January 2008 – Page 3 – Country Universe

Grammy Flashback: Best Female Country Vocal Performance

January 11, 2008 Kevin John Coyne 7

Updated for 2008 While the Grammys have honored country music from the very first ceremony in 1959, they did not begin honoring by gender until 1965, when the country categories were expanded along with the

Josh Turner, "Another Try"

January 6, 2008 Kevin John Coyne 14

Written by Jeremy Spillman & Chris Stapleton One of the most endearing elements of Josh Turner’s style is that he takes it slow. “Another Try” has a wonderful lyric, and Turner savors it, stretching out

Jack Ingram, “Maybe She’ll Get Lonely”

January 6, 2008 Kevin John Coyne 12

What can I say? Everything about this single is adequate. The song is good enough, the production gets the job done and it’s sung with some energy and conviction. It just doesn’t add up to

Carter's Chord, "Young Love"

January 6, 2008 Kevin John Coyne 4

“Young Love” Carter’s Chord Songwriters: Scooter Carusoe, Hillary Lindsey & Aimee Mayo Listen Accurately titled. This has been done a million times before, most effectively in recent years by Deana Carter (“Strawberry Wine”),

The Fifty Best Debut Singles of All-Time: Part 5

January 5, 2008 Kevin John Coyne 16

#10 Deana Carter, “Strawberry Wine” Debut: August 17, 1996/Peak: #1 Carter’s sandpaper voice was a perfect complement to the bittersweet nostalgia of this classic hit . The song made Carter an instant star,

The Fifty Best Debut Singles of All-Time: Part 4

January 4, 2008 Kevin John Coyne 3

The Fifty Best Debut Singles of All-Time Part 4: #20-#11 #20 Freddy Fender, “Before the Next Teardrop Falls” Debut: January 11, 1975/Peak: #1 Fender was poised to break through as a Latino rocker, until

Reminder: Vote for the 2008 Country Universe Readers Choice Awards

January 3, 2008 Kevin John Coyne 9

This year, Country Universe readers get to decide the best music of 2008. The winners of the first annual Country Universe awards will be determined by your ballots. All you need to do is copy

The Fifty Best Debut Singles of All-Time: Part 3

January 3, 2008 Kevin John Coyne 5

The Fifty Best Debut Singles of All-Time Part 3: #30-#21 #30 Toby Keith, “Should’ve Been a Cowboy” Debut: March 6, 1993/Peak: #1 Take your pick: it’s the introduction of one of the best male

The Fifty Best Debut Singles of All-Time: Part 2

January 2, 2008 Kevin John Coyne 7

The Fifty Best Debut Singles of All-Time Part 2: #40-#31 #40 John Michael Montgomery, “Life’s a Dance” Debut: October 3, 1992/Peak: #4 Quite possibly the perfect early nineties country song, with an arrangement and

The Fifty Best Debut Singles of All-Time: Part 1

January 1, 2008 Kevin John Coyne 9

Although it became a somewhat more frequent occurrence over the past two decades, it’s always been exceptionally rare for a country artist to hit with their very first single. But sometimes, lightning strikes, and a