COUNTRY CHARTBEAT (Read 15,033 times)

[countrychartnut]

1. CURRINGTON DOESN'T HURT AT #1: Billy Currington lands his career tenth #1 hit this week with It Don't Hurt Like It Used To. It is the third single from his current album, Summer Forever. It is the second chart topper from the set following 2015's Don't It. Let us list Currington's #1 hits:
1. Must Be Doin' Somethin' Right-2005
2. Good Directions-2007-chart wise, his biggest hit
3. People Are Crazy-2009
4. That's How Country Boys Roll-2010
5. Pretty Good At Drinkin' Beer-2010
6. Let Me Down Easy-2011
7. Hey Girl-2013
8. We Are Tonight-2014
9. Don't It-2015
10. It Don't Hurt Like It Used To-2016
2. A YEAR'S WORTH OF MORGAN: Easing up one to #2 is William Michael Morgan's debut single, I Met A Girl. It is currently on the chart for 52 weeks. It joins these other songs that have spent at least a year on the chart:
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. 52 weeks-I Met A Girl-William Michael Morgan-2016
3. MCGRAW'S DUETS: For the first time, Tim McGraw's duets are neighbors. May We All with Florida Georgia Line is at #14 while at #15, his duet with Big & Rich, Lovin' Lately resides there for the week.
4. RHETT'S STAR: Grabbing the Hot Shot Debut this week is Thomas Rhett at #38 with Star Of The Show. This is from a rereleased version of his current album, Tangled Up. It is the follow up to his #30 peaking Vacation.
5. START A NEW STREAK: After seeing seventeen singles hit the #1 spot between 2010-2016, Blake Shelton's streak came to an end with the #7 peaking She's Got A Way With Words. His third If I'm Honest single, A Guy With A Girl debuts at #48.
6. PARDI FAST: Jon Pardi has the fastest climbing song of the week with Dirt On My Boots. The dirt flies off when the single goes up nine to #40.
7. BRYAN'S FARM IS #1: Luke Bryan has the top selling album of the week with Farm Tour: Here's To The Farmer EP. 32,000 copies were sold last week. This is his fifth EP to chart following:
1. Spring Break 3 It's A Shore Thing-2011-#6
2. Spring Break 4 Suntan City-2012-#2
3. Spring Break 6 Like We Ain't Never-2014-#1
4. Spring Break Checkin' Out-2015-#1
5. Farm Tour Here's To The Farmer-2016-#1
8. YOAKAM'S BACK: Dwight Yoakam enters the country albums chart at #6 with Swimmin' Pools, Movie Stars. 9000 copies were sold. His previous album, Second Hand Heart peaked at #2.
9. A 70S LOOK, PART II: These were the top selling albums during the first week of October during the 1970s:
1970: The Fightin' Side Of Me-Merle Haggard-Capitol
1971: You're My Man-Lynn Anderson-Columbia
1972: A Sunshiny Day With Charley Pride-Charley Pride-RCA
1973: You've Never Been This Far Before-Conway Twitty-MCA
1974: If You Love Me, Let Me Know-Olivia Newton-John-MCA
1975: Red Headed Stranger-Willie Nelson-Columbia
1976: Hasten Down The Wind-Linda Ronstadt-Asylum
1977: Moody Blue-Elvis Presley-RCA
1978: Heartbreaker-Dolly Parton-RCA
1979: Million Mile Reflections-Charlie Daniels Band-Epic
10. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: Montgomery Gentry's first greatest hits album is titled Something To Be Proud Of: The Best Of 1999-2005 from 2005. The 'title track' appeared on their previous album, 2004's You Do Your Thing. It was our top song eleven years ago this week.
The You Do Your Thing album started with If You Ever Stop Loving Me. That was released in February and became their first chart topper in July. It could have been their second #1, but She Couldn't Change Me from 2001 peaked at #2. The title track was the next single and that faltered at #22. They rebounded with the next single, Gone. Released just before the year was out, it kicked off Montgomery Gentry's 2005 on a #3 note. Something To Be Proud Of was the final single. That was released in May and became their second #1 in October for a couple of weeks. Realizing they had enough hits for a greatest hits package, they titled their collection Something To Be Proud Of: The Best Of 1999-2005. The track listing is as follows:
1. She Don't Tell Me To-2006-#5
2. Something To Be Proud Of-2005-#1
3. Gone-2005-#3
4. If You Ever Stop Loving Me-2004-#1
5. Hell Yeah-2003-#4
6. Speed-2003-#5
7. My Town-2002-#5
8. Didn't I
9. She Couldn't Change Me-2001-#2
10. Daddy Won't Sell The Farm-2000-#17
11. Lonely And Gone-1999-#5
12. Hillbilly Shoes-1999-#13
13. Merry Christmas From The Family-2001-#38
Only one single was released and that was She Don't Tell Me To. It peaked at #5 in early 2006. Their first greatest hits album is certified gold. After that, Montgomery Gentry released Some People Change in 2006. The title track kicked off the album and it peaked at #7. Lucky Man was released in January, 2007 and became their third chart topper in July. What Do You Think About That peaked at #3 in early 2008. Their final album for Columbia Records, Back When I Knew It All was released in 2008. The title track was released in February and hit #1 in July. They followed that with another #1 called Roll With Me. It was the ONLY time they charted consecutive chart topping hits. One In Every Crowd was released in early 2009 and became their final top ten at Columbia at #5. A fourth single, Long Line Of Losers hit #25. After a decade at Columbia, Montgomery Gentry parted ways with the label. During this transitional period, they were issued an invitation to join the Grand Ole Opry.
They released two singles that never appeared on any album. Oughta Be More Songs About That was supposed to be from an album called Freedom. It peaked at #40. Another unreleased album called Hits And More: Life Beside A Gravel Road produced the #32 peaking While You're Still Young in 2010. 2010 would be the year Montgomery Gentry would sign to the Average Joe's label. They issued their debut album for them in 2011 called Rebels On The Run. Lead single, Where I Come From was released in July and became their final top ten in early 2012 at #8. They released a second and final single in So Called Life (#45). Friends And Family (2012) produced a lone single in I'll Keep The Kids (#38). After that two album association, they were dropped by Average Joe's in 2013. Blaster Records picked them up and so far, their last album was released in 2015 called Folks Like Us. Their final chart appearances come from that album: Headlights (#40 in 2014) and the title track (#49 in 2015). This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 8, 2005:
1. SOMETHING TO BE PROUD OF-MONTGOMERY GENTRY-COLUMBIA
2. A Real Fine Place To Start-Sara Evans-RCA
3. Redneck Yacht Club-Craig Morgan-Broken Bow
4. Better Life-Keith Urban-Capitol
5. Somebody's Hero-Jamie O'Neal-Capitol
6. Stay With Me Brass Bed-Josh Gracin-Lyric Street
7. As Good As I Once Was-Toby Keith-Show Dog
8. All Jacked Up-Gretchen Wilson-Epic
9. Probably Wouldn't Be This Way-LeAnn Rimes-Curb
10. Skin Sarabeth-Rascal Flatts-Lyric Street

[countrychartnut]

1. STILL HURTING: Billy Currington, for the second week tops the country chart with It Don't Hurt Like It Used To. The last time he had a multi week #1 was back in 2009 with People Are Crazy (two weeks).
2. IN THIRD PLACE: Sliding from its high point at #2 to #8 is William Michael Morgan's I Met A Girl. It is on the chart in its 53rd week. That is the third longest stay for a single on the charts. Just ahead of Morgan is Eddy Arnold's Bouquet Of Roses at 54 weeks. Just ahead of Arnold is Lee Brice's Love Like Crazy at 56 weeks.
3. A HIGH TODAY: Blasting onto the chart at #25 is Brad Paisley with Today. This is from an upcoming album. First single, Without A Fight with Demi Lovato peaked at #16 earlier this year.
4. THEY'RE FAST: Blake Shelton has the fastest climbing song of the week as A Guy With A Girl vaults up twelve spaces to #36.
5. GOING FOR HISTORY: Kelsea Ballerini debuts her fourth The First Time single, Yeah Boy at #56. Her first three singles have hit the top. If Yeah Boy does the same, she will be the first female artist to have a quartet of chart toppers from a debut album. Those first three #1s are: Love Me Like You Mean It (2015), Dibs (2016), and Peter Pan (2016).
6. SOME ALBUM NEWS: We have three albums making their debut on the country albums chart this week. They are:
1. For Better Or Worse by John Prine-#2 with 15,000 sold
2. Vinyl by William Michael Morgan-#5 with 7000 sold
3. Circlin' Back: Celebrating 50 Years-Live At The Ryman Auditorium-#11 with 3000 sold
7. #1 HITS: These were the chart topping songs in 2011, 2006, 2001, 1996, and 1991:
2011: Made In America-Toby Keith-Show Dog/Universal
2006: Would You Go With Me-Josh Turner-MCA
2001: Where I Come From-Alan Jackson-Arista
1996: Believe Me Baby I Lied-Trisha Yearwood-MCA
1991: Keep It Between The Lines-Ricky Van Shelton-Columbia
8. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: Toby Keith has not had a #1 hit over the past five years. His last (so far), Made In America was our top song just five years ago this week.
Keith's entrance into the 2010s includes his 2009 album, American Ride. The title track was the lead single. Released in July, it topped the chart in October for two weeks. Second single, Cryin' For Me Wayman's Song was a tribute to his late friend, Wayman Tisdale who died in May, 2009. Released in October, it peaked at #6 in February, 2010. Third and final single, Every Dog Has Its Day peaked at #15. That broke a streak of five consecutive top tens for Keith. It should be noted that during this time, Keith's Show Dog label merged with Universal Music. His next album, Bullets In The Gun was released in 2010. Trailerhood, the lead single was released in June and proceeded to a #19 peak. The title track was next and that was released in September. It managed to hit #12 just before the year ended. 2011 was started with Somewhere Else. That peaked at #12 as well. The Bullets In The Gun album became the first Keith studio album not to contain a top ten hit. That pattern would repeat itself later on.
NOT with the next album, 2011's Clancy's Tavern. The lead single, Made In America was released in June. It managed to be Keith's twentieth #1 hit in October. Furthermore, it gave him chart toppers in the 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s. Next came his biggest crossover hit, Red Solo Cup. The novelty tune was released in October and peaked at #9 in February, 2012. It peaked at #15 on the pop chart. It is his biggest selling single at double platinum. Beers Ago was the third single and that peaked at #6, so far becoming his last top ten hit. His next album, Hope On The Rocks (2012) yielded just two singles: I Like Girls That Drink Beer (#17) and the title track (#18 in 2013). His stock on the chart did not improve with the 2013 album, Drinks After Work. Only two singles were pulled from the album: the title track (#17) and Shut Up And Hold On (#48 in 2014). 35 MPH Town (2015) had three singles (all in 2015): Drunk Americans (#27), the title track (#42), and Beautiful Stranger (#52).
Keith's last chart appearance came this year with the #47 peaking A Few More Cowboys. This is from an upcoming album. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 15, 2011:
1. MADE IN AMERICA-TOBY KEITH-SHOW DOG/UNIVERSAL
2. Take A Back Road-Rodney Atkins-Curb
3. Long Hot Summer-Keith Urban-Capitol
4. God Gave Me You-Blake Shelton-Warner Bros.
5. Here For A Good Time-George Strait-MCA
6. Just Fishin'-Trace Adkins-Show Dog/Universal
7. Barefoot Blue Jean Night-Jake Owen-RCA
8. Crazy Girl-Eli Young Band-Republic Nashville
9. You And Tequila-Kenny Chesney and Grace Potter-BNA
10. Sparks Fly-Taylor Swift-Big Machine

[countrychartnut]

1. THEY KNOW #1: LoCash score their first #1 this week with I Know Somebody. This is from their current album called The Fighters. It contains I Love This Life, which peaked at #2 earlier this year.
2. HIS SIXTEENTH: Luke Bryan moves up two spots to #2 with Move. This is his sixteenth consecutive top two hit. The last time he missed the top two was back in 2011 when Country Girl Shake It For Me peaked at #4.
3. BROOKS DEBUTS HIGH: Landing the Hot Shot Debut of the week at #19 is Garth Brooks' Baby, Let's Lay Down And Dance. This is from his upcoming Gunslinger album. This is the third time he has debuted at #19 following The Thunder Rolls in 1991 and People Loving People in 2014. This is his fifth top twenty debuting single. He started at #18 in 2005 with Good Ride Cowboy and debuted at the top with More Than A Memory in 2007.
4. OOPS!: After debuting at #25 last week with Today, Brad Paisley drops twelve spaces to #37 this week.
5. BALLERINI'S FAST: Kelsea Ballerini has the fastest climbing song of the week with Yeah Boy. It vaults thirteen spots to #43.
6. #1 CDS: These were the top selling CDs in 2011, 2006, 2001, 1996, and 1991:
2011: Clear As Day-Scotty McCreery-Mercury
2006: It Just Comes Natural-George Strait-MCA
2001: Greatest Hits-Martina McBride-RCA
1996: Blue-LeAnn Rimes-Curb
1991: Ropin' The Wind-Garth Brooks-Capitol
7. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: Reba McEntire celebrated her twentieth year in the music business in 1995 by releasing a covers album. When it was released, it debuted at #1 on the country albums chart. Starting Over was our top seller 21 years ago this week.
The track listing to the album is as follows:
1. Talking In Your Sleep
2. Please Come To Boston
3. On My Own-with Linda Davis, Martina McBride, and Trisha Yearwood-1995-#20
4. I Won't Mention It Again
5. You're No Good
6. Ring On Her Finger, Time On Her Hands-1996-#9
7. Five Hundred Miles From Home
8. Starting Over Again-1996-#19
9. You Keep Me Hangin' On
10. By The Time I Get To Phoenix
The songs were personally picked by McEntire. Using the above track listing, let us reveal who made those songs popular:
1. Talking In Your Sleep-Crystal Gayle-1978-#1 country, #18 pop, and #3 adult contemporary
2. Please Come To Boston-Dave Loggins-1974-#5 pop and #1 A.C.
3. On My Own-Patti LaBelle and Michael McDonald-1986-#1 pop, #2 A.C. and #1 r&b
4. I Won't Mention It Again-Ray Price-1971-#1 country, #42 pop, and #4 A.C.
5. You're No Good-Linda Ronstadt-1975-#1 pop and #10 A.C.
6. Ring On Her Finger, Time On Her Hands-Lee Greenwood-1982-#5 country
7. Five Hundred Miles Away From Home-Bobby Bare-1964-#5 country, #10 pop, and #4 A.C.
8. Starting Over Again-Dolly Parton-1980-#1 country, #36 pop, and #35 A.C.
9. You Keep Me Hangin' On-the Supremes-1967-#1 pop and #1 r&b
10. By The Time I Get To Phoenix-Glen Campbell-1968-#2 country, #26 pop, and #12 A.C.
Lead single, On My Own was released in September, 1995. It enjoyed star power with help from her friends Linda Davis, Martina McBride, and Trisha Yearwood. It was during this time Davis would sign to Arista Records based on the success she had with McEntire with Does He Love You (#1 in 1993). After On My Own peaked, Davis released Some Things Are Meant To Be (#13 in 1996). McBride was charting with Safe In The Arms Of Love (#4). Yearwood was on the charts with I Wanna Go Too Far (#9). The quartet would peak at #20. Second single, Ring On Her Finger, Time On Her Hands was released in November. While Greenwood was charting his version in 1982, McEntire was on the chart with Only You And You Alone (#13). It peaked at #9 in February, 1996. Third single, Starting Over was released in March. Parton's version in 1980 was charting with McEntire's I Still Long To Hold You Now And Then (#40). It made the top twenty at #19. A fourth single was sent to the dance format and that was You Keep Me Hangin' On. It peaked at #2 in early 1997.
As far as the album is concerned, when it was released, it became the first in McEntire's career to open at #1 when 101,000 copies were sold. It stayed at the top for two weeks. It also debuted at #5 on the top 200 chart. It became her seventh #1 country album. Starting Over is certified at the platinum level. McEntire signed to the Nash Icon label in 2014. Her last studio album, Love Somebody was released last year. Her last chart appearance came in 2015 with the #48 peaking Until They Don't Love You. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 21, 1995:
1. STARTING OVER-REBA MCENTIRE-MCA
2. All I Want-Tim McGraw-Curb
3. The Woman In Me-Shania Twain-Mercury
4. Games Rednecks Play-Jeff Foxworthy-Warner Bros.
5. Now That I've Found You: A Collection-Alison Krauss-Rounder
6. Greatest Hits: From The Beginning-Travis Tritt-Warner Bros.
7. John Michael Montgomery-John Michael Montgomery-Atlantic
8. Strong Enough-BlackHawk-Arista
9. The Hits-Garth Brooks-Capitol
10. Something Special-Dolly Parton-Columbia

[countrychartnut]

1. SETTING #1 ON FIRE: Kenny Chesney collects his 27th #1 hit this week with Setting The World On Fire. This is a duet with Pink, who collects her first country chart topper. In the meantime, Chesney moves past Alan Jackson in ninth place with the most chart toppers in country music. Jackson drops to tenth place with his 26 #1s. This is the second single from the upcoming Chesney album, Cosmic Hallelujah. Lead single, Noise peaked at #6 earlier this year.
2. LAY DOWN: After debuting at #19 last week with Baby, Let's lay Down And Dance, Garth Brooks tumbles to #28.
3. A BETTER DEBUT: Little Big Town has the Hot Shot Debut of the week with Better Man at #38. This is from an upcoming album. Their last album, Pain Killer netted them a trio of chart appearances. They are:
1. Day Drinking-2014-#2
2. Girl Crush-2015-#3
3. Pain Killer-2016-#38
4. A TIE: We have two songs taking eight point jumps on the chart this week. They are:
1. A Guy With A Girl-Blake Shelton-#27 to #19
2. Yeah Boy-Kelsea Ballerini-#43 to #35
5. THEY SMOKE #1: Blackberry Smoke lands their second chart topping album this week with Like An Arrow. 18,000 copies were sold last week. In 2015, they landed their first #1 album in Holding All The Roses.
6. A YOUNG CHRISTMAS: Chris Young's first Christmas album, It Must Be Christmas debuts at #4 on the country albums chart. Once I get sales figures, this post will be edited.
7. A 60S LOOK: These were the chart topping songs during the last week of October during the 1960s:
1960: Alabam-Cowboy Copas-Starday
1961: Walk On By-Leroy Van Dyke-Mercury
1962: Mama Sang A Song-Bill Anderson-Decca
1963: Love's Gonna Live Here-Buck Owens-Capitol
1964: I Don't Care Just As Long As You Love Me-Buck Owens-Capitol
1965: Hello Vietnam-Johnny Wright-Decca
1966: Open Up Your Heart-Buck Owens-Capitol
1967: I Don't Wanna Play House-Tammy Wynette-Epic
1968: Next In Line-Conway Twitty-Decca
1969: The Ways To Love A Man-Tammy Wynette-Epic
8. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: Merle Haggard has 71 top ten hits. They range from 1965's My Friends Are Gonna Be Strangers (#10) to 1989's A Better Love Next Time (#4). The latter title peaked at its high point 27 years ago this week.
During Haggard's top 40 reign (1964-1990), he did not have one in 1987. His 1986 album, Out Among The Stars was kicked off with the title track (#21). 1987 was started with his version of the David Houston classic, Almost Persuaded. That peaked at #58. He went to work on the Chill Factor album. Lead single, Twinkle, Twinkle Lucky Star was released in November. It rang the bell at the top in February, 1988. It became his 38th and final chart topping hit. The title track was next and that peaked at #9. Two more singles were released and Haggard saw a dip in chart action: We Never Touch At All (#22 in 1988) and You Babe (#23 in 1989). His final Epic album, 5:01 Blues (1989) started with the title track which became a major hit at #18. A Better Love Next Time was the next single. That was released in June and found a spot at #4 in October. That would be the last time Haggard would break the top ten. If You Want To Be My Woman was released in December and peaked at #23 during the early part of 1990. That would be his last solo top 40 hit. A fourth single in Broken Friend did not chart. Epic Records dropped Haggard in 1990, slightly more than eight years together.
Haggard would sign to his fifth label in Curb Records in 1990. Blue Jungle was his debut album for his new label. When It Rains, It Pours was the lead single. It peaked at #60. Two more singles were released, but did not chart: the title track and A Bar In Bakersfield. The song that got the most attention was Me And Crippled Soldiers. His next album was 1994 (I'll let you guess what year that was released). Only one single charted with In My Next Life (#58). Haggard rerecorded Ramblin' Fever for the album. It was a #2 hit for him in 1977. The album 1996 contains his version of Untanglin' My Mind which was a #4 hit for Clint Black in 1994. Shortly after the release of 1996, Haggard and Curb parted ways. Haggard's next chart appearance came from a two disc set called For The Record: 43 Legendary Hits on BNA Records. He rerecorded his biggest hits on Capitol, MCA, and Epic for the project. A rerecording of That's The Way Love Goes (originally a #1 hit for Haggard in 1984) has Jewel giving the Hag vocal support. It peaked at #56 in 1999. He would be off the chart until 2006. Gretchen Wilson released Politically Uncorrect as the third single to her All Jacked Up album. The duet peaked at #23, becoming Haggard's 92nd and final top 40 hit.
Haggard was inducted to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1994. The Wilson duet was his last chart appearance. His last album was released last year called Django & Jimmie, a duets album with Willie Nelson. It debuted at #1 when 31,000 copies were sold. Sadly, Haggard died this year on his 79th birthday in April. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 28, 1989:
1. High Cotton-Alabama-RCA
2. Ace In The Hole-George Strait-MCA
3. Burnin' Old Memories-Kathy Mattea-Mercury
4. A BETTER LOVE NEXT TIME-MERLE HAGGARD-EPIC
5. Bayou Boys-Eddy Raven-Universal
6. An American Family-Oak Ridge Boys-MCA
7. Let It Be You-Ricky Skaggs-Epic
8. Yellow Roses-Dolly Parton-Columbia
9. 'Til Love Comes Again-Reba McEntire-MCA
10. It's Just A Matter Of Time-Randy Travis-Warner Bros.

