake Shelton continues to have the #1 song with Sangria. His fifteenth consecutive and twentieth overall chart topper is his first multi week #1 since last year's Doin' What She Likes reigned for fourteen days.
2. THEIR SECOND COULD BE THEIR SECOND: Two acts recently took their debut singles to the top. Now, they are hopefully going two for two as they debut new songs this week. A Thousand Horses make a splash at #52 and get Hot Shot Debut honors with This Ain't No Drunk Dial. It is the follow up to Smoke. Dibs makes its debut at #59 for Kelsea Ballerini. She just topped the chart with Love Me Like You Mean It.
3. SMITH (OR DIBBLES) DEBUT: Granger Smith makes his first chart appearance at #58 with Backroad Song. He is a popular touring act under the name of Earl Dibbles, Jr..
4. A TIE: We have two songs taking eight point jumps for fastest climbing songs of the week. They are:
1. Save It For A Rainy Day-Kenny Chesney-#41 to #33
2. Burning House-Cam-#48 to #40
5. MUSGRAVES' #1 PAGEANT: Kacey Musgraves debuts at #1 on the country albums chart with her second CD, Pageant Material. 55,000 were sold last week. It follows her chart topping debut, Same Trailer Different Park from 2013 after 43,000 were sold.
6. #1 HITS: These were the chart topping hits in 2010, 2005, 2000, 1995, and 1990:
2010: Water-Brad Paisley-Arista
2005: Fast Cars And Freedom-Rascal Flatts-Lyric Street
2000: I Hope You Dance-Lee Ann Womack-MCA
1995: Sold The Grundy County Auction Incident-John Michael Montgomery-Atlantic
1990: Love Without End, Amen-George Strait-MCA
7. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: John Anderson came back in a big way in 1992 with Straight Tequila Night, his first top ten since 1986's Honky Tonk Crowd (#10) and first chart topper since 1983's Black Sheep. He cemented his comeback with the 1993 CD, Solid Ground. Lead single, Money In The Bank was our top song 22 years ago this week.
Anderson signed to the BNA label in 1991. It was his fourth label after having stints at Warner Bros. (1978-1986), MCA (1987-1989), and Capitol (1989-1991). Anderson recorded his BNA debut CD, Seminole Wind in 1991. Lead single, Who Got Our Love kept Anderson hitless for five years when it peaked at #67. Straight Tequila Night was released just before the year was out. It hit the top in March, 1992 and in the process dethroned Garth Brooks' second biggest hit, What She's Doing Now from the top. Proving that he wasn't a one hit wonder during the 1990s, Anderson followed it up with the #3 peaking When It Comes To You. That gave him consecutive top tens for the first time since 1983's Black Sheep (#1) was followed by 1984's Let Somebody Else Drive (#10). The title track spent two weeks at #2, unable to topple Wynonna Judd's biggest hit, No One Else On Earth from hitting #1. The fifth and final single, Let Go Of The Stone peaked at #7 in early 1993. Anderson's comeback was complete and he was rewarded with a double platinum disc. Happily, the hits kept coming with his second BNA CD, Solid Ground. Money In The Bank was chosen as the lead single (love the way Anderson stretches the word 'bank' in the chorus). That single was released in April, 1993 and found a home at #1 in July, becoming his fifth and final chart topper. I Fell In The Water broke his string of five consecutive top tens at #13. I've Got It Made kicked off his 1994 on a #3 note while the era wrapped up with the #4 peaking I Wish I Could Have Been There. Solid Ground is certified at the gold level.
Some tailing off in chart fortunes started with the Country 'Til I Die CD of 1994. The title track kicked off the CD by peaking at #35. 1995 saw Anderson collect his twentieth and final top ten, Bend It Until It Breaks (#3). Mississippi Moon became his last top twenty hit at #15. Even more downturn occurred with the 1996 CD, Paradise his final release for BNA Records. Only the title track broke top 40 at #26. Two other singles failed to dent the top 40: Long Hard Lesson Learned (#51) and My Kind Of Crazy (#67). After five years and four CDs, Anderson ended his BNA association by releasing Greatest Hits in 1996. He signed to the Mercury label in 1997 and released the Takin' The Country Back CD that year. He got back to the top 40 for the 38th and final time with Somebody Slap Me (#22). Two more singles were released in Small Town (#44 in 1997) and the title track (#41 in 1998). He left the label in 1999.
2000 saw Anderson sign to the Columbia label. His only CD for them, Nobody's Got It All yielded You Ain't Hurt Nothin' (#56) and the title track (#55). The Big Revival and It Ain't Easy Being Me did not chart. He left Columbia in 2002 and went without a label for five years. He reunited with Warner Bros. in 2007. His new labelmates at the time, Big & Rich made him a member of the Muzik Mafia (along with Gretchen Wilson and others). Easy Money was the CD and his final chart appearance occurred that year with If Lovin' Her Don't Kill Me (#59). A Woman Knows failed to chart. His seventh label, Country Crossing released Bigger Hands in 2009. Its two singles, Cold Coffee & Hot Beer and the title track failed to dent the chart. This year, Anderson released Goldmine on the Bayou Boys Music label. A single, I Work A Lot Better has been released. If it charts, Anderson will have seen his name listed for five consecutive decades (1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s). This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING JULY 10, 1993:
1. MONEY IN THE BANK-JOHN ANDERSON-BNA
2. That Summer-Garth Brooks-Capitol
3. A Bad Goodbye-Clint Black and Wynonna Judd-RCA
4. Chattahoochee-Alan Jackson-Arista
5. Love On The Loose, Heart On The Run-McBride and the Ride-MCA
6. No Future In The Past-Vince Gill-MCA
7. Somebody Else's Moon-Collin Raye-Epic
8. Tell Me About It-Tanya Tucker and Delbert McClinton-Capitol
9. When Did You Stop Loving Me-George Strait-MCA
10. It's Your Call-Reba McEntire-MCA

[ozbest1]

Thanks for all this updated info, CCN, and for the link. Funny video! Interesting about John Anderson--hope the new single does chart. He's been a respected songwriter over the years for himself and for other country stars as well. Not sure if he wrote this last single, but nevertheless.....

[countrychartnut]

Jul 7, 2015 19:19:37 GMT -6 ozbest1 said:

Thanks for all this updated info, CCN, and for the link. Funny video! Interesting about John Anderson--hope the new single does chart. He's been a respected songwriter over the years for himself and for other country stars as well. Not sure if he wrote this last single, but nevertheless.....

I Work A Lot Better off Goldmine was written by John Anderson and Josh Turner.

[ozbest1]

Thanks, CNN. Interesting that Josh Turner co-wrote John's latest single. And about Josh--there is a talented singer who should be a lot more successful. That voice!

[countrychartnut]

1. #1 LIKE THAT: Canaan Smith has the #1 song of the week with his second single, Love You Like That. It is from his current CD, Bronco. His first release, We Got Us hit #44 in 2012. By taking 49 weeks to hit the top, Smith hits the top in the same amount of time David Nail did in 2012 with Let It Rain. Only Voices by Chris Young took longer-51 weeks in 2011 in two separate chart runs.
2. BURNING FAST: Cam has the fastest climbing song of the week with Burning House. It scorches up eleven to #29.
3. JACKSON'S BACK: Alan Jackson debuts a new single from his upcoming Angels And Alcohol CD. It is Jim And Jack And Hank, the Hot Shot Debut at #56. His last single, You Go Your Way peaked at #41 in 2012.
4. THE FIRST ONE: Because of an eleven day tracking period, Easton Corbin has the top sellling CD with About To Get Real after 25,000 were sold. Billboard has adjusted the sales week because of global release day being on a Friday instead of the traditional Tuesday release day.
5. #1 CDS: These were the top selling CDs in 2010, 2005, 2000, 1995, and 1990:
2010: Need You Now-Lady Antebellum-Capitol
2005: Somewhere Down In Texas-George Strait-MCA
2000: Fly-the Dixie Chicks-Monument
1995: The Hits-Garth Brooks-Capitol
1990: Livin' It Up-George Strait-MCA
6. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: Marie Osmond and Dan Seals won the C.M.A. Vocal Duo of the Year Award in 1986 for their 1985 chart topper, Meet Me In Montana. They were succeeded by Ricky Skaggs and Sharon White. They won it for Love Can't Ever Get Better Than This. That was our #10 song 28 years ago this week.
Skaggs and White were married in 1982. That was the year after Skaggs made his debut with Don't Get Above Your Raising (#16). Musically speaking, White herself was no slouch as she was one third of the family trio The Whites with her father Buck and sister Cheryl. Out of a dozen top 40 hits, they managed to have seven major hits. They are:
1. You Put The Blue In Me-1982-#10
2. Hangin' Around-1983-#9
3. I Wonder Who's Holding My Baby Tonight-1983-#9-chart wise, their biggest hit
4. Give Me Back That Old Familiar Feeling-1984-#10
5. Forever You-1984-#14
6. Pins And Needles-1984-#10
7. If It Ain't Love Let's Leave It Alone-1985-#12
Skaggs decided to record a CD in London in 1985. Despite receiving restrained applause (after all, the English are quite reserved), the series of concerts were a success. The Live In London CD contained You Make Me Feel Like A Man (#7 in 1985). While that song was on the charts, Skaggs received the 1985 C.M.A. Entertainer of the Year Award. He followed that with two more releases: Cajun Moon (#1 in 1986) and I've Got A New Heartache (#10 in 1986-originally a #2 hit for Ray Price in 1956). Skaggs went to work on the Love's Gonna Get Ya CD in 1986. Lead single, Love's Gonna Get You Someday peaked at #4 between December, 1986 to January, 1987. I Wonder If I Care As Much was the second single and that was originally recorded by the Everly Brothers (R.I.P., Phil) in 1958. By peaking at #30 in 1987, it was the lowest charted single for Skaggs to date. Love Can't Ever Get Better Than This was released in April, several months after the Whites collected their final top 40 hit, It Should Have Been Easy (#30). It peaked at #10, becoming Skaggs' 17th top ten hit and White's first away from the Whites. While that CD was a success, Skaggs released his next CD, Comin' Home To Stay. At the C.M.A. Awards, Skaggs and White won the Vocal Duo of the Year Award. Lead single, I'm Tired peaked at #18. Skaggs released a remake in Angel On My Mind That's Why I'm Walkin' (#33 in 1988). That was a #6 hit for Stonewall Jackson in 1960 as Why I'm Walkin'. Skaggs rebounded a bit with Thanks Again (#17 in 1988) and peaked at #30 with the fourth and final single, Old Kind Of Love.
1989 was the year Skaggs came back in a big way. First, he released his Kentucky Thunder CD. Lead single, Lovin' Only Me became his eleventh and final chart topping hit. Second, he produced Dolly Parton's CD, White Limozeen. She got chart topping hits with Why'd You Come In Here Lookin' Like That and Yellow Roses. While Yellow Roses was on the chart, Skaggs' second single, Let It Be You peaked at #5. He entered the 1990s on a #13 note with Heartbreak Hurricane. Hummingbird, the fourth single was originally recorded by Restless Heart for their 1986 CD, Wheels. This time, it was a #20 hit for Skaggs. The Kentucky Thunder era ended with He Was On To Something So He Made You (#25). Skaggs' next top 40 hit was off of Mark O'Connor's 1991 CD, The New Nashville Cats. Featuring O'Connor, Vince Gill, Steve Wariner, and Skaggs, Restless peaked at #25. It won a Grammy Award for Best Country Collaboration With Vocals. Skaggs released his final Epic CD, My Father's Son in 1991. A trio of chart singles were produced with:
1. Life's Too Long To Live Like This-1991-#37
2. Same Ol' Love-1992-#12
3. From The Word Love-1992-#43
After twelve years at Epic, Skaggs left them in 1993. In 1994, he signed to Atlantic Records. First single off of Solid Ground, Back Where We Belong did not chart in 1995. The title track peaked at #57 while Cat's In The Cradle peaked at #45 in 1996. That was a remake of Harry Chapin's #1 pop hit of 1974. He left Atlantic in 1996 and formed Skaggs Family Records in 1998. In 1998, Epic released a two CD set called Country Gentleman: The Best Of Ricky Skaggs. A CD under his name, History Of The Future (2002) yielded his final chart appearance, Halfway Home Cafe (#56). He released a duets CD with White called Hearts Like Ours in 2014. It features a new version of Love Can't Ever Get Better Than This. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING JULY 18, 1987:
1. I Know Where I'm Going-the Judds-RCA
2. The Weekend-Steve Wariner-MCA
3. Love Someone Like Me-Holly Dunn-MTM
4. Snap Your Fingers-Ronnie Milsap-RCA
5. One Promise Too Late-Reba McEntire-MCA
6. Someone-Lee Greenwood-MCA
7. All My Ex's Live In Texas-George Strait-MCA
8. 80's Ladies-K.T. Oslin-RCA
9. Oh Heart-Baillie and the Boys-RCA
10. LOVE CAN'T EVER GET BETTER THAN THIS-RICKY SKAGGS AND SHARON WHITE-EPIC

