The Best Hit Songs Of 1971
Featuring hits from Dolly Parton, Tom T. Hall, George Jones and more!… Read More The Best Hit Songs Of 1971
Category: Best Hit Songs
The Best Hit Songs Of 2000
Featuring songs from Gary Allan, Dixie Chicks, John Michael Montgomery and more!… Read More The Best Hit Songs Of 2000
The Best Hit Songs Of 1979
Featuring hits from Gene Watson, the Charlie Daniels Band, Don Williams and more!… Read More The Best Hit Songs Of 1979
The Best Hit Songs Of 1982
In the early 1980s, country music benefited from the release of the film Urban Cowboy, enough to where one could label it a boom era for the genre. Commercially, the movement was great, but stylistically, artists may have dressed the part (almost too much), but the actual music was too syrupy and glossy to resemble anything… Read More The Best Hit Songs Of 1982
The Best Hit Songs Of 1989
Featuring hits from Keith Whitley, Clint Black, Suzy Bogguss and more!… Read More The Best Hit Songs Of 1989
The Best Hit Songs Of 1990
Featuring hits from Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson, Reba McEntire and more! … Read More The Best Hit Songs Of 1990
The Best Hit Songs Of 1980
Most country music fans remember 1980 as the year country music went Hollywood. Between the release of movies like Urban Cowboy, 9 to 5, and Honeysuckle Rose, country music was “cool” in popular culture. Well, I should say the “facade” of country music was cool. Images of cowboy and cowgirl attire were abound, but the actual music would suffer… Read More The Best Hit Songs Of 1980
The Best Hit Songs Of 1965
Featuring hits from Porter Wagoner, Roger Miller, Eddy Arnold and more!… Read More The Best Hit Songs Of 1965
The Best Hit Songs Of 2011
Admittedly, I always find it odd to explore years from this decade for this feature. After all, this is meant to be a look back into country music of the past, and 2011 wasn’t that long ago. Still, when comparing 2011 country music to the country music of today, there’s already a huge difference not… Read More The Best Hit Songs Of 2011
The Best Hit Songs Of 1997
Unlike most years I feature for this series, the ’90s seems to be the one point in time where country music didn’t seem so fragmented. There wasn’t a huge diversity in style, but no one would mistake any of the songs from this year as anything but country. With that said, I’ll be honest –… Read More The Best Hit Songs Of 1997
The Best Hit Songs Of 2003
Featuring hits from Craig Morgan, Randy Travis, the Dixie Chicks and more!… Read More The Best Hit Songs Of 2003
The Best Hit Songs Of 1985
In 1985, The New York Times published an article declaring country music’s death. While the genre was caught in a weird area after the decline of the Urban Cowboy era, the article failed to take into account certain factors. Yes, older artists were generally faring worse during this time, and sales were down overall. But… Read More The Best Hit Songs Of 1985
The Best Hit Songs Of 1996
Since my reviews have focused heavily on ’90s country artists lately, I figured I’d revisit this beloved decade for this week’s edition of ‘Best Hit Songs.’ As for this particular year, there isn’t much to say. Tim McGraw and Faith Hill were country music’s new power couple, and the actual boom of the ’90s was… Read More The Best Hit Songs Of 1996
The Best Hit Songs Of 1959
Since John Anderson had my favorite hit song of 1981 with “1959,” I figured we should rewind the clock to see what his soundtrack was for that particular year. 1959 is an example of country music being caught in the midst of it all – honky tonk, western, rockabilly and the Nashville Sound. In some… Read More The Best Hit Songs Of 1959
The Best Hit Songs Of 1981
The ’80s were a strange time period for country music. In some ways, I’d argue it mirrors country music today, namely in how it’s all over the place. The outlaw movement was over, and with country music’s Hollywood exposure through movies such as Urban Cowboy, Honeysuckle Rose, 9 to 5 and Coal Miner’s Daughter, country… Read More The Best Hit Songs Of 1981
The Best Hit Songs Of 1994
We’re going back to the ’90s this week, and honestly I’m surprised this is only the second time I’ve visited this era of country music for this feature. While ’90s country does have its critics, there arguably wasn’t a better time for the genre, and that comment doesn’t just extend toward the quality. More women… Read More The Best Hit Songs Of 1994
The Best Hit Songs Of 2002
This edition of “The Best Hit Songs” explores a transitional period in country music. The ’90s boom had long been over, and even Garth Brooks and Shania Twain were collecting their final big hits. Hat acts were transitioning into easy listening pop-country acts, and in the wake of the September 11 attacks, the theme of… Read More The Best Hit Songs Of 2002
The Best Hit Songs Of 1973 (w/ Shore2Shore Country)
In a special turn of events, this edition of The Musical Divide’s “best hit songs” feature will feature a second opinion! This week, I’m joined by Nathan Kanuch of Shore2Shore Country to help count down what we believe are the best hit songs of 1973. As an aside, I will say that two songs on… Read More The Best Hit Songs Of 1973 (w/ Shore2Shore Country)
The Best Hit Songs Of 1968
It’s always interesting investigating earlier years in country music for these features. They’re easier to assemble than you may think, mostly because the best songs of the year were also the biggest hits (which is sadly an extinct concept today). Culturally, 1968 was a year that shattered American history. It was a year filled with… Read More The Best Hit Songs Of 1968
The Best Hit Songs Of 1987
This is a re-uploaded post. This feature of the “best hit songs” has been something I’ve been promising to do for quite a few months now. Back in April, Kyle of Kyle’s Korner Blog requested me to take a look at this particular year. For those who don’t know, I’ve usually based these lists off of whatever Billboard… Read More The Best Hit Songs Of 1987