[countrychartnut]

1. BRYAN MOVES TO #1: Luke Bryan collects his sixteenth chart topping hit this week with Move. It is the fifth single and fifth #1 off his current album, Kill The Lights. The others:
1. Kick The Dust Up-2015
2. Strip It Down-2015
3. Home Alone Tonight-with Karen Fairchild-2016
4. Huntin', Fishin' & Lovin' Every Day-2016
5. Move-2016
Bryan's last album, Crash My Party also yielded a quintet of #1 hits. They are:
1. Crash My Party-2013
2. Drink A Beer-2013
3. Play It Again-2014-chart wise, his biggest hit
4. Roller Coaster-2014
5. I See You-2015
Bryan becomes the first artist to have two albums contain five chart topping hits. He joins Rodney Crowell (Diamonds & Dirt), Brad Paisley (5th Gear), and Blake Shelton (Based On A True Story) as the other artists to have that many #1s on an album.
2. HIS SIXTH: By easing up one to #2, Cole Swindell remains perfect in sending his singles to the top two. This time, it is the second single from his current album, You Should Be Here. That is Middle Of A Memory. The lead single, the title track reached #1 earlier this year. His debut album, Cole Swindell yielded the following top twos:
1. Chillin' It-2014-#2
2. Hope You Get Lonely Tonight-2014-#1
3. Ain't Worth The Whiskey-2015-#1
4. Let Me See Ya Girl-2015-#2
3. PAISLEY'S FAST: Brad Paisley has the fastest climbing song with Today (#31 to #26).
4. YESTERDAY DEBUTS: Hunter Hayes has the Hot Shot Debut of the week with Yesterday's Song. This is from an upcoming album. His last chart appearance was from last year called 21. Ironically, it peaked at #21.
5. THEIR CURB DEBUT: Love And Theft debut at #60 with Candyland. This is their debut Curb single. They signed to the label while their last single, Whiskey On My Breath (#42 in 2015) was charting.
6. A C.M.A. DEBUT: The 50th C.M.A. ZinePak debuts on the country albums chart at #5 after 5000 copies were sold last week.
7. MORE CHRISTMAS: Rascal Flatts' first Christmas album, The Greatest Gift Of All debuts at #7 with 4000 copies sold.
8. A 60S LOOK, PART II: These were the top selling albums during the first week of November during the 1960s:
1964: The Best Of Jim Reeves-Jim Reeves-RCA
1965: My World-Eddy Arnold-RCA
1966: Another Bridge To Burn-Ray Price-Columbia
1967: Turn The World Around-Eddy Arnold-RCA
1968: Harper Valley P.T.A.-Jeannie C. Riley-Plantation
1969: Johnny Cash At San Quentin-Johnny Cash-Columbia
9. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: Steve Wariner's first single, I'm Already Taken was released in 1978. It bombed at #63. He rerecorded it two decades later. This time, it peaked at #3. It was in our top five seventeen years ago this week.
Wariner signed to the RCA label in 1976. At first, RCA just released singles instead of putting out an album. I'm Already Taken was released in April, 1978 and gave Wariner his first chart appearance at #63. Four more singles were released and they all charted (none of them becoming successes). By this time, Conway Twitty recorded his version of I'm Already Taken for his 1981 album, Mr. T.. That album produced two #1s: Tight Fittin' Jeans (1981) and Red Neckin' Love Makin' Night (1982). Between those Twitty singles, Wariner landed his first chart topper in All Roads Lead To You (1981). That came from his self-titled debut album in 1982.
Fast forward fifteen years. In 1997, Wariner signed to Capitol Records after a two album deal with the Arista label. However, his first musical statement came via a duet with Anita Cochran with What If I Said. That was on her Back To You album. That was released in November, 1997 and topped the chart in February, 1998. That became her ONLY #1 hit while becoming Wariner's tenth and final chart topper and first since 1989's I Got Dreams. Wariner's first Capitol single, Holes In The Floor Of Heaven was released in March. It climbed all the way to #2 for two weeks, unable to dislodge This Kiss by Faith Hill and George Strait's I Just Want To Dance With You from the top. The title track, Burnin' The Roadhouse Down was a duet with Garth Brooks. Brooks repaid Wariner because Wariner wrote Longneck Bottle, a #1 hit for Brooks in 1997. Their duet peaked at #26. Final single, Every Little Whisper peaked at #36. The C.M.A. named Holes In The Floor Of Heaven its Song and Single of the Year.
The Two Teardrops album was released in 1999. Its lead single was the title track. That was released in February, 1999. It proceeded to a #2 peak. Only Please Remember Me by Tim McGraw prevented Wariner from getting a #1 here. It also became Wariner's biggest crossover hit, peaking at #30 pop. The second time around for I'm Already Taken was next. That was released in July and found a spot at #3 in November. It became a crossover hit, peaking at #42 pop. Clint Black decided to release his duet with Wariner called Been There. That came from Black's D'lectrified album. That was released in January, 2000 and peaked at #5. It was another case of Wariner benefitting from an artist he helped out earlier. Wariner wrote Nothin' But The Taillights for Black which became a #1 hit for Black in 1998. Wariner released the Faith in You album. The title track peaked at #28 while Katie Wants A Fast One was another Brooks duet. That peaked at #22. In 2002, after five years at Capitol, Wariner was dropped by the label. A greatest hits album in The Hits Collection was released in 2003.
Wariner started his Selectone label in 2002. His debut for the new label was Steal Another Day. It has produced his final chart appearances (both in 2003): I'm Your Man (#58) and Snowfall On The Sand (#52). He has released another five albums. They are:
1. This Real Life-2005
2. My Tribute To Chet Atkins-2009
3. Guitar Laboratory-2011
4. It Ain't All Bad-2013
5. All Over The Map-2016
This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 6, 1999:
1. I Love You-Martina McBride-RCA
2. Something Like That-Tim McGraw-Curb
3. I'M ALREADY TAKEN-STEVE WARINER-CAPITOL
4. What Do You Say To That-George Strait-MCA
5. Lonely And Gone-Montgomery Gentry-Columbia
6. Home To You-John Michael Montgomery-Atlantic
7. When I Said I Do-Clint Black and Lisa Hartman Black-RCA
8. Ready To Run-Dixie Chicks-Monument
9. She's In Love-Mark Wills-Mercury
10. He Didn't Have To Be-Brad Paisley-Arista

[countrychartnut]

1. MOVE STAYS AT #1: Luke Bryan remains at #1 for a second week with his fifth Kill The Lights single, Move. As far as weeks at #1 are concerned, the other four chart toppers off the album are:
1. Kick The Dust Up-2015-1 week
2. Strip It Down-2015-2
3. Home Alone Tonight-with Karen Fairchild-2016-2
4. Huntin', Fishin', And Lovin' Every Day-2016-1
5. Move-2 so far
2. C.M.A. CHART: This year's winners on this week's chart:
11. Dirty Laundry-Carrie Underwood-Female Vocalist of the Year and C.M.A. Hostess
15. 80s Mercedes-Marren Morris-New Artist of the Year
16. Star Of The Show-Thomas Rhett-Single of the Year
18. Kill A Word-Eric Church and Rhiannon Giddens-Album of the Year for Church
20. Parachute-Chris Stapleton-Male Vocalist of the Year and Music Video
22. Today-Brad Paisley-C.M.A. Host
24. 21 Summer-Brothers Osborne-Vocal Duo of the Year
27. Baby, Let's Lay Down And Dance-Garth Brooks-Entertainer of the Year
38. Better Man-Little Big Town-Vocal Group of the Year
57. Good At Tonight-David Nail and Brothers Osborne-Vocal Duo of the Year
3. RADIO STAR NOW?: Chris Stapleton lands his second top twenty single with Parachute at #20. It is the follow up to his first top ten, Nobody To Blame (#10).
4. A NEW PEAK: After debuting at #25 five weeks ago, Brad Paisley's Today takes a four point jump to #22.
5. BETTER FAST: Little Big Town has the fastest climbing song of the week with Better Man (#46 to #38).
6. A COSMIC #1: Kenny Chesney lands his fourteenth #1 album with Cosmic Hallelujah. 79,000 copies were sold last week. The list of those chart topping albums:
1. Greatest Hits-2000
2. No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems-2002
3. When The Sun Goes Down-2004
4. Be As You Are: Songs From An Old Blue Chair-2005
5. The Road And The Radio-2005
6. Live: Live Those Songs Again-2006
7. Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates-2007
8. Lucky Old Sun-2008
9. Greatest Hits II-2009
10. Hemingway's Whiskey-2010
11. Welcome To The Fishbowl-2012
12. Life On A Rock-2013
13. The Big Revival-2014
14. Cosmic Hallelujah-2016
7. MORE ALBUMS DEBUT: We have seven albums making their debuts as well. They are:
1. Glow-Brett Eldredge-#2 with 14,000 sold
2. Down Home Sessions III-Cole Swindell-#5 with 11,000 sold
3. 'Tis The Season-Jimmy Buffett-#6 with 10,000 sold
4. Underground-Kip Moore-#12 with 7000 sold
5. Good Country Music-Frank Foster-#13 with 6000 sold
6. A Very Kacey Christmas-Kacey Musgraves-#16 with 5000 sold
7. To Celebrate Christmas-Jennifer Nettles-#17 with 5000 sold
8. #1 HITS: These were the chart topping songs in 2011, 2006, 2001, 1996, and 1991:
2011: God Gave Me You-Blake Shelton-Warner Bros.
2006: Before He Cheats-Carrie Underwood-Arista
2001: Angry All The Time-Tim McGraw-Curb
1996: Like The Rain-Clint Black-RCA
1991: Someday-Alan Jackson-Arista
9. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: Rosanne Cash is the first female artist to score a quartet of #1 hits from an album. The fourth and final single from King's Record Shop, Runaway Train was our top song 28 years ago this week.
In 1987, Cash was basking in the success of her 1985 album, Rhythm & Romance. That album contained a quartet of top five hits. They are:
1. I Don't Know Why You Don't Want Me-1985-#1-Grammy Award winner
2. Never Be You-1986-#1-Billboard's top single of the year
3. Hold On-1986-#5
4. Second To No One-1986-#5
A greatest hits album was talked about during this time, but her then-husband/producer, Rodney Crowell shelved the idea. This is what he said at the time:
"I was driving home one night and all of a sudden, out of the sky, a thunderbolt flashed into my mind, and I said to myself, 'Rosie is an artist! Really good artists don't put out Greatest Hits records.' So, I came home, and after about three hours of 'I Will Not Be Denied', Rosanne started leading me around and we began to conceive what turned into King's Record Shop."
King's Record Shop was located in Louisville, Kentucky. After Cash and Crowell finished the album, they chose The Way We Make A Broken Heart as the first single. That was released in June, 1987 and topped the chart in October. That became her sixth #1 hit. Second single, Tennessee Flat Top Box was released in November. At the time of recording the song, Cash thought her father, Johnny Cash wrote the tune. After all, it was a #11 hit for him in 1962. Crowell did find a tape of Johnny version and of course, Johnny indeed wrote the tune. That topped the chart in February, 1988. Even Johnny took out an ad in Billboard thanking his daughter for having success with the song. Cash's name would soon be on the chart again. This time, it was a duet with Crowell called It's Such A Small World. That was the lead single to his historic Diamonds & Dirt album. Released just before Tennessee Flat Top Box hit the top, it was a #1 for the couple in April. Finally, not only did Crowell score a top ten for the first time in his career, but it was a chart topper as well. Getting back to Cash, she released the third single in If You Change Your Mind. That was released in March and hit the top of the chart in July. Just like Rhythm & Romance, King's Record Shop saw a fourth single. Runaway Train was released in August and topped the chart in November. History was in the making and Cash became the first female artist to launch four #1s off an album. In December, Billboard named Cash the Country Singles Artist of the Year.
Remember the opposition to the greatest hits album from 1987? Well, Cash warmed up to the idea for her next album. This is what she said about it:
"After ten years, it was time. I like the symmetry of doin' it in a ten-year period. This is the first one I've had out. The record company's asked me about it before and I never wanted to do it-I really hated the idea. But to compile ten years' worth of work, I thought it was worth it. Also, I'm proud that I've got ten years' worth of that kind of work to put together on an album."
Hits 1979-1989 contained ten hits and two new songs. The first single, I Don't Want To Spoil The Party became the first Beatles tune (written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney) to top the country chart in June, 1989. That became her eleventh and final #1 hit. Cash's chart topping streak came to an end with the other new song, Black & White (#37). Her mood turned darker with the 1990 album, Interiors. Her last chart appearances come from there: What We Really Want (#39 in 1990 and her final top 40 hit) and On The Surface (#69 in 1991). Cash and Crowell divorced in 1992 after thirteen years of marriage. Her last album was released in 2014 called The River & The Thread. Two other female artists have landed a quartet of #1s from their albums. They are:
1. Shania Twain-The Woman In Me:
a. Any Man Of Mine-1995
b. If You're Not In It For Love I'm Outta Here-1996
c. You Win My Love-1996
d. No One Needs To Know-1996
2. Carrie Underwood-Carnival Ride:
a. So Small-2007
b. All American Girl-2008
c. Last Name-2008
d. Just A Dream-2008
This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 12, 1988:
1. RUNAWAY TRAIN-ROSANNE CASH-COLUMBIA
2. New Shade Of Blue-Southern Pacific-Warner Bros.
3. I'll Leave This World Loving You-Ricky Van Shelton-Columbia
4. I've Been Lookin'-Nitty Gritty Dirt Band-Warner Bros.
5. I Know How He Feels-Reba McEntire-MCA
6. If You Ain't Lovin', You Ain't Livin'-George Strait-MCA
7. I Wish That I Could Fall In Love Today-Barbara Mandrell-Capitol
8. Chiseled In Stone-Vern Gosdin-Columbia
9. That's That-Michael Johnson-RCA
10. Desperately-Don Williams-Capitol

[countrychartnut]

1. MIDDLE OF A #1: Cole Swindell collects his fourth #1 this week with Middle Of A Memory. It is the second single to his You Should Be Here album. It is also the second #1 off the album following the title track. He has now matched the number of chart toppers with his debut album, Cole Swindell. That produced Hope You Get Lonely Tonight (2014) and Ain't Worth The Whiskey (2015).
2. HIS FOURTH, HIS THIRD: Ronnie Dunn lands his fourth top 40 hit with Damn Drunk at #40. It features his one time singing partner, Kix Brooks who lands his third top 40 hit. Their top 40 hits since 2010 are:
1. Dunn:
a. Bleed Red-2011-#10
b. Cost Of Livin'-2011-#19
c. Let The Cowboy Rock-2012-#31
d. Damn Drunk-with Brooks-#40 so far
2. Brooks:
a. New To This Town-with Joe Walsh-2012-#31
b. Bring It On Home-2012-#39
c. Damn Drunk-with Dunn-2016-#40 so far
3. A TIE: We have three songs taking four point jumps for fastest climbers of the week. They are:
1. Seein' Red-Dustin Lynch-#23 to #19
2. Better Man-Little Big Town-#38 to #34
3. For Her-Chris Lane-#54 to #50
4. BLACK DEBUTS: Dierks Bentley has the Hot Shot Debut of the week with Black at #53. It is the title track and third single to his current album. It follows the #1s: Somewhere On A Beach and Different For Girls with Elle King from this year. The last time an artist charted with a color was Taylor Swift. She took Red to #7 in 2013.
5. CHURCH IS LIVE: Eric Church debuts at #4 on the country albums chart with Mr. Misunderstood: On The Rocks, Live And Mostly Unplugged. 9000 copies were sold last week.
6. #1S ARE #5: A various artist collection called NOW That's What I Call Country #1s lands at #5 with 7000 sold.
7. A STRAIT CHRISTMAS: Making his top 25 debut on the country albums chart is George Strait with Strait For The Holidays at #14. Once I get sales figures, this post will be edited. This is his sixth Christmas album to chart following:
1. Merry Christmas Strait To You-1986-#17
2. Merry Christmas Wherever You Are-1999-#10
3. 20th Century Masters: The Christmas Collection-2003-#60
4. Classic Christmas-2008-#16
5. Christmas Time: 15 Holiday Favorites-2011-#62
6. Strait For The Holidays-2016-#14 so far
8. #1 CDS: These were the top selling CDs in 2011, 2006, 2001, 1996, and 1991:
2011: Clancy's Tavern-Toby Keith-Show Dog/Universal
2006: Songs Of Inspiration-Alabama-RCA
2001: Greatest Hits Volume III: I'm A Survivor-Reba McEntire-MCA
1996: Blue-LeAnn Rimes-Curb
1991: Ropin' The Wind-Garth Brooks-Capitol
9. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: Kenny Rogers was on the Reprise label between 1988-1993. He had only one top ten hit for the label, The Vows Go Unbroken Always True To You. That was our #8 song 27 years ago this week.
Prior to Reprise, Rogers was at RCA Records between 1983-1988. His hit list is as follows:
1. Islands In The Stream-with Dolly Parton-1983-#1
2. Buried Treasure-1984-#3
3. Eyes That See In The Dark-1984-#30
4. Evening Star-1984-#11
5. Crazy-1985-#1
6. Real Love-with Dolly Parton-1985-#1
7. Morning Desire-1986-#1-the top song of the year according to the American Country Countdown
8. Tomb Of The Unknown Love-1986-#1
9. Twenty Years Ago-1987-#2
10. Make No Mistake, She's Mine-with Ronnie Milsap-1987-#1
11. I Prefer The Moonlight-1987-#2
12. The Factory-1988-#6
Rogers' Reprise debut album, Something Inside So Strong started with When You Put Your Heart In It. Released in August 1988, it peaked at #26 during the fall. Rogers would not release another single until the spring of 1989. That was Planet Texas. The cosmic cowboy song (Big & Rich, where were you?) managed a #30 peak and then the album was released. Third single, The Vows Go Unbroken Always True To You was released in August. It found a spot at #8 in November. With its top ten placing, Rogers had a top ten for every year during the 1980s. He would not see the top ten again until 2000. Included with this album was his duet with Anne Murray called If I Ever Fall In Love Again. That was a Murray single because it came from her Greatest Hits Volume II album. The duet peaked at #28. He kicked off 1990 with another duet, this time with Holly Dunn. They peaked at #25 with Maybe. Rogers would release the Love Is Strange album in 1990. The title track was a remake and another duet with Parton. The original was done by Mickey & Sylvia who took their version to #11 pop in 1957. Rogers and Parton took their version to #21 in 1990. Lay My Body Down bombed at #69. Two more singles were released, but did not chart. One more album was released on Reprise and that was Back Home Again (John Denver, where are you?). Only one single charted and that was If You Want To Find Love. That was released in November, 1991 and almost became a top ten during the early part of 1992. Instead, it peaked at #11. Two more singles were released, but did not chart.
Rogers would sign to Giant Records for a one album deal in 1993. That was If Only My Heart Had A Voice. The two singles that were released did not dent the chart. Across My Heart was released on the Magnatone label in 1997. Rogers went nowhere with that album. He decided to start his Dreamcatcher label in 1998. He released the She Rides Wild Horses album in 1999. Lead single, The Greatest was a baseball song. That was released in April and climbed all the way to #26, becoming his first top 40 hit in seven years. Slow Dance More fizzled at #67. Then, a comeback was in order in a big way. Buy Me A Rose was released in October, 1999. Alison Krauss and Billy Dean lend their vocals on the record. Buy Me A Rose topped the chart in May, 2000 and was Rogers' first #1 since Make No Mistake, She's Mine. It was his 21st and final #1. To date, he became the oldest male artist to have a #1 at the age of 61. Rogers would release two more albums and seven more singles on Dreamcatcher. They are:
1. There You Go Again-2000:
a. He Will, She Knows-2000-#32
b. There You Go Again-2001-#26
c. Beautiful All That You Could Be-2001-#47
d. Homeland-2001-#39
2. Back To The Well-2003:
a. Harder Cards-2002-#47
b. I'm Missing You-2003-#49
c. Handprints On The Wall-2003-#40
He decided to close his label after five years. He released 42 Ultimate Hits on Capitol Records. A new song made a chart appearance and that was My World Is Over, a duet with Whitney Duncan (#60 in 2004). He stayed with Capitol for the 2006 album, Water & Bridges. Lead single, I Can't Unlove You was released in December, 2005 and cracked the top 20 at #17 in 2006. Two more singles charted: The Last Ten Years Superman (#56 in 2006) and Calling Me with Don Henley (#53 in 2007). Rogers would be off the chart for six years.
In 2013, Rogers was inducted to the Country Music Hall of Fame. He signed to the Warner Bros. label that year and charted with the title track to his album, You Can't Make Old Friends, a duet with Parton. To date, it is his last chart appearance at #57. He announced in 2015 that he will be embarking on a farewell tour in 2016. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 18, 1989:
1. Bayou Boys-Eddy Raven-Universal
2. Yellow Roses-Dolly Parton-Columbia
3. It's Just A Matter Of Time-Randy Travis-Warner Bros.
4. 'Til Love Comes Again-Reba McEntire-MCA
5. All The Fun-Paul Overstreet-RCA
6. If Tomorrow Never Comes-Garth Brooks-Capitol
7. The Race Is On-Sawyer Brown-Capitol
8. THE VOWS GO UNBROKEN ALWAYS TRUE TO YOU-KENNY ROGERS-REPRISE
9. Two Dozen Roses-Shenandoah-Columbia
10. Never Had It So Good-Mary Chapin Carpenter-Columbia