[ozbest1]

Thanks, CCN. I had almost forgotten about Ricky Skaggs. My husband was a huge fan, and I did see that he was a very talented musician. Not a Bluegrass fan except for a few notable exceptions like Allison Krause and Patty Loveless. Vince and Dierks can make Bluegrass enjoyable for me too. There were some of Ricky's songs I liked, but mostly it was his musicianship that fascinated me.

That being said, I enjoyed your section on Ricky. ☺️

[countrychartnut]

1. LOOKING GOOD: Jason Aldean collects his fourteenth chart topping hit with Tonight Looks Good On You. It is the third single and third #1 off his Old Boots, New Dirt CD. It follows Burnin' It Down from last year and Just Gettin' Started from this year. Furthermore, Tonight Looks Good On You is his fifth consecutive chart topping hit, his longest streak. The last two singles from Night Train rang the bell at #1: Night Train (2013) and When She Says Baby (2014).
2. THE FIFTY CLUB: Last week's #1, Love You Like That is now in its 50th week on the chart. It is the sixth single in history to chart for 50 weeks following:
1. 56 weeks-Love Like Crazy-Lee Brice-2010
2. 54 weeks-Bouquet Of Roses-Eddy Arnold-1948
3. 52 weeks-Fraulein-Bobby Helms-1957
4. 52 weeks-Voices-Chris Young-2011
5. 51 weeks-Let It Rain-David Nail-2012
6. 50 weeks-Love You Like That-Canaan Smith-2015
3. FINALLY: After spending the past few weeks at #11 or #12, Brad Paisley moves into the top ten at #10 with Crushin' It. It is the follow up to his #1, Perfect Storm.
4. DIALING FAST: A Thousand Horses score the fastest climbing song of the week with This Ain't No Drunk Dial. It gallops up seven to #43.
5. MORE ON CORBIN: Two weeks ago, Easton Corbin landed his first #1 CD with About To Get Real. It sold 20,000 copies in its first week. Then, Billboard changed the sales week because Friday was chosen as the day to release CDs (instead of Tuesday). Corbin sold 25,000 copies in the extended week. His self-titled debut from 2010 peaked at #4 while All Over The Road from 2012 hit #2.
6. #1 HITS: These were the chart topping hits in 2010, 2005, 2000, 1995, and 1990:
2010: Rain Is A Good Thing-Luke Bryan-Capitol
2005: As Good As I Once Was-Toby Keith-DreamWorks
2000: I Hope You Dance-Lee Ann Womack-MCA
1995: Any Man Of Mine-Shania Twain-Mercury
1990: The Dance-Garth Brooks-Capitol
7. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: Alan Jackson has two CDs that contain four chart topping hits: Don't Rock The Jukebox (1991) and Who I Am (1994). The latter CD was our top seller 21 years ago this week.
The Don't Rock The Jukebox CD yielded the following hits:
1. Don't Rock The Jukebox-1991-#1-the biggest hit of the year according to the American Country Countdown and Billboard
2. Someday-1991-#1
3. Dallas-1992-#1
4. Midnight In Montgomery-1992-#3-Jackson's tribute to Hank Williams, Sr.
5. Love's Got A Hold On You-1992-#1
His next CD, A Lot About Livin' And A Little 'Bout Love also yielded a quintet of top five hits. They are:
1. She's Got The Rhythm And I Got The Blues-1992-#1-written by Jackson and Randy Travis
2. Tonight I Climbed The Wall-1993-#4
3. Chattahoochee-1993-#1-the biggest hit of the year according to the American Country Countdown and Billboard
4. Mercury Blues-1993-#2
5. Who Says You Can't Have It All-1994-#4
Jackson released his next CD in 1994. Titled Who I Am, the first single was Summertime Blues, originally a #8 pop hit for its songwriter, Eddie Cochran in 1958. This time it was a #1 hit for Jackson. It became his eighth chart topper overall. The week before Summertime Blues hit #1, Who I Am entered the country albums chart at #2 and the top 200 chart at #5 after 102,000 copies were sold. Jackson made it a clean sweep of both singles and albums charts the following week when Who I Am toppled the Tim McGraw CD, Not A Moment Too Soon. It became Jackson's second #1 CD after A Lot About Livin' And A Little 'Bout Love. Who I Am reigned for one week before McGraw took over. Livin' On Love, the second single matched Summertime Blues' reign at three weeks. Just before 1994 ended, Gone Country was released and it kicked off Jackson's 1995 on a chart topping note (his tenth #1). Rodney Crowell wrote the fourth single, Song For The Life. It peaked at #6. The fifth and final single (Jackson's fourth CD to see five singles released), I Don't Even Know Your Name hit #1 in August, 1995. The Who I Am CD is certified quadruple platinum.
Except Song For The Life, the other four Who I Am hits made appearances on Jackson's next CD, The Greatest Hits Collection. Three new songs were added and became hits. They are:
1. Tall, Tall Trees-1995-#1-during this time, Jackson wins the first of three C.M.A. Entertainer of the Year Awards
2. I'll Try-1996-#1
3. Home-1996-#3-originally on the Here In The Real World CD
Jackson continued to be a hitmaking machine for the next fourteen years when As She's Walking Away, his duet with the Zac Brown Band became his 26th #1 hit. In 2010, Arista released 34 Number Ones. Jackson's final single for them, the Johnny Cash classic, Ring Of Fire peaked at #45. In 2011, after 22 years at Arista, he signed to the EMI label. Thirty Miles West was released and it yielded a trio of chart singles:
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
Jackson released The Bluegrass Album in 2013. He just released Angels And Alcohol. He just debuted on the chart with Jim And Jack And Hank. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING JULY 23, 1994:
1. WHO I AM-ALAN JACKSON-ARISTA
2. Not A Moment Too Soon-Tim McGraw-Curb
3. When Love Finds You-Vince Gill-MCA
4. Kickin' It Up-John Michael Montgomery-Atlantic
5. Read My Mind-Reba McEntire-MCA
6. Ten Feet Tall & Bulletproof-Travis Tritt-Warner Bros.
7. Maverick-Soundtrack-Atlantic
8. Thinkin' Problem-David Ball-Warner Bros.
9. Feelin' Good Train-Sammy Kershaw-Mercury
10. A Lot About Livin' And A Little 'Bout Love-Alan Jackson-Arista

[ozbest1]

Thanks, CCN! I especially enjoyed your section on Alan Jackson. Even though Keith Urban is my # 1 favorite singer, I still love Alan and buy his albums bc he's one of my favorites. I hope this latest album does well (I'm buying it!) and that his latest single hits #1. It's really good--he's still as great as he ever was. Too bad radio doesn't recognize this. Also, Time for CMHOF to add him to their Hall. Nobody deserves it more.

[countrychartnut]

1. ONE HELL OF A #1: Brantley Gilbert collects his fourth #1 this week with One Hell Of An Amen. It is the third single to his current CD, Just As I Am. The CD started on a chart topping single in Bottoms Up in 2014. Then a vocal collaboration with Justin Moore and Thomas Rhett called Small Town Throwdown peaked at #8.
2. THE SIXTH AT 51: Canaan Smith's Love You Like That (at #10 this week) becomes the sixth single to spend at least 51 weeks on the country chart. The rankings remain unchanged from last week's column.
3. BACK TO #32: Hunter Hayes' current single, 21 debuted at #32 ten weeks ago. Now, it is back to #32.
4. FAST DIBS: Kelsea Ballerini has the fastest climbing song of the week as Dibs makes a nine point jump to #39.
5. THE SECOND TO CHART: Ronnie Dunn makes his Nash Icon debut at #58 with Ain't No Trucks In Texas. He becomes the second artist on the label to chart after Reba McEntire's Going Out Like That (#28).
6. GOING AFTER JAMES: Blake Shelton debuts his fourth Bringing Back The Sunshine single, Gonna at #59. If it tops the chart, it will be his sixteenth consecutive #1 hit, a streak that Sonny James has between 1967-1971.
7. A PHOTO FINISH: Selling roughly the same amount (46,000), Jason Isbell lands at #1 on the country albums chart with Something More Than Free. It is his first chart topping CD. Meanwhile, Alan Jackson debuts at #2 with Angels And Alcohol. It is his fifth #2 CD following:
1. Don't Rock The Jukebox-1991
2. Under The Influence-1999
3. Freight Train-2010
4. Precious Memories Volume II-2013
5. Angels And Alcohol-2015
8. A 70S LOOK: These were the chart topping hits during the last week of July during the 1970s:
1970: Wonder Could I Live There Anymore-Charley Pride-RCA
1971: I'm Just Me-Charley Pride-RCA
1972: It's Gonna Take A Little Bit Longer-Charley Pride-RCA
1973: You Were Always There-Donna Fargo-Dot
1974: Rub It In-Billy Crash Craddock-ABC
1975: Just Get Up And Close The Door-Johnny Rodriguez-Mercury
1976: Teddy Bear-Red Sovine-Starday
1977: It Was Almost Like A Song-Ronnie Milsap-RCA
1978: Only One Love In My Life-Ronnie Milsap-RCA
1979: You're The Only One-Dolly Parton-RCA
9. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHARTS: During the 1980s, two duos in country music name dropped Merle Haggard and George Jones. The Judds were first with Have Mercy (#1 in 1985) followed by the Bellamy Brothers with Kids Of The Baby Boom (#1 in 1987). Haggard's and Jones' careers intersected between 1982-1983 when Haggard took Are The Good Times Really Over I Wish A Buck Was Still Silver to #2 33 years ago this week. The b-side of the record, I Always Get Lucky With You was our #1 song 32 years ago this week when done by Jones.
Haggard signed to the Epic label in 1981 after a five year stint at MCA (1976-1981) that saw him collect thirteen top ten hits, the biggest being I Think I'll Just Stay Here And Drink (#1 in 1981). He went to work on his landmark Big City album in 1981. The first single, My Favorite Memory hit the top of the chart just before the year ended. It became his 27th chart topper overall. 1982 would be an 'epic' year for Haggard. He released the title track, a modern country classic and that too hit the top. He carried his politics into his music with that one (like he did with Rainbow Stew in 1981-#4). Are The Good Times Really Over was the third and final single. The Haggard-penned tune still had political bite in it. Released in April, it looked like Haggard would be perfect with Epic Records (three singles-three #1s). It hit #2 in July while Ricky Skaggs was at #1 with I Don't Care. It stayed there for another week while Hank Williams, Jr. claimed the top spot with Honky Tonkin', the follow up to his biggest #2 hit, A Country Boy Can Survive. It became Haggard's eighth and final #2 hit. In the meantime, I Always Get Lucky With You has remained an album cut on Big City. During the time Big City was spinning its hits, Haggard and Jones went to work on their first duets album, A Taste Of Yesterday's Wine. The first of two singles, Yesterday's Wine was written by Willie Nelson who took it to #62 in 1971. In the hands of Haggard and Jones, it became their only chart topping hit together (Haggard's 29th and Jones' 13th #1 hit). C.C. Waterback kicked off their 1983 on a #10 note.
While the duets album was spinning its hits, Jones recorded his Shine On album (released in 1983). Lead single, Shine On Shine All Your Sweet Love On Me hit #3. I Always Get Lucky With You was the second single. It was written by Haggard just prior to him signing with Epic Records. Released in April, it went to #1 in July becoming Jones' last chart topping hit. It succeeded Pancho And Lefty by Haggard and Nelson. Jones broke into a falsetto while singing the title in the song. Third and final single, Tennessee Whiskey did nearly as well. peaking at #2. Jones (1992) and Haggard (1994) were inducted to the Country Music Hall of Fame. Haggard's last chart appearance came in 2006 as a duet with Gretchen Wilson on politically Uncorrect (#23). Jones' was Country Boy in 2010 with Aaron Lewis and Charlie Daniles (#50). Jones' last CD was released in 2013, the year he died at the age of 81 called Amazing Grace. Haggard's current CD is Django And Jimmie with Nelson. That CD debuted at #1 on the country albums chart. This is what BOTH charts looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING JULY 31, 1982:
1. I Don't Care-Ricky Skaggs-Epic
2. ARE THE GOOD TIMES REALLY OVER I WISH A BUCK WAS STILL SILVER-MERLE HAGGARD-EPIC
3. Honky Tonkin'-Hank Williams, Jr.-Elektra
4. Born To Run-Emmylou Harris-Warner Bros.
5. Take Me Down-Alabama-RCA
6. Ain't No Money-Rosanne Cash-Columbia
7. Heartbreak Express-Dolly Parton-RCA
8. I'm Gonna Hire A Wino To Decorate Our Home-David Frizzell-Warner Bros.
9. Nobody-Sylvia-RCA
10. I'm Not That Lonely Yet-Reba McEntire-Mercury

