COUNTRY CHARTBEAT (Read 15,034 times)

[countrychartnut]

1. BRYAN'S SIX PACK: Well, Luke Bryan has done it. He has released six singles off Kill The Lights and all of them have reached the top. This week, the sixth single, Fast becomes his seventeenth #1 overall. Fast follows the other Kill The Lights singles:
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
In the meantime, Bryan surpasses these albums that have contained five chart topping hits:
1. Diamonds & Dirt-Rodney Crowell-Columbia
It's Such A Small World-with Rosanne Cash-1988
I Couldn't Leave You If I Tried-1988
She's Crazy For Leavin'-1989
After All This Time-1989
Above And Beyond-1989
2. 5th Gear-Brad Paisley-Arista
Ticks-2007
Online-2007
Letter To Me-2008
I'm Still A Guy-2008
Waitin' On A Woman-2008-repeated from previous album-rerecorded for this album
3. Based On A True Story-Blake Shelton-Warner Bros.
Sure Be Cool If You Did-2013
Boys 'Round Here-2013
Mine Would Be You-2013
Doin' What She Likes-2014
My Eyes-2014
4. Crash My Party-Luke Bryan-Capitol
Crash My Party-2013
Drink A Beer-2014
Play It Again-2014
Roller Coaster-2014
I See You-2015
2. A.C.M. CHART: This year's winners on this week's chart:
1. Fast-Luke Bryan-A.C.M. Host
2. Dirt On My Boots-Jon Pardi-New Male Vocalist
4. Any Ol' Barstool-Jason Aldean-Entertainer of the Year
9. Black-Dierks Bentley-A.C.M. Host
21. God, Your Mama, And Me-Florida Georgia Line and Backstreet Boys-Vocal Event and Single of the Year for F.G.L.
25. Speak To A Girl-Tim McGraw and Faith Hill-Vocal Event for McGraw
28. Craving You-Thomas Rhett and Maren Morris-Male Vocalist and Song of the Year for Rhett and New Female Vocalist for Morris
29. We Should Be Friends-Miranda Lambert-Female Vocalist and Album of the Year
34. It Ain't My Fault-Brothers Osborne-Vocal Duo and New Vocal Duo
47. I Could Use A Love Song-Maren Morris-New Female Vocalist
3. RHETT DEBUTS: Thomas Rhett debuts at #28 this week with Craving You. This is the Hot Shot Debut of the week and it features Maren Morris. This is the lead single to an upcoming album. Rhett's previous album, Tangled Up yielded a quintet of singles. They are:
1. Crash And Burn-2015-#1
2. Die A Happy Man-2016-#1-chart wise, his biggest hit
3. T-Shirt-2016-#1
4. Vacation-2016-#30
5. Star Of The Show-2017-#1
4. I COULD BE FAST: Maren Morris has the fastest climbing song of the week with I Could Use A Love Song. It moves up eight to #47.
5. RAELYNN IS TOPS: RaeLynn lands her first #1 country album with Wildhorse. 16,000 copies were sold last week. The album features her current single, Love Triangle.
6. AN 80S LOOK PART II: These were the top selling albums during the first week of April during the 1980s:
1980: Kenny-Kenny Rogers-United Artists
1981: 9 To 5 And Odd Jobs-Dolly Parton-RCA
1982: Bobbie Sue-the Oak Ridge Boys-MCA
1983: Pancho & Lefty-Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson-Epic
1984: Roll On-Alabama-RCA
1985: 40 Hour Week-Alabama-RCA
1986: Greatest Hits-Alabama-RCA
1987: Heartland-the Judds-RCA
1988: Always & Forever-Randy Travis-Warner Bros.
1989: Loving Proof-Ricky Van Shelton-Columbia
7. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: This will be a very short story. This week's featured artist only released two albums and seven singles. They were signed to only one label from 1987-1992. Their name is the McCarters and their first single, Timeless And True Love peaked at #5 twenty-nine years ago this week.
The McCarters consist of a trio of sisters in Jennifer, Lisa, and Teresa. The last two are twins. They signed to the Warner Bros. label in 1987 where they joined another all-female group with the Forester Sisters. Those two groups joined other groups at the label like the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Southern Pacific, and Highway 101. Warner Bros. was certainly group heavy during the late 1980s-early 1990s. Timeless And True Love, their debut single was released in December, 1987 and got all the way to #5 in April, 1988. That prompted Warner Bros. to release their debut album, The Gift. The title track was the next single and that was released in May. It became their biggest hit over the summer when it peaked at #4. I Give You Music was released in October and peaked at #28 in November and that ended their debut era.
They wouldn't release a single until March, 1989. That was Up And Gone and it went out under the billing of Jennifer McCarter and the McCarters. It became their third and final top ten when it peaked at #9. Quit While I'm Behind was released late in the year and it became their fifth and final top 40 hit in early 1990 when it peaked at #26. Warner Bros. finally released their second and final album that year called Better Be Home Soon. The title track was the next single. It was a remake of the Crowded House hit of 1988 (#42 pop). The remake hit #73 country. Their seventh and final single, Shot Full Of Love has been recorded a ton of times. Juice Newton, Don Williams, and Billy Ray Cyrus all had their turns with the song. The Dirt Band made it a major hit in 1983 (#19). The McCarters matched the #73 placing of Better Be Home Soon. After five years at Warner Bros., the McCarters were dropped by the label and they were never to be heard from again. Too bad. I just love family harmonies. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING APRIL 9, 1988:
1. Famous Last Words Of A Fool-George Strait-MCA
2. I Wanna Dance With You-Eddie Rabbitt-RCA
3. I'll Always Come Back-K.T. Oslin-RCA
4. It's Such A Small World-Rodney Crowell and Rosanne Cash-Columbia
5. TIMELESS AND TRUE LOVE-THE MCCARTERS-WARNER BROS.
6. Cry, Cry, Cry-Highway 101-Warner Bros.
7. Strangers Again-Holly Dunn-MTM
8. The Last Resort-T. Graham Brown-Capitol
9. It's Only Make Believe-Ronnie McDowell and Conway Twitty-Curb
10. I'm Gonna Get You-Eddy Raven-RCA

[countrychartnut]

1. ALAINA'S ROAD TO #1: Lauren Alaina's sixth single in six years becomes her first #1 hit. That is Road Less Traveled and it is the title track to her current album. Her previous five singles are:
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
Furthermore, Alaina finished second on American Idol in 2011. That makes her the fourth Idol contestant with a #1 hit. She follows Josh Gracin, Carrie Underwood, and Kelly Clarkson with that accomplishment.
2. HURRICANE PART II: Luke Combs collects his first top ten this week with Hurricane at #9. This is from his album, This One's For You. In 1981, Leon Everette took his Hurricane to #4. That was his biggest hit.
3. MORRIS DOES IT AGAIN: For the second week in a row, Maren Morris has the fastest climbing song of the week with I Could Use A Love Song (#47 to #39).
4. LAMBERT'S MAN: Miranda Lambert has the Hot Shot Debut of the week with Tin Man at #53. This is the third The Weight Of These Wings single following Vice (#11 in 2016) and We Should Be Friends (#26 this year). She gave a very emotional performance of Tin Man at this year's A.C.M. Awards.
5. THEIR PEOPLE: Little Big Town debuts at #56 with Happy People. This is the second single off their The Breaker album. Lead single, Better Man became their second chart topping hit this year.
6. HIS WHEELHOUSE DEBUT: Trace Adkins' first Wheelhouse album, Something's Going On debuts at #5 with 12,000 copies sold last week.
7. HALL OF FAME: Congratulations goes out to Alan Jackson, Jerry Reed, and Don Schlitz for making it to the Country Music Hall of Fame last week.
8. #1 HITS: These were the chart topping songs in 2012, 2007, 2002, 1997, and 1992:
2012: Alone With You-Jake Owen-RCA
2007: Last Dollar Fly Away-Tim McGraw-Curb
2002: I Breathe In, I Breathe Out-Chris Cagle-Capitol
1997: Rumor Has It-Clay Walker-Giant
1992: There Ain't Nothin' Wrong With The Radio-Aaron Tippin-RCA
9. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: Tim McGraw released his second greatest hits album in 2006. Titled Reflected: Greatest Hits Vol. 2, it was our top seller eleven years ago this week.
This came six years after he released his first greatest hits album. Reflected's track listing is as follows:
1. Live Like You Were Dying-2004-#1-chart wise, his biggest hit
2. My Old Friend-2006-#6
3. Like We Never Loved At All-with Faith Hill-2006-#5
4. The Cowboy In Me-2002-#1
5. When The Stars Go Blue-2006-#4
6. Real Good Man-2003-#1
7. She's My Kind Of Rain-2003-#2
8. Grown Men Don't Cry-2001-#1
9. Not A Moment Too Soon-1995-#1
10. Watch The Wind Blow By-2004-#1
11. Over And Over-with Nelly
12. Everywhere-1997-#1
13. Beautiful People
14. Red Ragtop-2002-#5
15. My Little Girl-2006-#3
16. I've Got Friends That Do
Lead single, When The Stars Go Blue was released in March, 2006. It peaked at #4 in June. It was a crossover hit, peaking at #37 pop and #12 adult contemporary. Second and final single, My Little Girl was repeated on the Flicka soundtrack. That was released in August and found a spot at #3 in December. It was another crossover hit for McGraw, topping off at #35 pop and #15 A.C.. Besides the new songs that became hits, the album features McGraw's duet with Nelly called Over And Over. That hit #3 pop, #51 r&b, and #34 A.C. in early 2005, expanding McGraw's crossover appeal. The other two new songs weren't released as singles and they are Beautiful People and I've Got Friends That Do. When the album was released, it debuted at #1 country and #2 top 200. It sold 242,000 copies in its first week. It is certified double platinum. Curb Records did not wait long to release another greatest hits album on McGraw. In 2008, they released FOUR hits surveys. They are:
1. Greatest Hits: Limited Edition-a combination of the first two hits packages
2. Collector's Edition
3. Greatest Hits 3
4. Limited Edition: Greatest Hits Volumes 1, 2, & 3
McGraw would stay at Curb until 2012 when he signed to the Big Machine label. He released three albums for them. They are:
1. Two Lanes Of Freedom-2013
2. Sundown Heaven Town-2014
3. Damn Country Music-2015
After five years at Big Machine, McGraw signed to the Sony family of labels (Arista). His wife, Faith Hill also signed to Sony. They debuted their new single, Speak To The Girl. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING APRIL 15, 2006:
1. REFLECTED: GREATEST HITS VOL. 2-TIM MCGRAW-CURB
2. Precious Memories-Alan Jackson-Arista
3. The Legend Of Johnny Cash-Johnny Cash-American
4. Some Hearts-Carrie Underwood-Arista
5. Walk The Line-Soundtrack-Wind-Up
6. Your Man-Josh Turner-MCA
7. Feels Like Today-Rascal Flatts-Lyric Street
8. Be Here-Keith Urban-Capitol
9. Water & Bridges-Kenny Rogers-Capitol
10. Songs About Me-Trace Adkins-Capitol

P.S.: Happy Easter!

[countrychartnut]

1. ALDEAN SITS AT #1: For the seventeenth time in his career, Jason Aldean has the top song in country music. This week, it is the third They Don't Know single, Any Ol' Barstool. The other two singles topped the chart last year: Lights Come On and A Little More Summertime.
2. TOP TWOS INTACT: Sam Hunt eases up two to #2 with Body Like A Back Road. This is his sixth consecutive top two hit following:
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
6. Body Like A Back Road-2017-#2 so far
3. LAMBERT IS FAST: Miranda Lambert has the fastest climbing song of the week with Tin Man. It vaults nine spaces to #44.
4. CHURCH DEBUTS: Eric Church has the Hot Shot Debut of the week with Round Here Buzz at #53. This is the fourth Mr. Misunderstood single following:
1. Mr. Misunderstood-2016-#15
2. Record Year-2016-#1
3. Kill A Word-with Rhiannon Giddens-2017-#6
5. NOT FORGOTTEN: Joey Feek debuts at #6 on the country albums chart with If Not For You. 10,000 copies of the album were sold last week. She died last year at the age of 40 from cancer. She was one half of Joey + Rory.
6. #1 CDS: These were the top selling CDs in 2012, 2007, 2002, 1997, and 1992:
2012: Changed-Rascal Flatts-Big Machine
2007: Let It Go-Tim McGraw-Curb
2002: O Brother, Where Art Thou-Soundtrack-Lost Highway
1997: Unchained Melody: The Early Years-LeAnn Rimes-Curb
1992: Wynonna-Wynonna Judd-MCA
7. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: Shenandoah has five chart topping hits. Their first, The Church On Cumberland Road was our #1 song 28 years ago this week.
Shenandoah signed to the Columbia label in 1986. They released their self-titled debut album in 1987. Their debut single, They Don't Make Love Like We Used To flopped at #57. Their second single, Stop The Rain was released in December. It proceeded to be their first top 40 hit when it peaked at #28 during the early part of 1988. Third and final single, She Doesn't Cry Anymore was released in March. It became the first of fifteen top ten hits when it reached #9 during the summer. They did not release their next album until early 1989. That was The Road Not Taken. As an added bonus, She Doesn't Cry Anymore is repeated here. Lead single, Mama Knows was released in September. It became their first top five hit when it peaked at #5 in December. The Church On Cumberland Road was released in January, 1989. It hit the top of the chart for two weeks in April, dethroning another two week #1 in Keith Whitley's I'm No Stranger To The Rain. In the meantime, Shenandoah became the first artist in 1989 to land their first #1 hit. Another chart topper was on the horizon with Sunday In The South. That topped the chart in August. Shenandoah released Two Dozen Roses in August. Shenandoah capped off their perfect 1989 when that became their third chart topper in December. They kicked off their 1990 with the fifth The Road Not Taken single, See If I Care. Released in February, it broke their chart topping streak when it peaked at #6. The Road Not Taken became their first gold album. They released one more album for Columbia and that was Extra Mile in 1990. That was kicked off by the lead single, Next To You, Next To Me. That was released in June and topped the chart for three weeks in August. It became their biggest hit. Check out Rascal Flatts' version off their 2012 album, Changed. Shenandoah wrapped up their 1990 with the #5 peaking Ghost In This House. Legal issues clouded Shenandoah's 1991. A group sued them over the use of their name. Other bands sued and that left Shenandoah broke. It still did not stop Shenandoah from releasing singles off the album. I Got You was released in January and peaked at #7. They landed their last top ten at Columbia with the #9 peaking The Moon Over Georgia. Shenandoah filed for bankruptcy over the lawsuits and that terminated their contract with Columbia. Thus, the fifth Extra Mile single, When You Were Mine peaked at #38. The only good news Shenandoah received that year was Extra Mile became their second gold album. Right after that, Shenandoah signed to the RCA label.
They joined other groups at the label like Alabama, Restless Heart, and the Oak Ridge Boys. Columbia would release Shenandoah's first greatest hits album in March, 1992. They released their debut album for RCA called Long Time Comin' in 1992. Lead single, Rock My Baby was released in March and proceeded to be their only #2 hit in July and could not topple Wynonna Judd's I Saw The Light from #1. After that near miss, they faltered a bit with the second single, Hey Mister I Need This Job. That peaked at #28. They got back into the top twenty with the third single, Leavin's Been A Long Time Comin' (#15 in 1993). They released their second and final RCA album, Under The Kudzu during the summer. Lead single, Janie Baker's Love Slave was released in May and peaked at #15 during the summer. I Want To Be Loved Like That was released in September. That really showcases lead singer's Marty Raybon's vocals really well. The ballad managed to top off at #3 in January, 1994. They went uptempo with the third single, If Bubba Can Dance I Can Too. That was released in February and became their fifth and final chart topper in May. A fourth single, I'll Go Down Loving You missed the top 40 at #46. It broke their string of eighteen consecutive top 40 hits.
Shenandoah went label hopping one more time. They signed to Liberty Records in 1994. Their debut album for them was called In The Vicinity Of The Heart. Lead single, Somewhere In The Vicinity Of The Heart was a duet with Alison Krauss. That was released in November and peaked at #7 during the early part of 1995. Darned If I Don't Danged If I Do was released in April and became their final top ten hit when it peaked at #4. Heaven Bound I'm Ready was released in August and peaked at #24. A fourth single was released and that was the #40 peaking Always Have, Always Will. That became their twenty-second and final top 40 hit. To fulfill their contract with Liberty (now Capitol), they released Now And Then, a rerecorded album of their Columbia hits with a few new songs in 1996 (All Over But The Shoutin' comes from here and that peaked at #43) and Fifteen Favorites in 1999. During this time, Raybon left Shenandoah and formed The Raybon Brothers with his brother, Tim in 1997. Shenandoah disbanded during this time as well.
In 2000, Shenandoah reunited and released the Shenandoah 2000 album on the Free Falls label. Journeys was released on the Cumberland Roads label in 2006. Tragedy struck the band in 2007 when Ralph Ezell died of a heart attack. To date, What Children Believe became their last charted single at #65 in 2000. They released their current album last year called Good News Travels Fast. Shenandoah has won three awards. They are:
1. 1991 Vocal Group of the Year from the A.C.M.
2. 1995 Vocal Event of the Year from the C.M.A. for Somewhere In The Vicinity Of The Heart
3. 1995 Best Country Collaboration With Vocals Grammy for Somewhere In The Vicinity Of The Heart
This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING APRIL 22, 1989:
1. THE CHURCH ON CUMBERLAND ROAD-SHENANDOAH-COLUMBIA
2. Tell It Like It Is-Billy Joe Royal-Atlantic America
3. Hey Bobby-K.T. Oslin-RCA
4. Young Love Strong Love-the Judds-RCA
5. Fair Shake-Foster & Lloyd-RCA
6. Don't Toss Us Away-Patty Loveless-MCA
7. You Got It-Roy Orbison-Virgin
8. Is It Still Over-Randy Travis-Warner Bros.
9. Setting Me Up-Highway 101-Warner Bros.
10. She Deserves You-Baillie and the Boys-RCA

[countrychartnut]