[countrychartnut]

1. SUMMERTIME IN FALL: Jason Aldean notches his sixteenth #1 hit this week with A Little More Summertime. It is the second single from his current album, They Don't Know. Lead single, Lights Come On topped the chart in July.
2. THEIR ELEVENTH, HIS THIRTY-SIXTH: Florida Georgia Line and Tim McGraw land at #2 with their duet, May We All. It is the eleventh time Florida Georgia Line has cracked the top two (9 #1s and 2 #2s) and McGraw's 36th time of having a top two hit (27 #1s and 9 #2s).
3. HER TWENTY-FIFTH: Carrie Underwood collects her 25th top ten this week with Dirty Laundry at #10. It is the fourth Storyteller single. It is also her 25th consecutive top ten hit.
4. BLACK IS FAST: Dierks Bentley has the fastest climbing song of the week with Black (#53 to #39).
5. LAMBERT DEBUTS: Grabbing the Hot Shot Debut of the week is Miranda Lambert with We Should Be Friends at #50. It is the second single to her upcoming album, The Weight Of These Wings. Lead single, Vice peaked at #11.
6. A FOLLOW UP TO THEIR FIRST #1: LoCash debut at #51 with Ring On Every Finger. It is the follow up to their first chart topper, I Know Somebody.
7. A FOLLOW UP TO HIS FIRST #2: William Michael Morgan debuts at #59 with Missing. It is the follow up to his first #2 hit, I Met A Girl.
8. A BROOKS/YEARWOOD CHRISTMAS: Debuting at the top of the country albums chart is Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood with Christmas Together. 21,000 copies were sold last week.
9. OTHER ALBUMS DEBUT, TOO: Two more albums make their debuts this week. They are:
1. Full Of Even More Cheer-Home Free-#2 with 13,000 sold
2. Tattooed Heart-Ronnie Dunn-#3 with 13,000 sold
10. #1 HITS: These were the chart topping songs in 2011, 2006, 2001, 1996, and 1991:
2011: Sparks Fly-Taylor Swift-Big Machine
2006: Before He Cheats-Carrie Underwood-Arista
2001: I Wanna Talk About Me-Toby Keith-DreamWorks
1996: Strawberry Wine-Deana Carter-Capitol
1991: Shameless-Garth Brooks-Capitol
11. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: Travis Tritt released his first greatest hits album in 1995. A new song from the set, Sometimes She Forgets was our #7 song twenty-one years ago this week.
The track listing for Greatest Hits: From The Beginning is as follows:
1. Here's A Quarter Call Someone Who Cares-1991-#2
2. Anymore-1991-#1-chart wise, his biggest hit
3. Put Some Drive In Your Country-1990-#28
4. Foolish Pride-1994-#1
5. The Whiskey Ain't Workin'-with Marty Stuart-1992-#2
6. Help Me Hold On-1990-#1
7. I'm Gonna Be Somebody-1990-#2
8. Only You And You Alone-1996-#51
9. T-R-O-U-B-L-E-1993-#13
10. Tell Me I Was Dreaming-1995-#2
11. Country Club-1989-#9
12. Can I Trust You With My Heart-1993-#1
13. Sometimes She Forgets-1995-#7
14. Ten Feet Tall And Bulletproof-1994-#22
15. Drift Off To Dream-1991-#3
Sometimes She Forgets was written by Steve Earle. He recorded it for his 1995 album, Train A Comin'. He was not a stranger to having other artists record his songs. Patty Loveless took Earle's composition, A Little Bit In Love to #2 in 1988. In Tritt's hands, Sometimes She Forgets was released in August and found a spot at #7 in November. It was his fourteenth top ten hit. The other new song, Only You And You Alone was a remake. The Platters took their version to #5 pop and #1 r&b in 1955. That became a top 40 hit three times in country music: #34 for Freddie Hart in 1978, #13 for Reba McEntire in 1982, and #36 for the Statler Brothers in 1983. Tritt's version was released in December and it bombed at #51 in early 1996. The greatest hits album is certified at the platinum level. His next top 40 hit came from Marty Stuart's album, Honky Tonkin's What I Do Best. The title track, a duet peaked at #23. It gave Tritt more time for his next album, The Restless Kind. Its lead single, More Than You'll Ever Know was released in July and peaked at #3 during the fall. Where Corn Don't Grow was released just before 1996 ended. That was originally done by Waylon Jennings who took his version to #67 in 1990. It opened Tritt's 1997 on a #6 note. That would be his final top ten at Warner Bros.. He duetted with Bill Engvall with Here's Your Sign Get The Picture. That was the title track to Engvall's album that peaked at #29. She's Going Home With Me hit #24 while his duet with Lari White, Helping Me Get Over You peaked at #18. Shortly after that, White was dropped by RCA Records and signed to the Lyric Street label. A fifth single, Still In Love With You kicked off Tritt's 1998 on a #23 note. A final Warner Bros. album was released in 1998 called No More Looking Over My Shoulder. Lead single, If I Lost You was released in August and peaked at #29 during the fall. The title track was released in January, 1999 and became his final top 40 hit at Warner Bros. at #38. His final Warner Bros. single, Start The Car fizzled at #52. A King Of The Hill soundtrack single, Move It On Over was a duet with George Thorogood. It peaked at #66. After a decade together, Warner Bros. and Tritt parted ways in 1999.
Tritt signed to Columbia Records in 2000. His debut album for them, Down The Road I Go started with Best Of Intentions. That was released in July and climbed all the way to #1 in November. It was his fifth and final chart topper and the first since 1994's Foolish Pride. It's A Great Day To Be Alive was released in December. It held the #2 position for four weeks, becoming his biggest runner up hit. He was blocked from the top by Jessica Andrews' Who I Am and Ain't Nothing 'Bout You by Brooks & Dunn for the other three weeks. After that near miss, Love Of A Woman did nearly well, holding the #2 spot for three weeks. He was denied the top spot by Tim McGraw's Angry All The Time for a week and I Wanna Talk About Me by Toby Keith for the other two weeks. The era ended on 2002 with the fourth single, Modern Day Bonnie And Clyde, a #8 hit. His second Columbia album, Strong Enough was released in 2002. Strong Enough To Be Your Man was released in July and broke the top 20 at #13. It became his last major hit. Country Ain't Country kicked off his 2003 on a #26 note. My Honky Tonk History was his final Columbia album. That contained a trio of top 40 hits: The Girl's Gone Wild (#28 in 2004), What Say You with John Mellancamp (#21 in 2004), and I See Me (#32 in 2005). After five years, Tritt was dropped by Columbia Records.
Category 5 Records signed Tritt in 2006. A lone album in The Storm was released in 2007. You Never Take Me Dancing became his final chart appearance that year and it peaked at #27. Another single failed to dent the chart and that was Something Stronger Than Me. He did not release another album until 2013 when The Calm After (on Post Oak Records) was released. One single was released, but did not chart. You can find Sometimes She Forgets on his The Very Best Of Travis Tritt from 2007. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 25, 1995:
1. Check Yes Or No-George Strait-MCA
2. Who Needs You Baby-Clay Walker-Giant
3. Tall, Tall Trees-Alan Jackson-Arista
4. Back In Your Arms Again-Lorrie Morgan-BNA
5. Whiskey Under The Bridge-Brooks & Dunn-Arista
6. Life Goes On-Little Texas-Warner Bros.
7. SOMETIMES SHE FORGETS-TRAVIS TRITT-WARNER BROS.
8. That's As Close As I'll Get TO Loving You-Aaron Tippin-RCA
9. I Let Her Lie-Daryle Singletary-Giant
10. In Pictures-Alabama-RCA

P.S.: Happy Thanksgiving!

[countrychartnut]

1. AN F.G.L. #1: For the tenth time in their career, Florida Georgia Line has the top song in country. This time, it is May We All, a duet with Tim McGraw. It is the second single from Dig Your Roots. It is the second chart topper from the album following H.O.L.Y. from this year. It is the first #1 duet for Florida Georgia Line. It could have been their second, but This Is How We Roll with Luke Bryan peaked at #2 in 2014. This is McGraw's third #1 duet following: It's Your Love with Faith Hill in 1997 and Highway Don't Care with Taylor Swift in 2013. Furthermore, Florida Georgia Line becomes the fourth duo with at least ten chart topping hits. The others:
1. Brooks & Dunn-20
2. The Judds-14
3. Bellamy Brothers-10
4. Florida Georgia Line-10
2. BMLG DOMINATION: While Florida Georgia Line is at #1, at #2 is their labelmate, Brett Young with his first single, Sleep Without You.
3. HER FRIENDS ARE FAST: Miranda Lambert has the fastest climbing song of the week with We Should Be Friends (#50 to #41).
4. CURRINGTON'S HIGH: Billy Currington has the Hot Shot Debut of the week with Do I Make You Wanna at #49. It is the fourth Summer Forever single. It follows:
1. Don't It-2015-#1
2. Drinkin' Town With A Football Problem-2015-#30
3. It Don't Hurt Like It Used To-2016-#1
5. LAMBERT'S PERFECT: Miranda Lambert debuts at #1 on the country albums chart with her sixth album, The Weight Of These Wings. 122,000 copies were sold last week. So far, all of her albums have started at the top. They are:
1. Kerosene-2005
2. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend-2007
3. Revolution-2009
4. Four The Record-2011
5. Platinum-2014
6. The Weight Of These Wings-2016
6. STRAIT TO #3: George Strait debuts at #3 with the WalMart only release, Strait Out Of The Box: Part 2. 21,000 copies were sold. The first installment, released in 1995 reached #9. That one is certified at the eight times platinum level.
7. HILL'S BACK: Faith Hill debuts at #22 with Deep Tracks. 4000 were sold last week. This is her first album to chart in eight years. A Christmas album, Joy To The World peaked at #2 in 2008.
8. A 50S LOOK: These were the chart topping songs during the last week of November during the 1950s:
1950: I'm Movin' On-Hank Snow-RCA
1951: Slow Poke-Pee Wee King-RCA
1952: Jambalaya On The Bayou-Hank Williams-MGM
1953: I Forgot More Than You'll Ever Know-the Davis Sisters
1954: More And More-Webb Pierce-Decca
1955: Love, Love, Love-Webb Pierce-Decca
1956: Singing The Blues-Marty Robbins-Columbia
1957: Jailhouse Rock-Elvis Presley-RCA
1958: City Lights-Ray Price-Columbia
1959: Country Girl-Faron Young-Capitol
9. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: George Strait holds the record for topping the charts for the most consecutive years (at 19 between 1982-2000). He came dangerously close to not having a #1 hit in 1994. He did so with The Big One, our top song from 22 years ago this week (with four weeks to spare).
Let us review twelve 'Strait' years of chart topping hits from 1982-1993. Ready?
1982: Fool Hearted Memory
1983: A Fire I Can't Put Out
1984: You Look So Good In Love, Right Or Wrong, and Let's Fall To Pieces Together
1985: Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind and The Chair
1986: Nobody In His Right Mind Would've Left Her and It Ain't Cool To Be Crazy About You
1987: Ocean Front Property, All My Ex's Live In Texas, and Am I Blue
1988: Famous Last Words Of A Fool, Baby Blue, and If You Ain't Lovin', You Ain't Livin'
1989: Baby's Gotten Good At Goodbye, What's Going On In Your World, and Ace In The Hole
1990: Love Without End, Amen-chart wise, his biggest hit and I've Come To Expect It From You
1991: If I Know Me and You Know Me Better Than That
1992: I Cross My Heart
1993: Heartland and Easy Come, Easy Go
In 1993, Strait released the Easy Come, Easy Go album. The title track was the lead single. That was released in August and topped the chart for two weeks in October. Just before the year ended, he released I'd Like To Have That One Back. It started Strait's 1994 on a #3 note. He remade Lovebug, originally a #6 hit for George Jones in 1965. This time, it peaked at #8 for Strait. The era ended with the #4 peaking The Man In Love With You. It was time to release a new album, this time it was titled Lead On. The Big One was released in September and hit the top in December, becoming Strait's 26th chart topping hit. Even more important, it was his lucky thirteenth consecutive year of topping the country chart. He had four hits in 1994, the last being his only #1. You Can't Make A Heart Love Somebody was released in December and topped the chart in March, 1995. His chart topping streak of years was preserved with that hit. Adalida hit #3 during the summer while the title track topped off at #7. Seeing since The Big One and You Can't Make A Heart Love Somebody continued the streak, let us complete the list of those years Strait had a #1 during the streak. Ready?
1994: The Big One
1995: You Can't Make A Heart Love Somebody and Check Yes Or No
1996: Blue Clear Sky and Carried Away
1997: One Night At A Time and Carrying Your Love With Me
1998: Round About Way and I Just Want To Dance With You
1999: Write This Down
2000: The Best Day
In 2000, Strait released a self-titled album. Lead single, Go On peaked at #2 for three weeks. It played bridesmaid to Aaron Tippin's Kiss This for a week and John Michael Montgomery's The Little Girl for the other two weeks. Don't Make Me Come Over There And Love you peaked at #17 in 2001. It ended a streak of twelve consecutive top ten hits. If You Can Do Anything Else hit #5. The Road Less Traveled was released in 2001. Its lead single, Run was released in September. It climbed all the way to #2 for four weeks, becoming his biggest runner up hit. It stayed at that position for two weeks in December while Toby Keith was tops with I Wanna Talk About Me. The other two weeks it spent at #2 were in January, 2002 while Alan Jackson was #1 with Where Were You When The World Stopped Turning. With three hits that peaked at #17, #5, and #2 in 2001, Strait's consecutive year streak of having a #1 stopped at nineteen years. It was his first year of not having a #1 since his debut year of 1981. The Road Less Traveled did yield two chart toppers in 2002: Living And Living Well and She'll Leave You With A Smile.
Strait would continue to have #1s until 2009. They are:
1. I Hate Everything-2004-from 50 Number Ones
2. She Let Herself Go-2006-shortly after this one peaked, Strait was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame
3. Give It Away-2006-with this, Strait breaks Conway Twitty's record of #1s with 41
4. It Just Comes Natural-2007
5. I Saw God Today-2008
6. River Of Love-2009-Strait is named Artist of the Decade by the A.C.M.
Strait announced a farewell tour in 2012. The Cowboy Rides Away Tour lasted from 2013-2014. He won the Entertainer of the Year Award from the C.M.A. in 2013 and the A.C.M. in 2014. His last album, Cold Beer Conversation was released in 2015. Two singles have charted: Let It Go (#46) and the title track (#33). He just released Strait Out Of The Box: Part 2. This is what the chart looked like then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 3, 1994:
1. THE BIG ONE-GEORGE STRAIT-MCA
2. If You've Got Love-John Michael Montgomery-Atlantic
3. If I Could Make A Living-Clay Walker-Giant
4. Shut Up And Kiss Me-Mary Chapin Carpenter-Columbia
5. When Love Finds You-Vince Gill-MCA
6. Untanglin' My Mind-Clint Black-RCA
7. We Can't Love Like This Anymore-Alabama-RCA
8. Kick A Little-Little Texas-Warner Bros.
9. Take Me As I Am-Faith Hill-Warner Bros.
10. Pickup Man-Joe Diffie-Epic

[countrychartnut]

1. THEY'RE #1 AGAIN: For the second week, Florida Georgia Line and Tim McGraw have the top song in May We All. This is Florida Georgia Line's first multi week #1 since Stay in 2014. That ruled the roost for four weeks. This is McGraw's first multi week #1 since Shotgun Rider held sway for three weeks in 2014-2015.
2. A FAST DEBUT: Luke Bryan has the Hot Shot Debut of the week with Fast. It starts its chart life at #40. This is the sixth Kill The Lights single. The first five have all went to #1. They are:
1. Kick The Dust Up-2015
2. Strip It Down-2015
3. Home Alone Tonight-with Karen Fairchild-2016
4. Huntin', Fishin', And Lovin' Everyday-2016
5. Move-2016
3. A FAST BARSTOOL: Jason Aldean has the fastest climbing song of the week with Any Ol' Barstool (#60 to #41).
4. A GUNSLINGER DEBUT: Garth Brooks debuts at #4 on the country albums chart with his current album, Gunslinger. It sold 19,000 copies last week. He has two other albums in the top five: Christmas Together with Trisha Yearwood (#2) and Christmas Together/Gunslinger (#3).
5. #1 HITS: These were the chart topping songs in 2011, 2006, 2001, 1996, and 1991:
2011: We Owned The Night-Lady Antebellum-Capitol
2006: Before He Cheats-Carrie Underwood-Arista
2001: I Wanna Talk About Me-Toby Keith-Dreamworks
1996: Little Bitty-Alan Jackson-Arista
1991: For My Broken Heart-Reba McEntire-MCA
6. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: Let us review those topics covered in this section over the past year. Ready?
1. Conway Twitty, Willie Nelson, and Waylon Jennings take their Eagles remakes to the top ten in 1983.
2. I Don't Call Him Daddy becomes Doug Supernaw's only #1 in 1993.
3. A review of the top songs in 1990.
4. The Bird flies to #2 for Jerry Reed in 1982.
5. Felt Good On My Lips tops the chart for Tim McGraw in 2011.
6. John Denver scores a big hit with Fly Away in 1976.
7. Dolly Parton works 9 To 5 in 1981.
8. Jim Reeves and Patsy Cline score a hit duet with Have You Ever Been Lonely Have You Ever Been Blue in 1982.
9. Love Of My Life hits #2 for Sammy Kershaw in 1998.
10. Tanya Tucker scores her first #2 hit, I'll Come Back As Another Woman in 1987.
11. Mark Chesnutt tops the chart for the last time with I Don't Want To Miss A Thing in 1999.
12. K.T. Oslin has a top selling album with 80's Ladies in 1988.
13. I Still Believe In You tops the chart for the Desert Rose Band in 1989.
14. Sonny James' chart topping streak is snapped by the #2 peaking Only Love Can Break A Heart in 1972.
15. Southern Nights becomes Glen Campbell's final #1 in 1977.
16. George Strait has a top seller in Latest Greatest Straitest Hits in 2000.
17. Heartbreak Hill becomes Emmylou Harris' final top ten hit in 1989.
18. None
19. Earl Thomas Conley hits #2 with I Have Loved You, Girl But Not Like This Before in 1983.
20. Loretta Lynn remakes Patsy Cline's She's Got You in 1977.
21. It's All In The Movies becomes Merle Haggard's final #1 album for Capitol Records in 1976.
22. Wish You Were Here becomes Mark Wills' first #1 in 1999.
23. Sara Evans collects her final #1 with A Little Bit Stronger in 2011.
24. John Berry tops the chart with Your Love Amazes Me in 1994.
25. Redneck Woman becomes Gretchen Wilson's only chart topping hit in 2004.
26. Lucille You Won't Do Your Daddy's Will becomes Waylon Jennings' final chart topper at RCA Records in 1983.
27. George Strait hits #11 with The Seashores Of Old Mexico in 2006.
28. Walking Away A Winner hits the top ten for Kathy Mattea in 1994.
29. Sweet Sixteen is a top seller for Reba McEntire in 1989.
30. Any Day Now hits #1 for Ronnie Milsap in 1982.
31. Conway Twitty takes Goodbye Time to the top ten in 1988.
32. Crazy Little Thing Called Love becomes a big hit for Dwight Yoakam in 1999.
33. One Good Well becomes Don Williams' first hit for RCA Records in 1989.
34. Don't We All Have The Right hits the top for Ricky Van Shelton in 1988.
35. Rodney Atkins has a top selling album in If You're Going Through Hell in 2006.
36. I Didn't Know My Own Strength becomes the last #1 for Lorrie Morgan in 1995.
37. The Zac Brown Band hits the top with Free in 2010.
38. Holly Dunn tops the chart with Are You Ever Gonna Love Me in 1989.
39. Whisper My Name becomes a #1 for Randy Travis in 1994.
40. John Conlee scores a #1 with I'm Only In It For The Love in 1983.
41. I Like It, I Love It is a big hit for Tim McGraw in 1995.
42. None
43. We Believe In Happy Endings is a chart topping duet for Earl Thomas Conley and Emmylou Harris in 1988.
44. Montgomery Gentry collect a #1 with Something To Be Proud Of in 2005.
45. Made In America becomes Toby Keith's final #1 in 2011.
46. Starting Over debuts at #1 on the country albums chart for Reba McEntire in 1995.
47. A Better Love Next Time is Merle Haggard's final top ten hit in 1989.
48. Steve Wariner lands a big hit with I'm Already Taken in 1999.
49. Rosanne Cash makes history with a fourth #1 hit off King's Record Shop with Runaway Train in 1988.
50. Kenny Rogers' The Vows Go Unbroken Always True To You hits the top ten in 1989.
51. Sometimes She Forgets hits the top ten for Travis Tritt in 1995.
52. The Big One becomes a #1 hit for George Strait in 1994.

