Turn On The Radio  - Reba McEntire - 2010  (Album - All The Women I Am) 

This song was a number one song, and will more than likely be Reba's last number one, and that's OK.  Reba for the most part has moved on from a charting country music career and is now a superstar ambassador for our format and music. But this was a GREAT song, and I do miss playing this on the radio.  It's just Reba the way we like her, with a strong song, voice and a bit of attitude. If it's been a while, take a listen to a great singer, sing a great song.

Last Weeks Selection

My Full Profile On Reba McEntire

The Vocalists Supreme Series Part 4

50 Favorites From 40 Years #4

Songs are important for assorted reasons, like this big number one song. Darius Rucker announced a Country Project and many of us were wondering where that came from.  There has been no shortage of non-country acts coming to Nashville for decades, making friends, enjoying the "scene" then deciding to make their "country" album.  A whole lot of the time it doesn't work, and sometimes fails horribly.  The single biggest mistake they all seem to make is this.  They think they can reinvent the format. That arrogant thought process generally is the kiss of death. We all knew Darius from the Hootie days and I think we all enjoyed a lot of their music.  But this was Darius solo. A South Carolina guy with some country roots in him, and of course his incredible voice we were all wondering what he would do.  So he recorded a country album, and it was country. This was the first single, and this is terrific.  From the title, to the arrangement, to the delivery, the subject matter, this was an upper deck home run.  Incredibly smart, savvy and just flat out good. He made instant believers of us all.  He's had a great country career starting with this amazing song, and that's great for all of us for every reason their is.  And it all started with a reuinvention of himself, but not trying to reinvent the format. We're lucky to have Darius Rucker.  This is one of the best country songs of this new century.

Last Week #28

50 Favorites From 40 Years #15

The Vocalists Supreme Series  Part 2

This is a fair question, who is the genius who invented Chicken Crust Pizza? A pizza crust made of chicken?  Sounds too good to be true!

Chicken Crust Pizza? OK, I'm IN!

A few months ago I wrote a series on Were They Or Weren't They?  It was very popular so I thought we would look back on it again.   It looked at a lot of artists that we used to play on Country Radio years ago when we were not as popular as we are now. So were they Country?  You can decide.   Let's look back at that series today with Part 3

Were They Or Weren't They Part 3

A few months ago I wrote a series on Were They Or Weren't They?  It was very popular so I thought we would look back on it again.   It looked at a lot of artists that we used to play on Country Radio years ago when we were not as popular as we are now. So were they Country?  You can decide.   Let's look back at that series today with Part 2

Were They Or Weren't They - Part 2

A few months ago I wrote a series on Were They Or Weren't They?  It was very popular so I thought we would look back on it again.   It looked at a lot of artists that we used to play on Country Radio years ago when we were not as popular as we are now. So were they Country?  You can decide.   Let's look back at that series starting today with Part 1

Were They Or Weren't They? Part 1

Miranda Lambert  - Famous In A Small Town -  2007  -  (Album Crazy Ex-Girlfriend)

It's hard to think this was almost 18 years ago, but it was.  This song from this album to me, is the reason we love Miranda Lambert.  I like her when she sings with an edge.  I like it when she's not overly polished in voice or in image. I like Lambert in jeans and boots, and a guitar,with attitude kicking over amplifiers and being rock star-ish!  This really fun song only got to about number 14 in 2007, but greater things were up the road.  But her road is paved with gems like this that fans loved to hear and sing with.  This has the incredible feel of a legendary garage band on the verge of being discovered and I love that, and that will never get old.  This is just good!  This is not her biggest song by any measure, but I will drive around the block to hear her finish this, and I can't say that about many songs, in any format. This is perfect Miranda.

Last Weeks Selection

Miranda - 50 Most Important Country Songs 1980- Today #42

Lookin' For Love - Johnny Lee - 1980

(Tie)

I Believe In You  - Don Williams  - 1980

For the first and only time we will have a tie for a position.  These two songs were both big hits on the country and A/C charts, and are both signature songs of the Urban Cowboy Era. They were also number one songs one month apart 1980.  There was a time that everyone on the planet knew these two songs.  What makes these equally important, is that they introduced country to a whole new batch of listeners who had never considered us before.  I know I have sounded hard on the Urban Cowboy movement at times, but that's only based on how long we attempted to ride "pop country" that was not at all marketable after it's initial introduction.  BUT it absolutely served its purpose early on, bringing us many new fans.

Looking for Love - Johnny Lee

This was a huge hit for a Texas local legend and struggling national artist named Johnny Lee.  This made it to the Urban Cowboy Movie Soundtrack. This song was a big number one for three weeks and has been used many times since in some fashion in commercials, specials and movies.  It was more of a pop sounding hit song than country.  But after this, Lee went on a decent run of pop-sounding country songs for the next few years till about 1985. Then the traditionalists started showing up and he and many others were ushered out.  But Lee scored 5 number one songs, and 17 releases, but none bigger than this.  This was a monster song!

I Believe In You

This became superstar Don Williams signature song going number one country, his 12th, and charting on the A/C charts as well. Williams had been around for many years before this, but this pointed his career in a new and much larger direction.  This is a great example of a song landing in the exact right hands of an artist.  I can't really imagine any artist besides Williams singing this song. This is easy to listen to, and to understand why it was so popular.  Williams became a Mega Star as a result of this work of art.  This was a song that has lived a great life since, and is a staple in about every country music collectors collection.

Last Week #29

My Full Profile On Don Williams

Here are the songs I featured in my year-long countdown in May.  I have also posted the links to months past in case you are just jumping on.  Thanks for listening and reading every day!

#29 - Tim McGraw - Don't Take The Girl

#30 - Swingin" - John Anderson

#31 - Elvira - Oak Ridge Boys

#32 - I Still Believe In You - Vince Gill

April Recap

March Recap

February Recap

January Recap

In case you missed some of my articles this week from WQMX.com here is a recap. Grab a coffee and earbuds and get caught up. Thanks for listening and reading every day!

BROWNS - Breaking Even

Memorial Day

50 Most Important Country Songs 1980-Today #29

Forgotten Jukebox DB-01

The Mega Star Series - Hank Jr (B-day Revisit)

Wynn At The Movies And More