1. BODY LIKE #1: Sam Hunt collects his fifth #1 this week with Body Like A Back Road. This is the lead single to an upcoming album. Or is it? Hunt recently said he is just releasing singles so who knows if we'll see an album this year or next. In the meantime, he becomes the 128th artist in history to have five #1 hits. They are:
1. Leave The Night On-2014
2. Take Your Time-2015
3. House Party-2015
4. Make You Miss Me-2016
5. Body Like A Back Road-2017
2. O'NEILL IS FAST: Todd O'Neill has the fastest climbing song of the week with Love Again. It zooms up nine to #48.
3. A GOOD DEBUT: Jake Owen has the Hot Shot Debut of the week with Good Company at #53. This is the third single to his current album, American Love. Lead single, American Country Love Song topped the chart last year while Owen peaked at #37 this year with If He Ain't Gonna Love You.
4. PAISLEY DEBUTS: Brad Paisley makes his debut at #54 with the second Love And War single, Last Time For Everything. Lead single, Today hit #3 earlier this year.
5. EDEN'S SECOND: Making her second appearance on the chart is Brooke Eden with Act Like You Don't at #59. Her debut on the chart occurred in 2015 with the #50 peaking Daddy's Money.
6. A 70S LOOK: These were the chart topping songs during the last week of April during the 1970s:
1970: My Woman, My Woman, My Wife-Marty Robbins-Columbia
1971: Empty Arms-Sonny James-Capitol
1972: Chantilly Lace-Jerry Lee Lewis-Mercury
1973: Behind Closed Doors-Charlie Rich-Epic
1974: Hello Love-Hank Snow-RCA
1975: Roll On Big Mama-Joe Stampley-Epic
1976: Don't The Girls All Get Prettier At Closing Time-Mickey Gilley-Playboy
1977: She's Pulling Me Back Again-Mickey Gilley-Playboy
1978: Every Time Two Fools Collide-Kenny Rogers and Dottie West-United Artists
1979: Where Do I Put Her Memory-Charley Pride-RCA
7. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: Charlie Rich's crossover era started in 1973 and ended in 1976. Rich topped the chart for the first time 44 years ago this week with Behind Closed Doors.
Rich made his debut on the pop chart in 1960 with Lonely Weekends (#22). He added just one more top 40 hit during the 1960s with the #21 peaking Mohair Sam in 1965. Two years later, Rich signed to the Epic Label. Rich's debut on the country chart happened in 1968 with the title track to his Epic debut album, Set Me Free. That was a #44 peaking single. 1969's The Fabulous Charlie Rich album saw three singles: Raggedy Ann (#45 in 1969), Life's Little Ups And Downs (#41 in 1969), and July 12, 1939 (#47 in 1970). He finally broke top 40 on the country chart with the lone single to his Boss Man album. That was Nice 'n Easy and that hit #37 while peaking at #34 adult contemporary in 1970. A greatest hits album yielded a pair of singles: A Woman Left Lonely (#72 in 1971) and A Part Of Your Life (#35 in 1972).
Rich's fortunes would increase significantly with the 1973 album, Behind Closed Doors. I Take It On Home was released in August, 1972 and became his first top ten country hit at #6. The title track was released in February, 1973. It topped the country chart for two weeks in April and May while becoming his first major pop hit at #15. It also became his first top ten at A.C. at #8. If that was something, the next single brought Rich even bigger results. That was The Most Beautiful Girl. That was released in September and topped the country chart for three weeks in November and December, the pop chart for two weeks, and the A.C. chart for three weeks. It became his biggest hit on ALL three charts. During its chart run, Rich won a trio of C.M.A. Awards: Male Vocalist, Album for Behind Closed Doors, and Single for Behind Closed Doors. One single was released and that was A Very Special Love Song from the Very Special Love Songs album in 1974. It reached the top of the country and A.C. charts in March and April (two weeks at country and two weeks at A.C.) while peaking at #11 pop. Rich won a Grammy Award for Behind Closed Doors. Rich repeated his wins at the A.C.M.s in 1974 like he did at the C.M.A.s in 1973. It should be noted that a previous label, RCA released Tomorrow Night (#29 in 1973). RCA also released in 1974:
1. There Won't Be Anymore-#1 country, #18 pop, and #15 A.C.
2. I Don't See Me In Your Eyes Anymore-#1 country, #47 pop, and #9 A.C.
3. She Called Me Baby-#1 country, #47 pop, and #41 A.C.
Yet, another label was cashing in on Rich's popularity and that was Mercury. They released A Field Of Yellow Daisies in 1974 (#23 country). Rich's next album was called The Silver Fox (a moniker he inherited because his hair turned gray during his twenties). Lead single, I Love My Friend was released in July and became Rich's sixth #1 country hit in October. It also peaked at #24 pop and #1 A.C.. During the 1974 C.M.A.s, Rich won Album of the Year for Very Special Love Songs and the big one, Entertainer of the Year. An oft-covered song called My Elusive Dreams kicked off his 1975 by reaching #3 country, #49 pop, and #16 A.C.. RCA got back to releasing a Rich single and that was It's All Over Now (#23 country). He released the Every Time You Touch Me I Get High album in 1975. The title track was released in May and peaked at #3 country, #19 pop, and became his fourth and final chart topping hit at A.C.. All Over Me was released in August and that peaked at #4 country and #33 A.C.. During its chart run came the most infamous moment in Rich's career. He was tapped to present the Entertainer of the Year Award at the C.M.A.s. Visibly drunk, he rambled on for awhile and stumbled over the list of nominees. He opened the envelope that contained the piece of paper with the winner's name. He took out a lighter and burned the slip of paper. He finally announced the winner by saying, 'My friend, Mr. John Denver'. Rich's career was not the same after 1975. Since I Fell For You, the third and final single was released in December and peaked at #10 country, #71 pop (his last chart appearance there), and #11 A.C. (his second to last big hit there). It effectively ended his crossover era in early 1976. A greatest hits album yielded America The Beautiful (#22 country and #42 A.C.).
A promo single in Road Song hit #27 country and #31 A.C. in 1976. RCA landed their final top 40 hit on Rich and that was My Mountain Dew (#24 country). In 1977, he released the Take Me album. A lone single, Easy Look peaked at #12 country. Rich managed to top the country chart with the title track to his Rollin' With The Flow album which also peaked at #32 A.C.. Rich's tenure at Epic ended in 1978. He signed to the United Artists label and released the I Still Believe In Love album. Two singles were released in Puttin' In Overtime At Home (#8) and the title track (#46). Epic began releasing more singles on Rich: Beautiful Woman (#10 in 1978), On My Knees with Janie Frickie (#1 in 1978-his last #1 and her first #1), and Spanish Eyes (#20 in 1979). His contribution to the Every Which Way But Loose soundtrack, I'll Wake You Up When I Get Home became his final top ten hit in 1979 at #3. Another album was released on United Artists and that was The Fool Strikes Again (1978). A trio of singles were released (all in 1979): the title track (#45), I Lost My Head (#26), and Life Goes On (#84 country and #13 A.C.). United Artists released his third and final album in Nobody But You in 1979. You're Gonna Love Yourself In The Morning peaked at #22 in early 1980 while I'd Build A Bridge faltered at #74. Elektra stepped in and released the Once A Drifter album in 1980. A Man Just Don't Know What A Woman Goes Through became his last major hit at #12 in 1980 while Are We Dreamin' The Same Dream became his final top 40 at #26.
Rich's final chart appearance came in 1981 with the #47 peaking You Made It Beautiful. His last album was released in 1992 called Pictures And Paintings. Sadly, Rich passed away in 1995 at the age of 62. Joe Diffie charted a version of Behind Closed Doors in 1998 (#64). This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING APRIL 28, 1973:
1. BEHIND CLOSED DOORS-CHARLIE RICH-EPIC
2. Superman-Donna Fargo-Dot
3. If You Can Live With It, I Can Live Without It-Bill Anderson-MCA
4. Come Live With Me-Roy Clark-Dot
5. I Love You More And More Everyday-Sonny James-Columbia
6. The Emptiest Arms In The World-Merle Haggard-Capitol
7. A Shoulder To Cry On-Charley Pride-RCA
8. You Can Have Her-Waylon Jennings-RCA
9. Nobody Wins-Brenda Lee-MCA
10. What My Woman Can't Do-George Jones-Epic

[countrychartnut]

1. A HUNT FIRST: Sam Hunt rules the country chart for a second week with Body Like A Back Road. This is the first time he has had a multi week #1 and thus, Body Like A Back Road becomes his biggest hit to date.
2. EVERYTHING IS FAST: Brad Paisley has the fastest climbing song of the week with Last Time For Everything (#54 to #42).
3. PARDI DEBUTS: Hot Shot Debut honors goes to Jon Pardi with Heartache On The Dance Floor at #49. This is the follow up to his three week #1, Dirt On My Boots.
4. GOING FOUR FOR FOUR: Jason Aldean debuts at #56 with the title track to his current album, They Don't Know. He is hoping to go the distance here. If he does, it will be his second album to contain four #1 hits. Night Train was the first Aldean album to have that many chart toppers. They are:
1. Take A Little Ride-2012
2. The Only Way I Know-with Luke Bryan and Eric Church-2013
3. Night Train-2013
4. When She Says Baby-2014
They Don't Know's #1s:
1. Lights Come On-2016
2. A Little More Summertime-2016
3. Any Ol' Barstool-2017
5. MAYER GOING COUNTRY?: John Mayer makes his country chart debut at #59 with In The Blood. This is from his album, The Search For Everything. It has already produced a hit in Love On The Weekend (#53 pop and #18 adult contemporary). He has an A.C. chart topper with 2006's Waiting On The World To Change.
6. PAISLEY'S #1: Debuting at the top of the country albums chart is Brad Paisley with his current album, Love And War. 26,000 copies were sold last week. This is his ninth #1 album following:
1. Mud On The Tires-2003
2. Time Well Wasted-2005
3. 5th Gear-2007
4. Play-2008
5. American Saturday Night-2009
6. This Is Country Music-2011
7. Wheelhouse-2013
8. Moonshine In The Trunk-2014
9. Love And War-2017
7. A CLARIFICATION: I had stated in last week's column that Charlie Rich's last album was 1992's Pictures And Paintings. While that was his last studio album, many greatest hits packages of Rich have been released. Especially those after Rich's death in 1995.
8. A 70S LOOK, PART II: These were the top selling albums during the first week of May during the 1970s:
1970: Okie From Muskogee-Merle Haggard-Capitol
1971: Help Me Make It Through The Night-Sammi Smith-Mega
1972: The Best Of Charley Pride, Volume 2-Charley Pride-RCA
1973: Aloha From Hawaii: Via Satellite-Elvis Presley-RCA
1974: Very Special Love Songs-Charlie Rich-Epic
1975: An Evening With John Denver-John Denver-RCA
1976: The Sound In Your Mind-Willie Nelson-Columbia
1977: Southern Nights-Glen Campbell-Capitol
1978: Waylon & Willie-Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson-RCA
1979: The Gambler-Kenny Rogers-United Artists
9. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: Dolly Parton scored a double sided hit in 1978 called It's All Wrong, But It's All Right/Two Doors Down. That was our top song from 39 years ago this week.
Ever since her debut on the country charts in 1967 with Dumb Blonde (#24), she always wanted a song to cross over to pop and adult contemporary charts. She got her wish in 1974 with Jolene. It became her second chart topper in country, trailing her first, Joshua by three years. It crossed over to pop, where it peaked at #60 and it also hit the A.C. chart at #44. Nashville feared that Parton would leave country. Not so, according to Parton. She said she wanted to take country with her. She made two more appearances on the A.C. chart with Love Is Like A Butterfly (#38 and #1 country in 1974) and The Bargain Store (#35 and #1 country in 1975). Her next appearance on the pop chart came in 1977 with Light Of A Clear Blue Morning. The #11 country peaking single hit #87 pop. Then things began to change for Parton in a big way. She released an album in 1977 called Here You Come Again. The title track was written by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil. Released in September, the single went on to spend the last five weeks of 1977 at #1. It was her biggest crossover to date, peaking at #3 pop and #2 A.C. in early 1978. Parton made sure that steel guitar was added to the song so she can tell people that it was country. Here You Come Again remains Parton's biggest country hit. It is also her first gold single. Second and final single, It's All Wrong, But It's All Right was released in March and proceeded to top the country chart for two weeks in May. While the a-side failed to cross over, the b-side, Two Doors Down did. Zella Lehr released her version while Here You Come Again was riding high on the charts and hers peaked at #7 country, becoming her only top ten hit. Ironically, Parton and Lehr were labelmates at the time. Parton's version ended up peaking at #19 pop and #12 A.C..
Because of the success of the Here You Come Again album, Parton won the A.C.M. and C.M.A. Entertainer of the Year Awards in 1978 and a Grammy Award in 1979 for Best Country Vocal Performance, Female for Here You Come Again, the single. Parton's crossover era ended in 1985 with her second duet with Kenny Rogers called Real Love (#1 country, #91 pop, and #13 A.C.). Parton was inducted to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1999. Her last chart appearance came in 2013 with a duet with Rogers called You Can't Make Old Friends (#57). Her current album is called Pure And Simple. Released last year, it became her seventh #1 country album. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING MAY 6, 1978:
1. IT'S ALL WRONG, BUT IT'S ALL RIGHT/TWO DOORS DOWN-DOLLY PARTON-RCA
2. She Can Put Her Shoes Under My Bed Anytime-Johnny Duncan-Columbia
3. Hearts On Fire-Eddie Rabbitt-Elektra
4. I'm Always On A Mountain When I Fall-Merle Haggard-MCA
5. Everytime Two Fools Collide-Kenny Rogers and Dottie West-United Artists
6. Unchained Melody/Softly, As I Leave You-Elvis Presley-RCA
7. Maybe Baby-Susie Allanson-Warner Bros.
8. Do You Know You Are My Sunshine-Statler Brothers-Mercury
9. The Power Of Positive Drinking-Mickey Gilley-Playboy
10. Come On In-Jerry Lee Lewis-Mercury

[countrychartnut]

1. A HUNT TRIFECTA: For the third week, Sam Hunt has the top song in country with Body Like A Back Road. He is the third artist with a three week #1 in Billboard 2017 (since December, 2016) following Blake Shelton's A Guy With A Girl and Dirt On My Boots by Jon Pardi.
2. THEIR FIRST AND SECOND: Florida Georgia Line climbs two spots to #10 with God, Your Mama, And Me. This single features the Backstreet Boys who collect their first top ten country hit. They are the second 90s boy band to have a top ten hit. *NSYNC collected one with Alabama in 1999 with God Must Have Spent A Little More Time On You (#3).
3. HE COULD GO EITHER WAY: Chris Stapleton has the Hot Shot Debut of the week with Either Way at #26. This is from an upcoming album called From A Room: Volume 1. His debut album, Traveller yielded a pair of major hits: Nobody To Blame (#10 in 2016) and Parachute (#17 in 2017). That album is certified double platinum.
4. PARDI'S FAST: Jon Pardi has the fastest climbing song of the week with Heartache On The Dance Floor. It boogies on up nine spaces to #38.
5. HIGH VALLEY DEBUTS: At #48 is High Valley with She's With Me. This is the follow up to their first top twenty hit, Make You Mine (#17). That spent 54 weeks on the chart between 2016-2017.
6. NELSON'S #1: Willie Nelson debuts at the top of the country albums chart with God's Problem Child. 34,000 copies were sold last week. This is his first #1 album since 2015's Django And Jimmie, a duets album with the late, great Merle Haggard.
7. THEIR COLUMBIA DEBUT: Old Crow Medicine Show debuts at #14 on the country albums chart with 50 Years Of Blonde On Blonde. 6000 copies have been sold. They signed to Columbia Records earlier this year.
8. #1 HITS: These were the chart topping songs in 2012, 2007, 2002, 1997, and 1992:
2012: Banjo-Rascal Flatts-Big Machine
2007: Stand-Rascal Flatts-Lyric Street
2002: My List-Toby Keith-DreamWorks
1997: One Night At A Time-George Strait-MCA
1992: Neon Moon-Brooks & Dunn-Arista
9. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: An unusual pairing of a Latin heart throb and a Texas Troubadour combined to make a hit. Those artist's names are Julio Iglesias and Willie Nelson. They hit the top of the country chart 33 years ago this week with To All The Girls I've Loved Before.
Nelson's top twenty vocal collaborations prior to 1984 are:
1. Willingly-with Shirley Collie-1962-#10
2. After The Fire Is Gone-with Tracy Nelson-1974-#17
3. Good Hearted Woman-with Waylon Jennings-1976-#1
4. Luckenbach, Texas Back To The Basics Of Love-with Jennings-1977-#1
5. Something To Brag About-with Mary Kay Place-1978-#9
6. Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys-with Jennings-1978-#1
7. Heartbreak Hotel-with Leon Russell-1979-#1
8. Night Life-with Danny Davis-1980-#20
9. Faded Love-with Ray Price-1980-#3
10. Don't You Ever Get Tired Of Hurting Me-with Price-1981-#11
11. Just To Satisfy You-with Jennings-1982-#1
12. Old Friends-with Price and Roger Miller-1982-#19
13. Sittin' On The Dock Of The Bay-with Jennings-1982-#13
14. Everything's Beautiful In Its Own Way-with Dolly Parton-1983-#7
15. Reasons To Quit-with Merle Haggard-1983-#6
16. Pancho And Lefty-with Haggard-1983-#1
17. Take It To The Limit-with Jennings-1983-#8
You can make a greatest hits CD with just those songs alone! The duet Nelson had with Iglesias came from Iglesias' album called 1100 Bel Air Place. Lead single, To All The Girls I've Loved Before was released in February, 1984. It managed to be a top five hit in three formats: country (#1 for two weeks in May), pop (#5), and adult contemporary (#3). Another single, All Of You was a duet with Diana Ross. Released in June, it proceeded to top off at #19 pop, #38 r&b, and #2 A.C.. Another hit was realized when Moonlight Lady hit #17 A.C.. To All The Girls I've Loved Before is certified at the platinum level. The 1100 Bel Air Place album hit #6 on the top 200 chart and is certified quadruple platinum.
The C.M.A. named Nelson and Iglesias the Vocal Duo of the Year in 1984. Billboard named To All The Girls I've Loved Before the top country single of the year. Nelson/Iglesias would win Single of the Year honors at the 1985 A.C.M. Awards. To All The Girls I've Loved Before makes its debut on a Nelson disc. That would be a 1985 album called Half Nelson. That features his hit duets with Haggard (Pancho And Lefty) and Ray Charles (Seven Spanish Angels-1985-#1). Nelson and Iglesias would chart a second duet in 1988 with Spanish Eyes (#8). That came from the Nelson album called What A Wonderful World. Five years later, Nelson was inducted to the Country Music Hall of Fame. Nelson's last charted single was in 2002 with the #41 peaking Maria Shut Up And Kiss Me. Nelson released an album in 2013 called To All The Girls, a duets album featuring a wide array of female artists. It was a #2 country and #9 top 200 album. His current album is called God's Problem Child. It just became his 17th #1 country album. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING MAY 12, 1984:
1. TO ALL THE GIRLS I'VE LOVED BEFORE-JULIO IGLESIAS AND WILLIE NELSON-COLUMBIA
2. I Don't Wanna Lose Your Love-Crystal Gayle-Warner Bros.
3. Man Of Steel-Hank Williams, Jr.-Warner Bros.
4. I May Be Used But Baby I Ain't Used Up-Waylon Jennings-RCA
5. As Long As I'm Rockin' With You-John Conlee-MCA
6. Honey Open That Door-Ricky Skaggs-Epic
7. I Dream Of Women Like You-Ronnie McDowell-Epic
8. Someday When Things Are Good-Merle Haggard-Epic
9. I Guess It Never Hurts To Hurt Sometimes-Oak Ridge Boys-MCA
10. God Must Be A Cowboy-Dan Seals-Liberty

[countrychartnut]