More to come!

[countrychartnut]

1. A #1 SONG: Old Dominion racks up their second chart topper this week with Song For Another Time. It is the third single from their current album, Meat And Candy. It could have been their third #1, but second single, Snapback peaked at #2 earlier this year. They first topped the chart in November, 2015 with Break Up With Him.
2. GOING FOR #5: Brett Eldredge eases up one to #2 with Wanna Be That Song. If it tops the chart, he will be the 127th artist in history with at least five chart topping hits. Wanna Be That Song is the third single from his current album, Illinois.
3. FAST IS FAST: What did you expect? Luke Bryan has the fastest climbing song of the week with Fast. It zips up twelve to #28.
4. A FOLLOW UP TO A #2: Brett Young has the Hot Shot Debut of the week with In Case You Didn't Know. It makes its start at #52. It is the follow up to his debut #2 hit, Sleep Without You.
5. KANE BROWN IS #1: Kane Brown debuts at the top of the country albums chart with his self-titled debut album. 46,000 copies were sold last week. The album features the singles Ain't No Stopping Us Now and Thunder In The Rain.
6. #1 CDS: These were the chart selling CDs in 2011, 2006, 2001, 1996, and 1991:
2011: Own The Night-Lady Antebellum-Capitol
2006: Some Hearts-Carrie Underwood-Arista
2001: Scarecrow-Garth Brooks-Capitol
1996: Blue-LeAnn Rimes-Curb
1991: Ropin' The Wind-Garth Brooks-Capitol
7. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: 1991 was a great year for country music. 1991 was the year of Garth Brooks-love him or hate him. The video I am presenting will showcase all the chart topping hits of the year. A few disclaimers:
1. I would have started the video playing George Strait's I've Come To Expect It From You. Sure, that started topping the chart in December, 1990. It was still #1 during the first week of January, 1991.
2. Garth Brooks had four chart toppers that year: Unanswered Prayers, Two Of A Kind, Workin' On A Full House, The Thunder Rolls, and Shameless. You will NOT hear his voice on those songs.
3. Point Of Light by Randy Travis hit #3 that year. It may have been #1 in other publication(s).
4. Enjoy!
For the second year, both the American Country Countdown and Billboard agreed on the ten biggest hits of the year. They are:

TOP TEN SONGS OF 1991:
1. Don't Rock The Jukebox-Alan Jackson-Arista
2. I've Come To Expect It From You-George Strait-MCA
3. Forever's As Far As I'll Go-Alabama-RCA
4. The Thunder Rolls-Garth Brooks-Capitol
5. In A Different Light-Doug Stone-Epic
6. Brother Jukebox-Mark Chesnutt-MCA
7. You Know Me Better Than That-George Strait-MCA
8. Down Home-Alabama-RCA
9. Unanswered Prayers-Garth Brooks-Capitol
10. If I Know Me-George Strait-MCA

[countrychartnut]

1. ANOTHER #1 SONG: Brett Eldredge collects his fifth #1 single this week with Wanna Be That Song. It is the second #1 hit off his current album, Illinois. It follows Lose My Mind from 2015. It could have been his third chart topping hit from the album, but Drunk On Your Love peaked at #2 in 2016. Meanwhile, Eldredge becomes the 127th artist in history with five chart topping hits. They are:
1. Don't Ya-2013
2. Beat Of The Music-2014-Billboard's top country single of the year
3. Mean To Me-2015
4. Lose My Mind-2015
5. Wanna Be That Song-2016
2. FOURTH TOP TWO: Keith Urban jumps up two to #2 with Blue Ain't Your Color. This is his fourth top two hit off his current album, Ripcord. The others:
1. John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16-2015-#2
2. Break On Me-2016-#1
3. Wasted Time-2016-#1
4. Blue Ain't Your Color-2016-#2 so far
3. HIS FIFTH: Dustin Lynch takes a three point jump to #10 with the lead single to his upcoming album. The single is called Seein' Red. It becomes his fifth top ten hit following:
1. Cowboys And Angels-2012-#2
2. Where It's At Yep, Yep-2014-#1-chart wise, his biggest hit
3. Hell Of A Night-2015-#1
4. Mind Reader-2016-#1
5. Seein' Red-2016-#10 so far
4. THEY RING FAST: LoCash has the fastest climbing song of the week with Ring On Every Finger. It flies up eight to #42.
5. FINALLY, SOME CHRISTMAS: We have two Christmas songs making their debuts on the chart this week. They are:
1. Baby, It's Cold Outside-Brett Eldredge and Meghan Trainor-#52
2. The Christmas Song-Chris Young-#58
6. AN ULTIMATE #1: Garth Brooks tops the country albums chart with his ten disc set, The Ultimate Collection. 37,000 copies were sold last week. It has been out for a month now, but because of Billboard's pricing policy, it was unable to chart until now. So far, 326,000 copies have been sold. This is his third box set to top the chart following:
1. The Limited Series-1998
2. Blame It All On My Roots: Five Decades Of Influences-2013
3. The Ultimate Collection-2016
This is Brooks' fourth title in the top ten. It joins:
1. Christmas Together-with Trisha Yearwood-#2
2. Christmas Together/Gunslinger-#8
3. Gunslinger-#10
7. #1 HITS: These were the chart topping songs in 2011, 2006, 2001, 1996, and 1991:
2011: Keep Me In Mind-Zac Brown Band-Atlantic
2006: Want To-Sugarland-Mercury
2001: I Wanna Talk About Me-Toby Keith-Dreamworks
1996: Little Bitty-Alan Jackson-Arista
1991: My Next Broken Heart-Brooks & Dunn-Arista
8. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: Ronnie Milsap has 35 #1 hits. His first was Pure Love in 1974 while his last was 1989's A Woman In Love. The latter tune was tops 27 years ago this week.
A Woman In Love appears on Milsap's 1989 album, Stranger Things Have Happened. His previous album, Heart And Soul from 1987 produced a quintet of top ten hits. They are:
1. Snap Your Fingers-1987-#1
2. Make No Mistake, She's Mine-with Kenny Rogers-1987-#1
3. Where Do The Nights Go-1988-#1
4. Old Folks-with Mike Reid-1988-#2-on re-released versions of the album
5. Button Off My Shirt-1988-#4
RCA and Milsap admitted they had struggles with airplay with Button Off My Shirt. That was a #91 pop single for Paul Carrack in 1988. RCA asked Milsap to go in a more traditional direction for his next album, Stranger Things Have Happened. He agreed and the first single, Don't You Ever Get Tired Of Hurting Me was released in December, 1988. That was a #11 hit for Ray Price in 1966 and it hit that mark in 1981 as a duet with Price and Willie Nelson. Milsap's version hit the top in March 1989, becoming his 34th #1 hit. It was the sixteenth consecutive year for Milsap topping the charts (1974-1989), a record that stood until George Strait topped the charts for nineteen consecutive years (1982-2000). Another country flavored release, Houston Solution peaked at #4 during the summer. A Woman In Love was released in September and topped the chart for the last two weeks of the year. It was his 35th and final chart topping hit. At the time, it put him in third place on the all-time list of those artists with the most #1 hits behind Merle Haggard's 38 #1s and Conway Twitty's 40 chart toppers. Milsap entered 1990 by releasing the title track. That peaked at #2 for two weeks and could not get Dan Seals' biggest hit, Love On Arrival out of the way. Milsap released one more album for RCA and that was 1991's Back To The Grindstone. It finds him going in a more pop direction. Lead single, Are You Lovin' Me Like I'm Lovin' You was released in March and climbed all the way to #3 during the summer. A remake was next and that was Since I Don't Have You. The Skyliners took their version to #12 pop in 1959. Milsap's version hit #6 country and #25 adult contemporary. It was his swan song on the latter chart. Turn That Radio On was released in November and peaked at #4 in early 1992, becoming Milsap's 49th and final top ten hit. All Is Fair In Love And War almost became a top ten hit. Instead, it peaked at #11. Milsap and RCA ended their twenty year relationship with a greatest hits album. A new song, L.A. To The Moon missed the top 40 at #45. That was his first failure with RCA Records.
Milsap signed to Liberty Records in 1993. An album was released called True Believer. The title track was the lead single. It brought Milsap back into the top 40 at #30. Two more singles were released, but they did not chart. To get out of that contract, Milsap released Sings His Best Hits For Capitol Records (1996). It was a ten song package of his rerecorded hits. Virgin Records stepped in 2000 by releasing 40 #1 Hits. It was a two disc set of Milsap's biggest hits at RCA. A single charted with Time, Love, And Money (#57). He released an album for Image Entertainment called Just For A Thrill in 2004. Then, Milsap was reunited with RCA in 2006 by releasing the My Life album. It produced his last chart appearance with Local Girls (#54).
Since then, Milsap has released the following albums:
1. Then Sings My Soul-2009
2. Country Again-2011
3. Summer Number Seventeen-2014
In 2014, Milsap was inducted to the Country Music Hall of Fame. RCA released The RCA Albums Collection, the first time ALL of his albums were released on CD and remastered. Milsap participated in the all-star salute to the C.M.A. called Forever Country in 2016. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 23, 1989:
1. A WOMAN IN LOVE-RONNIE MILSAP-RCA
2. Out Of Your Shoes-Lorrie Morgan-RCA
3. Who's Lonely Now-Highway 101-Warner Bros.
4. Till I Can't Take It Anymore-Billy Joe Royal-Atlantic America
5. It Ain't Nothin'-Keith Whitley-RCA
6. She's Gone, Gone, Gone-Glen Campbell-Universal
7. Many A Long And Lonesome Highway-Rodney Crowell-Columbia
8. There Goes My Heart Again-Holly Dunn-Warner Bros.
9. That Just About Does It-Vern Gosdin-Columbia
10. Two Dozen Roses-Shenandoah-Columbia

P.S.: Merry Christmas!

[countrychartnut]

1. ELDREDGE WANNA BE #1: Brett Eldredge tops the chart for a second week with Wanna Be That Song. It matches the two week stay he had at #1 in 2013 with his first chart topper, Don't Ya.
2. ELDREDGE IS ALSO FAST: Brett Eldredge has the fastest climbing song of the week with Baby, It's Cold Outside. It is a duet with Meghan Trainor and it zooms up sixteen to #36.
3. EVEN MORE CHRISTMAS: We have five Christmas songs making their debuts this week. They are:
1. It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas-Brett Eldredge-#39
2. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!-Brett Eldredge-#45
3. Baby, It's Cold Outside-Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood-#49
4. Ugly Christmas Sweater-Garth Brooks-#52
5. Santa Baby-Trisha Yearwood-#60
4. OOPS!: Chris Lane takes a fifteen point tumble to #56 with For Her.
5. A 40S LOOK: These were the chart topping songs during the last week of December during the 1940s:
1944: I'm Wasting My Tears On You-Tex Ritter-Capitol
1945: It's Been So Long Darling-Ernest Tubb-Decca
1946: Divorce Me C.O.D.-Merle Travis-Capitol
1947: I'll Hold You In My Heart Till I Can Hold You In My Arms-Eddy Arnold-RCA
1948: One Has My Name, The Other Has My Heart-Jimmy Wakely-Capitol
1949: Mule Train-Tennessee Ernie Ford-Capitol
6. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: Reba McEntire has sixty top ten hits. The final one, Turn On The Radio was our top song just six years ago this week.
In 2008, McEntire announced an end to her twenty-five year association with MCA Records. She would sign to her third label, Valory Records. Before she could work on her debut for Valory, she sang on the C.M.A. Awards with Brooks & Dunn on their current single, Cowgirls Don't Cry. After the awards show, Arista, the duo's label reissued Cowgirls Don't Cry as a duet. It eventually peaked at #2 in early 2009 and could not unseat Darius Rucker's It Won't Be Like This For Long from #1. Shortly after that near miss, McEntire released her debut Valory single, Strange. That was released in April and it debuted at #39, her best start on the chart. Despite its high debut, all Strange could muster was a #11 peak, something a McEntire song did not do before. Next up was Consider Me Gone. That was released in July. Her debut Valory album, Keep On Loving You was released in August. It debuted at #1 on both country and top 200 album charts after 96,000 copies were sold in the first week. Consider Me Gone topped the chart for the first four weeks of 2010. It became her twenty-fourth chart topping hit and her biggest hit as well. It gave her chart topping hits in four decades: 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s. The title track was the third and final single. It peaked at #7 during the summer. Her second Valory album, All The Women I Am was released in November. However, the lead single, Turn On The Radio was released in July. That topped the chart in January, 2011 and it tied her with Dolly Parton as the female with the most #1s with twenty-five. The album debuted at #3 country and #7 top 200 after 64,000 copies were sold. After Turn On The Radio's success, McEntire saw her stock on the charts fall. Second single, If I Were A Boy was a hit for Beyoncé in 2009 (#3 pop, #16 r&b, and #16 adult contemporary). McEntire took her version to #22 country. McEntire barely scraped the top 40 with the third single, When Love Gets A Hold Of You. It peaked at #40. She missed the top 40 with the fourth single, the #44 peaking Somebody's Chelsea.
In 2014, McEntire was one of the first signees to the new Nash Icon label. Her debut album for them, Love Somebody was released in April, 2015. After 62,000 copies were sold during its first week, it debuted at #1 country and #3 top 200. Lead single, Going Out Like That was released in January. It brought McEntire back into the top 40 at #28. Until They Don't Love You was the next release and it peaked at #48. Third single, Just Like Them Horses did not chart. McEntire participated in Forever Country, an all-star salute to the C.M.A. Awards. McEntire just announced a gospel album will be released in 2017 called Sing It Now: Songs Of Faith & Hope. A single has been announced in Soft And Tenderly. It features vocal support from Trisha Yearwood and Kelly Clarkson. McEntire has been in the Country Music Hall of Fame since 2011. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING JANUARY 1, 2011:
1. TURN ON THE RADIO-REBA MCENTIRE-VALORY
2. My Kinda Party-Jason Aldean-Broken Bow
3. Felt Good On My Lips-Tim McGraw-Curb
4. Mama's Song-Carrie Underwood-Arista
5. Somewhere With You-Kenny Chesney-BNA
6. Why Wait-Rascal Flatts-Big Machine
7. Put You In A Song-Keith Urban-Capitol
8. Voices-Chris Young-RCA
9. The Breath You Take-George Strait-MCA
10. As She's Walking Away-Zac Brown Band and Alan Jackson-Atlantic

P.S.: Happy New Year!

[countrychartnut]

1. BLUE IS URBAN'S COLOR: For the twenty-first time in his career, Keith Urban tops the country chart. This time, it is the fourth Ripcord single, Blue Ain't Your Color. So far, Ripcord has produced a trio of #1 hits. The other two are Break On Me and Wasted Time from 2016. The album was kicked off with the #2 peaking John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16 from 2015. Ripcord is doing nearly as well as its predecessor, Fuse. Fuse produced a quartet of chart topping hits. They are:
1. Little Bit Of Everything-2013
2. We Were Us-with Miranda Lambert-2013
3. Somewhere In My Car-2014
4. Raise 'Em Up-with Eric Church-2015
2. 59/60: Out of the sixty songs on the airplay chart, fifty-nine of them have bullets. Only Old Dominion (at #8 this week) with their former chart topper, Song For Another Time does not have a bullet.
3. CHESNEY'S FAST BAR: Kenny Chesney has the fastest climbing song of the week with Bar At The End Of The World. It serves up fourteen spaces to #39.
4. A BURNING DEBUT: Candi Carpenter has the Hot Shot Debut of the week with Burn The Bed at #56. She signed to the Sony label last year.
5. #1 HITS: These were the chart topping hits in 2012, 2007, 2002, 1997, and 1992:
2012: Keep Me In Mind-Zac Brown Band-Atlantic
2007: She's Everything-Brad Paisley-Arista
2002: Where Were You When The World Stopped Turning-Alan Jackson-Arista
1997: One Way Ticket Because I Can-LeAnn Rimes-Curb
1992: Love, Me-Collin Raye-Epic
6. MILESTONE TOP TWENTY CHART: In 1988, the Statler Brothers released a greatest hits album. The first single, Let's Get Started If We're Gonna Break My Heart peaked at #12 during the first week of January, 1989.
The track listing to The Statler Brothers Greatest Hits album is as follows:
1. Let's Get Started If We're Gonna Break My Heart-1989-#12
2. Elizabeth-1984-#1
3. Count On Me-1986-#5
4. The Best I Know How-1988-#15
5. Moon Pretty Moon-1989-#36
6. More Than A Name On A Wall-1989-#6
7. Guilty-1983-#9
8. My Only Love-1985-#1
9. I'll Be The One-1987-#10
10. Atlanta Blue-1984-#3
Let's Get Started If We're Gonna Break My Heart was released in October, 1988 and almost became a top ten hit at #12 in January, 1989. Moon Pretty Moon followed and that peaked at #36 during the spring. The third and final single, More Than A Name On A Wall was released in April. That became the Statler Brothers 33rd and final top ten hit at #6 during the summer. It was also their 59th and final top 40 hit as well. That is a favorite of music programmers during the Memorial Day weekend. After the success of the greatest hits album, the Statlers released Live And Sold Out in 1989. Lead single, Don't Wait On Me was a remake of their #5 hit of 1981. The live version peaked at #67. A Hurt I Can't Handle ended their 1980s on a #56 note. A third single, Walking Heartache In Disguise did not chart.
They celebrated their twentieth anniversary at Mercury Records by releasing Music, Memories, And You in 1990. Two singles were released with the first being their last chart appearance. That was the #54 peaking Small, Small World. Nobody Else did not chart. Between 1991-2001, they released eight singles across four albums: All American Country, Words And Music, Home, and Showtime. A box set of their music was released in 1994 called 30th Anniversary Celebration. In 2002, they retired after a farewell tour. Jimmy Fortune, who joined the Statlers during the early 1980s has released six albums and two singles between 2003-2015. The Statler Brothers were inducted to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2008. Their final album was released in 2013 called The Best From The Farewell Concert. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TWENTY FOR WEEK ENDING JANUARY 7, 1989:
1. Hold Me-K.T. Oslin-RCA
2. Change Of Heart-the Judds-RCA
3. She's Crazy For Leavin'-Rodney Crowell-Columbia
4. Deeper Than The Holler-Randy Travis-Warner Bros.
5. Long Shot-Baillie And The Boys-RCA
6. Blue Side Of Town-Patty Loveless-MCA
7. All The Reasons Why-Highway 101-Warner Bros.
8. Hold On A Little Longer-Steve Wariner-MCA
9. What I'd Say-Earl Thomas Conley-RCA
10. Burnin' A Hole In My Heart-Skip Ewing-MCA
11. Song Of The South-Alabama-RCA
12. LET'S GET STARTED IF WE'RE GONNA BREAK MY HEART-STATLER BROTHERS-MERCURY
13. Big Wheels In The Moonlight-Dan Seals-Capitol
14. Early In The Morning And Late At Night-Hank Williams, Jr.-Warner Bros.
15. I Sang Dixie-Dwight Yoakam-Reprise
16. Life As We Knew It-Kathy Mattea-Mercury
17. Love Helps Those-Paul Overstreet-MTM
18. Borderline-the Shooters-Epic
19. Sincerely-the Forester Sisters-Warner Bros.
20. We Must Be Doin' Something Right-Eddie Rabbitt-RCA

[ozbest1]

CCNut, I've got to get back to reading your threads again--always so many things I have either forgotten aboutt or didn't know. I always enjoy reading your detailed threads. Too much going on personally plus the holidays in past few months have thrown me off my usual reading my favorite chart threads. Thanks for all the time you spend putting together so many statistics, chart (by year) comparisons, etc.

