Best Classic Country Songs Of 50s 60s 70s List

Best Classic Country Songs Of 50s are 1. All I Have To Do Is Dream 2. Walkin’ After Midnight 3. White Lightning and more.

All I Have To Do Is Dream By Everly Brothers 

All I Have To Do Is Dream By Everly Brothers is a jangle pop song written by Boudleaux Bryant. It was released under the label Cadence 1348.

Upon its release, it remains the only single ever to chart at No.1 simultaneously across all of the Billboard charts on June 2, 1958.

The song has secured the 141st spot on The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list by Rolling Stone magazine.

Walkin’ After Midnight By Pasty Cline 

Walkin’ After Midnight by Pasty Cline is a song written by Alan Block and Don Hecht. It was released on February 11, 1957, through the Decca label.

Initially rejected by the pop singer Kay Starr’s label, the song was later given to Pasty, who performed the song on the CBS television show hosted by Arthur Godfrey.

The song was subsequently released as a single following its huge success.

White Lightning By George Jones

White Lightning by George Jones is a song written by J. P. Richardson. It was released on February 9, 1959, under the label Mercury Records.

The track was his first single to chart at the No.1 spot. Unfortunately, he didn’t get to celebrate his milestone since he died in a tragic plane crash 6 days before the release.

Other popular classic country songs of the 50s are as follows:

• The Fool By Sanford Clark
• Honeycomb By Jimmie Rodgers
• Dixie Fried By Carl Perkins
• There’s a Higher Power By The Louvin Brothers 
• Knoxville Girl By The Louvin Brothers
• All Shook Up By Tennessee Ernie Ford

Best Classic Country Songs Of 60s are 1. Ring of Fire 2. The End of the World 3. Mama Tried and more.

Ring of Fire By Johnny Cash

Ring of Fire is an iconic song by the American country singer Johnny Cash. It was released on April 19, 1963.

The song served as the first track of his album Ring of Fire: The Best of Johnny Cash.

The song stayed at the top spot on the country charts for seven successive weeks and was even ranked 27th greatest country song of all time by Rolling Stone.

The End of the World By Skeeter Davis

The End of the World is a country pop written by Arthur Kent and Sylvia Dee.

Upon its release in December 1962, the song charted top spot on US Billboard Easy Listening, 2nd spot on Billboard Hot 100, and 4 other top 4 finishes.

Dee mentioned drew inspiration from her father’s death to set the mood of the song, consisting of a sad story following the unfortunate breakup.

Mama Tried By Merle Haggard

Mama Tried by Merle Haggard is the title track from the album Mama Tried. It was released on July 22, 1968.

The song secured the No.1 spot on Billboard Hot Country Singles for 4 consecutive weeks.

Ultimately, the song won the Grammy Hall of Fame Awards and was picked for preservation in the National Recording Registry for its cultural, and historical significance.

Other renowned country songs of the 60s are:

• Skip a Rope By Henson Cargill
• Flowers On The Wall By The Statler Brothers
• Act Naturally By Buck Owens
• Ode To Billie Joe By Bobbie Gentry
• Hello Walls By Faron Young
• Games People Play By Freedy Weller

Best Classic Country Songs Of 70s are 1. Jolene 2. Annie’s Song  3. Rhinestone Cowboy and more.

Jolene By Dolly Parton

Jolene by Dolly Parton is the first single and title track from her album Jolene. It was released on October 15, 1973.

The song earned a Grammy nomination two times in 1975 and 1976.

Dolly got her inspiration for the song from a bank employee who was flirting with her spouse. Currently, the track is placed in 63rd position on Rolling’s Stone list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

Annie’s Song By John Denver

Annie’s Song is a soft rock country song written and recorded by John Denver. The song was released in June 1974.

It was the single for his eighth studio album Back Home Again through RCA Records.

The song made a top 10 chart appearance in various English-speaking countries including a No.1 spot on US Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks.

Rhinestone Cowboy by Glenn Campbell

Rhinestone Cowboy is a soft rock song recorded by Glenn Campbell. It was released on May 26, 1975.

The song served as the title track for the album Rhinestone Cowboy.

Admired by both country and pop audiences, the song peaked at the weekly Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks amongst top spots in several other nations.