1. HURRICANE WARNING: Luke Combs lands his first #1 with his first single, Hurricane. This is from his upcoming album, This One's For You. He becomes the second artist in Billboard 2017 (since December, 2016) to land their first chart topping hit. Lauren Alaina was first with Road Less Traveled.
2. WAY DOWN: After debuting at #26 last week with Either Way, Chris Stapleton tumbles fourteen to #40 this week.
3. THEY KNOW FAST: Jason Aldean has the fastest climbing song of the week with They Don't Know (#53 to #43).
4. THE HORSES DEBUT: A Thousand Horses have the Hot Shot Debut of the week at #58 with Preachin' To The Choir. This is the lead single to an upcoming album. Their 2015 debut album, Southernality yielded a trio of singles. They are:
1. Smoke-2015-#1
2. This Ain't No Drunk Dial-2015-#23
3. Southernality-2016-#57
5. YOUNG SLEEPS: Chris Young makes his debut at #59 with Losing Sleep. It is a lead single to an upcoming album. His last, I'm Comin' Over yielded a trio of chart toppers. They are:
1. I'm Comin' Over-2015
2. Think Of You-with Cassadee Pope-2016
3. Sober Saturday Night-2017
6. SUNDAY MORNING COMING DOWN: Parmalee debuts at #60 with Sunday Morning. This is the second single to an upcoming album. The first, Roots peaked at #35 last year.
7. STAPLETON IS #1 AND #2: Chris Stapleton debuts at the top of the country albums chart with his second album, From A Room: Volume 1 (I'm smelling a Volume 2). 202,000 copies were sold last week. He eases up one to #2 with his first album, Traveller. That is certified double platinum.
8. #1 CDS: These were the top selling CDs in 2012, 2007, 2002, 1997, and 1992:
2012: Blown Away-Carrie Underwood-Arista
2007: Crazy Ex-Girlfriend-Miranda Lambert-Columbia
2002: No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems-Kenny Chesney-BNA
1997: Carrying Your Love With Me-George Strait-MCA
1992: Ropin' The Wind-Garth Brooks-Capitol
9. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: The Big Machine label was established in 2005 by Scott Borchetta. The following year they were celebrating the label's first #1. That was Wherever You Are by Jack Ingram. That was our top song eleven years ago this week.
Ingram made his chart debut in 1997 with the #51 peaking Flutter. He made another appearance in 1999 with How Many Days. That hit #64 and Ingram would be off the chart for six years. He was one of the first signees to the new Big Machine label in 2005. He went to work on his first album for them called Live: Wherever You Are. It was mostly a live album with some studio tracks thrown in for good measure. One of them was the title track. That was released in October and made a slow steady climb to #1 in May 2006, giving him his first top 40 hit, his first top ten hit, and his ONLY #1 hit. Ingram became the fourth artist of 2006 to land their first chart topper following: Carrie Underwood (Jesus, Take The Wheel), Josh Turner (Your Man), and Bon Jovi and Jennifer Nettles (Who Says You Can't Go Home). Ingram would be succeeded by another artist who would collect his first #1 and that would be Jason Aldean with Why. To prove Ingram was not a one hit wonder, his next single, Love You was released in June. That almost became a top ten hit when it peaked at #12 in November. By this time, Taylor Swift, who would become Big Machine's biggest artist of all time released her debut single, Tim McGraw (#6 country and #40 pop in 2007). Check out Ingram's version of Only Daddy That'll Walk The Line which became Waylon Jennings' biggest #2 hit in 1968.
With the success of the Live: Wherever You Are album, he released his first full studio album for Big Machine in 2007 called This Is It. Lead single, Lips Of An Angel was released in December, 2006. It was a remake of the Hinder hit of 2006 (#3 pop and #18 adult contemporary). Ingram's version hit #16 country in March, 2007. Second single, Measure Of A Man was released in April. That proceeded to a #18 peak in October. He wrapped up the era with Maybe She'll Get Lonely. Released in November, it peaked at #24 in early 2008. After that song peaked, Ingram won his only A.C.M. Award for Top New Male Vocalist (after a decade of charting singles). In any case, it set up the stage for him to release his third and final Big Machine album called Big Dreams & High Hopes. Lead single, That's A Man was released in October. It peaked at #18 in February, 2009. His second top ten hit was the next release and that was Barefoot And Crazy. It barely dented that region of the chart at #10. That was his seventh and final top 40 hit. Seeing Stars features Patty Griffin. That was the third single and that peaked at #54. It finally prompted Big Machine to release the album. It did not improve Ingram's stock on the charts. Fourth single, Free peaked at #42 in 2010. Dierks Bentley lends a helping hand with the fifth single, Barbie Doll. That was originally released in 2000 without charting at all. This time, it provided Ingram with his last chart appearance at #56.
In 2011, after six years at Big Machine, Ingram was dropped by the label. He released an album on Rounder Records last year called Midnight Motel. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING MAY 20, 2006:
1. WHEREVER YOU ARE-JACK INGRAM-BIG MACHINE
2. Why-Jason Aldean-Broken Bow
3. Settle For A Slowdown-Dierks Bentley-Capitol
4. Something's Gotta Give-LeAnn Rimes-Curb
5. Who Says You Can't Go Home-Bon Jovi and Jennifer Nettles-Island
6. What Hurts The Most-Rascal Flatts-Lyric Street
7. The Lucky One-Faith Hill-Warner Bros.
8. When The Stars Go Blue-Tim McGraw-Curb
9. Last Day Of My Life-Phil Vassar-Arista
10. Size Matters Someday-Joe Nichols-Universal South

[countrychartnut]

1. COMBS TIMES TWO: Luke Combs has the top country song for the second week with Hurricane. Combs becomes the first artist since Florida Georgia Line to have a multi week #1 debut single. The duo did it in 2012 with their three week chart topper, Cruise.
2. BACK TO #19: Tim McGraw and Faith Hill eases up to one to #19 with Speak To A Girl. They debuted at #19 nine weeks ago. This is their debut Arista single.
3. ALDEAN DOES IT AGAIN: For the second week in a row, Jason Aldean has the fastest climbing song of the week with They Don't Know (#43 to #34).
4. DRINK HIGH: Chris Janson has the Hot Shot Debut of the week with Fix A Drink at #52. This is the lead single to an upcoming album. His last, Buy Me A Boat yielded a trio of chart singles. They are:
1. Buy Me A Boat-2015-#3
2. Power Of Positive Drinkin'-2016-#35
3. Holdin' Her-2017-#20
5. IT'S THEIR TIME: The Railers debut at #59 with 11:59 Central Standard Time. It is their second time on the chart following their debut in 2014 with the #49 peaking Kinda Dig The Feeling.
6. HALFWAY THERE: Billboard 2017 (since December, 2016) is halfway done. Let us review those songs that topped the chart since then. The numbers after the artists indicates how many weeks it was #1. Ready?
1. May We All-Florida Georgia Line and Tim McGraw-2
2. Song For Another Time-Old Dominion-1
3. Wanna Be That Song-Brett Eldredge-2
4. Blue Ain't Your Color-Keith Urban-2
5. A Guy With A Girl-Blake Shelton-3
6. Star Of The Show-Thomas Rhett-1
7. Seein' Red-Dustin Lynch-1
8. Better Man-Little Big Town-2
9. Sober Saturday Night-Chris Young-1
10. Dirt On My Boots-Jon Pardi-3
11. Fast-Luke Bryan-1
12. Road Less Traveled-Lauren Alaina-1
13. Any Ol' Barstool-Jason Aldean-1
14. Body Like A Back Road-Sam Hunt-3
15. Hurricane-Luke Combs-2 so far
7. WELCOME BACK: The Zac Brown Band land at the top of the country albums chart with their fifth studio album, Welcome Home. 139,000 copies were sold last week. So far, all of their studio albums have reached the top two. They are:
1. The Foundation-2008-#2
2. You Get What You Give-2010-#1
3. Uncaged-2012-#1
4. Jekyll + Hyde-2015-#1
5. Welcome Home-2017-#1
8. WE REMEMBER: Remember those who have fought for this country and never made it back.
9. #1 HITS: These were the chart topping songs in 2012, 2007, 2002, 1997, and 1992:
2012: Fly Over States-Jason Aldean-Broken Bow
2007: Good Directions-Billy Currington-Mercury
2002: Drive For Daddy Gene-Alan Jackson-Arista
1997: One Night At A Time-George Strait-MCA
1992: Some Girls Do-Sawyer Brown-Capitol
10. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: Chart-wise, Kathy Mattea has the biggest hit by a solo female artist during the 1980s. Her Eighteen Wheels And A Dozen Roses was tops for two weeks. It was our #1 song 29 years ago this week.
Mattea signed to the Mercury label in 1983 right when Reba McEntire jumped ship from Mercury to MCA Records. That would be appropriate as Mattea succeeded McEntire as Mercury's top female artist (later succeeded by Shania Twain). Her self-titled debut album was released in 1984. Street Talk, her debut single was released in October, 1983 and peaked at #25 before the year was over. Someone Is Falling In Love was released in February, 1984. It climbed to #26 country while becoming a surprise minor hit on the adult contemporary chart at #23. Mattea faltered a bit with the other two singles: You've Got A Soft Place To Fall (#44) and That's Easy For You To Say (#50). Her next album was released in 1985 called From My Heart. First single, It's Your Reputation Talkin' was released in February. It became her third top 40 hit when it peaked at #34. She got another one with the #22 peaking He Won't Give In. Third and final single, Heart Of The Country hit #46. Mattea would see her chart fortunes improve dramatically with her third album.
That was Walk The Way The Wind Blows from 1986. That was kicked off with Love At The Five And Dime. That was originally recorded by its songwriter, Nanci Griffith. In Mattea's hands, it became the first of sixteen top tens when it reached #3 during the summer. The title track was released in September. It became her second top ten at #10. 1987 was kicked off with You're The Power. Released in February, it became Mattea's second top five hit at #5. Train Of Memories was the fourth and final single. It wrapped up the era on a #6 note. While Walk The Way The Wind Blows album made Mattea a hit artist, the next album, Untasted Honey made her a star. Goin' Gone, the lead single was released in September, 1987. That topped the chart in January, 1988. It made Mattea the first artist in 1988 to have a first #1 hit. Eighteen Wheels And A Dozen Roses was released in March. It became her second chart topping hit in May for two weeks (for the record, I'm showing the chart where it spent its second week at #1). The last time a solo female spent more than a week at the top was Dolly Parton with You're The Only One from 1979 (two weeks). Untold Stories was the next single and that was released in July. It peaked at #4 in October. In October, Mattea won her first C.M.A. Award for Single of the Year for Eighteen Wheels And A Dozen Roses. Fourth and final single, Life As We Knew It was released in November. It also peaked at #4, but during the early part of 1989. At the A.C.M. Awards, Mattea won Single of the Year for Eighteen Wheels And A Dozen while it won Song of the Year for Gene and Paul Nelson. Untasted Honey became Mattea's first gold album.
Which set the stage for her fifth studio album, 1989's Willow In The Wind. Come From The Heart was the lead single. That was previously recorded by Don Williams who provided backup vocals for Mattea's Love At The Five And Dime. Come From The Heart rang the bell at #1 in June. Mattea released Burnin' Old Memories in July and that became her fourth and final chart topper in November. During its chart run, Mattea won her first C.M.A. Award for Female Vocalist of the Year. While Eighteen Wheels And A Dozen Roses is her biggest hit, her signature song was next. That was Where've You Been. That was released in November and peaked at #10 in February, 1990. Where've You Been gave Mattea her second A.C. chart appearance at #25. At the A.C.M.s, Mattea picked up her only Top Female Vocalist Award. Fourth and final single, She Came From Forth Worth was released in April. It became her only #2 hit and could not unseat George Strait's biggest hit, Love Without End, Amen from the top. Mattea would score her second gold album for Willow In The Wind. Mattea would release her first greatest hits album in 1990. Titled A Collection Of Hits, two new songs became hits. They are The Battle Hymn Of Love, a duet with Tim O'Brien. That reached #9 during the fall. The C.M.A. named Mattea Female Vocalist of the Year for the second time. A Few Good Things Remain was released in November. It also peaked at #9, this time during early 1991. Mattea would win a Grammy Award for Where've You Been in the Best Country Vocal Performance, Female category. A Collection Of Hits is Mattea's ONLY platinum album.
Mattea's last chart appearance came in 2000 with the #63 peaking BFD. Her last album was released in 2014 called Go Tell It On The Mountain. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING MAY 28, 1988:
1. EIGHTEEN WHEELS AND A DOZEN ROSES-KATHY MATTEA-MERCURY
2. Old Folks-Ronnie Milsap and Mike Reid-RCA
3. What She Is Is A Woman In Love-Earl Thomas Conley-RCA
4. I Told You So-Randy Travis-Warner Bros.
5. True Heart-Oak Ridge Boys-MCA
6. One True Love-the O'Kanes-Columbia
7. No More One More Time-Jo-El Sonnier-RCA
8. He's Back And I'm Blue-Desert Rose Band-MCA
9. If It Don't Come Easy-Tanya Tucker-Capitol
10. Another Place, Another Time-Don Williams-Capitol

[ozbest1]

I had forgotten about Kathy Mattea and her big hit. I loved that song! Sorry I don't get here as often as I want. I do so enjoy all the background info you provide to refresh our memories and to educate a younger generation that doesn't know these artists and their impact on country music back when and even today. A nice trip down Memory Lane for many of us. Your hard work is appreciated! And please keep posting on the Keith Urban chart thread.

BTW, loved the Willie Nelson history "lesson" on a post above. The one thing I didn't like was when Willie covered at least 3 of my favorite Elvis songs, Suspicious Minds and Always on my Mind, for two. Willie just can't sing Elvis's songs as well as Elvis did. I don't know why he did it. Doubt it was a tip of the hat to Elvis. Those covers just don't have the impact that they did when Elvis sang them. Willie was best with Waylon and Merle. And I loved his one duet with Julio. Just leave Elvis's songs alone, Willie!

[countrychartnut]

1. YOUNG KNOWS HE'S #1: Brett Young's second single, In Case You Didn't Know becomes his first #1 hit. This comes from his self-titled debut album. Lead single, Sleep Without You almost became his first chart topper. Instead, it peaked at #2 last year.
2. HIS FIRST: Dylan Scott moves up two to #9 with My Girl. In the process, it becomes his first top ten out of three chart appearances. He debuted in 2013 with Makin' This Boy Go Crazy (#54). My Girl is the second single to his self-titled album. Lead single, Crazy Over Me peaked at #36 last year.
3. HIS NINTH, HER SECOND: Climbing three to #10 is the duet between Thomas Rhett and Maren Morris called Craving You. It is Rhett's ninth top ten and Morris' second. Her first top ten was My Church (#9) from last year.
4. WHAT IF ITS FAST: Kane Brown and Lauren Alaina score the fastest climbing song of the week with What Ifs (#40 to #35).
5. MCCREERY'S BACK: Scotty McCreery has the Hot Shot Debut of the week with Five More Minutes at #57. This is a lead single to an upcoming album (maybe). So far, he has charted seven singles including two top tens: See You Tonight (#8 in 2014) and Feelin' It (#10 in 2014).
6. NIEMANN DEBUTS: Debuting at #59 with his second Curb single is Jerrod Niemann with God Made A Woman. This is from an upcoming album. His first Curb single was a duet with Lee Brice called A Little More Love (#28 in 2016).
7. HIS FIRST TIME: Jacob Davis debuts at #60 with his first single, What I Wanna Be. He signed to the Black River label last year.
8. BACK TO #2: Debuting at #2 on the country albums chart is Rascal Flatts with Back To Us. 25,000 copies were sold last week. This is their fourth studio album for Big Machine Records. The first three opened at #1. They are:
1. Nothing Like This-2010
2. Changed-2012
3. Rewind-2014
9. A CORRECTION: Last week, I had stated that Jason Aldean had the fastest climbing song of the week with They Don't Know. Not so. Carly Pearce had the fastest climbing song of the week with Every Little Thing (#38 to #25).
10. A 60S LOOK: These were the chart topping songs during the last week of May during the 1960s:
1960: Please Help Me, I'm Falling-Hank Locklin-RCA
1961: Hello Walls-Faron Young-Capitol
1962: She Thinks I Still Care-George Jones-United Artists
1963: Lonesome 7-7203-Hawkshaw Hawkins-King
1964: My Heart Skips A Beat-Buck Owens-Capitol
1965: This Is It-Jim Reeves-RCA
1966: Distant Drums-Jim Reeves-RCA
1967: It's Such A Pretty World Today-Wynn Stewart-Capitol
1968: Honey-Bobby Goldsboro-United Artists
1969: Singing My Song-Tammy Wynette-Epic
11. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: As they say, everything old is new again. That was the case six years ago this week as a new song incorporating the words and melody of an older song was #1. That song was called Old Alabama and Brad Paisley with Alabama were shining at the top of the chart.
Alabama topped the chart in 1993 with Reckless. That became their 32nd chart topping hit. Their major hits from 1994-2001 are:
1. T.L.C. A.S.A.P.-1994-#7
2. The Cheap Seats-1994-#13
3. We Can't Love Like This Anymore-1994-#6
4. Give Me One More Shot-1995-#3
5. She Ain't Your Ordinary Girl-1995-#2
6. In Pictures-1995-#4
7. It Works-1996-#19
8. The Maker Said Take Her-1996-#4
9. Sad Lookin' Moon-1997-#2
10. Dancin, Shaggin' On The Boulevard-1997-#3
11. How Do You Fall In Love-1998-#2
12. Keepin' Up-1999-#14
13. God Must Have Spent A Little More Time On You-with *NSYNC-1999-#3
14. When It All Goes South-2001-#15
A year after When It All Goes South peaked, Alabama announced a farewell tour. It was an unqualified success. They remained quiet for the next three years. They made news in a big way in 2005 when they were inducted to the Country Music Hall of Fame. In 2006, RCA released a box set called Livin', Lovin', Rockin', Rollin': The 25th Anniversary Collection. Again, Alabama retreated to their retirement and did not make any new musical statements until 2010 when they participated in a Waylon Jennings tribute album called The Music Inside: A Collaboration Dedicated To Waylon Jennings. The group remade Jennings' 1975 country chart topper, Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way. Their version peaked at #53. In the meantime, Brad Paisley was preparing to release an album called This Is Country Music. The title track was the lead single. Released in December 2010, it proceeded to a #2 peak in March, 2011 and could not clear the duet pairing of Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson, Don't You Wanna Stay from the top. Next up was Old Alabama. Paisley wrote the tune and incorporated lyrics and melodies from Mountain Music, Alabama's #1 hit of 1982. Because of that, lead singer Randy Owen got a writing credit on the song. As a matter of fact, Paisley inserted other Alabama classics into the song. They are:
1. Dixieland Delight-1983-#1
2. She And I-1986-#1
3. Feels So Right-1981-#1
4. Love In The First Degree-1981-#1
5. Why Lady Why-1980-#1
Furthermore, Owen, Jeff Cook, and Teddy Gentry recreated their famous bridge to Mountain Music and nailed it note for note. Released as a single in March, it topped the country chart for two weeks in June, becoming Paisley's seventeenth chart topping hit and Alabama's thirty-third and first since 1993's Reckless. It was their 52nd top ten as well. That eighteen year gap of #1s is second longest to Elvis Presley's twenty year gap of chart toppers (from 1957's Jailhouse Rock to 1977's Moody Blue). It gave Alabama chart toppers during the 1980s, 1990s, and 2010s. As for Paisley, his next single was also a duet, this time with his labelmate, Carrie Underwood. That was Remind Me and that became a #1 hit in September. It crossed over to #17 pop, becoming Paisley's biggest hit on that chart. Camouflage, the fourth and final single was released during the fall and peaked at #15 in December.
Old Alabama remains Alabama's last chart appearance. Their last studio album was released in 2015 called Southern Drawl (#2 country and #14 top 200 album). As for Paisley, he is currently on the chart with Last Time For Everything, the second single to his current album, Love And War (#1 country and #13 top 200 album). This is what the chart looks like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING JUNE 4, 2011:
1. OLD ALABAMA-BRAD PAISLEY AND ALABAMA-ARISTA
2. I Won't Let Go-Rascal Flatts-Big Machine
3. Heart Like Mine-Miranda Lambert-Columbia
4. Without You-Keith Urban-Capitol
5. Mean-Taylor Swift-Big Machine
6. A Little Bit Stronger-Sara Evans-RCA
7. You Lie-Band Perry-Republic Nashville
8. Honey Bee-Blake Shelton-Warner Bros.
9. Tomorrow-Chris Young-RCA
10. Bleed Red-Ronnie Dunn-Arista

[countrychartnut]