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING JULY 30, 1983:
1. I ALWAYS GET LUCKY WITH YOU-GEORGE JONES-EPIC
2. He's A Heartache Looking For A Place To Happen-Janie Frickie-Columbia
3. Your Love's On The Line-Earl Thomas Conley-RCA
4. I Love Her Mind-Bellamy Brothers-Warner Bros.
5. Lost In The Feeling-Conway Twitty-Warner Bros.
6. Love Song-Oak Ridge Boys-MCA
7. Leave Them Boys Alone-Hank Williams, Jr., Waylon Jennings, and Ernest Tubb-Warner Bros.
8. You're Gonna Ruin My Bad Reputation-Ronnie McDowell-Epic
9. A Fire I Can't Put Out-George Strait-MCA
10. Atlanta Burned Again Last Night-Atlanta-MDJ

Videos:

Are The Good Times Really Over I Wish A Buck Was Still Silver: www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IfW9ROOR-E
I Always Get Lucky With You: www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuLauCniNDY

[countrychartnut]

1. KICKING AT #1: Luke Bryan makes it an even dozen trips to the top this week with Kick The Dust Up. It is the lead single to his upcoming CD, Kill The Lights. His last CD, Crash My Party yielded a sextet of top two hits. They are:
1. Crash My Party-2013-#1
2. That's My Kind Of Night-2013-#2
3. Drink A Beer-2014-#1
4. Play It Again-2014-#1
5. Roller Coaster-2014-#1
6. I See You-2015-#1
Furthermore, Bryan is riding his longest streak of #1s at five.
2. JANSON'S BOAT IS TOP TEN: For a single to debut at #60 one week and go up thirty-one spots to #29 the next, you'd figure you would get a top ten hit. Chris Janson does exactly that after fourteen weeks. He is at #10 this week with Buy Me A Boat. He becomes the first artist since Canaan Smith to land their first top ten. Smith's second single, Love You Like That became his first #1 three weeks ago.
3. GONNA FAST: Blake Shelton has the fastest climbing song of the week as Gonna flies up 23 to #36.
4. HIS SECOND WITH FOUR?: Jason Aldean debuts at #59 with his fourth Old Boots, New Dirt single, Gonna Know We Were Here. The three singles before have hit #1. They are:
1. Burnin' It Down-2014
2. Just Gettin' Started-2015
3. Tonight Looks Good On You-2015
If it hits #1, Old Boots, New Dirt will be the second Aldean CD after Night Train to contain four #1s. Those were:
1. Take A Little Ride-2012
2. The Only Way I Know-with Luke Bryan and Eric Church-2013
3. Night Train-2013
4. When She Says Baby-2014
5. #2 BECOMES #1: Last week's #2 CD is this week's top seller. Angels And Alcohol by Alan Jackson debuted at #2 after almost 46,000 were sold. This week, it moves to the top after 18,000 were sold. Last week's #1 CD by Jason Isbell, Something More Than Free drops to #4 after 10,000 were sold. Angels And Alcohol becomes Jackson's fourteenth #1 CD following:
1. A Lot About Livin' And A Little 'Bout Love-1992
2. Who I Am-1994
3. The Greatest Hits Collection-1995
4. Everything I Love-1996
5. High Mileage-1998
6. When Somebody Loves You-2000
7. Drive-2002
8. Greatest Hits Volume II And Some Other Stuff-2003
9. What I Do-2004
10. Precious Memories-2006
11. Like Red On A Rose-2006
12. Good Time-2008
13. Thirty Miles West-2012
14. Angels And Alcohol-2015
6. MONROE DOCTRINE: Ashley Monroe's third CD, The Blade becomes her highest charting CD at #2 after 12,000 copies were sold. Her previous CD, Like A Rose peaked at #10 in 2013. She is one third of the Pistol Annies (with Miranda Lambert and Angaleena Presley) that have charted a #1 CD in Hell On Heels (2011) and a #2 CD in Annie Up (2013).
7. A 70S LOOK PART II: These were the top selling albums during the first week of August during the 1970s:
1970: Charley Pride's 10th Album-Charley Pride-RCA
1971: I Won't Mention It Again-Ray Price-Columbia
1972: The Best Of Charley Pride, Volume 2-Charley Pride-RCA
1973: Satin Sheets-Jeanne Pruett-MCA
1974: If You Love Me, Let Me Know-Olivia Newton-John-MCA
1975: Before The Next Teardrop Falls-Freddy Fender-Dot
1976: United Talent-Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty-MCA
1977: Ol' Waylon-Waylon Jennings-RCA
1978: Stardust-Willie Nelson-Columbia
1979: Greatest Hits-Waylon Jennings-RCA
8. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: Reba McEntire has chart topping hits during the 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s. Out of fifteen singles during the 2000s, only one of them, Somebody reached the top. That was our #1 song eleven years ago this week.
McEntire started the decade with her So Good Together CD of 1999. What Do You Say was released just before the year ended. It became her first hit of the 2000s when it peaked at #3. I'll Be did nearly as well, topping off at #4. We're So Good Together broke the top twenty at #20. A greatest hits CD was next called Greatest Hits Volume III: I'm A Survivor. I'm A Survivor served as the theme song to her TV sitcom, Reba. That peaked at #3 in late 2001. She kicked off 2002 by releasing her version of Sweet Music Man. That was originally a #9 country and #44 pop hit for Kenny Rogers in 1977. It was a song about Waylon Jennings. Ironically, Jennings died in February, 2002 while McEntire's version charted. It peaked at #36.
McEntire released her first studio CD of the 2002s in 2003 called Room To Breathe. Lead single, I'm Gonna Take That Mountain peaked at #14 just before the year ended. In January 2004, the second single, Somebody was released. Somebody was recorded by Mark Wills for his 2001 CD, Loving Every Minute. After 29 weeks on the chart, Somebody was at #3 for the week ending July 31st. During that week, Somebody received an abnormally high amount of spins, mostly during the overnight hours. Because the Billboard country chart was spins based at that point in time (now it's audience based), they were forced to name Somebody the #1 hit the following week, interrupting the reign of Tim McGraw's biggest hit, Live Like You Were Dying (he was tops for three weeks, then McEntire was #1 for a week, and then McGraw ruled for another four weeks). Somebody became McEntire's first #1 in six years since If You See Him/If You See Her hit the top in 1998 with Brooks & Dunn. It gave her chart topping hits in three decades: 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s. At 30 weeks, it was her slowest climb to #1. Because of the amount of time Somebody took to get to the top, the third single wasn't released until September called He Gets That From Me. It peaked at #7 during the spring of 2005. My Sister was the final single, peaking at #16.
A chart toppers CD was released in 2005 simply called Reba #1s. McEntire's chart fortunes dipped during this time as You're Gonna Be Always Loved By Me hit #33 in 2005 while Love Needs A Holiday faltered at #60 in 2006. That CD is certified double platinum. McEntire's swan song at MCA Records was called Reba: Duets. It became her first CD to hit #1 on BOTH country and top 200 charts when 301,000 copies were sold during the first week. Two major hits were produced: Because Of You with (future) daughter in-law, Kelly Clarkson (#2 in 2007) and Every Other Weekend with Kenny Chesney (#15 in 2008). After McEntire/Chesney peaked, she announced she was signing with Valory Records after 25 years at MCA. During the 2008 C.M.A. Awards, McEntire sang Cowgirls Don't Cry, the Brooks & Dunn single at the time. Arista, the duo's label rereleased it as a duet and it climbed all the way to #2 in early 2009. After that song peaked, McEntire's debut for Valory, Strange was released. It almost made the top ten at #11. That was the lead single for the parent CD, Keep On Loving You. Consider Me Gone was released in July and it became McEntire's 24th chart topping hit in January, 2010. It stayed there for four weeks, becoming her biggest hit. The era wrapped up on a #7 note, I Keep On Loving You. McEntire was inducted to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2011. Her second Valory CD, All The Women I Am started with her 25th #1, Turn On The Radio in January, 2011. The three singles that followed showed a decline in McEntire's popularity. They are (all 2011):
1. If I Were A Boy-#22
2. When Love Gets A Hold Of You-#40
3. Somebody's Chelsea-#44
In 2014, it was announced that McEntire would be the first artist signed to the Nash Icon label. She would also be doing a series of concerts in Las Vegas with Brooks & Dunn (Ronnie Dunn is also signed to the label). A CD was released in Love Somebody (#1 country CD and #3 top 200 CD after 59,000 copies were sold during the first week). The first single, Going Out Like That peaked at #28. A second single, Until They Don't Love You has just been released. It was just announced that after 26 years of marriage, McEntire and Narvel Blackstock will go their separate ways. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN CHART FOR WEEK ENDING AUGUST 7, 2004:
1. SOMEBODY-REBA MCENTIRE-MCA
2. Live Like You Were Dying-Tim McGraw-Curb
3. I Go Back-Kenny Chesney-BNA
4. Whiskey Lullaby-Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss-Arista
5. I Got A Feelin'-Billy Currington-Mercury
6. I Want To Live-Josh Gracin-Lyric Street
7. Girls Lie Too-Terri Clark-Mercury
8. Days Go By-Keith Urban-Capitol
9. Hey Good Lookin'-Jimmy Buffett, Clint Black, Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, Toby Keith, and George Strait-Mailboat
10. She Thinks She Needs Me-Andy Griggs-RCA

[ozbest1]

Glad to see Alan's album get the #1 on BB that it deserves. A great read as usual, CCN. Want to comment more later regarding your section on Reba.

