Every #1 Country Single of the Eighties: Merle Haggard, “A Better Love Next Time” October 25, 2024 Kevin John Coyne 1 Merle Haggard’s final number one single is held back by a baffling production choice.
Every #1 Country Single of the Eighties: Merle Haggard, “Twinkle, Twinkle Lucky Star” June 28, 2024 Kevin John Coyne 2 Merle Haggard’s final Billboard No. 1 hit.
Every #1 Country Single of the Eighties: Merle Haggard, “Natural High” November 27, 2023 Kevin John Coyne 3 Janie Fricke backs up Hag again.
Every #1 Country Single of the Eighties: Merle Haggard with Janie Fricke, “A Place to Fall Apart” November 1, 2023 Kevin John Coyne 5 Janie Fricke brightens up a dark ballad.
Every #1 Country Single of the Eighties: Merle Haggard, “Let’s Chase Each Other Around the Room” October 3, 2023 Kevin John Coyne 1 Merle Haggard’s old traditionalism fits quite nicely on mid-eighties radio.
Every #1 Country Single of the Eighties: Merle Haggard, “Someday When Things are Good” August 30, 2023 Kevin John Coyne 1 Merle Haggard and Leona Williams write the epitaph for their marriage.
Every #1 Country Single of the Eighties: Merle Haggard, “That’s the Way Love Goes” August 3, 2023 Kevin John Coyne 5 A gorgeous cover of a Johnny Rodriguez hit returns Merle Haggard and Lefty Frizzell to the top of the chart.
Every #1 Country Single of the Eighties: Merle Haggard & Willie Nelson, “Pancho and Lefty” June 9, 2023 Kevin John Coyne 4 A Townes Van Zandt classic tops the country charts, thanks to a powerhouse pairing of superstar artists.
Every #1 Country Single of the Eighties: Merle Haggard, “You Take Me For Granted” May 28, 2023 Kevin John Coyne 2 A stunning portrait of a collapsing marriage.
Every #1 Country Single of the Eighties: Merle Haggard, “Going Where the Lonely Go” April 28, 2023 Kevin John Coyne 2 The Merle Haggard renaissance continues.