1. YOUNG AGAIN: Brett Young tops the country chart for a second week with his second single, In Case You Didn't Know. It is from his Brett Young album.
2. A TIE: We have two songs taking seven point jumps for fastest climbing singles of the week. They are:
1. Love Again-Todd O'Neill-#47 to #40
2. Five More Minutes-Scotty McCreery-#57 to #50
3. A PRETTY DEBUT: Kenny Chesney has the Hot Shot Debut of the week at #54 with All The Pretty Girls. It is the fourth Cosmic Hallelujah single following:
1. Noise-2016-#6
2. Setting The World On Fire-with Pink-2016-#1
3. Bar At The End Of The World-2017-#10
4. A FOLLOW UP TO A #1: Lauren Alaina debuts her third Road Less Traveled single, Doin' Fine at #59. This is the follow up to the title track which became her first chart topping hit. She is also on the chart at #32 on Kane Brown's single, What Ifs.
5. A 60S LOOK, PART II: These were the top selling albums during the first week of June during the 1960s:
1964: Guitar Country-Chet Atkins-RCA
1965: I've Got A Tiger By The Tail-Buck Owens-Capitol
1966: Roll Out The Red Carpet-Buck Owens-Capitol
1967: The Best Of Eddy Arnold-Eddy Arnold-RCA
1968: Hey Little One-Glen Campbell-Capitol
1969: Galveston-Glen Campbell-Capitol
6. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: Reba McEntire was on the MCA label from 1983-2008. Her tenure started with Just A Little Love, our #5 song from 33 years ago this week.
McEntire was signed to Mercury Records from 1975-1983. She ended that association with the 1983 album, Behind The Scene. Lead single, Why Do We Want What We Know We Can't Have was released in July. The uptempo number carried McEntire to #7, becoming her sixth and final top ten at Mercury. After that peaked, she signed to her second label, MCA. Mercury released one more single and that was There Ain't No Future In This. Released in December, it peaked at #12 during the early part of 1984. During its chart run, McEntire went to work on her debut MCA album, Just A Little Love. The title track was the lead single. Released in March, it became her first top ten for the new label when it peaked at #5 in June. Second and final single, He Broke Your Memory Last Night was released in July and peaked at #15.
McEntire would release another album in 1984 called My Kind Of Country. Its lead single was How Blue. That was released in September and became her first #1 at MCA in January, 1985. It was her third chart topper overall. During its chart run, McEntire won the first of four C.M.A. Female Vocalist of the Year Awards. Fresh from those triumphs, a second single was released called Somebody Should Leave. That was released in January and became her fourth #1 hit in May. The My Kind Of Country album became her first gold disc. Mercury would release her first greatest hits album during this time. Her third MCA album, Have I Got A Deal For You was released during the spring of 1985. Its lead single was the title track. Released in June, it proceeded to a #6 peak. McEntire would realize a first with her next single, Only In My Mind. It was her first self-penned hit. That was released in September and cracked the top five in December at #5. She won her second Female Vocalist Award at the C.M.A.s during this time. Check out her version of She's Single Again. That was a #2 hit for Janie Frickie in 1985. She scored her second consecutive gold album for Have I Got A Deal For You.
From 1975-1985, McEntire was a singles driven artist. From 1986 to the present, she became a major superstar, major record seller, and a better live act. The first evidence of that was the Whoever's In New England album of 1986. The single, Whoever's In New England was released in March and climbed all the way to the top in May, becoming her fifth #1 hit and first signature hit. Second and final single, Little Rock was released in June and also topped the chart, this time in September. The album became the first to top the country albums chart in May. It also became her first platinum album. At the C.M.A.s, she three-peated as Female Vocalist of the Year and won the big one, Entertainer of the Year. In the process, she became the fourth female to win the award. The next time you saw McEntire's name on the chart was the vocal collaboration she had with Hank Williams, Jr. on his single, Mind Your Own Business. She was joined by Willie Nelson, Tom Petty, and the Reverend Ike. That topped the chart for the final two weeks of the year.
In the meantime, she released the title track to her upcoming album, What Am I Gonna Do About You in September. It rang the bell at #1 in January 1987, just two weeks after Mind Your Own Business topped the chart. In February, she won her first Grammy Award for Whoever's In New England in the Best Country Vocal Performance, Female category. Her second single, Let The Music Lift You Up was released in February and peaked at #4. Third and final single, One Promise Too Late was released in May and topped the chart in August. The What Am I Gonna Do About You album became her second to top the country albums chart and is certified gold. Her first greatest hits album for MCA was released in 1987 (#2 country and #139 top 200 album) and is certified triple platinum. McEntire would win her fourth and final Female Vocalist of the Year from the C.M.A..
In 2011, McEntire was inducted to the Country Music Hall of Fame. In 2014, she was the first artist to sign to the Nash Icon label, her fourth record company she signed to (Valory was her home between 2008-2014). Her first album for them, Love Somebody became a #1 country and #3 top 200 album in 2015 when 62,000 copies were sold during the first week. She charted two singles that year: Going Out Like That (#28) and Until They Don't Love You (#48). She released her second Nash Icon album this year called Sing It Now: Songs Of Faith & Hope. It debuted at #1 country and #4 top 200 when 52,000 copies were sold. A single has charted called Back To God (#41). This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING JUNE 9, 1984:
1. Someday When Things Are Good-Merle Haggard-Epic
2. I Got Mexico-Eddy Raven-RCA
3. Mona Lisa Lost Her Smile-David Allan Coe-Columbia
4. I Can Tell By The Way You Dance You're Gonna Love Me Tonight-Vern Gosdin-Compleat
5. JUST A LITTLE LOVE-REBA MCENTIRE-MCA
6. When We Make Love-Alabama-RCA
7. Denver-the Gatlin Brothers-Columbia
8. You've Still Got A Place In My Heart-George Jones-Epic
9. In My Dreams-Emmylou Harris-Warner Bros.
10. I'm Not Through Loving You Yet-Louise Mandrell-RCA

[countrychartnut]

1. RUCKER'S BACK TO #1: It has been awhile since anyone can say this, but Darius Rucker has the top song in country music. This week, he collects his seventh #1 hit with If I Told You. This is a lead single to an upcoming album. If I Told You trails his last chart topper, Wagon Wheel by four years. Rucker has charted four times since Wagon Wheel. They are:
1. Radio-2014-#4
2. Miss You-2014-#48
3. Homegrown Honey-2015-#2
4. Southern Style-2015-#33
2. HIS GIRLS ARE FAST: Kenny Chesney has the fastest climbing song of the week with All The Pretty Girls. They skip eleven spots to #43.
3. HER LEGENDS DEBUT: Kelsea Ballerini has the Hot Shot Debut of the week at #50 with Legends. This is a lead single to an upcoming album. Her debut album, The First Time yielded a quartet of top five hits. They are:
1. Love Me Like You Mean It-2015-#1
2. Dibs-2016-#1
3. Peter Pan-2016-#1
4. Yeah Boy-2017-#3
4. HIS SECOND: Gary Allan debuts at #54 with Mess Me Up. This is his second time charting on the EMI label. His debut for them, Do You Wish It Was Me peaked at #57 last year.
5. THIS ONE'S IS #1: Luke Combs lands his first #1 album in This One's For You. 35,000 copies were sold last week. It features his #1 debut single, Hurricane.
6. NORRO WILSON (1938-2017): Norro Wilson passed away last week at the age of 79. He was a powerhouse in Nashville during the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s as a singer, songwriter, and producer. As a matter of fact, I had saluted Reba McEntire's first MCA hit, Just A Little Love last week. That was produced by Wilson. R.I.P..
7. #1 HITS: These were the chart topping songs in 2012, 2007, 2002, 1997, and 1992:
2012: Good Girl-Carrie Underwood-Arista
2007: Moments-Emerson Drive-Midas
2002: Drive For Daddy Gene-Alan Jackson-Arista
1997: It's Your Love-Tim McGraw and Faith Hill-Curb
1992: Achy Breaky Heart-Billy Ray Cyrus-Mercury
8. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: Tim McGraw had a #1 hit in 2001 with Grown Men Don't Cry. That was nothing new to him as he was used to topping the charts. What was new is that is was his first ONE week #1 hit. It was our #1 song sixteen years ago this week.
Grown Men Don't Cry was his thirteenth chart topping hit. His first twelve with weeks at #1 are:
1. Don't Take The Girl-1994-2
2. Not A Moment Too Soon-1995-2
3. I Like It, I Love It-1995-5-the American Country Countdown's biggest hit of the year
4. She Never Lets It Go To Her Heart-1996-2
5. It's Your Love-with Faith Hill-1997-6-the A.C.C.'s biggest hit of the year
6. Everywhere-1997-2
7. Just To See You Smile-1998-6-the A.C.C.'s biggest hit of the year
8. Where The Green Grass Grows-1998-4
9. Please Remember Me-1995-5
10. Something Like That-1995-5-the most played song of the 2000s
11. My Best Friend-2000-2
12. My Next Thirty Years-2000-5
Grown Men Don't Cry came from the 2001 album, Set This Circus Down. McGraw wanted the album released in 2000, but Curb Records released a greatest hits album instead (while My Next Thirty Years was in release). Radio stations started playing Things Change, a song McGraw performed at the 2000 C.M.A. Awards. They played both studio and live versions. Because of it, it entered the chart in November and peaked at #32 in early 2001. The first official single, Grown Men Don't Cry was released in March. It became McGraw's lucky thirteenth #1 when it knocked off Kenny Chesney's Don't Happen Twice from the top. When McGraw was used to extended stays at the top, he was dethroned the following week by Lonestar's second biggest hit, I'm Already There (see chart below). The album was released in April and it debuted at #1 country and #2 top 200. Second single, Angry All The Time was released in July and had a two week stay at the top in November. Third single, The Cowboy In Me was released in November and topped the chart for a week in March, 2002. It succeeded Jo Dee Messina's Bring On The Rain which features McGraw on backup vocals. The fourth and final single, Unbroken was released in May and topped the chart in September for a week. In the meantime, the Set This Circus Down album became McGraw's third to have a quartet of #1s following 1997's Everywhere and 1999's A Place In The Sun.
McGraw would top the chart seven more times while on Curb Records. Those songs and weeks at #1 are:
1. Real Good Man-2003-2
2. Watch The Wind Blow By-2004-2
3. Live Like You Were Dying-2004-7-chart wise, his biggest hit and the A.C.C.'s biggest hit of the year
4. Back When-2004-1
5. Last Dollar Fly Away-2007-1
6. Southern Voice-2010-1
7. Felt Good On My Lips-2011-3
Felt Good On My Lips came from two McGraw albums, Number One Hits (2010) and Emotional Traffic (2012). After Emotional Traffic was released, McGraw won a court case for him to leave Curb Records. He signed to Big Machine Records and scored another four chart toppers. Those songs and weeks at #1 are:
1. One Of Those Nights-2013-3
2. Highway Don't Care-with Taylor Swift-2013-2
3. Shotgun Rider-2014-3
4. Humble And Kind-2016-1
He scored another chart topping hit with Florida Georgia Line called May We All from their Dig Your Roots album. It topped the chart for two weeks in December, 2016. In all, McGraw has spent 78 weeks at the top with his 28 chart topping hits. His 28 #1 hits is good enough to have placed him in the top ten of those artists with the most #1s. In February 2017, it was announced that McGraw and his wife, Faith Hill signed to the Sony family of labels (Arista). They have released a duet called Speak To A Girl. It has debuted and peaked at #19. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING JUNE 16, 2001:
1. GROWN MEN DON'T CRY-TIM MCGRAW-CURB
2. Don't Happen Twice-Kenny Chesney-BNA
3. Ain't Nothing 'Bout You-Brooks & Dunn-Arista
4. I'm Already There-Lonestar-BNA
5. I Could Not Ask For More-Sara Evans-RCA
6. She Couldn't Change Me-Montgomery Gentry-Columbia
7. If You Can Do Anything Else-George Strait-MCA
8. When Somebody Loves You-Alan Jackson-Arista
9. Two People Fell In Love-Brad Paisley-Arista
10. It's A Great Day To Be Alive-Travis Tritt-Columbia

[countrychartnut]

1. HOW TO: Dan + Shay collect their third #1 hit this week with How Not To. It is the second chart topper off their current album, Obsessed. It follows From The Ground Up from last September.
2. TWAIN'S BACK: Shania Twain has the Hot Shot Debut of the week at #36 with Life's About To Get Good. This is from her upcoming Now album. Her last time on the chart was back in 2011 with the #36 peaking Today Is Your Day. Her last studio album was released in 2002 called Up!
3. CHESNEY DOES IT AGAIN: For the second week in a row, Kenny Chesney has the fastest climbing song of the week with All The Pretty Girls (#43 to #34).
4. BRICE'S BOY DEBUTS: Lee Brice debuts at #51 with Boy, the lead single to an upcoming album. His last album, I Don't Dance yielded a trio of top tens. They are:
1. I Don't Dance-2014-#1
2. Drinking Class-2015-#2-Billboard's Country Airplay Single of the Year
3. That Don't Sound Like You-2016-#10
5. A #1 FOLLOW UP: Luke Combs debuts at #56 with When It Rains It Pours. It is the follow up to his #1 debut single, Hurricane.
6. LADY A'S #1: Lady Antebellum has the top selling country album of the week with their sixth studio album, Heart Break. 47,000 copies were sold last week. So far, all of their albums have hit the top two. They are:
1. Lady Antebellum-2008-#1
2. Need You Now-2010-#1
3. Own The Night-2011-#1
4. Golden-2013-#1
5. 747-2014-#2
6. Heart Break-2017-#1
7. NOW IS #3: NOW That's What I Call Country Volume 10 enters the country albums chart at #3 with 17,000 copies sold. So far, ALL ten albums have hit the top five. They are:
1. Volume 1-2008-#1
2. Volume 2-2009-#4
3. Volume 3-2010-#3
4. Volume 4-2011-#3
5. Volume 5-2012-#4
6. Volume 6-2013-#4
7. Volume 7-2014-#3
8. Volume 8-2015-#1
9. Volume 9-2016-#3
10. Volume 10-2017-#3
8. CAMPBELL'S FAREWELL: Glen Campbell enters the country albums chart at #7 with Adios, his final studio album. 14,000 copies were sold. He is currently battling Alzheimer's Disease. He recently turned 81. Godspeed, Glen.
9. #1 CDS: These were the top selling CDs in 2012, 2007, 2002, 1997, and 1992:
2012: Thirty Miles West-Alan Jackson-EMI
2007: Between Raising Hell And Amazing Grace-Big & Rich-Warner Bros.
2002: No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems-Kenny Chesney-BNA
1997: Everywhere-Tim McGraw-Curb
1992: Some Gave All-Billy Ray Cyrus-Mercury
10. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: Phil Vassar released his first greatest hits album in 2006. A new song from the set became a hit. That was Last Day Of My Life and that was our #2 song eleven years ago this week.
The track listing for Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 is as follows:
1. Bye, Bye
2. In A Real Love-2004-#1-chart wise, his biggest hit
3. Carlene-2000-#5
4. I'm Alright
5. Last Day Of My Life-2006-#2
6. My Next Thirty Years
7. Little Red Rodeo
8. American Child-2002-#5
9. Twenty One
10. Just Another Day In Paradise-2000-#1
11. For A Little While
12. The Woman In My Life-2007-#20
13. Six-Pack Summer-2001-#9
14. That's When I Love You-2002-#3
15. I'll Take That As A Yes The Hot Tub Song-2005-#17
Last Day Of My Life was the lead single. That was released in February, 2006 and peaked at #2 for two weeks in June and could not unseat Kenny Chesney's Summertime from the top. It became his seventh and final top ten at Arista Records. Second and final single, The Woman In My Life was released in August and peaked at #20 during the early part of 2007. While Vassar was charting with that song, he ended his seven year association with Arista by signing to Universal South Records. The greatest hits album was a #2 country and #10 top 200 album. The album contains his versions of songs made famous by other artists. They are:
1. Bye, Bye-Jo Dee Messina-1998-#1
2. I'm Alright-Messina-1998-#1
3. My Next Thirty Years-Tim McGraw-2000-#1
4. Little Red Rodeo-Collin Raye-1998-#3
5. For A Little While-McGraw-1999-#2
His Universal South debut album, Prayer Of A Common Man started with This Is My Life. That was released in June, 2007 and peaked at #35 in August. Vassar's next single was a remake, but the title of the song was altered a bit. Titled Love Is A Beautiful Thing, it was originally called It's A Beatiful Thing. That was a #38 peaking single for Paul Brandt in early 2000. Vassar's version was released in October and peaked at #2 for two weeks in May and June, 2008 and could not remove Brad Paisley's I'm Still A Guy from the #1 position. It ended up being Vassar's final top ten hit. I Would was the third single. Released in August, it peaked at #26 during the fall. The title track was the fourth and final single. It kicked off his 2009 on a #53 note. It was his worst charting single ever. Vassar would stay with Universal South for one more album. That was titled Traveling Circus and that was released in 2009. Lead single, Bobbi With An I peaked at #46. Second and final single, Everywhere I Go managed a top 40 placing at #36. After three years at Universal South, Vassar went his separate ways.
Vassar would sign to the Rodeowave Entertainment label in 2011. Three singles have been released (with no album). They are:
1. Let's Get Together-2011-#36
2. Don't Miss Your Life-2012-#32
3. Love Is Alive-2013-#36
His current album, American Soul was released last year on the Orchard label. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING JUNE 24, 2006:
1. Summertime-Kenny Chesney-BNA
2. LAST DAY OF MY LIFE-PHIL VASSAR-ARISTA
3. The World-Brad Paisley-Arista
4. When The Stars Go Blue-Tim McGraw-Curb
5. Something's Gotta Give-LeAnn Rimes-Curb
6. Don't Forget To Remember Me-Carrie Underwood-Arista
7. Settle For A Slowdown-Dierks Bentley-Capitol
8. A Little Too Late-Toby Keith-Show Dog
9. Every Time I Hear Your Name-Keith Anderson-Arista
10. Size Matters Someday-Joe Nichols-Universal South

[countrychartnut]