[countrychartnut]

1. URBAN'S FEELING BLUE: Keith Urban holds on to the #1 spot for a second week with Blue Ain't Your Color. It is the second multi week #1 off the Ripcord album following Wasted Time from last year (also a two week #1).
2. URBAN'S DUET PARTNER: On the Ripcord album, you will find a song called The Fighter. It is a duet with Carrie Underwood that is slated to be the next single. She eases up one to #2 with her fourth Storyteller single, Dirty Laundry.
3. THEY'RE BACK: Little Big Town enters the top ten for the eighth time with Better Man at #10. This is the lead single to their upcoming album, The Breaker. Their last album, Pain Killer gave them a trio of chart appearances. They are:
1. Day Drinking-2014-#2
2. Girl Crush-2015-#3
3. Pain Killer-2016-#38
In the meantime, they charted a duet with Miranda Lambert called Smokin' And Drinkin' off her Platinum album. It reached #33 in 2015.
4. IT'S THEIRS: Rascal Flatts have the Hot Shot Debut of the week with Yours If You Want It at #31. This is a lead single from an upcoming album. Their last, Rewind saw them chart four singles. They are:
1. Rewind-2014-#3
2. Payback-2014-#21
3. Riot-2015-#20
4. I Like The Sound Of That-2016-#1
5. WOKE UP AT #59: Seth Ennis signed to the Arista label last year. His debut single, Woke Up In Nashville debuts at #59.
6. #1 CDS: These were the top selling CDs in 2012, 2007, 2002, 1997, and 1992:
2012: Own The Night-Lady Antebellum-Capitol
2007: Some Hearts-Carrie Underwood-Arista
2002: Scarecrow-Garth Brooks-Capitol
1997: Blue-LeAnn Rimes-Curb
1992: Ropin' The Wind-Garth Brooks-Capitol
7. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: In July 2012, I had saluted the first 100 position country chart from 1973. Loretta Lynn's Love Is The Foundation was the first chart topper of the expanded chart. It is time to salute the last 100 position country chart from 27 years ago this week. The following week, Billboard shrank the size of their chart to 75 positions. They also started the Broadcast Data Systems Era. Billboard started tracking airplay of country singles electronically instead of relying on station's playlists. The following month, they changed the name of their country chart from Hot Country Singles to Hot Country Singles And Tracks. Ready for the final 100 position chart? Good!

BILLBOARD TOP 100 FOR WEEK ENDING JANUARY 13, 1990:
1. It Ain't Nothin'-Keith Whitley-RCA
2. Till I Can't Take It Anymore-Billy Joe Royal-Atlantic
3. Many A Long And Lonesome Highway-Rodney Crowell-Columbia
4. That Just About Does It-Vern Gosdin-Columbia
5. It's You Again-Skip Ewing-MCA
6. My Arms Stay Open All Night-Tanya Tucker-Capitol
7. Nobody's Home-Clint Black-RCA
8. There You Are-Willie Nelson-Columbia
9. When I Could Come Home To You-Steve Wariner-MCA
10. When It's Gone-Nitty Gritty Dirt Band-Capitol
11. Who's Lonely Now-Highway 101-Warner Bros.
12. In My Eyes-Lionel Cartwright-MCA
13. Start All Over Again-Desert Rose Band-MCA
14. Statue Of A Fool-Ricky Van Shelton-Columbia
15. She's Gone, Gone, Gone-Glen Campbell-Capitol
16. Out Of Your Shoes-Lorrie Morgan-RCA
17. One Man Woman-the Judds-RCA
18. I Can't Turn The Tide-Baillie and the Boys-RCA
19. Southern Star-Alabama-RCA
20. Where You've Been-Kathy Mattea-Mercury
21. Overnight Success-George Strait-MCA
22. On Second Thought-Eddie Rabbitt-Capitol
23. Simple Man-Charlie Daniels Band-Epic
24. If Your Heart Should Ever Roll This Way Again-Jo-El Sonnier-RCA
25. A Woman In Love-Ronnie Milsap-RCA
26. Quit While I'm Behind-the McCarter Sisters-Warner Bros.
27. Leave It Alone-the Forester Sisters-Warner Bros.
28. Amy's Eyes-Charley Pride-16th Avenure
29. Fast Movin' Train-Restless Heart-RCA
30. No Matter How High-Oak Ridge Boys-MCA
31. Little Girl-Reba McEntire-MCA
32. If You Want To Be My Woman-Merle Haggard-Epic
33. Heartbreak Hurricane-Ricky Skaggs-Epic
34. Tell Me Why-Jann Browne-Curb
35. Two Dozen Roses-Shenandoah-Columbia
36. There Goes My Heart Again-Holly Dunn-Warner Bros.
37. Time's Up-Southern Pacific and Carlene Carter-Warner Bros.
38. She's Got A Man On Her Mind-Curtis Wright-Airborne
39. He's Alive-Dolly Parton-Columbia
40. Keep It In The Middle Of The Road-Exile-Arista
41. The Great Divide-Gene Watson-Warner Bros.
42. Don't Leave Her Lonely Too Long-Marty Stuart-MCA
43. Sooner Or Later-Eddy Raven-Capitol
44. Walk Softly On This Heart Of Mine-Kentucky Headhunters-Mercury
45. I've Been Loved By The Best-Don Williams-RCA
46. The Center Of My Universe-Bellamy Brothers-MCA
47. If Tomorrow Never Comes-Garth Brooks-Capitol
48. Seein' My Father In Me-Paul Overstreet-RCA
49. Chains-Patty Loveless-MCA
50. She's A Little Past Forty-Ronnie McDowell-Curb
51. Who's Gonna Know-Conway Twitty-MCA
52. Shoulda, Coulda, Woulda Loved You-Les Taylor-Epic
53. Radio Romance-Canyon-16th Avenue
54. He's Gotta Have Me-Girls Next Door-Atlantic
55. The Lonely Side Of Love-Patty Loveless-MCA
56. Quittin' Time-Mary Chapin Carpenter-Columbia
57. Country Club-Travis Tritt-Warner Bros.
58. Ghost Town-Zaca Creek-Columbia
59. It's Just A Matter Of Time-Randy Travis-Warner Bros.
60. Good As Gone-Joe Barnhill-Capitol
61. Go Down Swingin'-Wild Rose-Capitol
62. I Can't Help Myself Sugar Pie Honey Bunch-Billy Hill-Reprise
63. A Bottle Of Wine And Patsy Cline-Marsha Thornton-MCA
64. Lately Rose-Trader-Price-Capitol
65. Didn't Expect It To Go Down This Way-K.T. Oslin-RCA
66. You Can't Fly Like An Eagle-Johnny Lee-Curb
67. Route 66-Michael Martin Murphey-Warner Bros.
68. Yellow Roses-Dolly Parton-Columbia
69. Heart From A Stone-Susi Beatty-Starway
70. The Vows Go Unbroken Always True To You-Kenny Rogers-Reprise
71. Here In The Real World-Alan Jackson-Arista
72. All The Fun-Paul Overstreet-RCA
73. Trashy Women-Jerry Jeff Walker-Tried & True
74. The Race Is On-Sawyer Brown-Capitol
75. Til U Love Me Again-Tish Hinojosa-A & M
76. I'm So Afraid Of Losing You Again-Ashley Evans-Door Knob
77. Never Alone-Vince Gill-MCA
78. Never Had It So Good-Mary Chapin Carpenter-Columbia
79. Missing You-the Marcy Brothers-Warner Bros.
80. Funny Ways Of Loving Me-Steve Douglas-Dorman Productions
81. Selfish Man-Dwayne Crews-Killer
82. You Still Love Me In My Dreams-Tim Mensy-Columbia
83. This Heart-Sweethearts of the Rodeo-Columbia
84. Mama's Daily Bread-Jill Hollier-Warner Bros.
85. Feelings For Each Other-Marilyn Mundy-Door Knob
86. Once In A Lifetime Thing-Sammy Sadler-Evergreen
87. Once And For Always-Gary Dale Parker-615
88. 'Til Love Comes Again-Reba McEntire-MCA
89. Honey Do Weekend-Randy Rhoads-Blue Ridge
90. Crazy Driver-Dalice-Country Pride
91. Black And White-Rosanne Cash-Columbia
92. Across The Room From You-Phil Cohron-Air
93. You Must Not Be Drinking Enough-Earl Thomas Conley-RCA
94. Bayou Boys-Eddy Raven-Capitol
95. Darkness Of The Light-Harrell & Scott-Associated Artists
96. Love Is A Hard Road-Irene Kelley-MCA
97. Let It Be You-Ricky Skaggs-Epic
98. Oh, Pretty Woman-Roy Orbison-Virgin
99. A Better Love Next Time-Merle Haggard-Epic
100. Wonderful Tonight-Butch Baker-Mercury

[glormae]

Great info CCNut!! I need to read more here too!

[countrychartnut]

1. BACK TO #1: Well, after seeing his #1 streak of hits end at seventeen with the #7 peaking She's Got A Way With Words, Blake Shelton returns to #1 with A Guy With A Girl, the third If I'm Honest single. That album was kicked off with the chart topping Came Here To Forget from last year.
2. CHESNEY'S FAST: Kenny Chesney has the fastest climbing song of the week with Bar At The End Of The World. It vaults ten spots to #27.
3. THE FLATTS ARE FALLING: After debuting at #31 last week with Yours If You Want It, Rascal Flatts tumble to #43 this week.
4. A SOLE COLE: Grabbing Hot Shot Debut honors this week is Cole Swindell with Flatliner at #48. This is the third You Should Be Here single. The version that is on the album features Dierks Bentley. Swindell is the only artist credited on the charts.
5. A BACKSTREET BOYS DEBUT: Florida Georgia Line debut at #51 with their third Dig Your Roots single, God, Your Mama, And Me. This has the Backstreet Boys providing vocal support. The Backstreet Boys' biggest hit is Quit Playing Games With My Heart from 1996 (#2 pop).
6. BOTHERS OSBORNE DEBUT, TOO: The Brothers Osborne debut at #57 with It Ain't My Fault. It is the fourth Pawn Shop single and first since being named the C.M.A. Duo of the Year from November of last year.
7. #1 HITS: These were the chart topping songs in 2012, 2007, 2002, 1997, and 1992:
2012: Let It Rain-David Nail-MCA
2007: She's Everything-Brad Paisley-Arista
2002: Where Were You When The World Stopped Turning-Alan Jackson-Arista
1997: Nobody Knows-Kevin Sharp-Asylum
1992: Love, Me-Collin Raye-Epic
8. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: An instrumental that was a country/pop hit in 1960 was an inspiration for it being a country hit THREE times. The final time belongs to Emmylou Harris. She took Lost His Love On Our Last Date to the top 34 years ago this week.
That instrumental, Last Date was arranged by Floyd Cramer, a songwriter and pianist. The melancholy tune exemplified the slip note piano style that made Cramer famous. Released in 1960, it peaked at #11 country. It crossed over to pop, where it stayed at the #2 position for four weeks. It could not topple Elvis Presley's Are You Lonesome Tonight from the top. Ironically, Cramer played the piano on the Presley hit. It was a case of Cramer, the piano player keeping Cramer, the artist out of the top spot. Last Date even hit the r&b chart, where it peaked at #3. During the time Last Date was on the charts, Boudleaux Bryant and Skeeter Davis added lyrics to the song. They titled it My Last Date With You. That, too became a multi format hit for Davis, peaking at #5 country and #26 pop in 1961.
Conway Twitty heard Last Date while on tour in Canada in 1960. He decided to add lyrics to the song. However, he was in his rock and roll era (1957-1964) and had no way in making it a hit. At the time, he was charting his final top 40 pop hit in C'est Si Bon (#22). It should be noted that Twitty wrote Hello Darlin' during this time. When it finally saw the light of day in 1970, it became his biggest country hit. Two years later, Twitty did record Lost Her Love On Our Last Date. Released in March, it became his ninth #1 country hit in May. He got another hit off the I Can't Stop Loving You Album when the title track hit the top in September. That was a remake of the #7 hit Don Gibson had in 1958. That was the b-side to Oh, Lonesome Me (#1).
Emmylou Harris released her first live album in 1982 called Last Date. She remade the Twitty hit as Lost His Love On Our Last Date. Released in October, it became her fifth chart topping hit in January, 1983. Harris scored another hit with another remake in I'm Movin' On. That was Hank Snow's biggest hit when it topped the chart for twenty-one weeks in 1950. Harris took her version to #5. Lightning struck three times as Harris remade the Everly Brothers' So Sad To Watch Good Love Go Bad, a #7 pop and #16 r&b hit in 1960. Harris' version topped off at #28 country. Last Date, the album peaked at #9 country and #65 top 200 in 1983. Lost His Love On Our Last Date would resurface on her second greatest hits album, Profile II: The Best Of Emmylou Harris from 1984. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING JANUARY 22, 1983:
1. LOST HIS LOVE ON OUR LAST DATE-EMMYLOU HARRIS-WARNER BROS.
2. Like Nothing Ever Happened-Sylvia-RCA
3. Talk To Me-Mickey Gilley-Epic
4. Thank God For Kids-Oak Ridge Boys-MCA
5. Inside/Carolina Dreams-Ronnie Milsap-RCA
6. Going Where The Lonely Go-Merle Haggard-Epic
7. With You-Charly McClain-Epic
8. Hard Candy Christmas-Dolly Parton-RCA
9. What She Don't Know Won't Hurt Her-Gene Watson-MCA
10. 'Til I Gain Control Again-Crystal Gayle-Elektra

[countrychartnut]

1. EVEN MORE B.S.: For the second week, Blake Shelton's A Guy With A Girl is the top song in country. This is the second chart topper from the If I'm Honest album and its biggest hit. Lead single, Came Here To Forget ruled for a week last year.
2. PAISLEY'S BACK: Brad Paisley takes a two point jump to #9 this week with Today. It is the second single from his upcoming Love And War album. It is his first top ten since 2015's Crushin' It (#9). In the meantime, two singles broke the top twenty: Country Nation (#12 in 2016) and Without A Fight with Demi Lovato (#16 in 2016).
3. LADY A'S BACK, TOO: Lady Antebellum has the Hot Shot Debut of the week with You Look Good at #27. This is from their upcoming album, Heart Break. This is their first single in two years. Their last, Long Stretch Of Love peaked at #16 in 2015. During that time, two members of the group, Hillary Scott and Charles Kelley have charted solo singles.
4. THEIR FAULT IS FAST: The Brothers Osborne have the fastest climbing song of the week with It Ain't My Fault (#57 to #47).
5. A CLARIFICATION: In my piece about Emmylou Harris last week, I had stated that Conway Twitty charted for the last time in the top 40 portion of the pop chart with C'est Si Bon (#22 in 1960). That was his final top 40 hit as a rock and roll artist. He did have one as a country artist. His second biggest country hit, 1973's You've Never Been This Far Before (#1) hit #22 pop as well.
6. A 00S LOOK: These were the chart topping hits during the last week of January during the 2000s:
2000: Breathe-Faith Hill-Warner Bros.
2001: Tell Her-Lonestar-BNA
2002: Good Morning Beautiful-Steve Holy-Curb
2003: 19 Somethin'-Mark Wills-Mercury
2004: There Goes My Life-Kenny Chesney-BNA
2005: Awful, Beautiful Life-Darryl Worley-DreamWorks
2006: Jesus, Take The Wheel-Carrie Underwood-Arista
2007: Watching You-Rodney Atkins-Curb
2008: Letter To Me-Brad Paisley-Arista
2009: Country Boy-Alan Jackson-Arista
7. MILESTONE TOP TWENTY CHART: Tracy Byrd switched labels in 1999. His first single for the new label almost became a top ten hit. That was Put Your Hand In Mine and that peaked at #11 seventeen years ago this week.
His first label, MCA Records was his home between 1991-1999. He ended that association by releasing a greatest hits album called Keepers: Greatest Hits. A new song broke the top 40 at #31 called When Mama Ain't Happy. While that song was charting, Byrd signed to the RCA label. He released his debut single, Put Your Hand In Mine in September. The parent album, It's About Time was released in November. Put Your Hand In Mine peaked at #11 in January, 2000. His second single, Love, You Ain't Seen The Last Of Me was released in March. That was a remake of the John Schneider hit of 1987 (#6). Byrd's remake missed the top 40 at #44. Third and final single, Take Me With You When You Go also did not dent the top 40. It peaked at #43. His next album was not released until 2001. That was Ten Rounds and Byrd's chart fortunes started to improve. A duet with Mark Chesnutt, A Good Way To Get On My Bad Side was released in March. Byrd and Chesnutt became friends during their Cutter's days (since the late 1980s). Cutter's is a nightclub in Beaumont, Texas. The single peaked at #21. Then, Byrd was top ten bound with the next single, Just Let Me Be In Love. That hit #9 in early 2002 and was his first top ten since I Wanna Feel That Way Again hit #9 in 1998. Final single, Ten Rounds With Jose Cuervo was released in April and it certainly took its sweet time getting to the top of the charts. It became his second and final #1 in October. His first, Holdin' Heaven topped the chart in 1993. A promo single in Lately Been Dreamin' 'Bout Babies hit #38 in 2003.
His third RCA album, The Truth About Men was released in 2003. The title track was the lead single. That had vocal support from Andy Griggs, Blake Shelton, and Montgomery Gentry. That was released in March and got all the way to #13. Drinkin' Bone was the second release. That was released in August and peaked at #7 in early 2004. That was his thirteenth and final top ten hit. How'd I Wind Up In Jamaica wrapped up the era. It bombed at #53. A greatest hits album was released in 2005. His final top 40 hit comes from there and that is Revenge Of A Middle-Age Woman. It peaked at #34 in late 2004. Check out his version of Johnny Cash, a #6 hit for Jason Aldean in 2007. After six years, Byrd was dropped by RCA Records. His next album was released on the Blind Mule/New Revolution label. That was called Different Things. His final chart appearance comes from that album: Cheapest Motel (#55). A second single did not chart with Better Places Than This. His current album is called All American Texan and that was released last year. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TWENTY FOR WEEK ENDING JANUARY 29, 2000:
1. Breathe-Faith Hill-Warner Bros.
2. Cowboy Take Me Away-Dixie Chicks-Monument
3. My Best Friend-Tim McGraw-Curb
4. What Do You Say-Reba McEntire-MCA
5. Smile-Lonestar-BNA
6. Big Deal-LeAnn Rimes-Curb
7. Pop A Top-Alan Jackson-Arista
8. He Didn't Have To Be-Brad Paisley-Arista
9. Back At One-Mark Wills-Mercury
10. When I Said I Do-Clint Black and Lisa Hartman Black-RCA
11. PUT YOUR HAND IN MINE-TRACY BYRD-RCA
12. Smoke Rings In The Dark-Gary Allan-MCA
13. Because You Love Me-Jo Dee Messina-Curb
14. Lessons Learned-Tracy Lawrence-Atlantic
15. Live, Laugh, Love-Clay Walker-Giant
16. How Do You Like Me Now-Toby Keith-DreamWorks
17. This Woman Needs-SHeDAISY-Lyric Street
18. The Best Day-George Strait-MCA
19. Love's The Only House-Martina McBride-RCA
20. It's A Love Thing-Keith Urban-Capitol

[countrychartnut]

