![]() ![]() While comedians, such as Mike Snider, occasionally became Opry members without having hit records on their resume, the induction of Boxcar Willie as an Opry member in 1981 marked the last time a singer was inducted without a hit (excluding the later induction of Beecher Ray “Bashful Brother Oswald” Kirby, who had been performing on the Opry stage for over 50 years as part of Roy Acuff’s Smoky Mountain Boys).īorn near Ovilla, Texas, Boxcar Willie had a career behind him before finding real success as a country music star–this after turning 50 years old. Dressed in the attire of a railroad hobo and blessed with a unique ability to imitate the sounds of train whistles, Boxcar Willie carried on the grand tradition of country music on the Grand Ole Opry without ever having a hit record. It is unlikely that any modern country performer will ever have a career quite like that of Lecil Travis “Boxcar Willie” Martin. Bill was no longer a chart force and this song only reached #42 in 1982, but as the chorus notes: “ We like Richard Petty, Conway Twitty and the Charlie Daniels Band”.Īn expanded and updated version of an article previously published by The 9513 This was Whispering Bill’s first release for Southern Tracks after spending over twenty years recording for Decca/MCA. This was not a big hit, reaching #43 in 1982, but it featured legendary music/film stars Roy Rogers and Rex Allen Sr. turned increasing to western-themed material as the 1980s rolled along. “ Last of The Silver Screen Cowboys” – Rex Allen Jr.Īfter some success as a pop-country balladeer, Rex Jr. This is much more country sounding than her other big hit “ Baby I Lied”. “ I’ve Been Wrong Before” – Deborah AllenĪn accomplished songwriter who wrote many hits for others, particularly with Rafe VanHoy, this was one of three top ten tunes for Ms. One of the few up-tempo Alabama records that swings rather than rocks. Not this song, which is dominated by fiddle. “ If You’re Gonna Play In Texas (You Gotta Have A Fiddle In The Band)“ – AlabamaĪlabama made excellent music during the 1980s, although the country content of some of it was suspect. It’s just a list of some songs that I liked and remember. This list is meant neither to be a comprehensive list of great country songs from the 1980s, nor any sort of ranking of records. The latter part of the decade, however, produced some truly excellent country music with the 1986 arrival of Randy Travis and company. The first flowering of the late 1980s “New Traditionalist” movement arrived in 1981 with the first hits of Ricky Skaggs and George Strait, but they remained outliers until 1986 as far as good new artists were concerned. ![]() Fortunately, there was still good country music being released. The 1980s were a mixed bag, with the early 1980s producing some of the lamest country music ever recorded, as the Urban Cowboy movie wrecked havoc on the genre.
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