From Willie Nelson’s “My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys” in 1981 to Alabama’s “There’s A Fire in the Night” in 1985, to Garth Brooks’ “If Tomorrow Never Comes” in 1989, the country music journey of the 1980’s had elements of the past, present and future.  Nelson’s success transcended the decades and his “outlaw” sound of the 1970’s was still popular.  “My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys,” a former album track by fellow outlaw, Waylon Jennings, was part of the soundtrack of “The Electric Horseman” and a country #1 single.  Alabama was a 1980’s phenomenon as a country music band with “Fire in the Night” its 15th consecutive #1.  Garth Brooks would prove to be a harbinger of the future of country music and “If Tomorrow Never Comes” his first #1.

“Urban Cowboy,” starring John Travolta and Debra Winger, was released on June 6, 1980.  The movie brought country music to a new level of popular attention.  Country music had been largely viewed as a sit and listen medium.  With Travolta bringing his dance moves from his late 1970’s blockbuster movies “Saturday Night Fever” and “Grease” country music became more associated with dance music.  Clubs like Gilley’s portrayed in the movie sprang up in major metropolitan areas and people started sporting cowboy hats and boots.  The “Urban Cowboy” soundtrack produced three number one country hits: “Stand By Me” by Micky Gilley, “Lookin’ For Love” by Johnny Lee, and “Could I Have This Dance” by Anne Murray.  All three were very pop compatible songs made to cross-over to the pop chart.  Gilley’s rendition of “Stand By Me” was as comfortable on the pop chart as its original recording by Ben E. King in 1961.

Since the emergence of the “Nashville sound” in the early 1960’s there had been a consistent push/pull relationship between pop oriented country music and traditionalists who sought to keep country within the bounds of its origins.  The disco-country sound of the early 1980’s was soon predictably challenged by those who wanted country music to be more traditional.  Barbara Mandrell expressed it in her #1 country hit of 1981, “I Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool.”  By the mid 1980’s this sentiment produced a group of artists referred to as “New Traditionalists.”  The New Traditionalist movement began as early as 1981 when George Strait released his first album, “Strait Country.”  As the title implies, it was not targeting a pop audience and was different from the “Urban Cowboy” sounds that were dominating the country music charts at the time.  As Strait’s recordings moved away from the pop sound, his presentation and appearance differentiated himself from the outlaw country music that had been so popular in the late 1970’s.  He didn’t grow his hair long and always wore a cowboy hat.  He did wear blue jeans.  Country artists such as The Judds, Randy Travis, Toby Keith and Reba McIntyre focused on a traditional country music in the mid 1980’s.

While the New Traditionalists were finding more success, the softer, mellow sounds of pop country co-existed on the country chart.  Kenny Rogers continued to have solo success as well as several chart-topping duets.  His number one collaboration with Dolly Parton in 1983, “Islands in the Stream,” certainly has pop credentials.  It also reached the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 and it was written by The Bee Gees. 

The Eagles were one of the most successful artists of the 1970’s with their country influenced rock sound.  It was probably inevitable that country musicians would take notice and bring the rock band sound to country.  That is what Alabama did.  The artist of the decade for the 1980’s, Alabama had its first #1 in 1980 with “Tennessee River.”  That began a series of 20 consecutive #1’s and they finished the decade with “Southern Star” in 1989 as their 26th top song.  (The streak was interrupted in 1987 when “Tar Top” peaked at #7.)  While Alabama is the prime example of the success of country bands in the 1980’s, there were others such as The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, The Gatlin Brothers, and The Oak Ridge Boys.

The most significant factor in pop music in the 1980’s was the advent of MTV with its programming full of music videos promoting the latest pop music releases.  In 1983, country music got in on the act with the launching of two cable networks, TNN (The Nashville Network) and CMT (Country Music Television).  Both networks served to popularize country music with a younger generation.

With a dichotomy of styles from the traditional to the pop cross-over, country artists like Alabama, George Strait, Alan Jackson, Reba McIntyre, and Garth Brooks began their careers while artists such as Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, George Jones and Kenny Rogers proved they had staying power.  Whether emphasizing staying true to its roots or searching for cross-over success, country music’s audience grew dramatically in the 1980’s. 

25 FAVORITES FROM THE 1980'S
listed in chronoligical order (click on column head to sort)