Country Universe

Essential 80’s: #50-#26

July 29, 2006 Kevin John Coyne 0

200 Essential 80’s Singles Part 7: #50-#26 #50 “She and I” Alabama 1986 Peak: #1 Upon its release, this was one of the freshest-sounding singles on the radio. Alabama sound absolutely rejuvenated, as if finding

Say What? – Mary Chapin Carpenter

July 26, 2006 Kevin John Coyne 1

Mary Chapin Carpenter has written a song about the Dixie Chicks called “On With The Song”, which will be released on her forthcoming album this spring. From her mailing list: I especially look forward to

Essential 80’s: #75-#51

July 9, 2006 Kevin John Coyne 3

#75 “I Did” Patty Loveless 1987 Peak: #56 The first album by Patty Loveless was a scattered affair, as she searched for a style she could call her own. Interestingly, it was this single she

Essential 80’s: #100-#76

June 27, 2006 Kevin John Coyne 0

200 Essential 80’s Singles Part 5: #100-#76 #100 “Tennessee Homesick Blues” Dolly Parton 1984 Peak: #1 Parton sings in the voice of a homesick Tennessean turned off by the coldness of New York City. In

Hall Worthy

June 24, 2006 Kevin John Coyne 8

Last year, I posted the top twelve worthy inductees into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Sadly, the CMA only took one of my three suggestions: Glen Campbell, with the other two slots going to

Numbers Don’t Lie

June 23, 2006 Kevin John Coyne 0

Perusing the SoundScan totals for country albums makes all of those mergers and layoffs seem a lot more understandable. Wow, the market is weak. Even Entertainer of the Year nominees are having a hard time

Essential 80’s: #125-#101

June 22, 2006 Kevin John Coyne 0

200 Essential 80’s Singles Part 4: #125-#101 #125 “All My Ex’s Live In Texas” George Strait 1987 Peak: #1 Classic Texas swing from the modern master. Strait almost sounds relieved to be hiding out in

New Dixie Chicks CD

June 20, 2006 Kevin John Coyne 0

It was noted to me that I had spent a lot of time talking up the new Dixie Chicks album but haven’t mentioned it since it’s been released. I’ve been reading about the Chicks almost

Essential 80’s: #150-#126

June 10, 2006 Kevin John Coyne 0

200 Essential 80’s Singles Part 3: #150-#126 #150 “Love Me Like You Used To” Tanya Tucker 1987 Peak: #2 Tucker reached her commercial peak in the early nineties, but the foundation for that came with

Essential 80’s: #175-#151

May 29, 2006 Kevin John Coyne 0

200 Essential 80’s Singles Part 2: #175-#151 #175 “Bop” Dan Seals 1985 Peak: #1 How conservative is this song about wanting to “bop with you baby, all night long”? It goes out of its way