Earl Thomas Conley - Fire And Smoke - 1981
He may be the quietest superstar we ever had. ETC spent the entire 1980's and early 90's on top of the country charts setting records, and recording incredible music while scoring 20 #1 songs, most of anyone in the 80's. And this was the start. You can ask a whole lot of 90's stars and of today who one of their major influences was and ETC always comes up. This song was the #1 song of 1981, the most played song that year, and is one of the most respected songs of the 1980's. It "younged" up country as did he - along with a few others. It was a different kind of sound and voice. It wasn't Urban Cowboy, or pop country, and it certainly wasn't Conway, Tammy Wynette or George Jones. It was new and fresh and Nashville took notice. ETC became one of the early artists to heavily influence country to go in a newer direction that would continue in 1986, and culminate in 1989 when it really took off to new heights. It was said Conley's music would sound great in a pickup truck or Mercedes and that's accurate. This album under the same name on RCA, is also one of the best pure country albums of the 80's. And even though his own sound musically evolved through the decade, this song was his root. It was not his first single, (Silent Treatment) was, (another great song) but once this hit, ETC never looked back. It is also well known he had some deep issues with Nashville at the end of his career, but he really should be in the Hall Of Fame. A very important song and artist of the 1980's. ETC passed away in 2019.
My Full Profile On Earl Thomas Conley