Additional classical country songs from the 70s include:

• Delta Dawn By Tanya Tucker
• The Gambler By Kenny Rodgers
• Kiss an Angel Good Mornin’ By Charley Pride
• Sundown By Gordon Lightfoot
• Let Your Love Flow By The Bellamy Brothers
• Thank God I’m a Country Boy By John Denver

Best Classic Country Songs Of 80s are 1. 9 to 5 2. Fishin’ in the Dark 3. Forever and Ever, Amen and more.

9 to 5 By Dolly Parton

9 to 5 is a country pop song recorded by renowned singer Dolly Parton. It sold over 2 million copies sold.

The song was also certified 2x Platinum by the RIAA in the US.

The song was nominated for the Academy Awards as well as four Grammy Awards, in which she won two Awards for Best Country Songs and Best Country vocal performance.

Fishin’ in the Dark By Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

Fishin’ in the Dark By Nitty Gritty Dirt Band was written by Wendy Waldman and Jim Photoglo.

The song was released as the first track for their album Hold On on June 7, 1987.

The track has been covered by numerous artists such as Ed Bruce, Emerson Drive, Garth Brooks, and many more.

Forever and Ever, Amen By Randy Travis

Forever and Ever, Amen By Randy Travis is a single written by two times Grammy Award winner Donald Schlitz. 

It was recorded by Randy Travis for his album Always & Forever.

Debuting the country charts on April 25, 1987, the song secured the top spots on Billboard Hot Country Songs for 3 weeks straight.

Further country songs from the 80s are:

• All My Ex’s Live in Texas By George Strait
• Miami, My Amy By Keith Whitley
• Song of the South By Alabama
• Highwayman By Willie Nelson
• I Will Always Love You By Dolly Parton
• Amarillo By Morning

Best Country Songs Of 90s are 1. Man! I Feel Like A Woman! 2. Amazed 3. Something Like That and more.

Man! I Feel Like A Woman! By Shania Twain

Man! I Feel Like A Woman! is a country pop song by Canadian singer Shania Twain. It is from her third studio album Come On Over.

Vocals from Twain and the song’s attitude were heavily praised by the critics eventually winning her the Grammy Awards for Best Female Country Vocal Performance.

Amazed By Lonestar

Amazed is a second single by the American band Lonestar. It was released in March 1999 for their third studio album Lonely Grill.

The sentimental ballad saw itself at the top spot Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for 8 straight weeks.

Since its release, the song has been covered by multiple artists like Bonnie Taylor, and Duncan James to name a few.

Something Like That By Tim McGraw

Something Like That is a second single from Tim’s fifth studio album A Place in the Sun. It was written by Keith Follese and Rick Ferrell.

Released on June 28, 1999, the song was a massive commercial triumph, selling over 2 million copies for which it received 2x Platinum certification by the RIAA.

Similar songs from the 90s include:

• Heads Carolina, Tails California By Jo Dee Messina
• Something Like That By Tim McGraw
• Strawberry Wine by Deana Carter
• Neon Moon By Brooks & Dunn
• Check Yes Or No By George Strait
• Should’ve Been A Cowboy By Toby Keith

Best Country Songs Of 2000s are 1. Love Story 2. Before He Cheats 3. Need You Now and more.

Love Story By Taylor Swift

Love Story By Taylor Swift is her first popular song. Before her widespread fame, it was country songs that put her on the map.

Swift’s lyrics were inspired by William Shakespeare’s iconic tragedy Romeo and Juliet which was praised by music critics and appeared in numerous country charts including the top spot in US Hot Country Songs.

Before He Cheats By Carrie Underwood

Before He Cheats By Carrie Underwood is the fourth single from her debut studio album Some Hearts. It was released in August 2006.

Not long after its release, the song was a huge sensation, featuring in the top 10 charts across US and Canada,

The song also received multiple accolades including 3 Grammy Awards nominations for which it won 2 for Best Female Country Vocal Performance and Best Country Song of the Year.

Need You Now By Lady A

Need You Now by Lady A is the lead single and title track for the trio’s second studio album Need You Now.

The song has been presented with multiple awards including 4 Grammy Awards in 2011, 3 American Country Awards, 2 CMA Awards, and so on.

Additional songs from the 2000s include:

• Life is a Highway By Rascal Flatts
• Somebody Like You By Keith Urban
• Can’t Fight The Moonlight
• Gunpowder & Lead By Miranda Lambert
• Chicken Fried By Zac Brown Band
• Suds in the Bucket By Sara Evans