1. GOD, MAMA, AND ME ARE #1: Florida Georgia Line collect their eleventh #1 hit this week with God, Your Mama, And Me. This is a duet with the Backstreet Boys, who land their first #1 country hit. This is the third chart topper off the Dig Your Roots album following H.O.L.Y. and May We All with Tim McGraw from last year. Florida Georgia Line becomes the first artist since Brad Paisley to score back to back #1 duets. Paisley did it in 2011 with Old Alabama with Alabama and Remind Me with Carrie Underwood. Furthermore, this is the second vocal collaboration between a duo and group to reach #1. The first was back in 1986 when the Bellamy Brothers and Forester Sisters took Too Much Is Not Enough to the top.
2. WHERE'S SHANIA?: After scoring the Hot Shot Debut last week with Life's About To Get Good (at #36), Shania Twain is nowhere to be found this week.
3. HIS 38TH, HER 26TH AND THIRD: The Fighter between Keith Urban and Carrie Underwood eases up one to #10 this week. This becomes Urban's 38th consecutive top ten and Underwood's 26th. Urban's streak is currently the longest in country music. Furthermore, Underwood has scored top tens on three labels: Arista (24), RCA (1-Somethin' Bad with Miranda Lambert-#7 in 2014), and now Capitol. Underwood signed to Capitol back in March.
4. COMBS IS FAST: Luke Combs has the fastest climbing song of the week with When It Rains It Pours (#56 to #49).
5. DUNN DEBUTS: Ronnie Dunn has the Hot Shot Debut of the week at #52 with I Worship The Woman You Walked On. This is the third Tattooed Heart single following Ain't No Trucks In Texas (#42 in 2015) and Damn Drunk with Kix Brooks (#36 in 2016).
6. SMITH DEBUTS: Granger Smith debuts a lead single to an upcoming album this week. It is Happens Like That and it starts its chart life at #56. His previous album, Remington yielded Backroad Song (#1 in 2016) and If The Boot Fits (#6 in 2017).
7. ISBELL SOUNDS #1: Jason Isbell has the top selling country album of the week with The Nashville Sound. 51,000 copies were sold last week. This is his second chart topping album following 2015's Something More Than Free.
8. OTHER ALBUM NEWS: Two other albums debut on the charts. They are:
1. So You Wanna Be An Outlaw-Steve Earle-#15 with 7000 sold.
2. Fingerprints-Eli Young Band-#17 with 6000 sold.
9. A 50S LOOK: These were the chart topping songs during the last week of June during the 1950s:
1950: I'll Sail My Ship Alone-Moon Mullican-King
1951: I Want To Be With You Always-Lefty Frizzell-Columbia
1952: The Wild Side Of Life-Hank Thompson-Capitol
1953: Take These Chains From My Heart-Hank Williams-MGM
1954: I Don't Hurt Anymore-Hank Snow-RCA
1955: In The Jailhouse Now-Webb Pierce-Decca
1956: Heartbreak Hotel-Elvis Presley-RCA
1957: A White Sport Coat And A Pink Carnation-Marty Robbins-Columbia
1958: Guess Things Happen That Way-Johnny Cash-Sun
1959: The Battle Of New Orleans-Johnny Horton-Columbia
10. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: Waylon Jennings released a greatest hits album in 1979. A new song from the new set, Amanda became a hit. It was our top song 38 years ago this week.
The track listing for Greatest Hits is as follows:
1. Lonesome, On'ry, And Mean
2. Ladies Love Outlaws
3. I've Always Been Crazy-1978-#1
4. I'm A Ramblin' Man-1974-#1
5. Only Daddy That'll Walk The Line-1968-#2-his biggest #2 hit
6. Amanda-1979-#1
7. Honky Tonk Heroes
8. Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys-with Willie Nelson-1978-#1
9. Good Hearted Woman-with Nelson-1976-#1
10. Luckenbach, Texas Back To The Basics Of Love-with Nelson-1977-#1-chart wise, the biggest hit of Jennings' career
11. Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way-1975-#1
Amanda was tapped as the only single from the album. It was the second time it charted. It was featured as the b-side to Don Williams' hit of 1973 called Come Early Morning (#12). The b-side reached #33. Shortly after Amanda peaked for Williams, Jennings recorded it for his 1974 album called The Ramblin' Man. It sat as an album cut as its singles I'm A Ramblin' Man (#1 in 1974) and Rainy Day Woman (#2 in 1975) became hits. The rerecorded Amanda was released in April, 1979 and topped the chart for three weeks in June and July. It crossed over, becoming a #54 pop hit and even peaking at #40 adult contemporary. Greatest Hits topped the country albums chart for fifteen weeks in 1979 while peaking at #28 on the top 200 chart. It is certified quintuple platinum.
In May 1980, Greatest Hits topped the country albums chart for the sixteenth and final week. By this time, Jennings was charting with Clyde (#7) off the Music Man album of 1980. It yielded a future hit with the Theme From The Dukes Of Hazzard Good Ol' Boys (#1). Jennings' last chart appearance was in 1991 called If I Can Find A Clean Shirt with Nelson (#51). Jennings was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001. He did not live long enough to enjoy it. He died in 2002 at the age of 64. His last album was released in 2013 called Old 97's And Waylon Jennings. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING JUNE 30, 1979:
1. AMANDA-WAYLON JENNINGS-RCA
2. Nobody Likes Sad Songs-Ronnie Milsap-RCA
3. Shadows In The Moonlight-Anne Murray-Capitol
4. I Can't Feel You Anymore-Loretta Lynn-MCA
5. She Believes In Me-Kenny Rogers-United Artists
6. Two Steps Forward And Three Steps Back-Susie Allanson-Elektra
7. You Feel Good All Over-T.G. Sheppard-Warner Bros.
8. You're The Only One-Dolly Parton-RCA
9. Ghost Riders In The Sky-Johnny Cash-Columbia
10. If Love Had A Face-Razzy Bailey-RCA

P.S.: Happy Independence Day!

[ozbest1]

Especially love (besides the section on KUCU) your coverage of Waylon Jennings' music. He was always one of my favorites--that voice! I have several of his albums along with a DVD of a concert he held in Texas. He sang all his great hits that night--love that DVD. Who else has such a rich, deep voice like his? No one! And what great songs he chose to record--amazing! So funny, yet ironic that he hated his single, Luckenbach, Texas, and it turned out to be his biggest hit (and my favorite).

And about Ronnie Dunn's music--he has one of the most beautiful voices in Country Music, and yet Radio doesn't play him as often as they should. That really rankles me to no end. When I play his "Believe" single with Kix before their split, it never fails to bring a tear--it is so beautiful and touching. I thought for sure he still had a great career post--his partnership with Kix.

[glormae]

CCNut, this is all great! Love going back to even the 50's chart toppers! I remember so many of all the songs you've posted about and it reminds how much I miss all these great singers and their songs!!

Sad to say I don't get as much kick out of country music like I use to! It has changed so much in the 2000 decade and it's not as good, to me, as it once was.

I do love Keith Urban and his music and I will continue to support him, but man I truly miss all these older great artist and their music!

Thank you CCNut for a sweet stroll down memory lane!!

[countrychartnut]

1. SHELTON HEARS #1: For the 24th time in his career, Blake Shelton has the top song in country music. This week, it is the fourth If I'm Honest single, Every Time I Hear That Song. It follows: Came Here To Forget (#1 in 2016), She's Got A Way With Words (#7 in 2016), and A Guy With A Girl (#1 in 2017). She's Got A Way With Words snapped Shelton's streak of seventeen consecutive chart topping hits.
2. HIS SEVENTH, HIS 23RD: Flatliner by Cole Swindell goes up four to #9 this week and it becomes his seventh top ten hit (perfect so far as he has released seven singles). The song features Dierks Bentley on vocals, so it becomes his twenty-third top ten as well.
3. LADY A'S BACK: Easing up one to #10 this week is Lady Antebellum with You Look Good. This becomes their thirteenth top ten hit and first since Bartender topped the chart in 2014.
4. IT RAINS FAST: Luke Combs has the fastest climbing song of the week with When It Rains It Pours (#49 to #40).
5. THEY LIKE HIM: Brantley Gilbert has the Hot Shot Debut of the week with The Ones That Like Me at #54. This is the second single off his The Devil Don't Sleep album. Lead single, The Weekend peaked at #7 this year.
6. HIS THIRD TIME: Walker Hayes debuts at #57 with You Broke Up With Me. This is his third charted single following Pants in 2010 (#40) and Why Wait For Summer in 2011 (#42).
7. HER FOURTH TIME: Debuting at #60 is Lindsay Ell with Waitin' On You. This is her fourth single to chart following:
1. Trippin' On Us-2013-#46
2. Shut Me Up-2014-#47
3. By The Way-2015-#44
8. #1 HITS: These were the chart topping songs in 2012, 2007, 2002, 1997, and 1992:
2012: Drunk On You-Luke Bryan-Capitol
2007: Lucky Man-Montgomery Gentry-Columbia
2002: I'm Gonna Miss Her The Fishin' Song-Brad Paisley-Arista
1997: It's Your Love-Tim McGraw and Faith Hill-Curb
1992: I Saw The Light-Wynonna Judd-MCA
9. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: Eddy Raven's top 40 reign lasted from 1975-1990. His last top 40 hit was his final top ten, Island in 1990. That was our #10 song 27 years ago this week.
Raven ended his association with RCA Records on a greatest hits album in 1988. Three new songs became hits. They are:
1. I'm Gonna Get You-1988-#1
2. Joe Knows How To Live-1988-#1-chart wise, his biggest hit
3. 'Til You Cry-1989-#4
During this time, Raven signed to the new Universal label. That was headed by Jimmy Bowen, who had just left MCA Records. It was a lateral move for Bowen as Universal was distributed by MCA. Raven went to work on his Temporary Sanity album. Lead single, In A Letter To You was previously recorded by Shakin' Stevens in 1984. Raven's version was released in April, 1989 and became his fifth #1 in July. It was the second time Raven took a Dennis Linde song to the top. The first was I'm Gonna Get You. Second single, Bayou Boys was released in August and claimed the top spot in November. As a matter of fact, Raven scored Universal's only #1 hits. Bayou Boys ended up being Raven's sixth and final chart topping hit. A few weeks later, in December, Bowen decided to head the Nashville division of Capitol Records. He replaced Jim Fogelsong at the label. Capitol had a lot of reasons to celebrate in December. Their new artist, Garth Brooks just celebrated his first #1, If Tomorrow Never Comes. Bowen took all of his Universal artists (all established) over to Capitol. Officially, as of January 1990, Capitol was the biggest label in Nashville in terms of number of artists (I do not have the number of artists at the label at the time). Raven's third single was released that month (December) called Sooner Or Later. Sooner Or Later went out under the Universal label, but by the time it peaked at #6 in March 1990, it was labelled as a Capitol single. For the record, while Raven was at #6, Brooks was at #4 with Not Counting You. A fourth single was released and that was Island. That was released in April and barely scraped the top ten in July at #10. It was Raven's eighteenth and final top ten hit. They went with a fifth single and that was Zydeco Lady. That bombed at #56.
Capitol kept Raven for one more album (technically his first for the label). That was 1991's Right For The Flight. Two singles were released, but did not fare too well (both in 1991): Rock Me In The Rhythm Of Your Love (#60) and Too Much Candy For A Dime (#68). In 1992, Raven and Capitol parted ways. For the record, by the time 1992 rolled around, Capitol dropped a lot of the artists they had. In 1994, Raven released an album on Intersound called Wild Eyed And Crazy. It was an album of half new songs and half rerecorded hits (including Island). In 1998, Capitol released 20 Favorites on Raven. It was a combination of his Temporary Sanity and Right For The Flight albums. Raven's last chart appearance occurred in 2001 called Cowboys Don't Cry (#60). His last album was released in 2005 called Knowin' How To Live. That was another album of rerecorded hits. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING JULY 7, 1990:
1. Love Without End, Amen-George Strait-MCA
2. The Dance-Garth Brooks-Capitol
3. Walk On-Reba McEntire-MCA
4. He Walked On Water-Randy Travis-Warner Bros.
5. Dancy's Dream-Restless Heart-RCA
6. Pass It On Down-Alabama-RCA
7. If You Could Only See Me Now-T. Graham Brown-Capitol
8. On Down The Line-Patty Loveless-MCA
9. Nobody's Talking-Exile-Arista
10. ISLAND-EDDY RAVEN-CAPITOL

[countrychartnut]

1. CRAVING #1: Thomas Rhett collects his eighth #1 this week with Craving You. This one features Maren Morris on backup vocals. This is the lead single to an upcoming album.
2. THEIR FIRST: Lifting two spots to #9, Midland collect their first top ten in Drinkin' Problem. This is from their upcoming debut album.
3. A FAST WALKER: Walker Hayes has the fastest climbing song of the week with You Broke Up With Me (#57 to #47).
4. #1 CDS: These were the top selling CDs in 2012, 2007, 2002, 1997, and 1992:
2012: Welcome To The Fishbowl-Kenny Chesney-Columbia
2007: 5th Gear-Brad Paisley-Arista
2002: No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems-Kenny Chesney-BNA
1997: Everywhere-Tim McGraw-Curb
1992: Some Gave All-Billy Ray Cyrus-Mercury
5. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHARTS: Let us rank the five biggest hits of Ronnie Milsap's career. Ready?
1. My Heart-1980
2. It Was Almost Like A Song-1977
3. Only One Love In My Life-1978
4. A Woman In Love-1989
5. Lost In The Fifties Tonight In The Still Of The Night-1985
Two of those songs were our #1 hits from 40 and 39 years ago this week. I'll let you figure out what they are.
In 1976, Milsap released his first live album called Ronnie Milsap Live. A lone single was released and that was Let My Love Be Your Pillow. Released late in the year, it rang the bell at #1 in January, 1977. Then Milsap's career was kicked into higher gear when he entered his crossover era (1977-1985). He always wanted crossover hits so he could sell more albums. That was evident with his 1977 album, It Was Almost Like A Song. The title track was tapped as the lead single. Released in May, it topped the country chart for three weeks in July. It crossed over to the pop chart where it peaked at #16. It became his first top ten at adult contemporary at #7. At the 1977 C.M.A.s, Milsap won a trio of awards for Album of the Year for Ronnie Milsap Live, Male Vocalist of the Year, and the big one, Entertainer of the Year. After the C.M.A.s, second and final single, What A Difference You've Made In My Life was released. It made its debut on the chart in November and climbed all the way to the top of the country chart in January, 1978. It also peaked at #80 pop and #19 A.C..
Following the success of the It Was Almost Like A Song album, Milsap released the Only One Love In My Life album in 1978. Like It Was Almost Like A Song, Only One Love In My Life was released in May. Like It Was Almost Like A Song, Only One Love In My Life topped the charts for three weeks in July. Albeit a less successful crossover hit, it peaked at #63 pop and #24 A.C.. The follow up, Let's Take The Long Way Around The World was released in August and topped the chart in October. It crossed over to #33 A.C.. That was the same month Milsap won the C.M.A. Award for Album of the Year for It Was Almost Like A Song. Third and final single, Back On My Mind Again was released in December. It peaked at #2 for three weeks and could not get Eddie Rabbitt's biggest hit, Every Which Way But Loose from the top in February, 1979. Back On My Mind Again became Milsap's biggest #2 hit. Ronnie Milsap Live (#2), It Was Almost Like A Song (#3), and Only One Love In My Life (#3) are all gold certified albums.
Milsap's last chart appearance came in 2006 with the #54 peaking Local Girls. In 2014, he was inducted to the Country Music Hall of Fame. RCA released a box set that year called The RCA Albums Collection. This is what the charts looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING JULY 16, 1977:
1. IT WAS ALMOST LIKE A SONG-RONNIE MILSAP-RCA
2. I'll Be Leavin' Alone-Charley Pride-RCA
3. I Can't Love You Enough-Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty-MCA
4. Rolling With The Flow-Charlie Rich-Epic
5. If Practice Makes Perfect-Johnny Rodriguez-Mercury
6. That Was Yesterday-Donna Fargo-Warner Bros.
7. Cheap Perfume And Candlelight-Bobby Borchers-Playboy
8. I Don't Wanna Cry-the Gatlin Brothers-Monument
9. Making Believe-Emmylou Harris-Warner Bros.
10. I Don't Know Why I Just Do-Marty Robbins-Columbia

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING JULY 15, 1978:
1. ONLY ONE LOVE IN MY LIFE-RONNIE MILSAP-RCA
2. There Ain't No Good Chain Gang-Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings-Columbia
3. Love Or Something Like It-Kenny Rogers-United Artists
4. I Believe In You-Mel Tillis-MCA
5. Tonight-Barbara Mandrell-ABC
6. You Don't Love Me Anymore-Eddie Rabbitt-Elektra
7. When Can We Do This Again-T.G. Sheppard-Warner Bros.
8. Pittsburgh Stealers-the Kendalls-Ovation
9. Never My Love-Vern Gosdin-Elektra
10. Talking In Your Sleep-Crystal Gayle-United Artists

[countrychartnut]

1. SCOTT'S GIRL IS #1: Dylan Scott collects his first #1 this week with My Girl. This is from his self-titled debut album. This is his third single following: Makin' This Boy Go Crazy (#54 in 2013) and Crazy Over Me (#36 in 2016). Scott becomes the fourth artist in Billboard 2017 (since December, 2016) to collect their first chart topper following:
1. Lauren Alaina-Road Less Traveled
2. Luke Combs-Hurricane
3. Backstreet Boys-God, Your Mama, And Me-with Florida Georgia Line
4. Dylan Scott-My Girl
2. CHESNEY'S FAST: Kenny Chesney has the fastest climbing song of the week with All The Pretty Girls (#26 to #21).
3. SMITH LIKES YOU: Canaan Smith has the only new song on the chart this week with Like You That Way (#59). His debut album, Bronco yielded two chart singles: Love You Like That (#1 in 2015) and Hole In A Bottle (#23 in 2016).
4. #1 HITS: These were the chart topping songs in 2012, 2007, 2002, 1997, and 1992:
2012: You Don't Know Her Like I Do-Brantley Gilbert-Valory
2007: Lost In This Moment-Big & Rich-Warner Bros.
2002: Courtesy Of The Red, White, And Blue The Angry American-Toby Keith-DreamWorks
1997: Carrying Your Love With Me-George Strait-MCA
1992: I Saw The Light-Wynonna Judd-MCA
5. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: Toby Keith landed his second biggest hit in 2005 called As Good As I Once Was. However, changes were on the horizon. The Keith song was tops twelve years ago this week.
In 2004, Keith released his first greatest hits album on DreamWorks Records called Greatest Hits, Vol. 2 (his first was released on Mercury Records in 1998). Two new songs became hits: Stays In Mexico (#3 in 2004) and Mockingbird (#27 in 2005). The latter was a duet with his daughter, Krystal Keith. The most famous version of the song belongs to Carly Simon and James Taylor in 1974 (#5 pop and #10 adult contemporary). The greatest hits album is certified triple platinum. After that, Keith went to work on his Honkytonk University album. Lead single, Honkytonk U was released in January, 2005 and peaked at #8. The next single, As Good As I Once Was was released May and topped the charts for six weeks in July and August. It became his second biggest hit after Beer For My Horses with Willie Nelson in 2003 (also #1 for six weeks). The third and final single, Big Blue Note was released in September. During its chart run, DreamWorks Records shut its Nashville division. That left Keith to promote the single on his label, Show Dog. By the time it peaked at #5, it was credited as a Show Dog single. It should be noted that Billboard named As Good As I Once Was its #2 single of the year behind Craig Morgan's That's What I Love About Sunday.
Since then, Keith has released the following albums and has scored major hits on his Show Dog label. They are:
1. White Trash With Money-2006
a. Get Drunk And Be Somebody-2006-#3
b. A Little Too Late-2006-#2
c. Crash Here Tonight-2006-#15
2. Big Dog Daddy-2007
a. High Maintenance Woman-2007-#3
b. Love Me If You Can-2007-#1
c. Get My Drink On-2008-#11
3. 35 Biggest Hits-2008
a. She's A Hottie-2008-#13
4. That Don't Make Me A Bad Guy-2008
a. She Never Cried In Front Of Me-2008-#1
b. God Love Her-2009-#1
c. Lost You Anyway-2009-#10
5. American Ride-2009
a. American Ride-2009-#1
b. Cryin' For Me Wayman's Song-2010-#6
c. Every Dog Has Its Day-2010-#15
Like Big Blue Note, while Every Dog Has Its Day was charting, Keith announced a joint partnership between his Show Dog label and Universal Music Group. The following albums and hits are:
1. Bullets In The Gun-2010
a. Trailerhood-2010-#19
b. Bullets In The Gun-2010-#12
c. Somewhere Else-2011-#12
2. Clancy's Tavern-2011
a. Made In America-2011-#1
b. Red Solo Cup-2012-#9
c. Beers Ago-2012-#6
3. Hope On The Rocks-2012
a. I Like Girls That Drink Beer-2012-#17
b. Hope On The Rocks-2013-#18
4. Drinks After Work-2013
a. Drinks After Work-2013-#17
5. 35 MPH Town-2015
No top 20s off this album.
It was just announced that Keith will release an album this year called The Bus Songs. A video of Wacky Tobaccy, his next single was released on You Tube. It features Wille Nelson (how appropriate). This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING JULY 23, 2005:
1. AS GOOD AS I ONCE WAS-TOBY KEITH-DREAMWORKS
2. Fast Cars And Freedom-Rascal Flatts-Lyric Street
3. Something More-Sugarland-Mercury
4. Mississippi Girl-Faith Hill-Warner Bros.
5. You'll Be There-George Strait-MCA
6. Making Memories Of Us-Keith Urban-Capitol
7. Keg In The Closet-Kenny Chesney-BNA
8. Play Something Country-Brooks & Dunn-Arista
9. Alcohol-Brad Paisley-Arista
10. If Something Should Happen-Darryl Worley-DreamWorks

[countrychartnut]