[countrychartnut]

Aug 5, 2015 9:21:12 GMT -6 ozbest1 said:

Glad to see Alan's album get the #1 on BB that it deserves. A great read as usual, CCN. Want to comment more later regarding your section on Reba.

Still waiting for some Reba comments.

[ozbest1]

Aug 10, 2015 7:04:23 GMT -6 countrychartnut said:

Aug 5, 2015 9:21:12 GMT -6 ozbest1 said:

Glad to see Alan's album get the #1 on BB that it deserves. A great read as usual, CCN. Want to comment more later regarding your section on Reba.

Still waiting for some Reba comments.

Will be back with those soon--down with strep throat

Thanks for the reminder, CCN, I do want to say more.

[countrychartnut]

1. A #1 KISS: Michael Ray hits pay dirt with his first single, Kiss You In The Morning. It is his first #1 as well. It is from the upcoming self-titled debut CD. Furthermore, he is the sixth artist since Billboard 2015 started (since December, 2014) to land their first #1 following:
1. Girl In A Country Song-Maddie & Tae
2. A Guy Walks Into A Bar-Tyler Farr
3. Smoke-A Thousand Horses
4. Love Me Like You Mean It-Kelsea Ballerini
5. Love You Like That-Canaan Smith
6. Kiss You In The Morning-Michael Ray
2. TOP IS TOP DEBUT: Blasting his way to #30 and grabbing Hot Shot Debut honors is Tim McGraw with Top Of The World. It is the lead single to an upcoming CD. His last CD, Sundown Heaven Town yielded a quartet of major hits. They are:
1. Lookin' For That Girl-2014-#15
2. Meanwhile Back At Mama's-2014-#2
3. Shotgun Rider-2014-#1
4. Diamond Rings And Old Barstools-2015-#3
3. NOT THAT FAR BEHIND: Luke Bryan debuts at #31 with the second Kill The Lights single, Strip It Down. The first, Kick The Dust Up became his twelfth #1 hit.
4. WE WERE FAST: Jason Aldean has the fastest climbing song of the week as Gonna Know We Were Here zooms 19 to #40.
5. #1 HITS: These were the chart topping hits in 2010, 2005, 2000, 1995, and 1990:
2010: Lover, Lover-Jerrod Niemann-Sea Gayle
2005: As Good As I Once Was-Toby Keith-Dreamworks
2000: What About Now-Lonestar-BNA
1995: I Didn't Know My Own Strength-Lorrie Morgan-BNA
1990: Good Times-Dan Seals-Capitol
6. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: The Kenny Rogers/Lionel Richie alliance lasted for two years between two albums and five singles between 1980-1982. The lead single to the only album Richie produced for Rogers, I Don't Need You was our top song 34 years ago this week.
Richie was a member of the r&b group, the Commodores during the 1970s. They scored two #1 pop hits: Three Times A Lady in 1978 (also #1 r&b and #1 adult contemporary) and Still in 1979 (also #1 r&b and #1 A.C.). Shortly after Still peaked, Richie wanted new outlets for his music. In 1980, he met Rogers. Rogers was preparing a greatest hits album and wanted new songs for it. He also decided to end his five year association with producer Larry Butler. Richie wrote Lady and Rogers was enamored by it. Richie produced the song as well. Rogers decided to put it on the greatest hits album called Kenny Rogers' Greatest Hits. Released in September 1980, it became a triple #1 in November on three charts: country (his tenth chart topper and #1 for a week), pop (his first and biggest hit there at six weeks), and A.C. (his second #1 and #1 for four weeks). The greatest hits album was #1 on the country chart for eleven weeks and a #1 top 200 album for two weeks. It is certified at the diamond level. In December 1980, Billboard named Rogers the #1 country and #1 pop artist of the year. His first chart hit of 1981 was a duet with Dottie West called What Are We Doin' In Love. That was a crossover hit, peaking at #1 country, #14 pop, and #7 A.C.. That set the stage for Rogers' next album, Share Your Love. The album was produced by Richie. Richie wrote four songs for the album even though none of those became singles. They are:
1. The Good Life
2. So In Love With You
3. Goin' Back To Alabama-backup provided by Michael Jackson
4. Without You In My Life
As for the lead single, I Don't Need You, that was written by Rick Christian. That was released in June, 1981 and became the twelfth #1 country hit in Rogers' career in August for two weeks. It also peaked at #3 pop and #1 A.C. for six weeks, becoming his biggest hit there. During the same week Rogers hit #3 on the pop chart, Richie was at #1 with his biggest hit, Endless Love, a duet with Diana Ross that topped r&b and A.C. charts. The second single, Share Your Love With Me already made appearances on pop and r&b charts when done by Bobby Bland in 1964 (#42 pop and #5 r&b) and by Aretha Franklin in 1969 (#13 pop and #1 r&b). Rogers' version hit #5 country, #14 pop, and #1 A.C.. The track features Gladys Knight and the Pips on backup. Rogers' next single was Blaze Of Glory. It was also recorded by Razzy Bailey for his Feelin' Alright album. Rogers faltered a bit with Blaze Of Glory, hitting #9 country, #66 pop, and #25 A.C.. While Blaze Of Glory was on the charts, Billboard named Rogers the #1 country and #1 pop artist for the second year. The fourth and final single became a classic for Rogers. Released in January 1982, Through The Years reached #5 country, #13 pop, and #1 A.C.. The Share Your Love album was a success, reaching #1 on the country albums chart for two weeks while hitting #6 on the top 200 chart. It is certified platinum.
Rogers would stay at Liberty Records for another year, releasing two more albums. Those albums and hits are:
1. Love Will Turn You Around (1982):
a. Love Will Turn You Around-1982-#1 country, #13 pop, and #1 A.C.
b. A Love Song-1982-#3 country, #47 pop, and #10 A.C.
2. We've Got Tonight (1983):
a. We've Got Tonight-with Sheena Easton-1983-#1 country, #6 pop, and #2 A.C.
b. All My Life-1983-#13 country, #37 pop, and #2 A.C.
c. Scarlet Fever-1983-#5 country and #94 pop
Rogers and Richie would reunite professionally on Richie's 2012 CD, Tuskegee. They rerecorded Lady as a duet (Lady appears on the Richie CD Time from 1998). Tuskegee was a platinum success, topping BOTH country and top 200 charts. 2013 was a landmark year for Rogers. First, he was inducted to the Country Music Hall of Fame. Second, his last studio CD was released called You Can't Make Old Friends. The title track became his last chart appearance with Dolly Parton (#57). This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING AUGUST 15, 1981:
1. I DON'T NEED YOU-KENNY ROGERS-LIBERTY
2. I Still Believe In Waltzes-Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty-MCA
3. There's No Gettin' Over Me-Ronnie Milsap-RCA
4. Rainbow Stew-Merle Haggard-MCA
5. It's Now Or Never-John Schneider-Scotti Bros.
6. Older Women-Ronnie McDowell-Epic
7. Too Many Lovers-Crystal Gayle-Columbia
8. You Don't Know Me-Mickey Gilley-Epic
9. Tight Fittin' Jeans-Conway Twitty-MCA
10. Don't Wait On Me-Statler Brothers-Mercury

[countrychartnut]

1. AN EASY #1: For the twelfth time in their career, the Zac Brown Band has the top song in country music. This week, it is the second single from their current CD, Jekyll + Hyde. It is Loving You Easy and it follows lead single, Homegrown at the top. It's been awhile since the Zac Brown Band has landed consecutive #1s. In 2011, they took Knee Deep with Jimmy Buffett to the top and followed it up with their biggest hit, Keep Me In Mind.
2. STRIP IT FAST: Luke Bryan has the fastest climbing song of the week as Strip It Down strips it up eight to #23.
3. A PERRY HIGH DEBUT: The Band Perry score the Hot Shot Debut of the week as the lead single, Live Forever from an upcoming CD makes it start at #36. This single is seeing the Band Perry shift to a more pop direction than ever before. Their last CD, Pioneer yielded a quartet of top tens. They are:
1. Better Dig Two-2013-#1
2. DONE-2013-#1
3. Don't Let Me Be Lonely-2014-#2
4. Chainsaw-2014-#10
4. #1 LIGHTS: Luke Bryan lands his third #1 country CD this week with Kill The Lights. 320,000 were sold, enough to land him at #1 on the top 200 chart as well. It is his second double #1 CD following Crash My Party, which opened at 528,000 copies in 2013. Tailgates & Tanlines, his other chart topping country CD opened at 145,000 copies in 2011, peaking at #2 on the top 200 chart.
5. RAY DEBUTS AS WELL: Michael Ray, who has just scored his first #1 single with Kiss You In The Morning sees his first CD (self-titled) debut at #4 on the country albums chart after 11,000 were sold last week.
6. #1 CDS: These were the top selling CDs in 2010, 2005, 2000, 1995, and 1990:
2010: Need You Now-Lady Antebellum-Capitol
2005: Fireflies-Faith Hill-Warner Bros.
2000: Burn-Jo Dee Messina-Curb
1995: The Woman In Me-Shania Twain-Mercury
1990: Killin' Time-Clint Black-RCA
7. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: Two acts got together in 1999 to form an unlikely alliance. When they did, they nearly topped the country chart. The artists are Alabama and *NSYNC. They remade the latter's God Must Have Spent A Little More Time On You, our #3 hit from sixteen years ago this week.
In 1998, Alabama released a chart toppers CD called For The Record: 41 Number One Hits. It became a success when two new songs became hits: How Do You Fall In Love (#2 in 1998) and Keepin' Up (#14 in 1999). The CD is certified quintuple platinum. It was the same year *NSYNC charted their version of God Must Have Spent A Little More Time On You from their *NSYNC CD. Their version was a hit, peaking at #8 pop and #2 adult contemporary. Alabama went to work on their next CD called Twentieth Century (as the century itself was winding down). They decided to cut God Must Have Spent A Little More Time On You. They invited *NSYNC to record harmony vocals on the track. It was possible because both acts labels were owned by BMG (RCA's Alabama and Jive's *NSYNC). Maybe Alabama wanted to be 'more hip' with younger audiences (after all, they have been charting since the late 1970s). Then again, the Dixie Chicks were the most popular country group at the time and Alabama 'needed' the leverage by enlisting *NSYNC (I take it the Backstreet Boys weren't available). In either case, the Alabama/*NSYNC version was released in April, 1999 and climbed all the way to #3 in August, unable to break the seven week stranglehold of the top two held by Lonestar's Amazed (#1) and Lesson In Leavin' by Jo Dee Messina (#2). With *NSYNC involved, Alabama crossed over to the pop chart, peaking at #29, their first top 40 hit since The Closer You Get in 1983 (#1 country, #38 pop, and #9 A.C.). Second single, Small Stuff was released just before the year ended. It peaked at #24 in 2000. The title track peaked at #51 while the fourth and final single, We Made Love hit #63.
Their next CD, When It All Goes South started with the title track peaking at #15 in 2001. Will You Marry Me almost became a top 40 hit. Instead, it peaked at #41. The Woman He Loves did not chart, becoming the FIRST ever Alabama single to do so. During this time, they announced a farewell tour. They released a love songs CD in 2002 called In The Mood: The Love Songs. A new song, I'm In The Mood peaked at #48. Alabama would be off the charts for eight years. In 2005, they were inducted to the Country Music Hall of Fame. By this time, Alabama was reduced to a trio when their drummer, Mark Herndon left due to a legal dispute (will not be discussed here). That only left the three cousins, Randy Owen, Jeff Cook, and Teddy Gentry to carry on. RCA released a box set of Alabama's music called Livin' Lovin' Rockin' Rollin': The 25th Anniversary Collection in 2006. A tribute CD to Waylon Jennings (died in February, 2002) was released in 2010 called The Music Inside: A Collaboration Dedicated To Waylon Jennings. Alabama's contribution was Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way (#1 country and #60 pop for Jennings in 1975). Alabama's version hit #53 in 2010. In 2010, Brad Paisley wrote a song for his This Is Country Music CD. Titled Old Alabama, it borrowed heavily on Alabama's 1982 chart topper, Mountain Music in lyrics and melody. Naturally, Paisley invited Alabama to sing and play on the record. Released as a single in 2011, it topped the chart, becoming Paisley's 17th chart topper and Alabama's first #1 since 1993's Reckless. It became their 33rd chart topping hit overall. It was just announced Alabama will be releasing a CD this year called Southern Drawl on the BMG Chrysalis label. Could there be a country career ahead for one of the members of the now defuct *NSYNC? Justin Timberlake has hinted at one. He was recently seen singing Friends In Low Places with Garth Brooks. Stay tuned! This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING AUGUST 21, 1999:
1. Amazed-Lonestar-BNA
2. Lesson In Leavin'-Jo Dee Messina-Curb
3. GOD MUST HAVE SPENT A LITTLE MORE TIME ON YOU-ALABAMA AND *NSYNC-RCA
4. Little Good-Byes-SHeDAISY-Lyric Street
5. Single White Female-Chely Wright-MCA
6. You Had Me From Hello-Kenny Chesney-BNA
7. The Secret Of Life-Faith Hill-Warner Bros.
8. A Night To Remember-Joe Diffie-Epic
9. Little Man-Alan Jackson-Arista
10. Ready To Run-Dixie Chicks-Monument

