Great Country Songs

I am a big fan of country music. The February 24th-March 1st American Profile magazine had an article on ten great country songs and how they came to be. Many of these are personal favorites of mine. See if you can guess what year they came out. Answers at the end.

Looking for Love-- Johnny Lee-- They were looking for just the right song to sing on the Urban Cowboy soundtrack. Lee went to a room with thousands of demos and fortunately found this one within the first ten or twenty. How do you get better than this?

Heaven's Just a Sin Away-- The Kendalls-- This was a father-daughter team, Royce and Jeannie Kendall. Released as a "B" side, but djs started flipping it over and went to #1 and CMA Single of the Year. They just sang great together.

Baby's Got Her Blue Jeans On-- Mel McDaniel-- Says Mel, "Just about everybody...loves those girls in 'em. I also liked "Older Women."

Swingin'-- John Anderson-- Anderson and co-writer Lionel Delmore knew they had something when they got the idea for it, but continued tweaking it, even during the singing session. Topped chart and CMA Single of the Year. Sold a million copies. One of my favorite performers. That voice is unmistakable.

You're the Reason God Made Oklahoma-- David Frizzell and Shelly West-- They had been turned down by every major label in Nashville until Clint Eastwood heard it and decided to include it in his movie "Any Which Way You Can." I personally like "I'm Gonna Hire a Wino to Decorate Our House" better.

God Bless the USA-- Lee Greenwood-- It had been a long time since he'd heard anyone say they were proud to be from the USA. So, he wrote a song about it. This one still sends shivers up my spine.

Honey by Bobby Goldsboro was included, but that, to me is a gag song. Yuck. I also wasn't fond of Rose Garden, He's a Heartache, or Hell and Water. These were also featured. Guess who sang them? See below.

American Profile is a magazine insert in papers. They feature small-town America and have lots of interesting articles. http://www.americanprofile.com/.

"Signature Songs" by Chris Neal

1980, 1977, 1984, 1983, 1981, 1984

Lynn Anderson 1970, Janie Fricke 1983, T. Graham Brown 1986.

Give Me Some of That Good Old Country Music. --RoadDog