1. THEY WANT IT: Rascal Flatts land the fourteenth chart topping hit in their career this week with Yours If You Want It. It is the lead single to their current album, Back To Us. Since joining the Big Machine label in 2010, all of their studio albums have contained a #1 hit. They are:
1. Nothing Like This-Why Wait-2010
2. Changed-Banjo-2012
3. Rewind-I Like The Sound Of That-2016
4. Back To Us-Yours If You Want It-2017
2. HAYES IS FAST: Walker Hayes has the fastest climbing song of the week with You Broke Up With Me (#45 to #39).
3. YOUNG DEBUTS: Brett Young has the Hot Shot Debut of the week at #48 with Like I Loved You. This is the follow up to his first chart topper, In Case You Didn't Know.
4. STAPLETON'S HALOS: Chris Stapleton debuts his second From A Room: Volume 1 single, Broken Halos at #58. Lead single, Either Way debuted and peaked at #26.
5. BENTLEY SAID HELL: Dierks Bentley makes his debut on the chart this week with What The Hell Did I Say at #59. This is the fourth single to his current album, Black. The three singles before it are:
1. Somewhere On A Beach-2016-#1
2. Different For Girls-2016-#1
3. Black-2017-#2
6. RAY'S AT #60: Michael Ray starts at the bottom of the chart with Get To You. This is a lead single to an upcoming album. His self-titled debut album yielded three chart singles. They are:
1. Kiss You In The Morning-2015-#1
2. Real Men Love Jesus-2016-#17
3. Think A Little Less-2017-#2
7. A 40S LOOK: These were the chart topping songs during the last week of July during the 1940s:
1944: Is You Is Or Is You Ain't Ma' Baby-Louis Jordan-Decca
1945: Oklahoma Hills-Jack Guthrie-Capitol
1946: New Spanish Two Step-Bob Wills-Columbia
1947: Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! That Cigarette-Tex Williams-Capitol
1948: Bouquet Of Roses-Eddy Arnold-RCA
1949: I'm Throwing Rice At The Girl That I Love-Eddy Arnold-RCA
8. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: Blake Shelton celebrated the tenth anniversary of being a recording artist in 2011. The one thing missing from his resume was a chart topping album. That changed with his 2011 album, Red River Blue. That was our top seller six years ago this week.
Prior to Red River Blue, Shelton topped the singles chart eight times. They are:
1. Austin-2011-chart wise, his biggest hit
2. The Baby-2003
3. Some Beach-2004
4. Home-2008
5. She Wouldn't Be Gone-2009
6. Hillbilly Bone-with Trace Adkins-2010
7. All About Tonight-2010
8. Who Are You When I'm Not Looking-2011
While Who Are You When I'm Not Looking was on the charts, Shelton went to work on his Red River Blue album. Lead single, Honey Bee was released in April, 2011. It was his second single to namedrop his musical hero, Conway Twitty (the first being Hillbilly Bone). Honey Bee topped the charts for four weeks in June and July. Honey Bee became a crossover hit when it peaked at #13 on the pop chart. While Honey Bee was at #1, Warner Bros. released the Red River Blue album. It debuted at #1 on the country albums chart after 116,000 copies were sold during the first week. It was his first country chart topping album. For good measure, it also debuted at the top of the top 200 album chart as well. Second single, God Gave Me You was released in August. That was originally recorded by Dave Barnes who turned it into a #21 adult contemporary hit. In Shelton's hands, it topped the country chart for three weeks in October and November. It crossed over to #22 pop and gave him his first chart appearance at A.C. at #29. Third single, Drink On It was released in December. It topped the chart for two weeks in April and May, 2012. Drink On It peaked at #39 pop. A fourth single, Over was released in May. It topped the chart in August and September for two weeks while peaking at #43 pop. Red River Blue became the first Shelton album to contain a quartet of chart topping hits. It also became a first in another area: it was his first platinum album (now certified double platinum). The title track is a duet with his then-wife, Miranda Lambert.
During the Red River Blue era, Shelton won the 2011 and 2012 C.M.A. Male Vocalist of the Year Awards. He also won the 2012 C.M.A. Award for Entertainer of the Year. Since Red River Blue, Shelton has released three more studio album, all of them reaching the top of the country albums chart. Those albums and hits are:
1. Based On A True Story-2013-double platinum
a. Sure Be Cool If You Did-2013-#1
b. Boys 'Round Here-2013-#1
c. Mine Would Be You-2013-#1
d. Doin' What She Likes-2014-#1
e. My Eyes-2014-#1
2. Bringing Back The Sunshine-2014-platinum
a. Neon Light-2014-#1
b. Lonely Tonight-2015-#1
c. Sangria-2015-#1
d. Gonna-2015-#1
3. If I'm Honest-2016-gold
a. Came Here To Forget-2016-#1
b. She's Got A Way With Words-2016-#7-this song snaps Shelton's record breaking streak of chart topping hits at seventeen
c. A Guy With A Girl-2017-#1
d. Every Time I Hear That Song-2017-#1
There might be a fifth single from If I'm Honest or a lead single to an upcoming album. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING JULY 30, 2011:
1. RED RIVER BLUE-BLAKE SHELTON-WARNER BROS.
2. Neon-Chris Young-RCA
3. My Kinda Party-Jason Aldean-Broken Bow
4. Outlaws Like Me-Justin Moore-Valory
5. This Is Country Music-Brad Paisley-Arista
6. American Idol Season 13 Highlights: Scotty McCreery-Scotty McCreery-Mercury
7. You Get What You Give-Zac Brown Band-Atlantic
8. Speak Now-Taylor Swift-Big Machine
9. NOW That's What I Call Country Volume 4-Various Artists-Universal/EMI/Sony
10. The Band Perry-The Band Perry-Republic Nashville

[countrychartnut]

1. CURRINGTON MAKES #1: Billy Currington collects his eleventh #1 hit this week with Do I Make You Wanna. It is the fourth single from his current album, Summer Forever. The three singles preceding it are:
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
Summer Forever becomes the first Currington album to contain a trio of #1 hits.
2. TOP TWOS INTACT: Climbing three spots to #2 is The Fighter by Keith Urban and Carrie Underwood. It is the fifth single from Urban's current album, Ripcord and fifth top two hit from the set following:
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
Urban matches the quintet of top two hits from Ripcord like he did with the 2004 album, Be Here. Those hits were:
1. Days Go By-2004-#1
2. You're My Better Half-2005-#2
3. Making Memories Of Us-2005-#1
4. Better Life-2005-#1
5. Tonight I Wanna Cry-2006-#2
3. BACK TO BACK TOP 20S: Garth Brooks eases up one to #20 with the second Gunslinger single, Ask Me How I Know. It follows lead single, Baby, Let's Lay Down And Dance which peaked at #15 earlier this year. This is the first time Brooks has had consecutive top 20 hits since 2007-2008. His More Than A Memory made history by debuting at #1 in 2007. He followed that with Workin' For A Livin' with Huey Lewis which peaked at #19 in 2008.
4. NOT FORGETTING RHETT: Thomas Rhett has the Hot Shot Debut of the week with Unforgettable. It starts its chart life at #33. It is the second single to his upcoming Life Changes album. Lead single, Craving You just became his eighth chart topping hit.
5. STAPLETON'S FAST: Chris Stapleton has the fastest climbing song of the week with Broken Halos. It climbs an angelic seven spots to #51.
6. ON THE ROAD: Dan + Shay debut at #52 with Road Trippin'. It is their third Obsessed single following the #1s: From The Ground Up (2016) and How Not To (2017).
7. #1 HITS: These were the chart topping songs in 2012, 2007, 2002, 1997, and 1992:
2012: 5-1-5-0-Dierks Bentley-Capitol
2007: Never Wanted Nothing More-Kenny Chesney-BNA
2002: The Good Stuff-Kenny Chesney-BNA
1997: Carrying Your Love With Me-George Strait-MCA
1992: Boot Scootin' Boogie-Brooks & Dunn-Arista
8. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: Alabama released their first live album in 1988. It was our top seller 29 years ago this week.
The track listing for Alabama Live is as follows:
1. Can't Keep A Good Man Down
2. Tennessee River
3. Take Me Down
4. Love In The First Degree
5. Red River
6. Dixieland Delight
7. Lady Down On Love
8. If You're Gonna Play In Texas You Gotta Have A Fiddle In The Band
9. Fireworks
10. When We Make Love/There's No Way
11. Gonna Have A Party
12. Can't You See
13. My Home's In Alabama
The set features live versions of nine of their chart topping hits. It also features their first big hit, My Home's In Alabama (#17 in 1980). After that peaked, RCA signed Alabama to their roster. A live version of Can't You See is on the record. That was released by the Marshall Tucker Band in 1973 (rereleased in 1977 and peaked at #75 pop). Waylon Jennings released his version in 1976 and took it to #4 country and #97 pop. The Alabama Live album topped the chart for one week in August. It dethroned Reba McEntire's Reba album which ruled for eight weeks. Alabama would be replaced by Hank Williams, Jr.'s Wild Streak album for two weeks. It barely kept their streak of years of having a #1 album intact (1981-1988 to date). Alabama Live bridged the gap between their Just Us (1987) and Southern Star (1989) albums. Alabama Live is certified platinum.
Alabama would release two more live albums: Gonna Have A Party Live (1993) and Alabama & Friends: At The Ryman (2014). Alabama Live would be rereleased in 2002. They were inducted to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2005. Their last chart appearance was in 2011 when their duet with Brad Paisley, Old Alabama became their 33rd chart topping hit. Their last album was released in 2015 called Southern Drawl. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING AUGUST 6, 1988:
1. ALABAMA LIVE-ALABAMA-RCA
2. Reba-Reba McEntire-MCA
3. Wild Streak-Hank Williams, Jr.-Warner Bros.
4. Wild Eyed Dream-Ricky Van Shelton-Columbia
5. If You Ain't Lovin', You Ain't Livin'-George Strait-MCA
6. Always & Forever-Randy Travis-Warner Bros.
7. King's Record Shop-Rosanne Cash-Columbia
8. Chiseled In Stone-Vern Gosdin-Columbia
9. Don't Close Your Eyes-Keith Whitley-RCA
10. Shadowland-K.D. Lang-Sire

[countrychartnut]

1. CURRINGTON STILL #1: For the second week, Billy Currington has the top song in country with Do I Make You Wanna. It matches the two week stay of It Don't Hurt Like It Used to from 2016 from the Summer Forever album. If Currington can hold the top spot one more week, he will match the three weeks he was #1 in 2007 with Good Directions.
2. UNDERWOOD IN THE TOP TEN: The Fighter takes an eight point tumble to #10 this week. It is the duet between Keith Urban and Carrie Underwood. It is Urban's seventh #2 hit while becoming Underwood's ninth. She is now in the top ten of those artists with the most #2 hits. The top ten:
1. Eddy Arnold-12
2. Conway Twitty-12
3. Johnny Cash-11
4. Kenny Chesney-10
5. Ray Price-9
6. George Jones-9
7. Tanya Tucker-9
8. George Strait-9
9. Carrie Underwood-9
10. Bill Anderson-8
3. A TIE: We have a whopping seven songs taking five point jumps for fastest climbing songs of the week. They are:
1. Somebody Else Will-Justin Moore-#8 to #3
2. Small Town Boy-Dustin Lynch-#10 to #5
3. Like I Loved You-Brett Young-#46 to #41
4. Five More Minutes-Scotty McCreery-#48 to #43
5. They Can't See-Michael Tyler-#53 to #48
6. What The Hell Did I Say-Dierks Bentley-#54 to #49
7. Sunday Morning-Parmalee-#55 to #50
4. TURNER DEBUTS: Josh Turner has the Hot Shot Debut of the week with All About You at #56. This is the third single off his current album, Deep South. Lead single, Lay Low peaked at #25 in 2015 while Hometown Girl hit #2 earlier this year.
5. A SMOOTH DEBUT: Florida Georgia Line enter the chart at #59 with Smooth. It is the fourth single off their current album, Dig Your Roots. It follows the #1s: H.O.L.Y. (2016), May We All with Tim McGraw (2016), and God, Your Mama, And Me with the Backstreet Boys (2017).
6. A WEEK LATE: Because Billboard delayed their albums charts, I was unable to tell you that Sara Evans' current album, Words debuted at #4 on the country albums chart with 9000 sold. It is her first album on her Born To Fly label. She was with RCA Records for nearly two decades. Her last studio album for them, Slow Me Down debuted and peaked at #2 in 2014.
7. ON TIME: Joe Nichols debuts on the country albums chart this week at #15 with Never Gets Old. 5000 copies were sold last week. This is his second album for Red Bow Records following 2013's Crickets (#3).
8. #1 CDS: These were the top selling CDs in 2012, 2007, 2002, 1997, and 1992:
2012: Uncaged-Zac Brown Band-Atlantic
2007: Taylor Swift-Taylor Swift-Big Machine
2002: Unleashed-Toby Keith-DreamWorks
1997: Everywhere-Tim McGraw-Curb
1992: Some Gave All-Billy Ray Cyrus-Mercury
9. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: Eddie Rabbitt's crossover era started in 1978 and ended in 1983. One of his first hits during this time was Suspicions, our top song 38 years ago this week.
Rabbitt signed to the new Elektra label in 1973. Before he had success as an artist, he had success as a songwriter. Elvis Presley recorded the Rabbitt tune, Kentucky Rain in 1970. That became a #31 country, #16 pop, and #3 adult contemporary hit. Then, Ronnie Milsap recorded Pure Love, another Rabbitt composition in 1974. That became Milsap's first #1 country hit in June, 1974. Getting back to Rabbitt, he recorded his self-titled debut album while Pure Love was on the charts. He issued his debut single, You Get To Me in October. It made a brief appearance in the top 40 section of the chart at #34. 1975 started with the #12 peaking Forgive And Forget. The debut era wrapped up with I Should Have Married You, which hit #11. Rabbitt's version of Pure Love appears on the album. Rabbitt's career would accelerate with the 1976 album, Rocky Mountain Music. Lead single, Drinkin' My Baby Off My Mind was released in February and became the first of seventeen #1 hits for Rabbitt in April. The title track was the next single and that was backed up with the b-side, Do You Right Tonight. That was released in June and proceeded to a #5 peak in country. It also gave him debuts on the pop (#76) and A.C. (#48) charts. The era wrapped up with the #3 peaking Two Dollars In The Jukebox in early 1977.
The album, Rabbitt was released in 1977. Two singles became hits that year: I Can't Help Myself (#2) and We Can't Go On Living Like This (#6). Variations was released in 1978. Lead single, Hearts On Fire became Rabbitt's second #2 hit. While Hearts On Fire was on the charts, he won the A.C.M. Award for Top New Male Vocalist. He got back to back chart toppers with You Don't Love Me Anymore (also #53 pop and #18 A.C. which started his crossover era) and I Just Want To Love You (also #47 A.C.). Rabbitt contributed a song for the Clint Eastwood movie, Every Which Way But Loose. Rabbitt sang the title track which was released in December, 1978. It made history when it debuted at #18, the highest start for a single to date. It topped the country chart for three weeks, becoming Rabbitt's biggest country hit. It also crossed over to pop (#30) and A.C. (#26) charts. It certainly helped the movie become a major box office success.
Rabbitt's first greatest hits album, The Best Of Eddie Rabbitt was released in 1979. Then his final album of the 1970s was released and that was Loveline. Lead single, Suspicions was released in May, 1979. It became Rabbitt's fifth #1 country hit in August while becoming his first major pop hit (#13) and his first top ten at A.C. (#9). Second single, Pour Me Another Tequila was released in October. That peaked at #5 country in early 1980. Third and final single, Gone Too Far was released in February and that became a country chart topper in May while crossing over to pop (#82) and A.C. (#35). Suspicions would be repeated on the 1983 album, Greatest Hits, Vol. 2.
Rabbitt would continue to chart until 1991 when Hang Up The Phone peaked at #50. He was diagnosed with lung cancer in 1997. He lived just another year after that. He died in May, 1998 at the age of 56. Suspicions was remade by Tim McGraw for his Let It Go album of 2007. Pulled as the fourth single off the album, it peaked at #12 country and #87 pop in early 2008. Suspicions, of course appears on Rabbitt's last album called Number One Hits from 2009. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING AUGUST 11, 1979:
1. SUSPICIONS-EDDIE RABBITT-ELEKTRA
2. Coca Cola Cowboy-Mel Tillis-MCA
3. The Devil Went Down To Georgia-Charlie Daniels Band-Epic
4. Family Tradition-Hank Williams, Jr.-Elektra
5. You're The Only One-Dolly Parton-RCA
6. Pick The Wildwood Flower-Gene Watson-Capitol
7. No One Else In The World-Tammy Wynette-Epic
8. Stay With Me-Dave & Sugar-RCA
9. Barstool Mountain-Moe Bandy-Columbia
10. Heartbreak Hotel-Willie Nelson and Leon Russell-Columbia

[ozbest1]

Catching up on your recent posts. As usual, so much detailed info on artists that I so admired and who no longer chart. I esp. enjoyed your coverage of Eddie Rabbitt. He was very talented, both as a songwriter and as a singer. He left us all too soon, which was a loss for country music.