[countrychartnut]

1. A CRAZY #1: For the third time in his career, Frankie Ballard has the top song in country music. This week it is the third single from his current CD, Sunshine & Whiskey, Young & Crazy. The two singles before it, Helluva Life and the title track hit the top in 2014.
2. A SMOKIN' DEBUT: Blasting her way on to the chart and grabbing the Hot Shot Debut is Carrie Underwood's Smoke Break at #24. This is from her upcoming Storyteller CD. All of her lead singles from her studio CDs have hit the top. They are:
1. Jesus, Take The Wheel-chart wise, her biggest hit-Some Hearts-2006
2. So Small-Carnival Ride-2007
3. Cowboy Casanova-Play On-2009
4. Good Girl-Blown Away-2012
Something In The Water from her first hits CD peaked at #3 earlier this year.
3. HER SECOND: Reba McEntire debuts her second Love Somebody single, Until They Don't Love You at #52. The first, Going Out Like That peaked at #28.
4. BRYAN STRIPS FAST: For the second week in a row, Luke Bryan has the fastest climbing song with Strip It Down (#23 to #16).
5. THE KING IS BACK: Elvis Presley debuts at #2 on the country albums chart with a greatest hits CD called Elvis Forever. 27,000 copies were sold last week. His last #1 country album was in 2002 called ELV1S: 30 #1 Hits.
6. GREEN'S HOME, TOO: Pat Green makes his Green Horse debut on the country albums chart at #5 with Home. 9000 copies were sold last week.
7. A 60S LOOK: These were the chart topping hits during the last week of August during the 1960s:
1960: Alabam-Cowboy Copas-Starday
1961: Tender Years-George Jones-Mercury
1962: Devil Woman-Marty Robbins-Columbia
1963: Ring Of Fire-Johnny Cash-Columbia
1964: I Guess I'm Crazy-Jim Reeves-RCA
1965: Yes Mr. Peters-Roy Drusky and Priscilla Mitchell-Mercury
1966: Almost Persuaded-David Houston-Epic
1967: Branded Man-Merle Haggard-Capitol
1968: Mama Tried-Merle Haggard-Capitol
1969: A Boy Named Sue-Johnny Cash-Columbia
8. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: Well, after five years at RCA Records, it was time for the Judds to release their first greatest hits CD. A new song from the set, Give A Little Love became their ONLY #2 hit. It was our runner up song 27 years ago this week.
The track listing to Greatest Hits is as follows:
1. Why Not Me-1984-#1-chart wise, their biggest hit and C.M.A. Single of the Year
2. Rockin' With The Rhythm Of The Rain-1986-#1
3. Mama He's Crazy-1984-#1
4. Give A Little Love-1988-#2
5. Grandpa Tell Me 'Bout The Good Ol' Days-1986-#1
6. Girls Night Out-1985-#1
7. Change Of Heart-1989-#1
8. Have Mercy-1985-#1
9. Cry Myself To Sleep-1987-#1
10. Love Is Alive-1985-#1
The first single, Give A Little Love was released in June, 1988. It climbed all the way to #2 in August and it looked like the Judds were going to collect their twelfth chart topping hit. It could not topple The Wanderer by Eddie Rabbitt. It stayed there for a second week while Rodney Crowell scored his first solo #1, I Couldn't Leave You If I Tried (he scored his first #1 overall earlier in the year with It's Such A Small World, a duet with his then-wife, Rosanne Cash). After that near miss, the Judds won the C.M.A. Award for Vocal Duo of the Year. The second 'new' song, Change Of Heart was released in October. It first appeared on their 1983 EP, The Judds: Wynonna & Naomi. That one did hit the top in January, 1989. Ironically, Crowell succeeded them at the top with She's Crazy For Leavin'. In February, the Judds won their fourth Grammy Award for Give A Little Love in the Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group category. Greatest Hits reached #1 on the country albums chart and #76 on the top 200 chart and it is certified at the double platinum mark. Things went well for the Judds over the next year as they released a follow up CD, River Of Time. Young Love Strong Love was the lead single and it became their lucky thirteenth #1 hit in May. Let Me Tell You About Love, written by Carl Perkins features Perkins doing some fine guitar work on the record (Wynonna can be heard saying, 'Hit it, Perkins'). That became their final chart topping hit in September. In October, they repeated as C.M.A. Vocal Duo of the Year. In November, the third single, One Man Woman was released. It peaked at #8 in January, 1990. The fourth single, Guardian Angels hit #16. That broke their string of seventeen consecutive top ten hits.
Their swan song for RCA was called Love Can Build A Bridge that was released in September. The lead single, Born To Be Blue peaked at #5 just before the year ended. While Born To Be Blue was on the charts, the Judds won the Vocal Duo of the Year from the C.M.A.. Both ladies gave a very tearful acceptance speech. The crowd was stunned by their reaction. The terrible news was just around the corner. Naomi called a news conference shortly after the awards that she would retire from the business due to her chronic hepatitis. They also announced a farewell tour that would take place in 1991. The title track kicked off their 1991 on a #5 note as well. One Hundred And Two became their twentieth and final top ten at #6. Their second greatest hits CD was released in September and they won their final Duo of the Year Award from the C.M.A. in October. They released a song in October that appeared on their 1983 EP, John Deere Tractor. That peaked at #29 and would become their final top 40 hit during their hey day. In December, they gave their final concert. It ended up being the top country grossing tour of the year. During their farewell tour, Wynonna signed to MCA Records as a solo artist. She took the country world by storm with her first three albums: Wynonna (1992), Tell Me Why (1993), and Revelations (1996). After she released her first greatest hits CD in 1997 called Collection, she cooled off on the charts. Getting back to the Judds, they won their final Grammy Award in 1992 for Love Can Build A Bridge. A box set of their music was released later that year called The Judds Collection 1983-1990. Wynonna released a CD in 2000 called New Day Dawning. Inside contained an EP of Judds music called Big Bang Boogie. A single was released from the EP called Stuck In Love. It peaked at #26, becoming their first chart appearance in nine years. Her follow up CD, What The World Needs Now Is Love contains the final chart appearance of the Judds called Flies On The Butter You Can't Go Home Again (#33 in 2004). The Judds' final CD was released in 2011 called I Will Stand By You: The Essential Collection. Wynonna's last is 2010's Love Heals. The Judds have just announced that ehy will be doing a series of concerts in Las Vegas. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING AUGUST 27, 1988:
1. The Wanderer-Eddie Rabbitt-RCA
2. GIVE A LITTLE LOVE-THE JUDDS-RCA
3. I Couldn't Leave You If I Tried-Rodney Crowell-Columbia
4. A Little Bit In Love-Patty Loveless-MCA
5. Do You Love Me Just Say Yes-Highway 101-Warner Bros.
6. Joe Knows How To Live-Eddy Raven-RCA
7. The Gift-the McCarters-Warner Bros.
8. If The South Woulda Won-Hank Williams, Jr.-Warner Bros.
9. I Should Be With You-Steve Wariner-MCA
10. I Have You-Glen Campbell-MCA

[ozbest1]

Aug 10, 2015 7:04:23 GMT -6 countrychartnut said:

Aug 5, 2015 9:21:12 GMT -6 ozbest1 said:

Glad to see Alan's album get the #1 on BB that it deserves. A great read as usual, CCN. Want to comment more later regarding your section on Reba.

Still waiting for some Reba comments.

Almost forgot to get back to Reba's latest song. Like Alan Jackson, Reba has been around for a long time, and her music is still relevant. Her voice is as good as it ever was, and it's still one of the best female country music vocalists today. I don't know why "She's Not Going Out Like That" has not fared as well on the charts as it should have. I hope the pendulum at least falls back to somewhere in the middle overall, and Radio plays artists who still release great songs like AJ and Reba more often.

[ozbest1]

Aug 10, 2015 7:04:23 GMT -6 countrychartnut said:

Aug 5, 2015 9:21:12 GMT -6 ozbest1 said:

Glad to see Alan's album get the #1 on BB that it deserves. A great read as usual, CCN. Want to comment more later regarding your section on Reba.

Still waiting for some Reba comments.

Almost forgot to get back to Reba's latest song. Like Alan Jackson, Reba has been around for a long time, and her music is still relevant. Her voice is as good as it ever was, and she still has one of the best female country music vocalists today. I don't know why "She's Not Going Out Like That" has not fared as well on the charts as it should have. I hope the pendulum at least falls back to somewhere in the middle overall, and Radio plays artists who still release great songs like AJ and Reba more often.

EDIT: P.S. I have to admit that I don't like Reba's latest release, "Until They Don't Love You," nearly as much as SNGOLT. However, my thoughts in the above paragraph remain the same.

