We Live In the Modern Age

I mostly remember this dude from his 1975 #1 hit "Hey Won't You Play Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song."  It was a catchy little tune that hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and the Country charts.  Anyway, since this is an 80's blog (mostly), here's a crappy video of BJ Thomas singing his number one country hit from 1983, "Whatever Happened to Old-Fashioned Love"...

"Whatever Happened to Old-Fashioned Love"
Single by B. J. Thomas
from the album New Looks
Released	1983
Genre	Country
Label	Columbia
Writer(s)	Lewis Anderson
Producer	Pete Drake

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak:  #93
U.S. Country charts peak:  #1

You Act Like You Were Just Born Tonight

Yesterday, The Excellent 80's brought you a top country hit from 1988 and Johnny Cash's oldest daughter, Roseanne. Thought I'd throw one more Roseanne Cash song at you today. It was probably her biggest hit reaching #1 on the country charts and crossing over and reaching #22 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 back in 1981 as well as becoming a top ten single on the adult contemporary charts. I'm digging the dude wearing his Don Johnson sport coat and proudly displaying his blond ponytail in this performance. Here is Roseanne Cash with "Seven Year Ache"...
Lyrics | Rosanne Cash lyrics - Seven Year Ache lyrics "Seven Year Ache" Single by Rosanne Cash from the album Seven Year Ache B-side "Blue Moon with Heartache" Released February 1981 Format 45 rpm Genre Country Length 3:15 Label Columbia Writer(s) Rosanne Cash Producer Rodney Crowell U.S. Country charts peak: #1 U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #22

I'm Worried About You, I'm Worried About Me

Today features the eldest daughter of the late, great Johnny Cash. Roseanne cash had a string of hits back in the 80's, and today's video features a song that was Roseanne's 9th #1 country hit. From 1988, here is "Runaway Train"...
Lyrics | Rosanne Cash lyrics - Runaway Train lyrics "Runaway Train" Single by Rosanne Cash from the album King's Record Shop B-side "Seven Year Ache" Released July 1988 Genre Country Length 3:58 Label Columbia Writer(s) John Stewart Producer Rodney Crowell U.S. Country charts peak: #1

I'll Be Over the Edge in No TIme at All

We've had the great country band Alabama in here before back in 2008 with their first huge hit called "Mountain Music." So, here's another 80's hit from the bearded one and his band Alabama. Seriously, this country band had to be one of the hairiest in the 80's. They could have shaved those beards and transformed to hair metal with no problem. Here is the #1 country hit "The Closer You Get"...




Lyrics | Alabama lyrics - The Closer You Get lyrics

"The Closer You Get"
Single by Alabama
from the album The Closer You Get...
A-side "The Closer You Get"
B-side "You Turn Me On"
Released April 29, 1983 (U.S.)
Format 7"
Recorded 1982
Genre Country
Length 3:35 (single edit)
4:33 (album version)
Label RCA Records 13524
Writer(s) J.P. Pennington, Mark Gray
Producer Harold Shedd and Alabama

U.S. Country Charts peak: #1

You Look So Good in Love

Special Sunday post alert! I rarely post anything on Sunday, but decided that you might need a sappy country love song today to cheer you up or depress you even further with Valentine's Day tomorrow! So, I decided that you can't go wrong with George Strait's third #1 hit and his first music video ever. The funny thing is even George admitted how horrible this video is and "lobbied to get that thing pulled off the air so no one would ever have to watch it again." Enjoy the cheesiness that is "You Look So Good in Love"...




Lyrics | George Strait lyrics - You Look So Good In Love lyrics

"You Look So Good in Love"
Single by George Strait
from the album Right or Wrong
B-side "A Little Heaven's Rubbing off on Me"
Released September 22, 1983
Format 7" single
Genre Country
Length 3:13
Label MCA 52279
Writer(s) Rory Bourke, Glen Ballard, Kerry Chater
Producer Ray Baker

U.S. Billboard Country charts peak: #1

How about a double shot of George on this Valentine's Day, because even though "You Look So Good in Love" is a great song, the video leaves something to desire. So, here's a better video that didn't require George to do too much of anything other than to stand there and sing and look purty. Here is another one of his many many #1 hits and a personal favorite of many - "The Chair"...