[countrychartnut]

1. WANNA EQUALS DIRECTIONS: Billy Currington tops the chart for a third week with Do I Make You Wanna. It matches his longest reign with Good Directions from 2007. If Currington tops the chart for a fourth week, Do I Make You Wanna will be his biggest hit.
2. MCCREERY'S BACK: Scotty McCreery takes a three point move to #40 with Five More Minutes. Out of seven singles released, this is his sixth top 40 hit and first since 2014's Feelin' It (#10). His top 40s are:
1. I Love You This Big-2011-#15
2. The Trouble With Girls-2012-#17
3. Water Tower Town-2012-#38
4. See You Tonight-2014-#8
5. Feelin' It-2014-#10
6. Five More Minutes-2017-#40 so far
3. SMOOTH IS FAST: Florida Georgia Line have the fastest climbing song of the week with Smooth. It vaults seventeen spaces to #42.
4. FARR DEBUTS: Tyler Farr has the Hot Shot Debut of the week with I Should Go To Church Sometime at #58. This is the second single to an upcoming album. Lead single, Our Town peaked at #53.
5. A SWAYING DEBUT: Danielle Bradbery makes her third chart appearance this week with Sway at #59. This is from her upcoming I Don't Believe We've Met album. She is the winner of The Voice from 2013. Her other chart singles are:
1. The Heart Of Dixie-2014-#12
2. Young In America-2014-#49
6. A #1 FOLLOW UP: Darius Rucker starts at #60 with For The First Time. This is the follow up to his #1 hit this year called If I Told You. Both singles are from his upcoming album, When Was The Last Time.
7. ELDREDGE IS #1: Brett Eldredge debuts at #1 on the country albums chart with a self-titled album. 36,000 copies were sold last week. This is his third consecutive top two album following:
1. Bring You Back-2013-#2
2. Illinois-2015-#1
3. Brett Eldredge-2017-#1
8. CAMPBELL'S BACK: We lost Glen Campbell last week. Two of his albums re-enter the chart and they are 20 Greatest Hits at #4 and Adios at #20.
9. #1 HITS: These were the chart topping songs in 2012, 2007, 2002, 1997, and 1992:
2012: Come Over-Kenny Chesney-Columbia
2007: Never Wanted Nothing More-Kenny Chesney-BNA
2002: The Good Stuff-Kenny Chesney-BNA
1997: Come Cryin' To Me-Lonestar-BNA
1992: Boot Scootin' Boogie-Brooks & Dunn-Arista
10. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: Carrie Underwood is the first female artist to debut a single in the top twenty. She did so ten years ago this week when So Small debuted at #20.
Underwood shot to stardom in 2005 when she won American Idol in its fourth season. Right after that win, she signed to Arista Records. She went to work on her debut album, Some Hearts. Arista decided to put out a promo single called Inside Your Heaven. That single debuted at the top of the pop chart, making Underwood the first country artist to take a debut single and have it start its chart life at #1. It should be noted that the runner-up, Bo Bice released his version of the song and it debuted at #2 on the pop chart. Underwood managed a peak of #52 on the country chart and peaked at #12 on the adult contemporary chart with Inside Your Heaven. Some Hearts was released in November and after 315,000 copies were sold in the first week, it debuted at #1 country and #2 on the top 200 chart. Underwood went after the country format with a vengeance. Jesus, Take The Wheel was released in October. It topped the country chart for six weeks between January and February, 2006. That became her biggest hit at country. It also became her second crossover hit by peaking at #20 pop and #23 A.C.. Her second country single, Don't Forget To Remember Me was next (during this time, Arista sent the title track to A.C. where it peaked at #12). That was released in March. It peaked at #2 in August and could not clear Brad Paisley's The World from the top. It also peaked at #49 on the pop chart. Next came Underwood's signature song and that is Before He Cheats. That lingered in the lower region of the country chart before being released in August. That topped the chart for five weeks in November and December, becoming her second biggest country hit. It crossed over to #8 pop and #6 A.C.. While Before He Cheats was on the chart, Underwood won the Horizon and Female Vocalist of the Year Awards at the C.M.A.s. She entered 2007 by releasing Wasted in January. That became her third #1 country hit in April and May for three weeks. Wasted would peak at #37 pop. She won the Grammy Award for Best New Artist during this time. She also won two A.C.M. Awards for Top New Female Vocalist and Single of the Year for Jesus, Take The Wheel.
With Some Hearts being such an across the board success, much was riding on her second album, Carnival Ride. So Small, the lead single was released in August. That debuted at #20 and that made Underwood the first female artist to start that high on the chart. Her high debut certainly made news, but it did not last long. Kenny Chesney debuted his second Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates single, Don't Blink in September. That started at #16. A week later, Garth Brooks blew everyone out of the water when he debuted at the top with More Than A Memory. Underwood's single would spend three weeks at the top of the country chart in November and December. Carnival Ride would be Underwood's first #1 country and top 200 album when 527,000 copies were sold during the first week. Underwood would repeat as C.M.A. Female Vocalist of the Year while picking up Single of the Year for Before He Cheats. All-American Girl was released in December and it spent two weeks at the top of the country chart in March, 2008. Underwood would win a trio of A.C.M. Awards: Female Vocalist of the Year, Album of the Year for Some Hearts, and Video of the Year for Before He Cheats. Last Name, the third single was rush released in April and that became her sixth #1 country hit in June for one week. Just A Dream, the fourth single was released in July and would claim a spot at #1 for two weeks in November. Underwood would win her third Female Vocalist of the Year at the C.M.A.s. When Just A Dream hit #1, Underwood became the third female artist to have a quartet of #1s from an album following Rosanne Cash (King's Record Shop) and Shania Twain (The Woman In Me). Could Underwood go five for five? Fifth single, I Told You So was a remake of the Randy Travis hit of 1988 when Underwood was five years old! Released in January 2009, it was originally an Underwood solo single. During its chart run, Underwood and Travis performed the song on American Idol. After that, Arista rereleased it as a duet. It spent two weeks at #2 behind Jason Aldean's She's Country and It Happens by Sugarland. During this time, Underwood won two awards from the A.C.M. and that is Female Vocalist and the big one, Entertainer of the Year. Underwood and Travis would win a Grammy Award for Best Country Collaboration With Vocals in 2010.
Underwood's mark of starting a single in the top twenty stood until September, 2012. That is when Taylor Swift entered the chart at #13 with We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together. It ended up peaking there. Underwood has continued to be a hit making machine to this day. Her current album is called Storyteller from 2015. Four singles were pulled from the album. They are:
1. Smoke Break-2015-#2
2. Heartbeat-2016-#1
3. Church Bells-2016-#1
4. Dirty Laundry-2017-#2
Right after Dirty Laundry peaked, Keith Urban released his fifth Ripcord single, The Fighter which is a duet with Underwood. That peaked at #2. Right after The Fighter was released and after twelve years at Arista, Underwood signed to the Capitol label. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TWENTY FOR WEEK ENDING AUGUST 18, 2007:
1. Never Wanted Nothing More-Kenny Chesney-BNA
2. Teardrops On My Guitar-Taylor Swift-Big Machine
3. These Are My People-Rodney Atkins-Curb
4. I Told You So-Keith Urban-Capitol
5. Because Of You-Reba McEntire and Kelly Clarkson-MCA
6. A Different World-Bucky Covington-Lyric Street
7. Lost In This Moment-Big & Rich-Warner Bros.
8. I Need You-Tim McGraw and Faith Hill-Curb
9. Take Me There-Rascal Flatts-Lyric Street
10. Proud Of The House We Built-Brooks & Dunn-Arista
11. Tough-Craig Morgan-Broken Bow
12. Everyday America-Sugarland-Mercury
13. Love Me If You Can-Toby Keith-Show Dog
14. I Wonder-Kellie Pickler-BNA
15. If You're Reading This-Tim McGraw-Curb
16. Online-Brad Paisley-Arista
17. All My Friends Say-Luke Bryan-Capitol
18. Free And Easy Down The Road I Go-Dierks Bentley-Capitol
19. How I Feel-Martina McBride-RCA
20. SO SMALL-CARRIE UNDERWOOD-ARISTA

[countrychartnut]

1. MOORE WILL: Justin Moore collects his sixth #1 hit this week with Somebody Else Will. This is the second single and second chart topper off his current album, Kinda Don't Care. You Look Like I Need A Drink topped the chart last year.
2. SMOOTH DOES IT AGAIN: For the second week, Smooth by Florida Georgia Line is the fastest climbing song of the week (#42 to #33).
3. ROOTS DEBUTS: The Zac Brown Band have the Hot Shot Debut of the week with Roots at #53. This is the second Welcome Home single following My Old Man that peaked at #14 this year.
4. L.B.T. LOVES YOU: Little Big Town debut at #58 with the third single to their current album, The Breaker. It is When Someone Stops Loving You. It follows (both 2017): Better Man (#1) and Happy People (#46).
5. ELL'S PROJECT DEBUTS: Lindsay Ell makes her debut on the country albums chart with The Project at #4. 10,000 copies have been sold. Out of three albums released, this is the first one to chart.
6. #1 CDS: These were the top selling CDs in 2012, 2007, 2002, 1997, and 1992:
2012: Declaration Of Independence-Colt Ford-Average Joe's
2007: Taylor Swift-Taylor Swift-Big Machine
2002: Unleashed-Toby Keith-DreamWorks
1997: Everywhere-Tim McGraw-Curb
1992: Some Gave All-Billy Ray Cyrus-Mercury
7. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: Crystal Gayle had a crossover era in her career (1977-1984). When she entered that era, she escaped the shadow of her big sister, Loretta Lynn. It started with Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue and continued a year later with Talking In Your Sleep.
Gayle's first top 40 hit, I've Cried The Blues Right Out Of My Eyes was released on Decca Records, also home to Lynn. As a matter of fact, Lynn even wrote the song. That peaked at #23 in 1970. It was rereleased in 1978 and it went back into the top 40 at #40. In 1974, Gayle would sign to the United Artists label. They decided to release a single only in Restless. That became her second top 40 hit in 1974 when it peaked at #39. They finally got around to releasing an album, a self-titled one in 1975. That's when the Gayle hit making machine began. Lead single, Wrong Road Again was released in October, 1974. It peaked at #6 during the early part of 1975. That became the first of 34 top tens for Gayle. She got two more top 40s from the album: Beyond You (#27) and This Is My Year For Mexico (#21-both in 1975). 1976 saw her career kicked up a notch. The Somebody Loves You album of 1975 was kicked off with the title track. That was released in November, 1975 and became her second top ten in early 1976 when it peaked at #8. I'll Get Over You was the second and final single. Released in March, it became the first of eighteen chart toppers for her in June. It also gave her debuts on the pop (#71) and adult contemporary charts (#40).
The Crystal album was released in 1976. It was led by One More Time Karneval. She faltered a bit with that when it peaked at #31. You Never Miss A Real Good Thing Till He Says Goodbye was released in October. That topped the chart in January, 1977. I'll Do It All Over Again was released in March and got all the way to #2 for two weeks in May and could not knock Waylon Jennings' biggest hit, Luckenbach, Texas Back To The Basics Of Love out of the top spot. Her next album, We Must Believe In Magic was released in 1977. Its lone single, Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue was released in June. It became Gayle's third #1 country hit for four weeks in August and September while becoming her biggest country hit. It also became her first big crossover hit at pop (#2) and A.C. (#4). Shortly after that peaked, Gayle won the C.M.A. Female Vocalist of the Year Award. It should be noted that Gayle received a platinum award from the RIAA for We Must Believe In Magic-a first for a female country artist. Then something strange happened, United Artists released a fourth Crystal single, Ready For The Times To Get Better. That was released in January, 1978 and climbed to the top of the country chart in March. It became a crossover hit when it peaked at #52 pop and #3 A.C.. While that was charting, Gayle won a Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance for Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue. The When I Dream album was released in 1978. Talking In Your Sleep, the lead single was released in June and topped the country chart for two weeks in August. It peaked at #18 pop and #3 A.C.. Why Have You Left The One You Left Me For was released in October, right when she repeated as Female Vocalist of the Year from the C.M.A.s. It became her sixth #1 for two weeks in January, 1979. That became her final chart topper at United Artists. It also peaked at #22 A.C.. The title track was the third and final release from the album. It peaked at #3 country, #84 pop, and #20 A.C.. While that was charting, Gayle signed to her third label, Columbia Records.
Gayle would continue to chart until 1990 when Never Ending Song Of Love peaked at #72. She is set to release an album called Am I That Easy To Forget. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING AUGUST 27, 1977:
1. DON'T IT MAKE MY BROWN EYES BLUE-CRYSTAL GAYLE-UNITED ARTISTS
2. Ramblin' Fever/When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold Again-Merle Haggard-MCA
3. Way Down/Pledging My Love-Elvis Presley-RCA
4. Rolling With The Flow-Charlie Rich-Epic
5. Sunflower-Glen Campbell-Capitol
6. I've Already Loved You In My Mind-Conway Twitty-MCA
7. Till The End-Vern Gosdin-Elektra
8. A Song In The Night-Johnny Duncan-Columbia
9. Southern California-George Jones and Tammy Wynette-Epic
10. That's The Way Love Should Be-Dave & Sugar-RCA

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING AUGUST 26, 1978:
1. TALKING IN YOUR SLEEP-CRYSTAL GAYLE-UNITED ARTISTS
2. We Belong Together-Susie Allanson-Warner Bros.
3. When I Stop Leaving I'll Be Gone-Charley Pride-RCA
4. Rake And Ramblin' Man-Don Williams-ABC
5. Rose Colored Glasses-John Conlee-ABC
6. Blue Skies-Willie Nelson-Columbia
7. Boogie Grass Band-Conway Twitty-MCA
8. Love Me With All Your Heart-Johnny Rodriguez-Mercury
9. I've Always Been Crazy-Waylon Jennings-RCA
10. Beautiful Woman-Charlie Rich-Epic

[countrychartnut]

1. NO SUCH #1: Old Dominion collect their third #1 this week with No Such Thing As A Broken Heart. It is the lead single to their current album, Happy Endings.
2. HIS FIRST: Kane Brown takes a four point jump to #10 with What Ifs. This becomes his first top ten out of three chart appearances. Used To Love You Sober hit #35 in 2016 while Thunder In The Rain peaked at #43 in the same year. What Ifs features Lauren Alaina and it is the third single off his self-titled album.
3. BRYAN LIGHTS IT UP: Luke Bryan blasts his way onto the chart at #20 with Light It Up. It is the Hot Shot Debut of the week and lead single to his upcoming album. His last, Kill The Lights yielded a sextet of chart topping singles. 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' Every Day-2016
5. Move-2016
6. Fast-2017
4. DAWSON'S FAST: Devin Dawson has the fastest climbing song of the week with All On Me. It takes an eight point jump to #33.
5. ELDREDGE DEBUTS: Brett Eldredge debuts at #56 with The Long Way. This is the second single to his current self-titled album. He faltered a bit with the lead single, the #21 peaking Somethin' I'm Good At.
6. A 00S LOOK: These were the chart topping hits during the last week of August during the 2000s:
2000: What About Now-Lonestar-BNA
2001: Austin-Blake Shelton-Warner Bros.
2002: The Good Stuff-Kenny Chesney-BNA
2003: It's Five O'clock Somewhere-Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett-Arista
2004: Live Like You Were Dying-Tim McGraw-Curb
2005: Mississippi Girl-Faith Hill-Warner Bros.
2006: If You're Going Through Hell Before The Devil Even Knows-Rodney Atkins-Curb
2007: Never Wanted Nothing More-Kenny Chesney-BNA
2008: Should've Said No-Taylor Swift-Big Machine
2009: You Belong With Me-Taylor Swift-Big Machine
7. MILESTONE TOP TEH CHART: Marty Robbins had a crossover era in his career (1956-1963). It was coming to a near end 55 years ago this week when Devil Woman was our #1 country song.
His big crossover hits were:
1. Singing The Blues-1956-#1 country, #17 pop-a competing version by Guy Mitchell topped the pop chart-this was Robbins' biggest country hit
2. A White Sport Coat And A Pink Carnation-1957-#1 country, #2 pop
3. The Story Of My Life-1958-#1 country, #15 pop
4. El Paso-1959-#1 country, #1 pop-his biggest pop hit
5. Don't Worry-1961-#1 country, #3 pop
6. Devil Woman-1962-#1 country, #16 pop
7. Ruby Ann-1963-#1 country, #18 pop
Devil Woman was the title track an only single released from the album. It was released in June, 1962. It topped the country chart for eight weeks in August, September, and October. It crossed over and peaked at #16 pop. It succeeded another crossover hit at #1 country: Wolverton Mountain by Claude King (#1 country, #6 pop, and #3 adult contemporary). Robbins would have one more big crossover hit in him and that was Ruby Ann, a promo single. That peaked at #1 country for one week, #18 pop, and gave Robbins his ONLY A.C. appearance at #4 in early 1963. That doesn't mean he made his last appearance on the pop chart. He made four more visits with these country hits:
1. Cigarettes And Coffee Blues-1963-#14 country, #93 pop
2. Begging To You-1964-#1 country, #74 pop
3. I Walk Alone-1968-#1 country, #65 pop
4. My Woman, My Woman, My Wife-1970-#1 country, #42 pop
Robbins would be the first recipient of the Artist of the Decade by the A.C.M. for the 1960s. He would win a Grammy Award for My Woman, My Woman, My Wife for Best Country Song in 1971. He entered the 1980s by scoring just two top ten hits. The first was Some Memories Just Won't Die. That hit #10 during the summer of 1982. Robbins would be inducted to the Country Music Hall of Fame in October. On December first, he suffered a heart attack and died a week later. He contributed the title track to the Clint Eastwood movie called Honkytonk Man. It hit #10 in early 1983. He charted three more times after that, the last being What If I Said I Love You (#57 in 1983). His last CD was released in 2005 called The Essential Marty Robbins. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 1, 1962:
1. DEVIL WOMAN-MARTY ROBBINS-COLUMBIA
2. Wolverton Mountain-Claude King-Columbia
3. Call Me Mr. In-Between-Burl Ives-Decca
4. A Little Heartache-Eddy Arnold-RCA
5. Mama Sang A Song-Bill Anderson-Decca
6. Success-Loretta Lynn-Decca
7. The Comeback-Faron Young-Capitol
8. Adios Amigo-Jim Reeves-RCA
9. Everybody But Me-Ernest Ashworth-Hickory
10. She Thinks I Still Care-George Jones-United Artists

P.S.: Happy Labor Day!

[countrychartnut]

1. LYNCH'S #1 BOY: Dustin Lynch collects his fifth #1 this week with Small Town Boy. It is the second single and second chart topper from his upcoming album, Current Mood. Seein' Red topped the chart earlier this year. Furthermore, Lynch becomes the 129th artist to have at least five #1 hits. They are:
1. Where It's At Yep, Yep-2014
2. Hell Of A Night-2015
3. Mind Reader-2016
4. Seein' Red-2017
5. Small Town Boy-2017
2. MOORE'S BACK: Kip Moore climbs two spots to #9 with More Girls Like You. It becomes his fourth top ten hit. He hasn't seen this section of the chart since Hey Pretty Girl peaked at #2 in 2013. His other singles between Girl and Girls are:
1. Young Love-2014-#22
2. Dirt Road-2014-#44
3. I'm To Blame-2015-#20
4. Running For You-2016-#13
3. ELDREDGE IS FAST: Brett Eldredge scores the fastest climbing song of the week with The Long Way. It zips up twelve to #44.
4. SCOTT IS HOOKED: Scoring the Hot Shot Debut of the week is Dylan Scott with Hooked at #54. It is the follow up to his first #1, My Girl.
5. FLATTS ARE BACK: Rascal Flatts make their debut at #56 with Back To Us, the title track to their current album. Lead single, Yours If You Want It became their fourteenth #1 hit.
6. RICE'S TRUTH: Making his debut at #57 is Chase Rice with Three Chords & The Truth. It is the lead single to his upcoming Lambs & Lions album.
7. BRYANT KNOWS: Chase Bryant makes his debut at #59 with Hell If I Know. It is the second single to an upcoming album. Lead single, Room To Breathe peaked at #43 in 2016.
8. DOWNTOWN SWINDELL: Cole Swindell starts at the bottom of the chart (#60) with Stay Downtown. It is the fourth single to his current album, You Should Be Here. It is the follow up to his #2 duet with Dierks Bentley, Flatliner.
9. A HAPPY DEBUT: Old Dominion debut at #1 on the country albums chart with their second album, Happy Endings. 31,000 copies were sold last week. Their debut album, Meat And Candy peaked at #3 in 2015.
10. A 00S LOOK, PART II: These were the top selling CDs during the first week of September during the 2000s:
2000: Coyote Ugly-Soundtrack-Curb
2001: O Brother, Where Art Thou-Soundtrack-Lost Highway
2002: Unleashed-Toby Keith-DreamWorks
2003: Greatest Hits Volume II And Some Other Stuff-Alan Jackson-Arista
2004: Horse Of A Different Color-Big & Rich-Warner Bros.
2005: Time Well Wasted-Brad Paisley-Arista
2006: Dangerous Man-Trace Adkins-Capitol
2007: Taylor Swift-Taylor Swift-Big Machine
2008: Love On The Inside-Sugarland-Mercury
2009: Keep On Loving You-Reba McEntire-Valory
11. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: The Forester Sisters released a greatest hits album in 1989. A new song from the set, Don't You was our #9 song 28 years ago this week.
The track listing for Greatest Hits is as follows:
1. That's What You Do When You're In Love-1985-#10
2. I Fell In Love Again Last Night-1985-#1
3. You Again-1987-#1
4. Letter Home-1988-#9
5. Leave It Alone-1990-#7
6. Too Much Is Not Enough-with the Bellamy Brothers-1986-#1
7. Just In Case-1986-#1
8. Don't You-1989-#9
9. Lonely Alone-1986-#2
10. Sincerely-1989-#8
The two new songs on the album became hits. Don't You was released in June, 1989 and peaked at #9 in September. The other new song, Leave It Alone was released in November and peaked at #7 in March, 1990. Their next album was released in 1990 called Come Hold Me. Lead single, Drive South was their second duet with the Bellamy Brothers. That was released in April and peaked at #63. That broke a string of fourteen consecutive top tens for the Foresters. Drive South would be remade by Suzy Bogguss in 1992 and it became her biggest hit in early 1993 when it peaked at #2. That was on the heels of her winning the 1992 C.M.A. Horizon Award. Another #63 peaking single from Come Hold Me was realized with Nothing's Gonna Bother Me Tonight. A third single, Old Enough To Know did not chart.
A comeback was in order for the Forester Sisters. That came from their 1991 album, Talkin' 'Bout Men. Men, the lead single (not to be confused with the 1980 hit by Charly McClain) was released in January, 1991 and peaked at #8 in March. That became their fifteenth and final top ten hit and fifteenth and final top 40 hit. Their chart fortunes did not improve after that. Second single, Too Much Fun peaked at #62. Two more singles were released but did not chart: That Makes One Of Us (1991) and Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled (1992). I Got A Date was released in 1992. Lead single, What'll You Do About Me peaked at #74. It was the second time it charted as Steve Earle took his version to #76 in 1984. It would chart a third time when Doug Supernaw took his version to #16 in 1995. Other versions have been recorded by McGuffey Lane, John Schneider, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, and Randy Travis (my favorite version). The Foresters would chart just one more time in 1992 with the #58 peaking title track. Their last CD was released in 2012 called Essentials. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 9, 1989:
1. I Wonder Do You Think Of Me-Keith Whitley-RCA
2. Nothing I Can Do About It Now-Willie Nelson-Columbia
3. Above And Beyond-Rodney Crowell-Columbia
4. Let Me Tell You About Love-the Judds-RCA
5. Give Me His Last Chance-Lionel Cartwright-MCA
6. Honky Tonk Heart-Highway 101-Warner Bros.
7. I Got Dreams-Steve Wariner-MCA
8. Killin' Time-Clint Black-RCA
9. DON'T YOU-THE FORESTER SISTERS-WARNER BROS.
10. I Wish I Had A Heart Of Stone-Baillie and the Boys-RCA