[countrychartnut]

1. HUNT'S PARTYING AT #1: Sam Hunt collects his third #1 this week with House Party. It is his third #1 hit off his Montevallo CD following Leave The Night On (2014) and Take Your Time (2015). He follows Frankie Ballard, who just earned his third chart topping hit, Young & Crazy.
2. THE SECOND: Maddie & Tae collect their second top ten with their second single, Fly at #9. This follows their chart topping debut, Girl In A Country Song (2014). They become the second female duo to take their first two singles into the top ten. The Wreckers were first with Leave The Pieces (#1 in 2006) and My, Oh My (#9 in 2007).
3. A FOUR WAY TIE: We have four songs taking four point jumps for fastest climbing songs of the week. They are:
1. Anything Goes-Florida Georgia Line-#14 to #10
2. Gonna-Blake Shelton-#22 to #18
3. Love Is Your Name-Steven Tyler-#50 to #46
4. Crazy Too-Lucy Angel-#57 to #53
4. HIS FIRST IN FIVE YEARS: Making his first chart appearance in a half decade is James Otto with Somewhere Tonight at #59. It is his debut on his OttoPilot label. The last time he charted was in 2010 with the #34 peaking Soldiers & Jesus.
5. A WILD DEBUT: Making his way to #2 on the country albums chart is Kip Moore with his second CD, Wild Ones. 35,000 copies were sold last week. It follows his #3 debut CD, Up All Night from 2012.
6. A 60S LOOK PART II: These were the top selling albums during the first week of September during the 1960s:
1964: I Walk The Line-Johnny Cash-Columbia
1965: Connie Smith-Connie Smith-RCA
1966: Carnegie Hall Concert-Buck Owens-Capitol
1967: All The Time-Jack Greene-Decca
1968: A New Place In The Sun-Glen Campbell-Capitol
1969: Johnny Cash At San Quentin-Johnny Cash-Columbia
7. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: Out of the 35 country albums that contain a quartet of #1 hits, the one by Exile, Hang On To Your Heart has an interesting story. The fourth chart topper from the CD, She's Too Good To Be True, the fifth release was our top song 28 years ago this week.
By the time Exile signed a country contract with Epic Records in 1983, they were best known for their 1978 hit, Kiss You All Over. That hit #1 pop and #19 adult contemporary during the disco era (1976-1980). A follow up single, You Thrill Me barely rescued Exile from being a one hit wonder on the pop chart by peaking at #40. Exile did not have any further success on both charts they appeared, so they tried a new musical direction when the 1980s started. Exile decided to write country songs. That was not much of a stretch as they were based in Kentucky. Alabama took Take Me Down to #1 in 1982. That was written by J.P. Pennington and Mark Gray. That song was originally recorded by Exile for their Don't Leave Me This Way album. Several months later, Gray and Les Taylor saw their names at the top when Janie Frickie took It Ain't Easy Bein' Easy to #1. In 1983, Alabama took another Pennington/Gray composition to #1, The Closer You Get. By this time, Gray left Exile to pursue a solo career. He landed eight top 40 hits between 1983-1986, the biggest being Sometimes When We Touch with Tammy Wynette in 1985 (#6). At this time, Exile signed to Epic as a country group. Their self-titled debut CD started with High Cost Of Leaving. That was released in September, 1983 and peaked at #27 just before the year ended. In January 1984, Woke Up In Love charted and that became the first of ten chart topping hits in March. The CD ended with another #1, I Don't Want To Be A Memory. With their country career on solid footing, Exile released their second Epic CD, Kentucky Hearts in 1984. It became their ONLY chart topping album. It yielded a trio of chart toppers: Give Me One More Chance (1984), Crazy For Your Love (1985), and She's A Miracle (1985). Their version of Just In Case, written by Pennington and Sonny LeMaire, became a chart topper for the Forester Sisters in 1986. 1985 saw Marlon Hargis leave and he was replaced by Lee Carroll.
With the new lineup, Exile released their Hang On To Your Heart CD in 1985. It started with the title track which topped the chart in November. I Could Get Used To You was released before 1985 ended and became their seventh consecutive #1 hit in March, 1986 just six weeks after Just In Case topped the chart. Super Love, sometimes titled I Got Love Super Duper Love entered the chart in April and peaked at #14, breaking their #1 streak. It remains their most popular recording. The song can also be found on their first greatest hits CD for Epic. A new version of Kiss You All Over appears here as well. It'll Be Me, chart-wise, their biggest hit, started their second streak of #1 hits when it hit the top in October. After that song peaked, they were off the charts for seven months. 1986 became 1987 and the group went through changes while recording Shelter From The Night. They dumped Buddy Killen as producer in favor of Elliot Scheiner, who produced several pop/rock acts. Second, instead of recording the CD in Nashville, they went to Stamford, Connecticut. While the CD took longer to record than originally anticipated, they decided to release a fifth single from the nearly two year old CD, Hang On To Your Heart. That single was She's Too Good To Be True. That was released in May, 1987 and climbed all the way to #1 in September, almost a full year after It'll Be Me rang the bell. That set the stage nicely for the Shelter From The Night CD. Lead single, I Can't Get Close Enough was released in October and became their tenth and final chart topping hit in January, 1988 (the first #1 of the year). They faltered a bit with their next single, Feel Like Foolin' Around (#60). They rebounded a bit with their last top ten on Epic, Just One Kiss (#9). They wrapped up the era and their association with Epic with the #21 peaking It's You Again.
Even more changes took place once 1989 started. First, Pennington was replaced by Paul Martin and Taylor left the group and was replaced by Mark Jones. Next, they switched labels and was one of the first signees to Arista Nashville (opened in 1989). The new Exile, a quartet released their Arista debut, Still Standing. The first single, Keep It In The Middle Of The Road was released in December. It climbed all the way to #17, becoming the first major hit in Arista's history (sorry, Alan Jackson). Exile almost had the first #1 on Arista when Nobody's Talking peaked at #2 (Garth Brooks was tops with The Dance). After that near miss, they landed their thirteenth and final top ten with Yet (#7). The fourth and final single, There You Go kicked off their 1991 on a #32 note. Their 1991 CD, Justice yielded their final chart single, Even Now at #16. Nothing At All and Somebody's Telling Her Lies failed to dent the chart. In 1992, they were dropped by Arista. They disbanded in 1993 and would wait another year to land with a different label. Intersound signed them to a one album deal. They rerecorded eight of their hits and recorded four new songs. That CD was released in 1995 called Latest & Greatest (their last CD released). Besides Gray, other members tried solo careers. Taylor charted three singles between 1989-1991. His biggest hit was I Gotta Mind To Go Crazy (#44 in 1991). Pennington charted twice with his biggest being Whatever It Takes (#45 in 1991). LeMaire formed a group called Burnin' Daylight that charted three singles between 1996-1997, Say Yes being the biggest in 1997 (#37). In 1996, Exile reformed and started doing shows again which were very popular. In 2008, the group consisted of Pennington, Taylor, LeMaire, Hargis, and Steve Goetzman. What they plan to do next is anyone's guess. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 5, 1987:
1. SHE'S TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE-EXILE-EPIC
2. Make No Mistake, She's Mine-Kenny Rogers and Ronnie Milsap-RCA
3. This Crazy Love-Oak Ridge Boys-MCA
4. I'll Never Be In Love Again-Don Williams-Capitol
5. Three Time Loser-Dan Seals-EMI America
6. You Again-Forester Sisters-Warner Bros.
7. The Hand That Rocks The Cradle-Glen Campbell and Steve Wariner-MCA
8. Born To Boogie-Hank Williams, Jr.-Warner Bros.
9. The Way We Make A Broken Heart-Rosanne Cash-Columbia
10. Fishin' In The Dark-Nitty Gritty Dirt Band-Warner Bros.

P.S.: Happy Labor Day!

[countrychartnut]

1. 9/11: Have you forgotten?
2. A HELL OF A #1: Dustin Lynch claims his second chart topper this week with Hell Of A Night. It is the second #1 off his current CD, Where It's At. The first, the title track became his first #1 last September. He becomes the second artist on the Broken Bow label to score multiple #1s. Jason Aldean leads the pack at fourteen.
3. A TIE: We have three songs this week taking five point jumps for fastest climbers this week. They are:
1. Strip It Down-Luke Bryan-#13 to #8
2. Smoke Break-Carrie Underwood-#22 to #17
3. White Lightning-Cadillac Three-#47 to #42
4. GOING FOR FOUR: Sam Hunt debuts at #60 with the fourth Montevallo single. Break Up In A Small Town. If that hits the top, the CD will be the 36th in country music with a quartet of #1s on it. His chart toppers include:
1. Leave The Night On-2014
2. Take Your Time-2015
3. House Party-2015

5. NOW ON WHEELHOUSE:  Granger Smith's Backroad Song has the Wheelhouse label credited.  He just signed to the label which is the fourth label of the Broken Bow family (Broken Bow, Stoney Creek, and Red Bow).
6. THEY START AT #2: Maddie & Tae's debut album, Start Here debuts at #2 after 24,000 copies were sold last week. So far, it features two hit singles: Girl In A Country Song (#1) and the current top ten, Fly.
7. #1 HITS: These were the chart topping hits in 2010, 2005, 2000, 1995, and 1990:
2010: All About Tonight-Blake Shelton-Warner Bros.
2005: Mississippi Girl-Faith Hill-Warner Bros.
2000: That's The Way-Jo Dee Messina-Curb
1995: I Like It, I Love It-Tim McGraw-Curb
1990: Jukebox In My Mind-Alabama-RCA
8. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: Terri Clark released her first greatest hits CD in 2004. When she did, a new song from the set became her second #1 hit. That song was Girls Lie Too and it was our top song eleven years ago this week.
The track listing to Greatest Hits 1994-2004 is as follows:
1. Better Things To Do-1995-#3
2. When Boy Meets Girl-1996-#3
3. If I Were You-1996-#8
4. Poor, Poor Pitiful Me-1996-#5
5. Emotional Girl-1997-#10
6. Now That I Found You-1998-#2
7. You're Easy On The Eyes-1998-#1-chart wise, her biggest hit
8. Everytime I Cry-1999-#12
9. A Little Gasoline-2000-#13
10. I Just Wanna Be Mad-2003-#2
11. I Wanna Do It All-2004-#3
12. Girls Lie Too-2004-#1
13. One Of The Guys
14. No Fear (Live Version)
The CD gathered hits from five Clark CDs. They are:
1. Terri Clark-1995
2. Just The Same-1996
3. How I Feel-1998
4. Fearless-2000
5. Pain To Kill-2003
The only single release from the greatest hits CD, Girls Lie Too was released in April. It became her second chart topping hit in September. It also became her tenth and final top ten hit. The CD is certified gold after reaching #4 on the country albums chart and #14 on the top 200 chart. It should be noted that Clark joined the Grand Ole Opry in 2004. Her next release, Life Goes On became her final CD for Mercury Records. It yielded two top 40 hits: The World Needs A Drink (#26 in 2005) and She Didn't Have Time (#25 in 2005). Clark's tenure at Mercury ended in 2006 after being at the label for twelve years. She signed to BNA right after being dropped at Mercury. A CD was to be released called My Next Life, but wasn't. She made her last chart appearances during 2007: Dirty Girl (#30) and In My Next Life (#36). After that, she only made chart appearances in her native Canada. Her next CD would not be released until 2009 on Capitol Records called The Long Way Home. Gypsy Boots, If You Want Fire, A Million Ways To Run, and a duet with Johnny Reid, You Tell Me were the singles. Dropping the Capitol affiliation and keeping BareTrack, she released four more CDs. They are:
1. Terri Clark Live: Road Rage-2009
2. Roots And Wings-2011
3. Classic-2012
4. Some Songs-2014
Her current CD, Some Songs have seen three single releases: the title track, Longer, and I Cheated On You. There have been three other hits packages on Clark. They are:
1. 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection-2006
2. The Ultimate Collection-2008
3. The Definitive Collection-2008
This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 11, 2004:
1. GIRLS LIE TOO-TERRI CLARK-MERCURY
2. Live Like You Were Dying-Tim McGraw-Curb
3. Days Go By-Keith Urban-Capitol
4. I Go Back-Kenny Chesney-BNA
5. She Thinks She Needs Me-Andy Griggs-RCA
6. Whiskey Lullaby-Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss-Arista
7. Here For The Party-Gretchen Wilson-Epic
8. Suds In The Bucket-Sara Evans-RCA
9. Too Much Of A Good Thing-Alan Jackson-Arista
10. I Hate Everything-George Strait-MCA

