Confederate Railroad – Country Universe

A Country Music Conversation: Sirius Top 1000 Country Songs of All Time, #540-#531

June 21, 2020 Kevin John Coyne 15

A great selection of artists, but not a great selection of singles.

Single Review: Tucker Beathard, “Momma and Jesus”

October 21, 2016 Kevin John Coyne 8

I’m beginning to suspect that enjoyment of contemporary country music requires a complete lack of familiarity with what came before it.

Single Review: Dierks Bentley with Elle King, “Different For Girls”

September 26, 2016 Kevin John Coyne 2

“Different For Girls” is based on the gender stereotypes of yore. Guys push down their feelings and get drunk. Girls can’t do that because they’re too sensitive. They just sit home and cry instead.

Sunday Selections: July 24, 2016

July 24, 2016 Jonathan Keefe 8

If you need us, we’ll be where our reputations don’t precede us.

The Best Singles of 1993, Part Three: #20-#11

July 27, 2015 Kevin John Coyne 8

As we enter the top half of the list, signature hits by some of the era’s biggest stars rub elbows with a pair of breakthrough singles and an overlooked release by a future superstar. You’ll

The Best Singles of 1994, Part 2: #30-#21

December 9, 2014 Kevin John Coyne 7

Part Two of the Best Singles of 1994 begins with a hit from Confederate Railroad.

400 Greatest Singles of the Nineties: #175-#151

August 5, 2010 Kevin John Coyne 16

Proving that the airplay charts don’t tell all of the story, this part of the countdown features several singles by nineties stars that didn’t reach the top but have stood the test of time.

400 Greatest Singles of the Nineties: #350-326

July 11, 2010 Kevin John Coyne 24

A few should’ve been hits are mixed in with genuine smashes as the countdown continues.

How Very Nineties: George Jones & Friends, and other All Star Jams

June 13, 2010 Kevin John Coyne 11

New fans of country music in the nineties were hit over the head with the assertion that country music was one big family. Nothing demonstrated this mythos better than the all star jams that cropped up during the boom years.

There were some variants of this approach. A popular one found a veteran star teaming up with one or more of the boom artists to increase their chances of radio airplay. George Jones was big on this approach, with the most high profile attempt being “I Don’t Need Your Rockin’ Chair.” Seventeen years later, it’s amazing to see how young everyone looks – even Jones himself!