1. A SHELTON TRIFECTA: Blake Shelton rules the country chart for a third week with A Guy With A Girl. This is his first three week #1 since 2013's Mine Would Be You.
2. A NEW PEAK: Sixteen weeks ago, Garth Brooks debuted at #19 with Baby, Let's Lay Down And Dance. This week, it moves up three to #17.
3. THE FIRST: High Valley eases up one to #20 with Make You Mine. They become the first Canadian duo to break the top twenty. They consist of brothers Brad and Curtis Rempel. They join other Canadians with top twenty hits: Hank Snow, Paul Brandt, Anne Murray, Shania Twain, Emerson Drive, etc..
4. THEY ARE FAST: The tandem of Florida Georgia Line and the Backstreet Boys have the fastest climbing song of the week with God, Your Mama, And Me (#44 to #38).
5. CORBIN DEBUTS: Easton Corbin has the Hot Shot Debut of the Week with A Girl Like You at #56. This is from an upcoming album. His last album, About To Get Real yielded four singles. They are:
1. Clockwork-2014-#32
2. Baby Be My Love Song-2015-#3
3. Yup-2015-#35
4. Are You With Me-2016-#41
6. THEIR FIRST TIME: The bottom two spots on the chart belong to two acts making their debut on the charts. At #59 is Casey Donahew with Kiss Me and Midland debuts at #60 with Drinkin' Problem.
7. A 00S LOOK, PART II: These were the top selling CDs during the first week of February during the 2000s:
2000: Fly-the Dixie Chicks-Monument
2001: Coyote Ugly-Soundtrack-Curb
2002: Drive-Alan Jackson-Arista
2003: Home-the Dixie Chicks-Monument
2004: Shock'n Y'all-Toby Keith-DreamWorks
2005: Greatest Hits-Shania Twain-Mercury
2006: Some Hearts-Carrie Underwood-Arista
2007: Some Hearts-Carrie Underwood-Arista
2008: Taylor Swift-Taylor Swift-Big Machine
2009: Fearless-Taylor Swift-Big Machine
8. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: Tanya Tucker turned 20 in 1978. Her musical tastes started to change. However, she scored a solid country hit in Texas When I Die. That peaked at #5 thirty-eight years ago this week.
She released her second greatest hits album in 1978 (on MCA Records-the first was on the Columbia label in 1975). A single was released in Save Me. That flopped at #86, ending a streak of eighteen consecutive top 40 hits. She went to work on the TNT album during this time. In November 1978, two major events took place. First, she appeared on the Grand Ole Opry. She basically put on a rock and roll show and was promptly booed for it. She covered Elvis Presley and Buddy Holly. She saved herself when she ended the show with her next single, Texas When I Die. That earned her some well deserved applause. That was released in November and peaked at #5 in February, 1979. It was the second go round for the single as it previously charted for its songwriter, Ed Bruce (#52 in 1977). Bruce had already written a hit for Tucker, The Man That Turned My Mama On (#4 in 1974). The TNT album was released and it shows a very mature Tanya. The album art shows her in a revealing outfit. She wore a black blouse with black leather pants. She is holding the microphone in a seductive way with the cord running between her legs. The TNT album peaked at #2 country and #54 top 200. The only album that did better on the country chart was Kenny Rogers' The Gambler. The album is certified gold. She charted well with the second and final single, I'm The Singer, You're The Song (#18). The album features the following covers:
1. Heartbreak Hotel-Elvis Presley
2. Not Fade Away-Buddy Holly
3. Brown Eyed Handsome Man-Chuck Berry
4. Angel From Montgomery-John Prine
She even earned a Grammy nomination in the Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female category. She ended her 1970s with the Tear Me Apart album. Two singles were released, but did not chart: 1979's Lay Back In The Arms Of Someone and 1980's Better Late Than Never. Her next single brought her back into the top ten. That was Pecos Promenade and that came from the Smokey And The Bandit II soundtrack. That peaked at #10. She released three more albums for MCA and six singles were pulled from those albums. They are:
1. Dreamlovers-1980
a. Dream Lover-with Glen Campbell-1980-#59
b. Can I See You Tonight-1981-#4
c. Love Knows We Tried-1981-#40
2. Should I Do It-1981
a. Should I Do It-1981-#50
b. Rodeo Girls-1981-#83
3. Live-1982
a. Somebody Buy This Cowgirl A Beer-1982-did not chart
To date, her last chart appearance was 2003's Old Weakness Coming On Strong (#49). Her last album was released in 2014 called Icon. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 3, 1979:
1. Why Have You Left The One You Left Me For-Crystal Gayle-United Artists
2. Every Which Way But Loose-Eddie Rabbitt-Elektra
3. Back On My Mind Again/Santa Barbara-Ronnie Milsap-RCA
4. Come On In-the Oak Ridge Boys-ABC
5. TEXAS WHEN I DIE-TANYA TUCKER-MCA
6. The Official Historian On Shirley-Jean Berrell-Statler Brothers-Mercury
7. I Really Got The Feeling/Baby, I'm Burning-Dolly Parton-RCA
8. Maybelline-George Jones and Johnny Paycheck-Epic
9. I Just Can't Stay Married To You-Cristy Lane-LS
10. You Don't Bring Me Flowers-Jim Ed Brown and Helen Cornelius-RCA

[countrychartnut]

1. RHETT'S THE #1 STAR: For the seventh time in his career, Thomas Rhett has the #1 song of the week. This time, it is the fifth single to his current album and that is Star Of The Show. The album, Tangled Up has already produced three other chart toppers. They are:
1. Crash And Burn-2015
2. Die A Happy Man-2016-chart wise, his biggest hit
3. T-Shirt-2016
After T-Shirt, he charted with Vacation, which peaked at #30. Tangled Up is the 40th album in country music history to contain four #1 hits. The others: country-discussion.proboards.com/thread/726/1-hits
2. HIGH VALLEY'S 50: Holding steady at #20 for a second week is High Valley with Make You Mine. It is spending its 50th week on the chart. Other singles spending at least that amount of time on the charts are:
1. 56 weeks-Love Like Crazy-Lee Brice-2010
2. 54 weeks-Bouquet Of Roses-Eddy Arnold-1948
3. 53 weeks-I Met A Girl-William Michael Morgan-2016
4. 52 weeks-Fraulein-Bobby Helms-1957
5. 52 weeks-Voices-Chris Young-2011
6. 51 weeks-Let It Rain-David Nail-2012
7. 50 weeks-Love You Like That-Canaan Smith-2015
8. 50 weeks-Gonna Wanna Tonight-Chase Rice-2015
9. 50 weeks-Little Bit Of You-Chase Bryant-2016
10. 50 weeks-Night's On Fire-David Nail-2016
11. 50 weeks-Make You Mine-High Valley-2017
3. A HIGH ROAD: Blasting his way on the chart at #21 is Sam Hunt with Body Like A Back Road. It is the Hot Shot Debut of the week. This is from an upcoming album. His debut album, Montevallo yielded a quintet of top two hits. They are:
1. Leave The Night On-2014-#1
2. Take Your Time-2015-#1
3. House Party-2015-#1
4. Break Up In A Small Town-2016-#2
5. Make You Miss Me-2016-#1
Body Like A Back Road is Hunt's highest debut so far.
4. AN ELEKTRA DEBUT: The Zac Brown Band debut at #26 with My Old Man. This is the lead single to their upcoming album, Welcome Home. This is their first single since being associated with Elektra Records. Their last album, Jekyll + Hyde was on the Republic label. It gave them four chart singles. They are:
1. Homegrown-2015-#1
2. Loving You Easy-2015-#1
3. Beautiful Drug-2016-#1
4. Castaway-2016-#14
5. CORBIN IS FAST: Easton Corbin has the fastest climbing song of the week with A Girl Like You (#56 to #52).
6. GILBERT'S #1: Brantley Gilbert debuts at #1 on the country albums chart with his fourth album, The Devil Don't Sleep. 66,000 copies were sold last week. It is his fourth album to chart following:
1. Modern Day Prodigal Son-2009-#58
2. Halfway To Heaven-2010-#2
3. Just As I Am-2014-#1
7. ALAINA'S BACK: Lauren Alaina debuts at #3 on the country albums chart with her second album, Road Less Traveled. 13,000 were sold last week. Her debut album, Wildflower debuted at #2 in 2011 with 69,000 sold.
8. #1 HITS: These were the chart topping songs in 2012, 2007, 2002, 1997, and 1992:
2012: You-Chris Young-RCA
2007: Watching You-Rodney Atkins-Curb
2002: Good Morning Beautiful-Steve Holy-Curb
1997: It's A Little Too Late-Mark Chesnutt-Decca
1992: A Jukebox With A Country Song-Doug Stone-Epic
9. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: Sawyer Brown released their second greatest hits album in 1995. A new song from the set, This Time peaked at #2 twenty-two years ago this week.
The track listing for Greatest Hits 1990-1995 is as follows:
1. Some Girls Do-1992-#1
2. Thank God For You-1993-#1-chart wise, their biggest hit
3. All These Years-1993-#3
4. The Dirt Road-1992-#3
5. This Time-1995-#2-their biggest #2 hit
6. The Walk-1991-#2
7. Trouble On The Line-1993-#5
8. Cafe On The Corner-1992-#5
9. I Don't Believe In Goodbye-1995-#4
10. The Boys And Me-1994-#4
This Time was released in November, 1994 and climbed as high as #2 in February, blocked by Pam Tillis' only chart topper, Mi Vida Loca My Crazy Life. Sawyer Brown was sidestepped the following week when Collin Raye chalked up his third #1, My Kind Of Girl (see chart below). Second and final single, I Don't Believe In Goodbye found a home at #4. The greatest hits album is certified gold. They continued their winning ways throughout the rest of the 1990s. Their next album, This Thing Called Wantin' And Havin' It All was released during the summer. The title track was the lead single and that was released in July. It almost became a top ten hit, but stalled at #11. 'Round Here was the next single. Released just before 1995 ended, it kicked off their 1996 on a #19 note. They finally got a top ten off the album with the third single, Treat Her Right. That peaked at #3 during the summer. The fourth single, She's Gettin' There bombed at #46.
Their next album, Six Days On The Road was released in 1997. The title track was chosen as the lead single. It was a remake of the Dave Dudley hit of 1963 (#2). Steve Earle charted a version in 1988 (#29). In Sawyer Brown's hands, it became a top 40 hit for a third time when it peaked at #13. Another remake was released and that was This Night Won't Last Forever. That hit #19 pop and #5 adult contemporary for Michael Johnson in 1979. Sawyer Brown turned it into a #6 country hit. Their 1998 started with the other two singles flopping at country radio: Another Side (#55) and Small Talk (#60). The Drive Me Wild album saw the light of day in 1999. The title track was released in November, 1998 and became their nineteenth and final top ten hit in early 1999 when it peaked at #6. I'm In Love With Her hit #47 while 800 Pound Jesus kicked off their 2000 on a #40 note. They released their only live album in 2000 called The Hits Live. Two singles were pulled from the album: Perfect World (#50) and Lookin' For Love (#44). The latter was a remake of Johnny Lee's biggest hit in 1980 (#1 country and #5 pop).
2002 saw their next album, Can You Hear Me Now be released. Lead single, Circles peaked at #45 while they hit #57 with the title track. I Need A Girlfriend did not chart. A promo single was released in 2003 called I'll Be Around (#48). They released their last album for Curb Records in 2005 called Mission Temple Fireworks Stand. It yielded their final chart appearances in the title track (#55). and They Don't Understand (#36). Keep Your Hands To Yourself did not chart. That was a remake of the Georgia Satellites hit of 1986 (#2 pop). A third greatest hits album was released in 2008 called The Best Of Sawyer Brown. Their final album was released on the Beach Street label in 2011. It was titled Travelin' Band and a quartet of singles were released. NONE charted. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 11, 1995:
1. Mi Vida Loca My Crazy Life-Pam Tillis-Arista
2. THIS TIME-SAWYER BROWN-CURB
3. My Kind Of Girl-Collin Raye-Epic
4. You And Only You-John Berry-Liberty
5. The First Step-Tracy Byrd-MCA
6. Here I Am-Patty Loveless-Epic
7. Gone Country-Alan Jackson-Arista
8. Little Houses-Doug Stone-Epic
9. Old Enough To Know Better-Wade Hayes-Columbia
10. Till You Love Me-Reba McEntire-MCA

[countrychartnut]

1. SEEIN' #1: Dustin Lynch collects his fourth #1 this week with Seein' Red. It is the lead single to his upcoming album. His previous album, Where It's At contains his first three chart toppers. They are:
1. Where It's At Yep, Yep-2014
2. Hell Of A Night-2015
3. Mind Reader-2016
2. COMBS IS FAST: Luke Combs has the fastest climbing single of the week with Hurricane. It blows up eight to #24.
3. THEY'RE FALLING: After debuting at #26 last week with My Old Man, the Zac Brown Band find themselves at #35 this week.
4. THEY FIGHT: Keith Urban and Carrie Underwood debut at #44 with The Fighter. It is the Hot Shot Debut of the week. This is the fifth single from Ripcord, Urban's current album. It follows:
1. John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16-2015-#2
2. Break On Me-2016-#1
3. Wasted Time-2016-#1
4. Blue Ain't Your Color-2017-#1
This is the third duet Urban has released. His other duets are:
1. We Were Us-with Miranda lambert-2013-#1
2. Raise 'Em up-with Eric Church-2015-#1
Underwood herself is no stranger to duets. She has charted the following duets:
1. I Told You So-with Randy Travis-2009-#2
2. Remind Me-with Brad Paisley-2011-#1
3. Somethin' Bad-with Miranda Lambert-2014-#7
5. REBA'S 13TH: Reba McEntire debuts at the top of the country albums chart with Sing It Now: Songs Of Faith & Hope. 52,000 copies were sold last week. This is her thirteenth #1 country album following:
1. Whoever's In New England-1986
2. What Am I Gonna Do About You-1987
3. Reba-1988
4. Sweet Sixteen-1989
5. It's Your Call-1993
6. Greatest Hits Volume Two-1994
7. Starting Over-1995
8. What If It's You-1996
9. Greatest Hits Volume III: I'm A Survivor-2001
10. Reba: Duets-2007
11. Keep On Loving You-2009
12. Love Somebody-2015
13. Sing It Now: Songs Of Faith & Hope-2017
6. #1 CDS: These were the top selling CDs in 2012, 2007, 2002, 1997, and 1992:
2012: Emotional Traffic-Tim McGraw-Curb
2007: Totally Country, Vol. 6-Various Artists-Sony/BMG
2002: Drive-Alan Jackson-Arista
1997: Blue-LeAnn Rimes-Curb
1992: Ropin' The Wind-Garth Brooks-Capitol
7. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: George Strait has the most #1 hits in country music history. His longest stretch of chart topping hits lasted from 1986-1989. That came to an end 27 years ago this week when Overnight Success peaked at #8.
Strait released his first greatest hits album in 1985. It is certified at the quadruple platinum level. He released his second album that year called Something Special. Lead single was The Chair and that was released in September. During its chart run, he won a pair of C.M.A. Awards for Male Vocalist of the Year (the first of five awards) and Album of the Year for Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind (the first of five awards). The Chair topped the chart in December, becoming his seventh chart topper. Second and final single, You're Something Special To Me was released in January, 1986. That peaked at #4 during the spring and became one of his signature love songs until I Cross My Heart came along in 1992. After that, it was all #1 for Strait until the decade ended. The ball got rolling for Strait with the #7 album of 1986. Lead single, Nobody In His Right Mind Would've Left Her was released in April. It was a remake as its songwriter, Dean Dillon took it to #25 in 1981. Keith Whitley cut a version for his L.A. To Miami album. During its chart run, the unthinkable happened. Strait's daughter, Jenifer was killed in a car accident in June. That sent Strait into a tailspin. He retreated from the public eye for awhile. The single topped the chart in August. Another single was released in August called It Ain't Cool To Be Crazy About You. During the chart run of that single, Strait won the C.M.A. Male Vocalist Award and dedicated it to Jenifer. It Ain't Cool To Be Crazy About You was a #1 for Strait in December, the same month he was declared the Top Country Artist in Billboard.
1987 was a career year for Strait. First, his next single, Ocean Front Property was released in January. Then, the album by the same name was released and it made history by becoming the first to debut atop the country albums chart. The single became his tenth chart topping hit in April. Next came All My Ex's Live In Texas and that proceeded to top the chart in July. He made it three for three with Am I Blue. That ended up being a #1 hit in November. The same week Am I Blue was #1, Strait found himself at the top of the country albums chart with Greatest Hits Volume Two. 1987 was the second year that Billboard proclaimed Strait its #1 country artist. He continued his winning ways in 1988 with the If You Ain't Lovin', You Ain't Livin' album. Lead single, Famous Last Words Of A Fool was a remake. Dillon took his version to #67 in 1983. Strait's version was released in January and it became his lucky thirteenth chart topper in April. Baby Blue followed and that hit the top in August. The title track was the third and final single. That was originally a #2 hit for Faron Young in 1955. This time, it topped the chart for Strait in December.
1989 saw Strait release the Beyond The Blue Neon album. The lead single, Baby's Gotten Good At Goodbye was released in January. That topped the chart in March. What's Going On In Your World was released in April. It was #1 bound in July. Third single, Ace In The Hole, named for his touring band was released in July and became his eleventh consecutive #1 hit in November. It was his eighteenth chart topper overall. During its chart run and after four previous nominations, Strait finally won the C.M.A. Entertainer of the Year Award. After that well-earned win, Strait released the fourth single, Overnight Success. Released in November, it kicked off Strait's 1990 on a #8 note in February, breaking his streak of eleven consecutive chart topping hits. It stayed at that position for a week while becoming his twenty-sixth top ten hit. Strait rebounded with his next album, Livin' It Up. The album art shows Strait's belt buckle proclaiming him the Entertainer of the Year. Lead single, Love Without End, Amen was released in April. It became his biggest hit when it topped the chart for five weeks in June and July. A remake was next and that was Drinking Champagne. That was Cal Smith's first top 40 hit in 1968 (#35). Strait took his version to #4 during the fall. In October, two major events took place. First, he repeated as Entertainer of the Year at the C.M.A.. Second, third and final single was released in I've Come To Expect It From You. Like Love Without End, Amen, I've Come To Expect It From You topped the chart for five weeks between December, 1990 to January, 1991.
Overnight Success is repeated on the 1991 album, Ten Strait Hits. Strait released Strait Out Of The Box in 1995. Along with Down And Out (#16 in 1981), Overnight Success is absent here. While Strait did not string another eleven chart toppers in a row, he did have some mini streaks of chart toppers. They are:
1. I've Come To Expect It From You-1990
2. If I Know Me-1991
3. You Know Me Better Than That-1991

1. I Cross My Heart-1992
2. Heartland-1993

1. The Big One-1994
2. You Can't Make A Heart Love Somebody-1995

1. Blue Clear Sky-1996
2. Carried Away-1996

1. One Night At A Time-1997
2. Carrying Your Love With Me-1997

1. Round About Way-1998
2. I Just Want To Dance With You-1998

1. Living And Living Well-2002
2. She'll Leave You With A Smile-2002

1. Give It Away-2006-Strait's record breaking 41st #1 hit
2. It Just Comes Natural-2007
Strait's final chart appearance (so far) is Cold Beer Conversation (#33 in 2015). His current release is Strait Out Of The Box: Part 2. It features his current single, Goin' Goin' Gone. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 17, 1990:
1. On Second Thought-Eddie Rabbitt-Capitol
2. No Matter How High-Oak Ridge Boys-MCA
3. Southern Star-Alabama-RCA
4. Statue Of A Fool-Ricky Van Shelton-Columbia
5. Nobody's Home-Clint Black-RCA
6. Start All Over Again-Desert Rose Band-MCA
7. Chains-Patty Loveless-MCA
8. OVERNIGHT SUCCESS-GEORGE STRAIT-MCA
9. I Can't Turn The Tide-Baillie and the Boys-RCA
10. Where've You Been-Kathy Mattea-Mercury

[countrychartnut]