[countrychartnut]

1. #1 SMALL TOWN: Dustin Lynch tops the chart for a second week with Small Town Boy. This matches the two week stay he had at the top of the chart with his first #1, Where It's At Yep, Yep from 2014. If Small Town Boy manages a third week at #1, it will be his biggest hit.
2. HER FIRST: Carly Pearce collects her first top ten with Every Little Thing. It climbs three to #9.
3. HIS SECOND: Climbing five to #10 is Luke Combs with When It Rains It Pours. This is his second top ten following the #1 success of Hurricane.
4. SHELTON'S DOGS: The Hot Shot Debut of the week belongs to Blake Shelton with I'll Name The Dogs at #23. This is the lead single to an upcoming album. His last, If I'm Honest managed a quartet of top ten hits:
1. Came Here To Forget-2016-#1
2. She's Got A Way With Words-2016-#7
3. A Guy With A Girl-2017-#1
4. Every Time I Hear That Song-2017-#1
5. A TRIPLE TIGERS ARTIST: This is the first week Scotty McCreery's Five More Minutes is being credited under the Triple Tigers banner. It stays at #38 for the week.
6. STAY FAST: Cole Swindell has the fastest climbing song of the week as Stay Downtown moves uptown sixteen spaces to #44.
7. CURRINGTON IS UP: Debuting at #59 is Billy Currington with Wake Me Up. This is the first time he has released a fifth single from an album. The album's name is Summer Forever and the four singles before Wake Me Up are:
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
4. Do I Make You Wanna-2017-#1
8. NICHOLS NEVER GETS OLD: At #60 for the week is Joe Nichols' Never Gets Old. This is the title track to his current album.
9. R.I.P., WILLIAMS AND GENTRY: We lost two good ones last week with Country Music Hall of Famer Don Williams and one-half of Montgomery Gentry, Troy Gentry. May you both rest in peace. Thank you both for the music and memories.
10. #1 HITS: These were the chart topping songs in 2012, 2007, 2002, 1997, and 1992:
2012: Pontoon-Little Big Town-Capitol
2007: More Than A Memory-Garth Brooks-Pearl/Big Machine
2002: Unbroken-Tim McGraw-Curb
1997: She's Got It All-Kenny Chesney-BNA
1992: I Still Believe In You-Vince Gill-MCA
11. MILESTONE TOP TWENTY CHART: Despite the fact that Keith Whitley passed away in 1989, that did not stop RCA Records from releasing a greatest hits album in 1990. A new song from the set, a duet with his wife Lorrie Morgan, 'Til A Tear Becomes A Rose peaked at #13 twenty-seven years ago this week.
The track listing for Greatest Hits is as follows:
1. Don't Close Your Eyes-1988-#1
2. I'm No Stranger To The Rain-1989-#1-chart wise, his biggest hit
3. Miami, My Amy-1986-#14
4. When You Say Nothing At All-1988-#1
5. It Ain't Nothin'-1990-#1
6. I'm Over You-1990-#3
7. I Wonder Do You Think Of Me-1989-#1
8. Ten Feet Away-1986-#9
9. Talk To Me Texas
10. 'Til A Tear Becomes A Rose-with Lorrie Morgan-1990-#13
11. Tell Lorrie I Love Her
'Til A Tear Becomes A Rose was released in July, 1990 and peaked at #13 in September. This was Whitley's fourth posthumous single. This was a transitional single for Morgan as her career was launched with her debut RCA album, Leave The Light On. She was set to release her second RCA album, Something In Red. The C.M.A. awarded 'Til A Tear Becomes A Rose the Vocal Event of the Year in 1990. The greatest hits album is certified platinum. After 'Til A Tear Becomes A Rose, Whitley would chart three more times. They are:
1. Brotherly Love-with Earl Thomas Conley-1991-#2
2. Somebody's Doin' Me Right-1992-#15
3. Wherever You Are Tonight-1995-#75
While Wherever You Are Tonight was charting, Morgan released her Greatest Hits album. That is where 'Til A Tear Becomes A Rose makes its debut on one of her albums. This was a year before Morgan married another country singer, Jon Randall. They enjoyed a major hit in 1996 called By My Side (#18). This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TWENTY FOR WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 15, 1990:
1. Jukebox In My Mind-Alabama-RCA
2. I Meant Every Word He Said-Ricky Van Shelton-Columbia
3. Friends In Low Places-Garth Brooks-Capitol
4. Wanted-Alan Jackson-Arista
5. Nothing's News-Clint Black-RCA
6. Holdin' A Good Hand-Lee Greenwood-Capitol
7. I Fell In Love-Carlene Carter-Reprise
8. Next To You, Next To Me-Shenandoah-Columbia
9. Fourteen Minutes Old-Doug Stone-Epic
10. I Could Be Persuaded-Bellamy Brothers-MCA
11. Don't Go Out-Tanya Tucker and T. Graham Brown-Capitol
12. Drinking Champagne-George Strait-MCA
13. 'TIL A TEAR BECOMES A ROSE-KEITH WHITLEY AND LORRIE MORGAN-RCA
14. When I Call Your Name-Vince Gill-MCA
15. Born To Be Blue-the Judds-RCA
16. The Battle Hymn Of Love-Kathy Mattea and Tim O'Brien-Mercury
17. Precious Thing-Steve Wariner-MCA
18. You Lie-Reba McEntire-MCA
19. Too Cold At Home-Mark Chesnutt-MCA
20. I'm Gonna Be Somebody-Travis Tritt-Warner Bros.

[countrychartnut]

1. LYNCH'S TRIFECTA: Dustin Lynch manages a third week at #1 with Small Town Boy. It is his longest reign and now, his biggest hit.
2. CHESNEY'S 38TH: Kenny Chesney eases up one to #2 with All The Pretty Girls. This is his 38th top two hit (27 #1s and 11 #2s).
3. MINUTES ARE FAST: Scotty McCreery has the fastest climbing song of the week with Five More Minutes. It climbs four to #34.
4. RHETT TIMES THREE: Thomas Rhett's current single, Unforgettable enters the top ten at #9. However, he has the Hot Shot Debut of the week with Drink A Little Beer at #53. That features vocal support from his father, Rhett Akins. Akins has three major hits under his belt. They are:
1. That Ain't My Truck-1995-#3
2. She Said Yes-1996-#17
3. Don't Get Me Started-1996-#1
If that wasn't enough, Rhett manages to debut another Life Changes song, Sixteen at #59.
5. OLD DOMINION ARRIVES: Old Dominion debut at #58 with Written In The Sand. This is the second single to their recent #1 album, Happy Endings. No Such Thing As A Broken Heart recently became their third #1 hit.
6. 1-2-3: We have three new albums debuting at the top three positions on the chart. They are:
1. Life Changes-Thomas Rhett-94,000 copies were sold last week. This is his first #1 album following two that peaked at #2: It Goes Like This (2013) and Tangled Up (2015).
2. Current Mood-Dustin Lynch-27,000 copies were sold. This follows Dustin Lynch (#1 in 2012) and Where It's At (#2 in 2014).
3. Slowheart-Kip Moore-25,000 copies were sold. This follows Up All Night (#3 in 2012) and Wild Ones (#2 in 2015).
7. KEITH'S HERE: Toby Keith debuts at #6 on the country albums chart with The Bus Songs. 12,000 were sold last week.
8. WILLIAMS AND GENTRY: We recently lost Don Williams and Troy Gentry. They have albums on the chart this week. Williams with 20 Greatest Hits at #14 and Gentry (one half of Montgomery Gentry) with Playlist: The Very Best Of Montgomery Gentry at #18.
9. #1 CDS: These were the top selling CDs in 2012, 2007, 2002, 1997, and 1992:
2012: Blown Away-Carrie Underwood-Arista
2007: Taylor Swift-Taylor Swift-Big Machine
2002: Home-the Dixie Chicks-Monument
1997: Songbook: A Collection Of Hits-Trisha Yearwood-MCA
1992: Some Gave All-Billy Ray Cyrus-Mercury
10. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: Clint Black led the Class of 1989. He had the first #1 single with A Better Man. He also had the first #1 album with Killin' Time. That was our top seller 28 years ago this week.
Black signed to RCA Records in 1988. The track listing to Killin' Time is as follows:
1. Straight From The Factory
2. A Better Man-1989-#1
3. Nobody's Home-1990-#1-chart wise, his biggest hit
4. Walkin' Away-1990-#1
5. You're Gonna Leave Me Again
6. I'll Be Gone
7. Nothing's News-1990-#3
8. Winding Down
9. Killin' Time-1989-#1
10. Live And Learn
Black wrote ALL the songs to his debut album. Some were co-writes with Hayden Nicholas. Only a third writer, Dick Gay was involved. He co-wrote Walkin' Away with Black and Nicholas. Lead single, A Better Man was released in February, 1989 and shot to the top in June. While the song was charting, Black's vocals were compared favorably to Merle Haggard's from the 1960s (Black is a fan of Haggard). In the meantime, RCA released Killin' Time in May. The second single was the title track. That debuted in July and became #1 in October. Killin' Time, the album was out for four months topped the country albums chart for the first of 31 weeks in September. That October, Black won his first C.M.A. Award (Horizon). Third single, Nobody's Home was released in November. In December, Billboard ranked the biggest hits of the year. A Better Man finished first while Killin' Time came in second. Not bad for a new artist. Nobody's Home topped the chart for three weeks in January and February, 1990. Walkin' Away was released in March and topped the chart for two weeks in May. While that song was charting, Black won a quartet of A.C.M. Awards. They are:
1. Top Male Vocalist
2. Top New Male Vocalist
3. Album of the Year for Killin' Time
4. Single of the Year for A Better Man
Could Black go five for five? Fifth single, Nothing's News was released in June. It peaked at #3 in August. Besides hitting #1 country, Killin' Time peaked at #31 on the top 200 chart in 1990. Killin' Time wrapped up its final week at the top for the week ending October six. In October, the C.M.A. awarded Black it Male Vocalist of the Year Award. In December, Billboard proclaimed Killin' Time the #1 country album of the year while Nobody's Home was the biggest hit of the year (the American Country Countdown also named Nobody's Home the top hit of the year). Killin' Time is certified triple platinum.
The closest Black came to repeating the success of Killin' Time was with his second album, Put Yourself In My Shoes. It topped the country albums chart for seven weeks between December, 1990 to February, 1991 (#18 top 200). It spawned four hit singles. They are:
1. Put Yourself In My Shoes-1990-#4
2. Loving Blind-1991-#1
3. One More Payment-1991-#7
4. Where Are You Now-1991-#1
Black's last chart appearance came in 2008 with the #58 peaking Long Cool Woman. Black's last CD was released in 2015 called On Purpose. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 23, 1989:
1. KILLIN' TIME-CLINT BLACK-RCA
2. Sweet Sixteen-Reba McEntire-MCA
3. I Wonder Do You Think Of Me-Keith Whitley-RCA
4. River Of Time-the Judds-RCA
5. Greatest Hits III-Hank Williams, Jr.-Warner Bros.
6. Beyond The Blue Neon-George Strait-MCA
7. A Horse Called Music-Willie Nelson-Columbia
8. Old 8 X 10-Randy Travis-Warner Bros.
9. Loving Proof-Ricky Van Shelton-Columbia
10. This Woman-K.T. Oslin-RCA

[countrychartnut]

1. LYNCH EQUALS ALDEAN: Dustin Lynch's Small Town Boy spends a fourth week at the top. This is a Broken Bow single and the only other four week #1 the label has had is Jason Aldean's Big Green Tractor from 2009. Boy is Lynch's biggest hit while Tractor is Aldean's biggest hit.
2. HIS SECOND: Chris Janson eases up one to #10 this week with Fix A Drink. This is his second top ten following Buy Me A Boat that peaked at #3 in 2015. In between those singles came Power Of Positive Drinkin' (#35 in 2016) and Holdin' Her (#20 in 2017).
3. WRITE FAST: Old Dominion has the fastest climbing song of the week with Written In The Sand. It zooms eighteen spots to #40.
4. A LITTLE HIGH: Midland has the Hot Shot Debut of the week with Make A Little at #54. This is the second single off their just released On The Rocks album. Their first single, Drinkin' Problem peaked at #3.
5. AN ODE TO GENTRY: Montgomery Gentry debut at #60 with Better Me. This is the lead single to their upcoming album. This is their first chart appearance since Troy Gentry died in a helicopter crash in early September.
6. A B & R DEBUT: Big & Rich debut at #2 on the country albums chart this week with Did It For The Party. 26,000 copies were sold last week. This is their second album on their label following 2014's Gravity (#8).
7. A 90S LOOK: These were the chart topping hits during the last week of September during the 1990s:
1990: Jukebox In My Mind-Alabama-RCA
1991: Where Are You Now-Clint Black-RCA
1992: In This Life-Collin Raye-Epic
1993: Ain't Goin' Down 'Til The Sun Comes Up-Garth Brooks-Liberty
1994: Third Rock From The Sun-Joe Diffie-Epic
1995: I Like It, I Love It-Tim McGraw-Curb
1996: So Much For Pretending-Bryan White-Asylum
1997: How Your Love Makes Me Feel-Diamond Rio-Arista
1998: Where The Green Grass Grows-Tim McGraw-Curb
1999: Something Like That-Tim McGraw-Curb
8. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: Merle Haggard was at MCA Records between 1976-1981. It was there that he scored his biggest #2 hit, It's Been A Great Afternoon. It hit the runner up position for the first of three weeks 39 years ago this week.
Haggard was at Capitol Records between 1965-1976. While he was riding high with his final Capitol single (while on the label), Cherokee Maiden (#1 in 1976), he signed to the MCA label. He released his debut album for MCA in 1977 called Ramblin' Fever. Lead single, If We're Not Back In Love By Monday was released in March and held the #2 position for two weeks in May and June while Waylon Jennings was at the top with his biggest hit, Luckenbach, Texas Back To The Basics Of Love. The follow up, the title track was released in June and that, too hit the #2 position for two weeks in August and September while Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue by Crystal Gayle was tops. The Gayle song is her biggest hit. With two near misses of the top, it was time to salute Elvis Presley, who died when Haggard was charting with Ramblin' Fever. The album's name was My Farewell To Elvis and its lone single, From Graceland To The Promised Land was released in September. Even the Jordanaires backed Haggard on the tune. That single peaked at #4 country and #58 pop between late 1977-early 1978. It should be noted that Capitol released two singles on Haggard: A Working Man Can't Get Nowhere Today (#16 in 1977) and Running Kind (#12 in 1978). Haggard's third MCA album, I'm Always On A Mountain When I Fall surfaced in 1978. The lead single was the title track. That was released in March and claimed the #2 spot for two weeks in May while Johnny Duncan was at #1 with She Can Put Her Shoes Under My Bed Anytime. The following week, the Statler Brothers leapfrogged Haggard with their biggest hit, Do You Know You Are My Sunshine. The second and final single, It's Been A Great Afternoon was released in July. The b-side of the record was Love Me When You Can. It held the runner up position for three weeks in September and October while Dolly Parton was at the top with her second biggest hit, Heartbreaker. That was the longest stay at #2 for any of Haggard's eight bridesmaid hits.
Haggard married Leona Williams in 1978. The new couple entered the chart in late 1978 with The Bull And The Beaver. That peaked at #8 before the year ended. Serving 190 Proof was the fourth MCA album released in 1979. Red Bandana, the lead single was released in March and proceeded to a #4 peak. My Own Kind Of Hat was his last single of the 1970s. That was released in September and peaked at #4 before year's end. Haggard would chart a duet with Ernest Tubb called Walkin' The Floor Over You. That peaked at #31. Haggard's entrance into the 1980s included his release of the album called The Way I Am. Its lone single was the title track. That was released in March and became his fifth and final #2 hit for MCA in May for two weeks while Eddie Rabbitt and Parton (again) blocked him from the top with Gone Too Far and Starting Over Again, respectively. Haggard would finally see the top of the chart with a soundtrack single. That was Bar Room Buddies with Clint Eastwood (yes). That was from the Bronco Billy soundtrack. It was released in April and topped the country chart in July. It was Haggard's 25th chart topper and first since Cherokee Maiden in 1976. A second soundtrack single, Misery And Gin topped off at #3. Misery And Gin would be repeated on the Back To The Barrooms album of 1980. 'Lead single' I Think I'll Just Stay Here And Drink was released in October and became a #1 hit in January, 1981. That would be the ONLY #1 Haggard would have at MCA. Leonard, the 'second single' was a tribute to Tommy Collins, a songwriter who was born with the name of Leonard Sipes. That was released in February and topped off at #9. A live album rounded off Haggard's MCA years. Titled Rainbow Stew Live At Anaheim Stadium was released in 1981. A live recording of Rainbow Stew was released in June and peaked at #4. Haggard's political chops were still sharp on that song.
Haggard would sign to Epic Records in 1981. His last batch of hits are on that label. He scored 27 top 40 hits for them between 1981-1990. Twelve of those hit #1 between 1981-1988. His last chart appearance was in 2006 when his duet with Gretchen Wilson called Politically Uncorrect peaked at #23. That was Haggard's 92nd top 40 hit. His last album was released in 2015 called Django & Jimmie, a duets album with Willie Nelson. That topped the country albums chart in June. Haggard died last year on his 79th birthday in April. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 1978:
1. Heartbreaker-Dolly Parton-RCA
2. IT'S BEEN A GREAT AFTERNOON/LOVE ME WHEN YOU CAN-MERLE HAGGARD-MCA
3. Who Am I To Say-the Statler Brothers-Mercury
4. I've Always Been Crazy-Waylon Jennings-RCA
5. Tear Time-Dave & Sugar-RCA
6. Womanhood-Tammy Wynette-Epic
7. Penny Arcade-Cristy Lane-LS
8. If The World Ran Out Of Love Tonight-Jim Ed Brown and Helen Cornelius-RCA
9. Let's Take The Long Way Around The World-Ronnie Milsap-RCA
10. Here Comes The Hurt Again-Mickey Gilley-Epic