The 12 Best Country Songs of All Time
By Chris Queen January 17, 2019
Country music is the most American of musical idioms, alongside jazz. With a longer history than rock and roll or hip-hop, country has produced a powerful pantheon of memorable artists, albums, and songs.
Growing up, I pretended not to like country music, even though it was the music I heard my dad listen to the most (while my mom turned me on to the incredible pop and rock of the ‘60s and ‘70s). Nowadays, I’ve shaken that youthful pretension and will admit to enjoying most types of country’s many subgenres.
I also have to admit that compiling a list of the best country songs of all time is a daunting task. Such a long list of classics makes it tough to narrow down what stands head and shoulders above everything else. But I’ve managed to come up with a list that captures the best that country music has to offer.
You’ll notice that modern country music doesn’t really make this list. That was a tough decision for me, partially because so much of what’s popular in country today pales in comparison to the classics. But I also wondered if even the best of modern country – the Zac Brown Bands and Chris Stapletons of the world – have endured long enough to warrant a spot on a list like this. We may think so later, but not yet. Here’s the list, and I hope you enjoy it.
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https://pjmedia.com/lifestyle/the-12-best-country-songs-of-all-time/
A list without the Hagg? Say it isn't so!
Sorry... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNTWW1y1x0M#)
Hint: They don't have a "Snap Track"
Sorry... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aT9iox7jH1g#)
Sorry... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AqESKOaeGk#)
Although this is gospel; I remember the first time I heard this one Sunday evening... I remember it to this day. Other good versions out there including one by Rickie Van Shelton, a somewhat more recent artists.
Gentleman Jim, also recorded in the Afikaaner language for those interested. They can look it up.
"White Cliffs of Dover" by him is fine too even though this veers a bit out of country and Vera Lynn's original I probably still prefer.
Until I Gain Control Again -Rodney Crowell
Blue Eyes Crying In the Rain - Willie Nelson
Although this is gospel; I remember the first time I heard this one Sunday evening... I remember it to this day. Other good versions out there including one by Rickie Van Shelton, a somewhat more recent artists.@TomSea I was not familiar with "Suppertime" until I heard it on the Joey+Rory CD. What a nice song.
So many songs by David Allan Coe passed over. What a shame.Some you can't really post on a family forum....without warnings and stuff...
Some you can't really post on a family forum....without warnings and stuff...
No John Prine, here either...(fixed that)
Sorry... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkD_nRIpzOo#)
Here's the album of all of them... consider yourselves warned.I first heard many at biker parties in my bad old days.....
Sorry... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6C4BiaFHZU&t=2441s#)
But none of those have anything about mama, or trucks, or trains, or prison, or even getting drunk.888high58888 Wondered how long before that David Allan Coe classic got mentioned.
Sorry... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkKn5HrKgHQ#)
Confederate Railroad, too...A little more rock-and-roll, but this is one of my faves from them:
@Jazzhead
Yeah,those two. Also,Poncho and Lefty by Willie,as well as Seven Spanish Angels by Willie and Mr Ray Charles.
Speaking of Rodney Crowell,he,Willie,and Lyle Lovett (another great) were on a PBS "Songwriters Special" on teebee one night,and they each did their favorite songs that were written and performed by one of the others. Rodney Crowell sang "Until I Gain Control Again",and damned if he didn't have Willie crying before he was done. That was some powerful stuff he was putting out. Crowell is vastly underrated in my opinion. Check out his album with John Paul Stevens and Roseanne Cash that was recorded in a mansion (the Luck mansion?) in Memphis for some really,REALLY good singing and playing. You will be glad you did.
I find no defining lines, between "Country & Western," Rock, Folk etc.
Not to mention Ray Charles' C & W style tunes.
This is an impossible effort. Like everything else involving taste, it’s subjective. The best songs and genres are whatever an individual says it is based on their personal, emotional connection to the music. The best is whatever you like best.
I love the classics and blue grass but don’t care much for contemporary country and western. But, occasionally I hear a stray song out of Nashville that stays true to its roots and can even earn a thumbs up from me.
Tom Petty said it best, "Most modern Country is just 'bad rock with a fiddle'"
What did you do here, @sneakypete ? You posted as me while editing away five sixths of my post!
I find no defining lines, between "Country & Western," Rock, Folk etc.
Not to mention Ray Charles' C & W style tunes.