1. A BETTER #1: Little Big Town collects their second #1 hit this week with Better Man. It is the lead single to their upcoming album, The Breaker. It has been four and a half years since they scored their first chart topper, Pontoon in 2012. They have fared well with the following singles between chart toppers:
1. Tornado-2013-#2
2. Your Side Of The Bed-2013-#27
3. Sober-2014-#31
4. Day Drinking-2014-#2
5. Girl Crush-2015-#3
6. Pain Killer-2016-#38
In the meantime, they charted with Miranda Lambert on her single, Smokin' And Drinkin' (#33 in 2015) and were featured on the Vince Gill single, Take Me Down (#60 in 2016). Furthermore, Better Man was written by Taylor Swift. This is her second top ten as a songwriter on someone else's single. Kellie Pickler climbed all the way to #9 with Best Days Of Your Life in 2009. That became her only top ten hit.
2. A YEAR'S WORTH: High Valley is celebrating their first anniversary on the chart with Make You Mine (#17 this week). They join these other songs spending at least that much time on the charts:
1. 56 weeks-Love Like Crazy-Lee Brice-2010
2. 54 weeks-Bouquet Of Roses-Eddy Arnold-1948
3. 53 weeks-I Met A Girl-William Michael Morgan-2016
4. 52 weeks-Fraulein-Bobby Helms-1957
5. 52 weeks-Voices-Chris Young-2011
6. 52 weeks-Make You Mine-High Valley-2017
3. A FAST FIGHT: Keith Urban and Carrie Underwood have the fastest climbing song of the week with The Fighter. They duke it out eleven spots to #33.
4. GOING FOR THREE: Blake Shelton has the Hot Shot Debut of the week with Every Time I Hear That Song. It starts its chart life at #48. If this goes the distance, it will be the third #1 off If I'm Honest. It will follow Came Here To Forget (2016) and A Guy With A Girl (2017). Between those was the #7 peaking She's Got A Way With Words from last year.
5. MOORE DEBUTS: Kip Moore comes in at #56 this week with More Girls Like You. This is a lead single from an upcoming album. His last album, Wild Ones garnered a pair of chart singles: I'm To Blame (#20 in 2015) and Running For You (#13 in 2016).
6. DOUBLE THE ALAINA: All the way at the bottom of the chart is Kane Brown featuring Lauren Alaina at #60 with What Ifs. This is Brown's sixth single to chart and third off his current album, a self-titled set. Alaina is at #11 with Road Less Traveled. That is the title track off her current album.
7. YOUNG DEBUTS: Debuting at #2 on the country albums chart is Brett Young with his self-titled debut album. 18,000 copies were sold last week. It features the #2 hit, Sleep Without You and his current single, In Case You Didn't Know (#29 this week).
8. A 90S LOOK: These were the chart topping hits during the last week of February during the 1990s:
1990: No Matter How High-Oak Ridge Boys-MCA
1991: Walk On Faith-Mike Reid-Columbia
1992: What She's Doing Now-Garth Brooks-Capitol
1993: What Part Of No-Lorrie Morgan-BNA
1994: I Swear-John Michael Montgomery-Atlantic
1995: Old Enough To Know Better-Wade Hayes-Columbia
1996: Wild Angels-Martina McBride-RCA
1997: Running Out Of Reasons To Run-Rick Trevino-Columbia
1998: What If I Said-Anita Cochran and Steve Wariner-Warner Bros.
1999: I Don't Want To Miss A Thing-Mark Chesnutt-Decca
9. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: Charley Pride released his first live album in 1982. A new song from the set, an old country standard was our top song 34 years ago this week. It was Why Baby Why.
Pride released a greatest hits album in 1981 called Greatest Hits Vol. 1. A new song from the set, Never Been So Loved In All My Life became his 25th #1 hit in October, making him the fourth artist in history to have at least that many chart topping hits. He followed Eddy Arnold, Conway Twitty, and Merle Haggard in that accomplishment. He released the Everybody's Choice album in 1982. Lead single, Mountain Of Love was a remake. Johnny Rivers took his version to #9 pop in 1964. Bobby Rice took his version to #20 country in 1971. Pride's version was released in December, 1981 and claimed a spot at the top of the chart in March, 1982. Second single, I Don't Think She's In Love Anymore was released in April and spent two weeks in the runner up spot behind Janie Frickie's Don't Worry 'Bout Me Baby and Barbara Mandrell's 'Till You're Gone. Third and final single, You're So Good When You're Bad brought Pride back to the top in November. The Charley Pride Live album was released after that single ran its course. The only single from that album was Why Baby Why. It was a hit for its songwriter, George Jones that became his first top 40 and first top ten hit in 1955 (#4). In 1956, it was done as a duet between Red Sovine and Webb Pierce and they turned it into a #1 hit. Hank Locklin took his version to #9 in 1956 while another duet pairing in Warren Smith and Shirley Collie turned it into a #23 hit in 1961. Pride's version was released in November and it became a #1 hit all over again in February, 1983.
After the live album, Pride released Charley Pride Sings Country Classics. A lone single in More And More was released. That was originally a #1 hit for Pierce in 1954. Pride's version hit #7. The Night Games album was released in 1983. The title track was the lead single. It was released in June and became Pride's 29th and final chart topping hit in September. Second and final single, Ev'ry Heart Should Have One was released in October and hit #2 in January, 1984 behind Slow Burn by T.G. Sheppard. Pride released The Power Of Love album in 1984. Its lead single was the title track and that hit #9, becoming his final top ten for RCA Records. Missin' Mississippi faltered a bit, peaking at #32. That broke a streak of 38 consecutive top ten hits. Greatest Hits Vol. 2 was released in 1985 and yielded two singles, both in 1985: Down On The Farm (#25) and Let A Little Love Come In (#34). Pride ended his RCA years with The Best There Is album in 1986. Two singles bombed with the title track (#75) and Love On A Blue Rainy Day (#74).
Pride would sign to the new 16th Avenue label in 1986. His first album for them was released in 1987 called After All This Time. Its lead single, Have I Got Some Blues For You was released in March and brought Pride back into the top twenty at #14. Second and final single peaked at #31 called If You Still Want A Fool Around. His second album for 16th Avenue, I'm Gonna Love Her On The Radio was released in 1988. Shouldn't Be Easier Than This was released in November, 1987. It became the 52nd and final top ten in Pride's career when it peaked at #5 in March, 1988. The title track was released in April and proceeded to a #13 placing on the chart. Where Was I bombed at #49. His third and final 16th Avenue album, Moody Woman was released in 1989. Another #49 peaking single was realized in White Houses. The second single did worse and that was The More I Do. It flopped at #77. Next came his final chart appearance and was Amy's Eyes. That was released in November, 1989 and peaked at #28 while 1990 was new. It was his 60th top 40 hit as well. Pride found himself without a label when 16th Avenue closed later in the year.
Pride was inducted to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2000. To date, his final album was released in 2011 on the Music City label called Choices. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 26, 1983:
1. WHY BABY WHY-CHARLEY PRIDE-RCA
2. Last Thing I Needed First Thing This Morning-Willie Nelson-Columbia
3. If Hollywood Don't Need You-Don Williams-MCA
4. The Rose-Conway Twitty-Elektra
5. I Wouldn't Change You If I Could-Ricky Skaggs-Epic
6. Faking Love-T.G. Sheppard and Karen Brooks-Warner Bros.
7. Swingin'-John Anderson-Warner Bros.
8. Everything's Beautiful In Its Own Way-Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson-Monument
9. Ain't No Trick It Takes Magic-Lee Greenwood-MCA
10. Honkytonk Man-Marty Robbins-Warner Bros.

[countrychartnut]

1. A LITTLE BIG #1: Little Big Town continue to have the #1 song in country with Better Man. They match the two week stay at the top with their first chart topper, 2012's Pontoon.
2. HER FIRST: Lauren Alaina climbs two to #9 with Road Less Traveled. This is her first top ten in six tries. Her other singles:
1. Like My Mother Does-2011-#36
2. Georgia Peaches-2012-#28
3. Eighteen Inches-2012-#34
4. Barefoot And Buckwild-2013-#56
5. Next Boyfriend-2016-#43
Alaina was a contestant on American Idol in 2011.
3. ELDREDGE DEBUTS: Grabbing the Hot Shot Debut at #32 is Brett Eldredge with Somethin' I'm Good At. This is from an upcoming album. His last, Illinois yielded a trio of top two hits. They are:
1. Lose My Mind-2015-#1
2. Drunk On Your Love-2016-#2
3. Wanna Be That Song-2016-#1
4. SHELTON'S FAST: Blake Shelton has the fastest climbing song of the week with Every Time I Hear That Song (#48 to #40).
5. JOHNSON FALLS: Cody Johnson takes a ten point tumble to #56 with With You I Am.
6. A WINDY DEBUT: Alison Krauss debuts at the top of the country chart with Windy City. 36,000 copies were sold last week. This is her third solo album to chart following I've Got That Old Feeling (#61 in 1991) and Forget About It (#5 in 1999). She has charted albums with Union Station.
7. DECKER STRIKES GOLD: Jessie James Decker debuts at #5 on the country albums chart with Gold. 12,000 copies have been sold. This is her fourth title to chart following:
1. Jessie James-2009-#23
2. Comin' Home-2014-#5
3. This Christmas-2015-#16
8. A CORRECTION: I have recently posted lists about the longest lasting singles on the country chart. I have failed to include Craig Campbell's Outta My Head from 2013. That spent 54 weeks on the chart. The amended top five looks like this:
1. 56 weeks-Love Like Crazy-Lee Brice-2010
2. 54 weeks-Bouquet Of Roses-Eddy Arnold-1948
3. 54 weeks-Outta My Head-Craig Campbell-2013
4. 53 weeks-I Met A Girl-William Michael Morgan-2016
5. 53 weeks-Make You Mine-High Valley-2017
9. A 90S LOOK, PART II: These were the top selling CDs during the first week of March during the 1990s:
1990: RVS III-Ricky Van Shelton-Columbia
1991: No Fences-Garth Brooks-Capitol
1992: Ropin' The Wind-Garth Brooks-Capitol
1993: Some Gave All-Billy Ray Cyrus-Mercury
1994: Kickin' It Up-John Michael Montgomery-Atlantic
1995: The Hits-Garth Brooks-Liberty
1996: The Woman In Me-Shania Twain-Mercury
1997: Unchained Melody: The Early Years-LeAnn Rimes-Curb
1998: Sevens-Garth Brooks-Capitol
1999: Wide Open Spaces-Dixie Chicks-Monument
10. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: I do not know how long the personal relationship between Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson lasted. However, I do know how long their professional relationship was. It started in 1975 when Nelson signed to Columbia Records and ended in 2002 with the death of Jennings. They topped the chart 39 years ago this week with Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys.
Nelson's debut album for Columbia, Red Headed Stranger yielded two hits: Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain (#1 in 1975) and Remember Me When The Candle Lights Are Gleaming (#2 in 1976). During this time, Nelson and Jennings were working on the Wanted! The Outlaws album with two of their friends: Jessi Colter (Jennings' wife) and Tompall Glaser. A Jennings/Nelson single was released in Good Hearted Woman. That was a remake of Jennings' solo hit of 1972 (#3). The duet version was released in December, 1975 and became their first chart topper in February, 1976. It crossed over to #25 pop and even #16 adult contemporary. Because of the success of the duet, Wanted! The Outlaws became country music's first platinum album. The duet won the C.M.A. Single of the Year while Jennings/Nelson were awarded the Vocal Duo of the Year. Wanted! The Outlaws won the Album of the Year award. After that, their next duet was featured on Jennings' 1977 album, Ol' Waylon called Luckenbach, Texas Back To The Basics Of Love. To this day, Nelson remains uncredited for the song even though his contribution to the song can't be denied. Released in April, the song went to spend six weeks at the top of the chart between May and June. It ended up being the biggest hit of Jennings' career. It also became a crossover hit, peaking at #25 pop and #16 A.C.. Billboard named it the biggest country hit of the year. Shortly after that song peaked, Jennings and Nelson went to work on their Waylon And Willie album of 1978. They chose to record Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys. That was a hit for its songwriter, Ed Bruce in 1976 (#15). The Jennings/Nelson version was released in January and proceeded to top the chart for four weeks in March. It crossed over to #42 pop and #33 A.C.. Jennings and Nelson won a Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal for Mammas. Like Luckenbach Texas, Mammas was declared the biggest country hit of the year by Billboard. That song was covered by their sons, Shooter Jennings and Lukas Nelson.
Jennings and Nelson did not connect again until 1982's Just To Satisfy You. That had charted for Bobby Bare in 1965 (#31). It was pulled as the only single from the 1982 album, Black On Black. Released in February, it topped the chart in May for two weeks where it succeeded Nelson's own Always On My Mind. Just To Satisfy You peaked at #52 pop. The WWII album was released in 1982 and again, a lone single was released called Sittin' On The Dock Of The Bay. That was a double #1 on pop and r&b charts for Otis Redding in 1968. Released in October, it broke their streak of #1s at four when it peaked at #13. After seeing Jennings' label get all the action, Columbia, Nelson's label finally got some love in 1983 when they released the Take It To The Limit album. Its lead single, Why Do I Have To Choose was a Nelson solo single that peaked at #3. The title track was originally a #4 pop and #4 A.C. hit for the Eagles in 1976. The Nelson/Jennings version was released in October and reached #8 country and #31 A.C. in December.
The Nelson/Jennings pairing took on a new dimension in 1985. They added their friends, Johnny Cash and Kris Kristofferson to the mix. They released the Highwayman album that year and all four of them topped the chart with the title track. That became Nelson's 19th #1 hit, Jennings' 15th #1, Cash's 14th and final #1, and Kristofferson's second. Second and final single, Desperadoes Waiting For A Train peaked at #15 before the year ended. Highwayman 2 was released in 1990. A lone single in Silver Stallion was released. It peaked at #25. Getting back to Jennings and Nelson, they released their final duet in 1991 called If I Can Find A Clean Shirt off the Clean Shirt album. It peaked at #51, becoming Jennings' final chart appearance. The Highwaymen got together just one more time in 1995 by releasing their third album, The Road Goes On Forever.
A lot of the songs mentioned here can be found on two albums. They are:
1. 16 Biggest Hits (Jennings and Nelson album)-2006
2. The Essential Highwaymen-2010
Nelson (1993) and Jennings (2001) are Country Music Hall of Fame members. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING MARCH 4, 1978:
1. MAMMAS DON'T LET YOUR BABIES GROW UP TO BE COWBOYS-WAYLON JENNINGS AND WILLIE NELSON-RCA
2. Don't Break The Heart That Loves You-Margo Smith-Warner Bros.
3. Do I Love You Yes In Every Way-Donna Fargo-Warner Bros.
4. What Did I Promise Her Last Night-Mel Tillis-MCA
5. Woman To Woman-Barbara Mandrell-ABC/Dot
6. I Love You, I Love You, I Love You-Ronnie McDowell-Scorpion
7. Bartender's Blues-George Jones-Epic
8. Two Doors Down-Zella Lehr-RCA
9. If I Had A Cheating Heart-Mel Street-Polydor
10. Walk Right Back-Anne Murray-Capitol

[countrychartnut]

1. YOUNG'S #1 NIGHT: Chris Young collects his eighth chart topping hit this week with Sober Saturday Night. It is the third single and third #1 off I'm Comin' Over following the title track (2015) and Think Of You with Cassadee Pope (2016).
2. 54 WEEKS: That is how long High Valley has been charting with Make You Mine. It joins Eddy Arnold's Bouquet Of Roses from 1948 and Craig Campbell's Outta My Head from 2013 to spend that much time on the chart. ALL three are surpassed by Lee Brice, who spent 56 weeks on the chart with Love Like Crazy (2009-2010).
3. DRINKIN' FAST: Midland has the fastest climbing song of the week with Drinkin' Problem. They kick up eight spots to #45.
4. THEY'RE FALLING: After debuting at #32 last week with Somethin' I'm Good At, Brett Eldredge finds himself at #44 this week. Meanwhile, Jake Owen drops ten to #48 with If He Ain't Gonna Love You.
5. THE GREATEST DEBUT: LANco debuts at the #58 this week with Greatest Love Story. It is the only debut on the chart. This is the follow up to their debut single, Long Live Tonight which peaked at #32 last year.
6. A #1 BREAKER: Little Big Town debuts at the top of the country albums chart with The Breaker. They sold 44,000 copies last week. This is their seventh album to chart following:
1. Little Big Town-2002-#40
2. The Road To Here-2005-#12
3. A Place To Land-2007-#10
4. The Reason Why-2010-#1
5. Tornado-2012-#1
6. Pain Killer-2014-#3
7. WATSON DEBUTS: Aaron Watson lands at #2 on the country albums chart after 37,000 copies of Vaquero were sold. This is his seventh charting album following:
1. San Angelo-2006-#60
2. Angels & Outlaws-2008-#28
3. Deep In The Heart Of Texas: Aaron Watson Live-2009-#47
4. The Road & The Rodeo-2010-#25
5. Real Good Time-2012-#9
6. The Underdog-2015-#1
8. #1 HITS: These were the chart topping songs in 2012, 2007, 2002, 1997, and 1992:
2012: You Gonna Fly-Keith Urban-Capitol
2007: Ladies Love Country Boys-Trace Adkins-Capitol
2002: Bring On The Rain-Jo Dee Messina-Curb
1997: Me Too-Toby Keith-A & M
1992: Straight Tequila Night-John Anderson-BNA
9. MILESTONE TOP TWENTY CHART: Face To Face by Alabama features K.T. Oslin toward the end of the song. In the meantime, she was charting her fourth RCA single at the time called I'll Always Come Back. BOTH records shared space in the top twenty twenty-nine years ago this week.
Oslin signed to RCA Records in 1986 while Alabama had their first greatest hits album in release. A new song from the set, She And I became their nineteenth consecutive chart topping hit. Oslin went to work on her 80's Ladies album while Alabama was recording their The Touch album. Their lead single, Touch Me When We're Dancing was a remake. The Carpenters took their version to #16 pop and #1 adult contemporary in 1981. Alabama's version was released in September and became a chart topping hit in November. The next time Alabama saw their name on the chart was a duet with Lionel Richie. He released Deep River Woman off his Dancing On The Ceiling album. That was released in November and climbed to #10 country, #71 pop, and #28 A.C. in January, 1987. Because it was a Richie single, Alabama's chart topping streak stood at twenty. After that duet peaked, Oslin issued her debut single for RCA called Wall Of Tears. It barely dented the top 40 portion of the chart at #40. Alabama released their second and final The Touch single, You've Got The Touch. That ended up being their twenty-first #1 hit in April. April was the month Oslin released her second single, the title track to her album. 80's Ladies became her first top ten in July when it peaked at #7. It was the first of seven top tens for her.
In the meantime, Alabama was recording tunes for their upcoming album called Just Us. The lead single to the album, Tar Top was a very personal release for the group. It detailed their struggles to make it big in the business. Furthermore, Tar Top ended up being lead singer Randy Owen's nickname. Released in August, it peaked at #7 in October, breaking country music's longest streak of #1s at twenty-one. While Alabama was charting with Tar Top, Oslin released Do Ya' in September. It became her first #1 hit in December. While Oslin was riding high with her first #1, Alabama released Face To Face as the second single. That became their twenty-second #1 hit in March, 1988 and started their second longest streak of chart toppers at six. The reasons why Oslin is credited as a guest vocal on the record are:
1. The record is three minutes long. You finally hear Oslin after two minutes have expired (play video down below).
2. Oslin herself sings one line by herself and one line with Owen. Admittedly, having Oslin on the record makes it magical, but she does NOT sing a verse all to herself.
3. The record itself should almost be classified as an Owen solo single. The other two singing members of the group, Jeff Cook and Teddy Gentry barely sing on the record. They just harmonize with Owen.
The week after Face To Face topped the chart, it fell to #11. Oslin's final single from 80's Ladies, I'll Always Come Back (released in January, 1988) jumped into the top twenty at #15 from #21. It became her second #1 in April. By this time, Alabama released their third and final Just Us single, Fallin' Again. It hit the top in July. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TWENTY FOR WEEK ENDING MARCH 12, 1988:
1. Too Gone Too Long-Randy Travis-Warner Bros.
2. This Missin' You Heart Of Mine-Sawyer Brown-Capitol
3. Life Turned Her That Way-Ricky Van Shelton-Columbia
4. Turn It Loose-the Judds-RCA
5. I'm Gonna Miss You, Girl-Michael Martin Murphey-Warner Bros.
6. Love Will Find Its Way To You-Reba McEntire-MCA
7. Touch And Go Crazy-Lee Greenwood-MCA
8. Shouldn't Be Easier Than This-Charley Pride-16th Avenue
9. I Wanna Dance With You-Eddie Rabbitt-RCA
10. Famous Last Words Of A Fool-George Strait-MCA
11. FACE TO FACE-ALABAMA-RCA
12. Wilder Days-Baillie and the Boys-RCA
13. Santa Fe-Bellamy Brothers-MCA
14. I Didn't Every Chance I Had-Johnny Rodriguez-Capitol
15. I'LL ALWAYS COME BACK-K.T. OSLIN-RCA
16. It's Only Make Believe-Ronnie McDowell and Conway Twitty-Curb
17. Timeless And True Love-the McCarters-Warner Bros.
18. It's Such A Small World-Rodney Crowell and Rosanne Cash-Columbia
19. The Last Resort-T. Graham Brown-Capitol
20. Strangers Again-Holly Dunn-MTM

[countrychartnut]