Lyrics | George Strait lyrics - The Chair lyrics

"The Chair"
Single by George Strait
from the album Something Special
B-side "In Too Deep"
Released August 26, 1985
Format 7" single
Recorded 1985
Genre Country
Length 2:51
Label MCA Nashville 52667
Writer(s) Hank Cochran, Dean Dillon
Producer Jimmy Bowen & George Strait

U.S. Billboard Hot Country charts peak: #1

Well Your Nobody Called Today

The Excellent 80's took you country on Monday with Terri Gibbs and "Somebody's Knockin'," and we end the work week with another country cross-over smash from the artist born as Sylvia Jane Kirby in Kokomo, Indiana. Better known as just Sylvia, she charted 13 top 10 country singles in the 80's, and I recall today's song very vividly cruising around in the backseat of my parents green oldsmobile in 1982. Here is Sylvia with the 1982 BMI Song of the Year, and her biggest hit - "Nobody"...




Lyrics | Sylvia lyrics - Nobody lyrics

"Nobody"

Single by Sylvia
from the album Just Sylvia
Released 1982
Genre Country Pop
Length 3:19
Label RCA Records
Writer(s) Kye Fleming, Dennis Morgan
Certification Gold (RIAA)

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #15
U.S. Country Charts peak: #1

I've Heard About Him, But I Never Dreamed...

... He'd have blue eyes and blue jeans. Ahh, yeah, don't tell me you don't remember that line from today's blast back to 1981 and a blind country singer by the name of Terri Gibbs. She was nominated for a grammy for today's song and also went on to chart 13 singles on the Billboard Country charts between 1980-1990, but she is most known for today's hit. Being introduced by Barry White and Dionne Warwick, here is Terri Gibbs with "Somebody's Knockin'"...




Lyrics | Terri Gibbs lyrics - Somebody's Knockin' lyrics

"Somebody's Knockin'"

by Terri Gibbs
from the album: "Somebody's Knockin'"
released: 1981

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #13
U.S. Country Charts peak: #8

I'll Be Looking For Eight When They Pull That Gate

Occasionally from time to time, I'll bust you off a country video just to keep you guessing... so today, The Excellent 80's goes country again with my all time favorite George Strait song... argue if you will about "The Chair" or "All My Ex's Live in Texas" or "Check Yes or No", but for my money give me this song that actually only reached #4 on the country charts back in 1982 - actually written and recorded in 1973 by Terry Stafford, many still consider this a George Strait song - here is "Amarillo By Morning"...

George Strait - Amarillo by morning
Uploaded by Coyote63000

Lyrics | Amarillo By Morning lyrics

"Amarillo By Morning"

by George Strait
from the album: "Strait From the Heart"
released: 1982

Country Charts Peak: #4

The Excellent 80's Goes Country

Even though this is not a country music video blog (mainly because country music videos didn't catch on until later), occasionally I'll hear a country song from the 80's that I liked, so here are a couple that I remember being huge hits...

First up, Alabama with "Mountain Music"...




Mountain Music Lyrics

“Mountain Music”

Single by Alabama
from the album Mountain Music
A-side "Mountain Music"
B-side "Never Be One"
Released February 19, 1982 (U.S.)
Format 7"
Recorded 1981
Genre Country
Length 3:39 (single edit)
4:08 (album version)
Label RCA Records 13019
Writer(s) Randy Owen
Producer Harold Shedd and Alabama

Hot Country Singles: #1


I love to hear the thunder and watch the lightening as it lights up the sky... Edddie Rabbitt with "I Love A Rainy Night"...




I Love A Rainy Night Lyrics

“I Love a Rainy Night”

Single by Eddie Rabbitt
from the album Horizon
Released 1980
Format 7"
Recorded 1980
Genre Country, pop
Length 3:08
Label Elektra Records 47066
Writer(s) Eddie Rabbitt, Even Stevens and David Malloy
Producer David Malloy
Certification Gold (RIAA)

Billboard Hot 100: #1
Hot Country Singles: #1
Adult Contemporary Chart: #1

80's Movie Weekend

The Excellent 80's goes country... sort of. From 1980, it's Bud and Sissy and Johnny Lee singing "Lookin' For Love" as the cowboy craze started sweeping the nation (if anybody can find Eddie Murphy singing "Wookin' Pa Nub on SNL, send me the link so I can post it as well)...



Here's Johnny Lee performing his hit in person...

JOHNNY LEE lyrics

Urban Cowboy

















Directed by James Bridges
Produced by Irving Azoff
Robert Evans
Written by James Bridges
Aaron Latham
Starring John Travolta
Debra Winger
Scott Glenn
Barry Corbin
Madolyn Smith
Coynard Coyle
Distributed by Paramount Pictures
Release date(s) June 6, 1980
Running time 132 min.
Country United States
Language English