I like that @dfwgator Since I quite marrying women (and then divorcing) in the early 80's I quit listening to that kind of Country, now I'm stuck on Americana, though similar and involves fiddles, they pay tribute to the Greats like Haggard, Waylon, to name just a few, more often than not.
Heck Country now is more like (c)Rap with those frickin' Snap Tracks.Putting rap in country is like putting tofu in a hamburger. **nononono*
Sorry... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5B1nm1Co9wA#)
Although this is gospel; I remember the first time I heard this one Sunday evening... I remember it to this day. Other good versions out there including one by Rickie Van Shelton, a somewhat more recent artists.
Gentleman Jim, also recorded in the Afikaaner language for those interested. They can look it up.
"White Cliffs of Dover" by him is fine too even though this veers a bit out of country and Vera Lynn's original I probably still prefer.
Sorry... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xy_usAckf7E#)
@GrouchoTex
If I had to name one song that triggers a strong emotional attachment for me it’s, I’m so Lonesome I Could Cry. Of course, the National Anthem is number one for me in the category of songs with an emotional trigger.
We agree.
:beer:
:beer:
Those of us older folks remember a time when everyone listened to the same top 40 a.m. music stations. They spun everything from rock, soul, pop, movie sound tracks, country and western, blues, even light classical arias....Nearly all genres. And this provided us exposure to the whole gamut of musical experiences.
Nowadays, because of changing technology, the kids hear only one or two styles of music: bad and worse.
Sorry... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xi3GgoLtlWk#)
Nobody, yet, George.
@GrouchoTex
Of course, the National Anthem is number one for me in the category of songs with an emotional trigger.
@aligncare
God Bless America pretty much defines "COUNTRY song".
Hank wailing about the whipperwills ain't bad either,though.
@aligncare
God Bless America pretty much defines "COUNTRY song".
Hank wailing about the whipperwills ain't bad either,though.
Hated Country growing up. I've grown to appreciate the classics over the years.
Don't know what is so hard about Country music, our small hometown boys had 27 number one country hits in one decade (41 overall)...
Always fun to brag about the kid my grandpa would pick up to take to school when he missed the bus becoming a big star... Randy was a pretty humble fellow for the most part. Most the band (except Jeff) were good ole boys. The drummer remains my fave (fallen out of grace with other members) because he is a die hard conservative.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5LFYjtMnu4&list=PLi6Lnnwlr76zAy2tdUvcEBqEl7Fg4eG5B (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5LFYjtMnu4&list=PLi6Lnnwlr76zAy2tdUvcEBqEl7Fg4eG5B)
I think one would be hard put to find those 27 number one hits.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alabama_(American_band) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alabama_(American_band))
Sorry... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S33tWZqXhnk#)That was me when I was 18.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_Country_SongsCountry generally rotates more songs in and out of the top of the chart than pop. It's just the way record companies and stations do things.
For all of those number ones, they didn't stay on top of the charts very long, see the chart. I don't see one listed that way. I also heard a recent number one album had only like 897 sold copies, so music is on the wane a bit now.
Buck Owens, 16 weeks at number one with "love's gonna live here"... why isn't Alabama up there with any of their songs like this?
@Sighlass So commericially successful but you post some of that techno music, how much of that has been number one?
Lame Country versus Real Country:
Alabama too, with a few exceptions, might be another case, where they didn't write a lot of their own songs,..............
You might be right...... here is an Alabama song (Dixieland delight) that I think other people helped write /s... It is still sang (last time I remember was Oklahoma vs Bama championship game.... It can be painful to listen to. wink777
NSFW warning...
Sorry... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1VqSGsbn8w#)
P.S.. I'm an Auburn fan...
Luchenbach Texas and some stupid Glen Campbell song the best country music ever?!? That is whack!
No Ernest Tubb, Bob Wills, Faron Young, Roy Acuff, Jim Reeves??? That should have just been titled some country songs.
Luchenbach Texas and some stupid Glen Campbell song the best country music ever?!? That is whack!
No Ernest Tubb, Bob Wills, Faron Young, Roy Acuff, Jim Reeves??? That should have just been titled some country songs.
@LilLamb
Jim Reeves was only considered to be a country singer because they didn't know what else to do with him.
Well, in today's world, @sneakypete , he'd be considered a stalker or downed by the #metoo gang,lol. "He'll have to Go" is just way too controversial. (I love Jim Reeves...great voice.)
Bob Wills is Still the King!