Features

The 400 Best Contemporary Country Singles Part 10: #175-#151 #175 “(This Thing Called) Wantin’ and Havin’ It All” Sawyer Brown 1995 Peak: #11 The opening piano sounds like a kick-off to an old-time tent revival;

The 400 Best Contemporary Country Singles Part 9: #200-#176 #200 “Do You Know Where Your Man Is” Pam Tillis 1993 Peak: #16 When Tillis began performing “Do You Know Where Your Man Is”, she would

The 400 Best Contemporary Country Singles Part 8: #225-#201 #225 “Heads Carolina, Tails California” Jo Dee Messina 1996 Peak: #2 Messina’s debut single established her edgy sound right out of the gate. Here, she’s convincing

The 400 Best Contemporary Country Singles Part 7: #250-#226 #250 “New Way Home” K.T. Oslin 1993 Peak: #64 There’s been so many songs about love, finding it and losing it, that fresh perspectives are few

The 400 Best Contemporary Country Singles Part 6: #275-#251 #275 “Live Like You Were Dying” Tim McGraw 2004 Peak: #1 A mega-hit if there ever was one, this was the biggest hit of Tim’s career.

The 400 Best Contemporary Country Singles Part 5: #300-#276 #300 “Lipstick Promises” George Ducas 1995 Peak: #9 One- hit wonders are still something of an anomaly in country music, though they’ve certainly become more common

The 400 Best Contemporary Country Singles Part 4: #325-#301 #325 “I Cross My Heart” George Strait 1992 Peak: #1 Strait’s first single to be co-produced with Tony Brown became his signature ballad. This tender love

The 400 Best Contemporary Country Singles Part 3: #350-#326 #350 “Only Here For A Little While” Billy Dean 1991 Peak: #3 Dean’s debut single is a moving appeal for valuing the time that we have,

The 400 Best Contemporary Country Singles Part 2: #375-#351 #375 “Take It Back” Reba McEntire 1992 Peak: #5 For a singer defined by weepy ballads, McEntire is remarkably brass on this jazz-tinged kiss-off number. She

Sixteen years ago, country music entered its modern era. The Class of 1989 – Garth Brooks, Clint Black and Alan Jackson among them – ushered in new levels of sales, media exposure and even production