1. PARDI'S BOOOTS ARE #1: Jon Pardi collects his second chart topping hit with Dirt On My Boots. This follows his other California Sunrise single, Head Over Boots at the top. The first Boots song topped the chart last year.
2. FOUR FOR FOUR: Kelsea Ballerini eases up one to #10 with her fourth The First Time single, Yeah Boy. This is her fourth top ten hit out of four singles. It follows the chart toppers Love Me Like You Mean It (2015), Dibs (2016), and Peter Pan (2016).
3. NO MORE HIGH VALLEY: After being on the chart for 54 weeks, Make You Mine by High Valley was sent to recurrent status.
4. A TIE: We have two songs taking ten point jumps for fastest climbing songs of the week. They are:
1. Drinkin' Problem-Midland-#45 to #35
2. A Girl Like You-Easton Corbin-#49 to #39
5. OLD DOMINION HIGH: Hot Shot Debut honors belong to Old Dominion this week. They start at #31 with No Such Thing As A Broken Heart. This is from an upcoming album. Their last, Meat And Candy yielded a trio of singles. They are:
1. Break Up With Him-2015-#1
2. Snapback-2016-#2
3. Song For Another Time-2016-#1
6. A CALIFONRIA DEBUT: Big & Rich land at #47 this week with California. This is the lead single to their upcoming album, Did It For The Party. Tim McGraw recorded the song with Big & Rich for his 2015 album, Damn Country Music. They got together to score a hit with Lovin' Lately (#14 in 2016).
7. A SMALL DEBUT: Dustin Lynch debuts at #54 with Small Town Boy. This is the second single to an upcoming album. The first, Seein' Red topped the chart earlier this year.
8. BACK TO REBA: Reba McEntire starts her chart life at #56 with Back To God. This is from her chart topping album, Sing It Now: Songs Of Faith & Hope. This is her third Nash Icon single to chart following Going Out Like That (#28 in 2015) and Until They Don't Love You (#48 in 2015).
9. ADKINS DEBUTS: Trace Adkins debuts at #57 with Watered Down. This is his third Wheelhouse single of his upcoming Something's Going On album. Jesus And Jones hit #41 in 2016 while Lit did not light up the chart.
10. SING WITH BUSH: Kristian Bush, one half of Sugarland debuts at #58 with Sing Along. This is his first charted single with Wheelhouse Records.
11. SEGER'S HERE: Sort of. Starting at #60 is Frankie Ballard with You'll Accomp'ny Me. This is his third El Rio single following It All Started With A Beer (#15 in 2016) and Cigarette (#50 in 2016). You'll Accomp'ny Me is a remake of the Bob Seger hit of 1980 (#14 pop and #8 adult contemporary).
12. #1 CDS: These were the top selling CDs in 2012, 2007, 2002, 1997, and 1992:
2012: Own The Night-Lady Antebellum-Capitol
2007: Taking The Long Way-Dixie Chicks-Monument
2002: O Brother, Where Art Thou-Soundtrack-Lost Highway
1997: Unchained Melody: The Early Years-LeAnn Rimes-Curb
1992: Ropin' The Wind-Garth Brooks-Capitol
13. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: Kenny Chesney came close on so many occasions to land a quartet of chart toppers from one album. He finally broke through with the 2010 album, Hemingway's Whiskey. Its fourth #1 single, Reality was our top song five years ago this week.
The albums where Chesney could have landed four #1 hits are as follows (for #2 peaking hits, I will list those #1s that prevented him from topping the chart). Ready?
1. No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems-2002
a. Young-2002-#2-My List-Toby Keith
b. The Good Stuff-2002-#1-chart wise, his biggest hit
c. Big Star-2003-#2-Have You Forgotten-Darryl Worley
d. No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems-2003-#2-It's Five O'clock Somewhere-Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett
2. When The Sun Goes Down-2004
a. There Goes My Life-2003-#1
b. When The Sun Goes Down-with Uncle Kracker-2004-#1
c. I Go Back-2004-#2-his biggest #2 hit-Live Like You Were Dying-Tim McGraw
d. The Woman With You-2004-#2-Nothing On But The Radio-Gary Allan
e. Anything But Mine-2005-#1
3. The Road And The Radio-2005
a. Who You'd Be Today-2005-#2-Better Life-Keith Urban
b. Living In Fast Forward-2006-#1
c. Summertime-2006-#1
d. Beer In Mexico-2007-#1
4. Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates-2007
a. Never Wanted Nothing More-2007-#1
b. Don't Blink-2007-#1
c. Shiftwork-with George Strait-2008-#2-Cleaning This Gun Come On In Boy-Rodney Atkins
d. Better As A Memory-2008-#1
After the Just As I Am: Poets & Pirates album ran its course, Chesney released the Lucky Old Sun album in 2008. Only two singles were released and both hit the top: Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven with the Wailers in 2008 and Down The Road with Mac McAnally in 2009. A greatest hits album was released in 2009. A trio of new songs became hits:
1. Out Last Night-2009-#1
2. I'm Alive-with Dave Matthews-2009-#6
3. Ain't Back Yet-2010-#3
Chesney was set to make history with the Hemingway's Whiskey album of 2010. Lead single, The Boys Of Fall was a salute to football. Released in July, it topped the chart in October (just in time for football) becoming his eighteenth #1 hit. Somewhere With You was released before year's end. It kicked off his 2011 on a chart topping note in January. Live A Little was released in March and became a #1 hit in May. You And Tequila was tabbed as the fourth single. Chesney enjoyed vocal support from Grace Potter. Released in May, it peaked at #3 in September. A fifth single in Reality was released in October. After 2012 started, it became Chesney's fourth #1 off the Hemingway's Whiskey album in March. It became his lucky twenty-first chart topper. The Chesney album became the thirtieth in country music history with a quartet of top singles.
After the success of Hemingway's Whiskey, Chesney was transferred to the Columbia label after BNA Records was shut down. His 2012 album, Welcome To The Fishbowl started with a bang. His duet with Tim McGraw, Feel Like A Rock Star became his highest debut ever, starting at #13 in April. However, it peaked at #11 weeks later. It broke a chart streak of thirty consecutive top ten hits. He made up for it with the second single, Come Over. Released in May, it brought Chesney back to the top in August. He ended the era and the year with El Cerrito Place. That was released in September and barely cracked the top ten at #10 in December. His 2013 album, Life On A Rock yielded just two singles (both in 2013): Pirate Flag (#3) and When I See This Bar (#14). He was going to make history again with the Big Revival album of 2014. ALL four singles hit the top. They are:
1. American Kids-2014
2. Til It's Gone-2015
3. Wild Child-2015
4. Save It For A Rainy Day-2015-with this song, Chesney enters the top ten of those artists with the most #1 hits
The Big Revival became the 36th album in country music to have four #1 hits. His current album is called Cosmic Hallelujah (2016). So far, all three singles have become hits. They are:
1. Noise-2016-#6
2. Setting The World On Fire-with Pink-2016-#1
3. Bar At The End Of The World-2017-currently in the top 20
This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING MARCH 17, 2012:
1. REALITY-KENNY CHESNEY-BNA
2. Home-Dierks Bentley-Capitol
3. Alone With You-Jake Owen-RCA
4. You Gonna Fly-Keith Urban-Capitol
5. Ours-Taylor Swift-Big Machine
6. Love's Gonna Make It Alright-George Strait-MCA
7. Drink On It-Blake Shelton-Warner Bros.
8. I'm Gonna Love You Through It-Martina McBride-Republic Nashville
9. You-Chris Young-RCA
10. Dancin' Away With My Heart-Lady Antebellum-Capitol

[countrychartnut]

1. THE PARDI CONTINUES: Jon Pardi continues to top the chart for a second week with Dirt On My Boots. To date, this is his biggest hit as his first #1, Head Over Boots topped the chart for one week last year.
2. TURNER'S BACK: Rising two spots to #10 is Josh Turner's Hometown Girl. This is his seventh top ten hit and first since 2012's Time Is Love (#2). Since Time Is Love, Turner charted with Find Me A Baby (#42 in 2013) and Lay Low (#25 in 2015).
3. LAMBERT AND SHELTON: Ex spouses Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton are neighbors on this week's chart. She is at #26 with We Should Be Friends while he is at #27 with Every Time I Hear That Song.
4. GOD IS FAST: Did you expect anything less? Seriously, Reba McEntire has the fastest climbing song of the week as Back To God rises ten to #46.
5. MORRIS DEBUTS: Maren Morris has the Hot Shot Debut of the week with I Could Use A Love Song at #56. This is her third Hero single following My Church (#9 in 2016) and 80s Mercedes (#12 in 2017).
6. HER FIRST TIME: Carly Pearce makes her debut on the country chart with Every Little Thing at #58. She signed to the Big Machine label last year.
7. A DEEP #1: Debuting at the top of the country albums chart is Josh Turner with Deep South. 18,000 copies were sold last week. So far, all six of his studio albums have charted and have reached the top five. They are:
1. Long Black Train-2003-#3
2. Your Man-2006-#1
3. Everything Is Fine-2007-#3
4. Haywire-2010-#2
5. Punching Bag-2012-#1
6. Deep South-2017-#1
8. NASHVILLE RETURNS: Entering the albums chart at #12 is the ninth soundtrack to the television series Nashville. Titled Nashville: The Music Of Nashville: Season 5, Volume 1 is the first to chart since the series moved from ABC to CMT. Once I get sales figures, this post will be edited.
9. #1 HITS: These were the chart topping songs in 2012, 2007, 2002, 1997, and 1992:
2012: Home-Dierks Bentley-Capitol
2007: Beer In Mexico-Kenny Chesney-BNA
2002: The Long Goodbye-Brooks & Dunn-Arista
1997: We Danced Anyway-Deana Carter-Capitol
1992: Dallas-Alan Jackson-Arista
10. MILESTONE TOP TWENTY CHART: Reba McEntire had two entries in the top twenty twenty-seven years ago this week. Her solo single, Little Girl and her duet with Vince Gill, Oklahoma Swing shared that portion of the chart.
This wasn't the first time McEntire had two songs in the top twenty at the same time. In late 1986, she lent her vocals on the Hank Williams, Jr. single, Mind Your Own Business. Three others participated on the record as well: Willie Nelson, Tom Petty, and Reverend Ike. That vocal collaboration topped the chart in December. At #3 for the week was McEntire's solo single, What Am I Gonna Do About You. She almost succeeded herself at the top of the chart. The one week gap was filled by Michael Johnson's Give Me Wings at #1. In 1989, she released the Sweet Sixteen album. At the same time, Gill signed to the MCA label (McEntire's label at the time) after being a moderate success at RCA Records between 1983-1988. McEntire's single, Cathy's Clown was released in April. It was a remake of the Everly Brothers hit of 1960 (#1 pop and #1 r&b). McEntire's version hit the top of the country chart in July, becoming her fourteenth chart topping hit. Her second single, 'Til Loves Comes Again was released in September. It proceeded to a #4 peak in late 1989. In the meantime, Gill released his debut MCA single, Never Alone in September. Check out Rosanne Cash's version off her Rhythm & Romance album. It reached a respectable #22. McEntire released Little Girl in December and it kicked off her 1990 on a #7 note in March. While McEntire was approaching the top ten, Gill released his duet with her called Oklahoma Swing in January. When McEntire was at #7 with her solo single, Gill and McEntire were at #23. A week later, Little Girl fell to #9 while Oklahoma Swing rose to #19 for the week ending March 17. The following week, the chart I'm showing has McEntire at #14 while Gill/McEntire are at #16. Two weeks later, Oklahoma Swing peaked at #13 while Little Girl was at #33. This was Gill's first major hit at MCA and first top twenty hit since 1988's Everybody's Sweetheart (#11). McEntire would release one more Sweet Sixteen single and that was Walk On. Released in March, it became her first #2 hit and could not unseat George Strait's biggest hit, Love Without End, Amen from the top. Gill would finally get his breakthrough hit when he released the title track to his album called When I Call Your Name. That features excellent background vocals from Patty Loveless. That was released in May and it became his biggest hit to date when it reached the runner up position for two weeks. He was blocked from the top by Dan Seals' final #1, Good Times and Shenandoah's biggest hit, Next To You, Next To Me. Like McEntire, Gill would release a fourth single from his album called Never Knew Lonely. Released in September, it peaked at #3 in December. You can hear a different version of Never Knew Lonely off the 1995 album, The Essential Vince Gill.
Gill (2007) and McEntire (2011) are Country Music Hall of Fame members. McEntire is currently on the chart with her Sing It Now: Songs Of Faith & Hope album. That became her thirteenth to top the country albums chart. She just debuted on the singles chart with Back To God. Gill's current album was released last year called Down To My Last Bad Habit. His last charted single was Take Me Down featuring Little Big Town (#60 in 2016). He just provided harmonies and guitar work on Chris Young's latest #1, Sober Saturday Night. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TWENTY FOR WEEK ENDING MARCH 24, 1990:
1. Hard Rock Bottom Of Your Heart-Randy Travis-Warner Bros.
2. Chains-Patty Loveless-MCA
3. Seein' My Father In Me-Paul Overstreet-RCA
4. Not Counting You-Garth Brooks-Capitol
5. Five Minutes-Lorrie Morgan-RCA
6. Sooner Or Later-Eddy Raven-Capitol
7. No Matter How High-Oak Ridge Boys-MCA
8. Here In The Real World-Alan Jackson-Arista
9. Quittin' Time-Mary Chapin Carpenter-Columbia
10. Stranger Things Have Happened-Ronnie Milsap-RCA
11. Fast Movin' Train-Restless Heart-RCA
12. On Second Thought-Eddie Rabbitt-Capitol
13. Love On Arrival-Dan Seals-Capitol
14. LITTLE GIRL-REBA MCENTIRE-MCA
15. Walkin', Talkin, Cryin', Barely Beatin' Broken Heart-Highway 101-Warner Bros.
16. OKLAHOMA SWING-VINCE GILL AND REBA MCENTIRE-MCA
17. Just As Long As I Have You-Don Williams-RCA
18. Tell Me Why-Jann Browne-Curb
19. Ain't Nobody's Business-Hank Williams, Jr.-Warner Bros.
20. Southern Star-Alabama-RCA

[ozbest1]

Playing catchup, CCN. I was really interested in your above posts regarding Willie & Waylon, KT Oslin and Reba. Miss those good old days! Enjoyed the trips down Memory Lane. I need to check in more often.

[countrychartnut]

Mar 25, 2017 14:51:48 GMT -6 ozbest1 said:

Playing catchup, CCN. I was really interested in your above posts regarding Willie & Waylon, KT Oslin and Reba. Miss those good old days! Enjoyed the trips down Memory Lane. I need to check in more often.

Please do.  Thank you for the comments.  If there is something I can cover for you, please let me know!

[countrychartnut]

1. THE SECOND AT THREE: For the third week, Jon Pardi has the top song at country with Dirt On My Boots. This is the second single since Billboard 2017 started (in December, 2016) to spend that much time at #1. Blake Shelton spent three weeks at the top with A Guy With A Girl in January and February.
2. THE SECOND WITH SIX: Luke Bryan eases up one to #2 with Fast, the sixth Kill The Lights single. So far, all singles from that album have reached the top two. It follows the #1s:
1. Kick The Dust Up-2015
2. Strip It Down-2015
3. Home Alone Tonight-with Karen Fairchild-2016
4. Huntin', Fishin', And Lovin' Every Day-2016
5. Move-2016
Kill The Lights joins Tim McGraw's Everywhere album from 1997 to generate a sextet of top two hits. Everywhere's hits are:
1. It's Your Love-with Faith Hill-1997-#1-the year's biggest hit
2. Everywhere-1997-#1
3. Just To See You Smile-1998-the year's biggest hit
4. One Of These Days-1998-#2
5. Where The Green Grass Grows-1998-#1
6. For A Little While-1999-#2
3. THEIR ARISTA DEBUT: Tim McGraw and Faith Hill have the Hot Shot Debut of the week at #19 with Speak To A Girl. This is their first single since signing to the label in February. McGraw was with Big Machine Records between 2012-2017 while Hill previously was with Warner Bros. between 1993-2016. This is Hill's highest debut ever while it is the second highest start for McGraw. His duet with Kenny Chesney, Feel Like A Rock Star from 2012 blasted its way to #13 and peaked at #11 just a few weeks later. This is the lead single to their first ever duets album.
4. PEARCE IS FAST: Carly Pearce has the fastest climbing song of the week with Every Little Thing. It vaults ten spaces to #48.
5. A BROOKS FOLLOW UP: Garth Brooks debuts at #52 with Ask Me How I Know. This is the second Gunslinger single. Lead single, Baby, Let's Lay Down And Dance peaked at #15 this year.
6. AN 80S LOOK: These were the chart topping songs during the last week of March during the 1980s:
1980: I'd Love To Lay You Down-Conway Twitty-MCA
1981: Texas Women-Hank Williams, Jr.-Elektra
1982: Bobbie Sue-the Oak Ridge Boys-MCA
1983: When I'm Away From You-Bellamy Brothers-Elektra
1984: Let's Stop Talkin' About It-Janie Frickie-Columbia
1985: Crazy-Kenny Rogers-RCA
1986: Don't Underestimate My Love For You-Lee Greenwood-MCA
1987: Small Town Girl-Steve Wariner-MCA
1988: Love Will Find Its Way To You-Reba McEntire-MCA
1989: Baby's Gotten Good At Goodbye-George Strait-MCA
7. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: Kenny Rogers certainly had one of the most successful careers in music, period. He landed the first of twenty-one chart toppers with Lucille forty years ago this week.
Rogers first found national success as part of the First Edition. When he joined the them in 1967, they renamed themselves Kenny Rogers and the First Edition. Their major hits on pop and adult contemporary charts are:
1. Just Dropped In To See What Condition My Condition Was In-1968-#5 pop
2. But You Know I Love You-1969-#19 pop
3. Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town-1969-#6 pop and #6 A.C.
4. Something's Burning-1970-#11 pop
5. Tell It All Brother-1970-#17 pop and #8 A.C.
6. Someone Who Cares-1971-#4 A.C.
It should be noted that Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town became their only top 40 country hit at #39. That was a country flavored release written by Mel Tillis. The follow up to Ruby, Reuben James peaked at #46 country and #26 pop. Kenny Rogers and the First Edition were on their last legs by the time they made their third appearance on the country chart, Today I Started Loving You Again (#69 in 1973). That was written by Merle Haggard and Bonnie Owens. In 1974, the First Edition broke up. At this time, Rogers wanted a solo career. He signed to the United Artists label in 1975. He released his debut country single, Love Lifted Me in Decmber, 1975. That proceeded to a #19 peak in early 1976. It barely scraped the pop chart at #97. It prompted United Artists to release the Love Lifted Me album in 1976. Rogers faltered a bit with the second and final single, While The Feeling's Good (#46 country). He went to work on his self-titled album in 1976. Lead single, Laura What's He Got That I Ain't Got was released in October. That was a remake of the Leon Ashley hit of 1967 (#1). Rogers' version peaked at #19 before the year was over. Lucille would be released in January, 1977 and the floodgates of success would soon be opened for Rogers. It went all the way to the top of the country chart for two weeks in April while crossing over to #5 pop and #10 A.C.. It became his first gold single and the Kenny Rogers album his first platinum disc. With Lucille becoming such a big hit, Rogers felt more confident with his next album, Daytime Friends. The title track was released in July and became his second #1 at country while placing at #28 pop. Rogers wrote his next hit, Sweet Music Man. That was released in October and peaked at #9 country and #44 pop before the year ended. Reba McEntire took her version to #36 in 2002. A chance meeting at a recording studio with Dottie West prompted their next hit, Every Time Two Fools Collide. That was the title track to their first duets album. That not only became Rogers' third chart topper, but West's very first #1 hit. It crossed over to #44 A.C.. A second single, Anyone Who Isn't Me Tonight made #2 country only.
Rogers would release only one single to his 1978 album, Love Or Something Like It and that was the title track. It peaked at #1 country in August while hitting #32 pop and #12 A.C.. He got back to releasing two singles off his other 1978 album, The Gambler. He scored a classic with the title track. Released in October, it spent the last three weeks of 1978 at #1 country, becoming Rogers' biggest country hit. It peaked at #16 pop and #3 A.C.. She Believes In Me was next and it gave Rogers a new chart achievement. It hit #1 country in June, 1979 and it crossed over to #5 pop and became his first chart topper at A.C.. Rogers and West released their second duets album, Classics and two more songs became classics: All I Ever Need Is You was originally a Sonny & Cher hit in 1972 (#7 pop and #1 A.C.). Rogers and West took their version to #1 country and #38 A.C.. 'Til I Can Make It On My Own was a hit for Tammy Wynette in 1976 (#1 country, #84 pop, and #41 A.C.). In Kenny's and Dottie's hands, they took it to #3 country. We will end Rogers' 1970s with the 1979 album called Kenny. You Decorated My Life was released in August and found a home at #1 country, #7 pop, and #2 A.C.. Another Rogers classic was in the making and that was Coward Of The County. Released in November, it topped the country chart for the first three weeks of 1980 and peaked at #3 pop and #5 A.C..
Rogers released his last studio album in 2013 called You Can't Make Old Friends. The title track was a duet with Dolly Parton that became his last chart appearance (#57). 2013 was the year Rogers was inducted to the Country Music Hall of Fame. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING APRIL 2, 1977:
1. LUCILLE-KENNY ROGERS-UNITED ARTISTS
2. It Couldn't Have Been Any Better-Johnny Duncan-Columbia
3. Southern Nights-Glen Campbell-Capitol
4. Adios Amigo-Marty Robbins-Columbia
5. Don't Throw It All Away-Dave & Sugar-RCA
6. Paper Rosie-Gene Watson-Capitol
7. She's Pulling Me Back Again-Mickey Gilley-Playboy
8. She's Got You-Loretta Lynn-MCA
9. You Never Can Tell C'est La Vie-Emmylou Harris-Warner Bros.
10. Mockingbird Hill-Donna Fargo-Warner Bros.