New singles from Alan Jackson, Mae Estes and Graycie York help provide the best week we’ve had for this series yet!… Read More The Boom-or-Bust Jukebox – Week 14 (2021): (Alan Jackson, Mae Estes, Graycie York, Jimmie Allen and Brad Paisley)
We lost Merle Haggard four years ago today – this is a small way to remember him… Read More The Unbroken Circle: Merle Haggard – “Sing Me Back Home” (1968)
Featuring hits from Dolly Parton, Tom T. Hall, George Jones and more!… Read More The Best Hit Songs Of 1971
Featuring hits from Gene Watson, the Charlie Daniels Band, Don Williams and more!… Read More The Best Hit Songs Of 1979
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
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
Featuring hits from Porter Wagoner, Roger Miller, Eddy Arnold and more!… Read More The Best Hit Songs Of 1965
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 short version: The Steel Woods’ sophomore effort is somehow even better than their debut album. It’s a striking concept record filled with great stories, fantastic riffs and some of their stickiest hooks yet. In short, it’s an early contender for one of 2019’s best albums. Favorite tracks: “Rock That Says My Name,” “Without You,”… Read More Album Review: The Steel Woods – ‘Old News’
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)
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
1975 was a strange year for Country music. It was the year that Tammy Wynette and George Jones divorced each other. It was the year that Hank Williams Jr. tumbled 500 feet down Ajax Mountain which caused severe facial and head injuries. It was the year that Charlie Rich burned the envelope to the ground… Read More The Best Hit Songs Of 1975
In a change of events, I actually received a particular request for which year to look back on for this week’s “best hit songs” feature. Robert of Robert’s Country Opinion Blog chose to request 1972. Looking back, all I can say is that 1972 was a quiet year for Country music. Now, that’s not to… Read More The Best Hit Songs Of 1972
“Because of the Bush comments.” Well, yeah, but then how come country artists were allowed to have differing opinions during the Vietnam War? How come Merle Haggard could release “America First” with little reception? If anything, the banning of Dixie Chicks from the country music establishment had more to do with an unfortunate sign of… Read More Why Were The Dixie Chicks Banned From Country Radio?