[countrychartnut]

1. RHETT CRASHES AT #1: Thomas Rhett collects his fourth #1 and fourth consecutive chart topper this week with Crash And Burn. It is the lead single to his upcoming CD, Tangled Up. His first CD, It Goes Like This produced the #1s: It Goes Like This (2013), Get Me Some Of That (2014), and Make Me Wanna (2015).
2. HUNT'S ON THE MOVE: Sam Hunt has the fastest climbing song of the week as Break Up In A Small Town moves up nine to #51.
3. A BEAUTIFUL DEBUT: The Zac Brown Band debuts their third Jekyll + Hyde single, Beautiful Drug at #54. Since joining the Big Machine family of labels, they have seen their first two singles hit the top: Homegrown and Loving You Easy.
4. KILL THE LIGHTS: We have a winner. Luke Bryan's Kill The Lights is 2015's best selling CD so far. 530,000 copies have been sold so far. The Zac Brown Band's Jekyll + Hyde falls to second with its 521,000 in sales.
5. #1 CDS: These were the top selling CDs in 2010, 2005, 2000, 1995, and 1990:
2010: Need You Now-Lady Antebellum-Capitol
2005: Hillbilly Deluxe-Brooks & Dunn-Arista
2000: Coyote Ugly-Soundtrack-Curb
1995: The Woman In Me-Shania Twain-Mercury
1990: Killin' Time-Clint Black-RCA
6. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: Ready? This is what the chart looked like when Brooks & Dunn collected their first #1, Brand New Man:
BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 7, 1991:
1. BRAND NEW MAN-BROOKS & DUNN-ARISTA
2. Down To My Last Teardrop-Tanya Tucker-Capitol
3. Small Town Saturday Night-Hal Ketchum-Curb
4. Down At The Twist And Shout-Mary Chapin Carpenter-Columbia
5. Your Love Is A Miracle-Mark Chesnutt-MCA
6. Rodeo-Garth Brooks-Capitol
7. Since I Don't Have You-Ronnie Milsap-RCA
8. You Know Me Better Than That-George Strait-MCA
9. Shadow Of A Doubt-Earl Thomas Conley-RCA
10. Leap Of Faith-Lionel Cartwright-MCA
Fast forward fourteen years and nineteen more #1s for Brooks & Dunn. They collected their final chart topper ten years ago this week with Play Something Country.
In 2004, Brooks & Dunn released their second greatest hits CD called The Greatest Hits Collection II. It was a success when it yielded a pair of top two hits: That's What It's All About (#2 in 2004) and It's Getting Better All The Time (#1 in 2005). They went to work on a CD called Hillbilly Deluxe (sorry, Dwight Yoakam). The first single, Play Something Country was released in May, 2005. The song itself namedrops several country artists: 'I like Kenny, Keith, Alan, and Patsy Cline.' and 'Hank it up a little, let's rock this bar. Threw back a shot, yelled I'm a George Strait junkie.' It climbed all the way to the top in September, becoming their twentieth and final chart topping hit. The same week they collected their last #1 hit, they swept the charts when Hillbilly Deluxe became the #1 CD of the week. Following that double triumph, they went from party mode to religious with their next release, Believe. Released in October, it was top ten bound in early 2006 (#8). While Believe was on the charts, Brooks & Dunn won the C.M.A. Award for Vocal Duo of the Year. They also won Single and Video of the Year for Believe. They recruited Sheryl Crow and Vince Gill for their next single, Building Bridges, which hit #4 during the summer. The title track ended the era on a #16 note, breaking a string of top ten hits at eight. They won their final Duo Award from the C.M.A. during this time. Their final studio album was next and it was called Cowboy Town (2007). The lead single, Proud Of The House We Built got the duo back into the top ten at #4. God Must Be Busy fell a rung short of the top ten. Put A Girl In It got all the way up to #3 in 2008. The last single, Cowgirls Don't Cry was released during the summer of 2008. They performed the song at the C.M.A.s where they invited Reba McEntire to sing with them. Shortly after the awards, Arista reserviced the single as a duet and it got all the way to #2 in early 2009. After that, Brooks & Dunn announced the end of their professional relationship and would go on a farewell tour. Arista released their third greatest hits CD, a double disc set called #1s...And Then Some. Two new songs were added and they both peaked at #16 in 2009: Indian Summer and Honky Tonk Stomp with Billy Gibbons. Their tour ended in September, 2010.
They went to work on solo CDs. Ronnie Dunn was first out of the gate with his self-titled album. Three singles made top 40 appearances. They are:
1. Bleed Red-2011-#10
2. Cost Of Livin'-2011-#19
3. Let The Cowboy Rock-2012-#32
In 2013, he made an appearance from the Peace, Love, And Country Music CD in Kiss You There (#60). With Kix Brooks, his New To This Town CD produced five chart singles. They are:
1. New To This Town-with Joe Walsh-2012-#31
2. Bring It On Home-2012-#39
3. Moonshine Road-2013-#42
4. Complete 360-2013-#49
5. There's The Sun-2013-#48
In 2014, Brooks & Dunn announced they would reunite for a series of concerts in Las Vegas with McEntire. That year, McEntire signed to Nash Icon Records. She was followed by Dunn this year. Dunn is currently on the chart with Ain't No Trucks In Texas. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 17, 2005:
1. PLAY SOMETHING COUNTRY-BROOKS & DUNN-ARISTA
2. A Real Fine Place To Start-Sara Evans-RCA
3. As Good As I Once Was-Toby Keith-DreamWorks
4. Alcohol-Brad Paisley-Arista
5. Do You Want Fries With That-Tim McGraw-Curb
6. Something To Be Proud Of-Montgomery Gentry-Columbia
7. Mississippi Girl-Faith Hill-Warner Bros.
8. Something More-Sugarland-Mercury
9. Help Somebody-Van Zant-Columbia
10. Redneck Yacht Club-Craig Morgan-Broken Bow

[countrychartnut]

1. SAVE #1 FOR CHESNEY: Kenny Chesney collects the 26th #1 of his career and the fourth #1 off his current CD, The Big Revival. The song that does so is Save It For A Rainy Day. This feat sets a few chart achievements. They are:
1. Chesney's #1s totals brings him into the top ten of those artists with the most chart topping hits. The new list looks like this:
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. Kenny Chesney-26
2. Chesney's 26 chart toppers have been at #1 for 70 weeks. He now moves past Johnny Cash for seventh place on that list.
1. Eddy Arnold-145
2. Webb Pierce-111
3. George Strait-84
4. Hank Williams, Sr.-82
5. Buck Owens-82
6. Tim McGraw-77
7. Kenny Chesney-70
8. Johnny Cash-69
9. Sonny James-66
10. Marty Robbins-63
3. The Big Revival becomes the second Chesney CD to contain four #1 hits. His first was Hemingway's Whiskey. The CDs and their hits are:
1. Hemingway's Whiskey
a. The Boys Of Fall-2010
b. Somewhere With You-2011
c. Live A Little-2011
d. Reality-2012
2. The Big Revival
a. American Kids-2014
b. Til It's Gone-2015
c. Wild Child-2015
d. Save It For A Rainy Day-2015
Furthermore, Chesney becomes the first artist in Billboard 2015 (since December, 2014) to score a trio of chart toppers.
4. The Big Revival becomes the 36th country CD to yield 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-RCA
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
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 Time-Florida Georgia Line
34. Night Train-Jason Aldean
35. Fuse-Keith Urban
36. The Big Revival-Kenny Chesney
2. BREAK EQUALS COWBOY: Carrie Underwood's Smoke Break is at #9 after five weeks on the chart. It matches her quickest climb into the top ten since Cowboy Casanova did the same in 2009. That took five weeks to get to #8.
3. HUNT'S FAST: Sam Hunt has the fastest climbing song of the week. Break Up In A Small Town moves up seven to #44.
4. CHURCH'S SIXTH IS FIRST: Eric Church debuts at #59 with the sixth The Outsiders single, Roller Coaster Ride. It is his first CD to produce six singles. The other five were:
1. The Outsiders-2013-#25
2. Give Me Back My Hometown-2014-#1
3. Cold One-2014-#20
4. Talladega-2015-#1
5. Like A Wrecking Ball-2015-#11
In the meantime, his duet with Keith Urban, Raise 'Em Up topped the chart this year (off of the Urban CD, Fuse).
5. ILLINOIS TOPS COUNTRY: Brett Eldredge collects his first #1 country album in Illinois. 43,000 copies were sold last week. His debut album, Bring You Back topped off at #2 in 2013.
6. #1 HITS: These were the chart topping hits in 2010, 2005, 2000, 1995, and 1990:
2010: Our Kind Of Love-Lady Antebellum-Capitol
2005: A Real Fine Place To Start-Sara Evans-RCA
2000: That's The Way-Jo Dee Messina-Curb
1995: I Like It, I Love It-Tim McGraw-Curb
1990: Jukebox In My Mind-Alabama-RCA
7. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: Is he off the chart yet? Well, yes and no. Lee Brice is off the chart with Love Like Crazy. He is currently on the chart with That Don't Sound Like You. Love Like Crazy spent its 56th and final week on the chart five years ago this week.
Brice signed to Curb Records in 2006. He went to work on his debut CD, Picture Of Me but it was never released. Instead, Curb released three singles between 2007-2008. Those were: She Ain't Right (#29 in 2007), Happy Endings (#32 in 2007), and Upper Middle Class White Trash (#44 in 2008). While charting with She Ain't Right, Garth Brooks was preparing a greatest hits CD called The Ultimate Hits. He decided to record a new song for the set called More Than A Memory. The song was written by Brice, Kyle Jacobs, and Billy Montana. That song was released in September, 2007 while Brice was charting with his second single. More Than A Memory STARTED its chart life at the top, becoming so far the only song to debut at #1. This was the same year Tracy Lawrence took 41 weeks to send Find Out Who Your Friends Are to #1, a record to date. Brice went to work on CD #2. That one was called Love Like Crazy. The title track (written by Tim James and Doug Johnson) was released in August, 2009. It debuted at #58 in September. The top single at the time belonged to Jason Aldean with his biggest hit, Big Green Tractor. The top selling CD was Keep On Loving You by Reba McEntire. It took eleven weeks for Love Like Crazy to crack the top 40. It took another seventeen weeks to get to the top 30 and another twelve weeks to crack the top 20. Right after it hit the top 20, Curb finally released Brice's first CD. It cracked the top ten six weeks later in its 46th week on the chart, a record. During that week (week ending July 17, 2010), Water by Brad Paisley was the top song and Lady Antebellum had the top selling CD in Need You Now. Six weeks later, Love Like Crazy was at #5. It had spent a year on the chart and had tied Eddy Arnold's Bouquet Of Roses from 1948 as the only other single to spend that much time on the chart. It broke the record when it moved to #4 the following week. Two weeks later (in week #55), the single peaked at #3 in September. It dropped to #8 in its 56th week and went recurrent in October. When it was dropped from the chart, Our Kind Of Love by Lady Antebellum was the #1 single and Jamey Johnson had the top CD in The Guitar Song. Love Like Crazy even peaked at #45 pop. In October, the second and final single was released called Beautiful Every Time. While not spending as much time on the chart like Love Like Crazy, it managed a peak position of #30 in early 2011. In December, Billboard named Love Like Crazy the top single of the year (the lowest peaking single to earn such honors).
Well, after making history with two singles (the Brooks one and his), Brice went to work on a CD in 2011 called Hard 2 Love. Lead single, A Woman Like You was released in October. In November, Crazy Girl by the Eli Young Band became their first chart topping hit. That song was written by Brice. That became the top single of the year according to Billboard. A Woman Like You became Brice's first #1 as an artist in April, 2012 right when Curb released the CD. Hard To Love was released next and that, too topped the chart in November. I Drive Your Truck was released just before the year ended and became Brice's third consecutive chart topper in April, 2013. It won the Song of the Year by both C.M.A. and A.C.M.. The fourth and final single, Parking Lot Party ended the #1 streak at three by peaking at #6. His current CD, I Don't Dance was released in September, 2014. The title track was the first single and it became Brice's fourth #1 in August. Drinking Class, the second single did nearly as well, stopping at #2 this year. Brice is currently in the top 40 with the third release, That Don't Sound Like You.
Brice has written other hits for other artists. Those songs and artists are:
1. Crazy Days (#33 in 2008) and What It Takes (#38 in 2009) for Adam Gregory
2. Still (#13 in 2010) for Tim McGraw
3. Shinin' On Me (#17 in 2012), Only God Could Love You More (#29 in 2013), and Buzz Back Girl (#35 in 2014) for Jerrod Niemann
As a bonus for those who want to know, here is the chart run for Love Like Crazy, the single that spent thirteen months on the chart. Ready?
58-50-48-47-46-45-43-41-42-41-39-38-38-40-37-40-35-35-36-37-34-33-34-32-31-33-32-29-28-27-28-27-27-26-25-24-23-22-21-18-18-14-13-11-11-10-11-10-07-06-05-05-04-05-03-08
The question remains. Will there be another single to spend 56 weeks on the chart? Will someone break Brice's record? Stay tuned! This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 25, 2010:
1. Our Kind Of Love-Lady Antebellum-Capitol
2. Pretty Good At Drinkin' Beer-Billy Currington-Mercury
3. The Boys Of Fall-Kenny Chesney-BNA
4. All About Tonight-Blake Shelton-Warner Bros.
5. All Over Me-Josh Turner-MCA
6. Roll With It-Easton Corbin-Mercury
7. Smile-Uncle Kracker-Atlantic
8. LOVE LIKE CRAZY-LEE BRICE-CURB
9. Come Back Song-Darius Rucker-Capitol
10. Little White Church-Little Big Town-Capitol

[countrychartnut]

1. IT'S RAINING KENNY: Kenny Chesney continues to have the top song in country with Save It For A Rainy Day. It is the first multi week #1 from The Big Revival. The first three #1s reigned for one week each: American Kids (2014), Til It's Gone (2015), and Wild Child (2015). Chesney has not had a multi week #1 in awhile. His last was Come Over from 2012 that reigned for fourteen days.
2. A HIGH CONVERSATION: George Strait blasts his way onto the chart this week with the title track to his current CD, Cold Beer Conversation at #35. It is the Hot Shot Debut of the week and it is his 99th top 40 hit. First single, Let It Go peaked at #46.
3. HE DOES IT AGAIN: For the third week in a row, Sam Hunt has the fastest climbing song of the week with Break Up In A Small Town (#44 to #31).
4. ALABAMA'S BACK: Alabama debut at #2 on the country albums chart with Southern Drawl. 21,000 copies were sold last week. It is their third #2 peaking CD following For The Record: 41 Number One Hits from 1998 and Alabama & Friends from 2013.
5. A 50S LOOK: These were the chart topping hits during the last week in September during the 1950s:
1950: I'm Moving On-Hank Snow-RCA
1951: Always Late With Your Kisses-Lefty Frizzell-Columbia
1952: It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels-Kitty Wells-Decca
1953: A Dear John Letter-Jean Shepherd and Ferlin Huskey-Capitol
1954: I Don't Hurt Anymore-Hank Snow-RCA
1955: I Don't Care-Webb Pierce-Decca
1956: Hound Dog/Don't Be Cruel-Elvis Presley-RCA
1957: Fraulein-Bobby Helms-Decca
1958: Bird Dog-Everly Brothers-Cadence
1959: The Three Bells-the Browns-RCA
6. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: Unknown to Tanya Tucker at the time, Here's Some Love would be her sixth and final #1 of the 1970s. She had to wait another ten years to top the chart again. That song was tops 39 years ago this week.
In 1971, at the tender age of thirteen, Tucker signed her first record contract with Columbia Records (I didn't do that in 1983). She and her producer, the now late Billy Sherrill went to work on her debut album, Delta Dawn. They chose the title track, written by Larry Collins and Alex Harvey as the first single. Released in May 1972, it became the first of 40 top tens for Tucker when it peaked at #6. It even peaked at #72 pop. Helen Reddy would release her version in 1973, topping both pop and adult contemporary charts. The album was released the same week Tucker turned fourteen (what a birthday gift that was). The second and final single was released shortly after that. It was the double-sided Love's The Answer/The Jamestown Ferry. It peaked at #5 in early 1973. After that, Tucker won her first award as the Top New Female Vocalist of the Year by the A.C.M.. Album #2 was in the works and it held bigger things for Tucker. That album's name was What's Your Mama's Name. The title track became the first single and that was released in March. It took two months for it to become her first chart topping hit at age fourteen (I didn't have any #1s in 1984). The next single raised eyebrows because of the title. That was called Blood Red And Goin' Down. Like the previous single, it topped the chart in September. By this time, Tucker was recording album #3 which was called Would You Lay With Me In A Field Of Stone. David Allan Coe wrote the title track and lead single. Released in January 1974, it became her third consecutive #1 in March. The chart topping streak was snapped with the second single. The Man That Turned My Mama On topped off at #4. Her top ten streak was broken by the third single, the #18 peaking I Believe The South Is Gonna Rise Again. Her first greatest hits album surfaced in 1975.
Well, after three years at Columbia that produced three albums and seven hit singles, it was time for a label change (already?). Tucker signed to MCA Records in 1974 at the age of sweet sixteen. Her self-titled debut for MCA was recorded in Los Angeles instead of Nashville. With the change of labels came a change in producers to Snuff Garrett. I believe Tucker was his first country artist he worked with. Their first single together, Lizzie And The Rainman was based on the movie, The Rainmaker. Released in April 1975, it became her first #1 on MCA and fourth chart topper overall. It became her biggest crossover hit, peaking at #37 pop and #7 A.C.. The album ended with another #1, San Antonio Stroll which hit the top right after her 17th birthday. It should be mentioned that her prior label released a single in Spring that hit #18 between those two chart topping hits. She returned to Nashville to record her next album. She was paired with Jerry Crutchfield as her producer. The Lovin' And Learnin' album produced two top tens in 1976: Don't Believe My Heart Can't Stand Another You (#4) and You've Got Me To Hold On (#3). Again, Columbia released a single that made the top 40, the #23 peaking Greener Than The Grass We Laid On. Tucker would then release an album that became her ONLY chart topping release, Here's Some Love. The title track was the ONLY single from the set. Released in July, it became her sixth #1 in October just before her 18th birthday. It became a crossover hit by peaking at #82 pop and #25 A.C.. It was her third #1 at MCA, equaling the number of chart toppers she had at Columbia. The Ridin' Rainbows album of 1977 started with the #12 peaking title track. It's A Cowboy Lovin' Night hit #7 while Dancing The Night Away waltzed its way to #16. Columbia gained their final top 40 hit with Tucker with You Are So Beautiful which peaked at #40.
Tucker tasted gold for the first time when her first greatest hits album hit that mark in 1978. Speaking of greatest hits, MCA released one on Tucker in 1978. It yielded her lowest charted single to date with Save Me at #86. Her next album, TNT shows her clad in a leather outfit striking a very seductive pose with the microphone cord running between her legs. The album features some rock and roll material, but the first single was the very country leaning Texas When I Die that peaked at #5 in early 1979. I'm The Singer, You're The Song peaked at #18. The TNT album peaked at #2, unable to dislodge Kenny Rogers' The Gambler from the top. It became the second gold album of her career. Her last album of the 1970s was Tear Me Apart. She was apart from the chart when the two singles failed to make the chart: Lay Back In The Arms Of Someone and Better Late Than Never. Her entrance into the 1980s saw her participate in the Smokey & The Bandit II soundtrack. Her contribution was Pecos Promenade and that hit #10. It features backup by Glen Campbell. Tucker and Campbell started a relationship after that record (she was 22 and he was 44). She released an album in 1980 called Dreamlovers. The title track, as Dream Lover was a duet with Campbell and that peaked at #59. She opened 1981 with her final top ten at MCA called Can I See You Tonight (#4). That had vocal support from Campbell as well. Her final top 40 for MCA was next and that was Love Knows We Tried (#40). Her final studio album for MCA was released in 1981 called Should I Do It. The title track (#50) and Rodeo Girls (#83) were the singles. She ended her eight year association with MCA on a live album note simply called Live. Somebody Buy This Cowgirl A Beer did not chart.
Tucker singed a one album deal with Arista, her third label in 1982. In January 1983, the album Changes was released and a single in Feel Right (#10). The title track almost became a top 40 hit at #41. Baby I'm Yours hit #22 and then Arista dropped Tucker. She went without a label for two years. She signed to Capitol Records in 1985. Her debut for them, Girls Like Me started with One Love At A Time in 1986. It hit #3, becoming her first top five record in five years. Second single, Just Another Love was released in July and that became her seventh chart topper in October right after her 28th birthday and tenth anniversary of her last, Here's Some Love. She added three more #1s in 1988: I Won't Take Less Than Your Love with Paul Davis and Paul Overstreet, If It Don't Come Easy, and Strong Enough To Bend, chart wise her biggest hit. Here's Some Love was rerecorded for her 1990 CD, Greatest Hits Encore. She almost doubled her #1s total, but a whopping NINE singles hit #2. Those were:
1. I'll Come Back As Another Woman-1987
2. Love Me Like You Used To-1987
3. Highway Robbery-1989
4. My Arms Stay Open All Night-1990-her biggest #2 hit
5. Down To My Last Teardrop-1991-Tucker wins the C.M.A. Female Vocalist of the Year Award but is unable to attend because she gave birth to her first child.
6. Without You What Do I Do With Me-1992
7. Two Sparrows In A Hurricane-1992
8. It's A Little Too Late-1993
9. Soon-1993
Her last chart appearance came in 2003 with the #49 peaking Old Weakness Coming On Strong. Her last CD was released last year called Icon. Who is with me and say the Texas Tornado should be in the Country Music Hall of Fame next year? It would be her 45th anniversary in the business. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 2, 1976:
1. HERE'S SOME LOVE-TANYA TUCKER-MCA
2. The Games That Daddies Play-Conway Twitty-MCA
3. You And Me-Tammy Wynette-Epic
4. All I Can Do-Dolly Parton-RCA
5. If You've Got The Money, I've Got The Time-Willie Nelson-Columbia
6. Let's Put It Back Together Again-Jerry Lee Lewis-Mercury
7. Can't You See/I'll Go Back To Her-Waylon Jennings-RCA
8. After The Storm-Wynn Stewart-Playboy
9. A Whole Lotta Things To Sing About-Charley Pride-RCA
10. I Don't Want To Have To Marry You-Jim Ed Brown and Helen Cornelius-RCA