The cover of the 1959 edition of Billboard Top Country Hits

Billboard Top Country Hits is a series of compilation albums released by Rhino Records, each featuring ten hit country music recordings from a specific year, mostly number ones on the Billboard country singles chart. In all, 15 albums were released spanning the years 19591968 (released in 1990) and 19861990 (released in 1993).

1959

Billboard Top Country Hits: 1959
Compilation album by
various artists
ReleasedJune 12, 1990
Recorded1959
GenreCountry
Length25:37
LabelRhino
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]

The first volume, covering the year of 1959, contains seven tracks that reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot C&W Sides chart, with the remaining three tracks all peaking in the top five.

No.TitleWriter(s)ArtistLength
1."The Battle of New Orleans"James Corbitt MorrisJohnny Horton2:35
2."Don't Take Your Guns to Town"Johnny CashJohnny Cash3:05
3."Billy Bayou"Roger MillerJim Reeves2:07
4."I Ain't Never"Webb Pierce1:57
5."White Lightning"Jiles Perry RichardsonGeorge Jones2:49
6."Waterloo"Stonewall Jackson2:30
7."The Three Bells (Les Trois Cloches)"The Browns2:52
8."Under Your Spell Again"
Buck Owens2:45
9."Country Girl"Roy DruskyFaron Young2:37
10."There's a Big Wheel" Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper2:20
Total length:25:37

1960

Billboard Top Country Hits: 1960
Compilation album by
various artists
ReleasedJune 12, 1990
Recorded1960
GenreCountry
Length28:35
LabelRhino
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic [3]

Four of the tracks included on this album reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot C&W Sides chart during 1960. One of the tracks — "El Paso" by Marty Robbins, was also a chart topper on the Billboard Hot 100. Also included in the track lineup is the year's No. 1 song, "Please Help Me I'm Falling" by Hank Locklin. The remaining six tracks all peaked in the top ten.

No.TitleWriter(s)ArtistLength
1."El Paso"Marty RobbinsMarty Robbins4:42
2."Wings of a Dove"Bob FergusonFerlin Husky2:22
3."Just One Time"Don GibsonDon Gibson2:46
4."He'll Have to Go"
Jim Reeves2:21
5."He'll Have to Stay"
Jeanne Black2:45
6."Sink the Bismarck"Johnny Horton3:15
7."Please Help Me, I'm Falling"
Hank Locklin2:25
8."(I Can't Help You) I'm Falling Too"
Skeeter Davis2:46
9."Excuse Me (I Think I've Got a Heartache)"Buck Owens2:29
10."One More Time"Mel TillisRay Price2:44
Total length:28:35

1961

Billboard Top Country Hits: 1961
Compilation album by
various artists
ReleasedJune 12, 1990
Recorded1961
GenreCountry
Length26:51
LabelRhino
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[5]

Seven of the tracks included on this album reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart during 1961, including the year's No. 1 song, "I Fall to Pieces" by Patsy Cline. Also included is "Big Bad John" by Jimmy Dean, a crossover hit which spent five weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100. The other three tracks all peaked in the top ten of the country chart.

No.TitleWriter(s)ArtistLength
1."Walk on By"
  • Kendall Hayes
  • Gary Walker
Leroy Van Dyke2:22
2."Big Bad John"Jimmy Dean3:03
3."Don't Worry"Marty RobbinsMarty Robbins3:17
4."Hello Walls"Willie NelsonFaron Young2:26
5."North to Alaska"
Johnny Horton2:52
6."I Fall to Pieces"Patsy Cline2:51
7."Sea of Heartbreak"Don Gibson2:35
8."Tender Years"
George Jones2:25
9."Foolin' Around"
Buck Owens2:40
10."San Antonio Rose"Bob WillsFloyd Cramer2:20
Total length:26:51

1962

Billboard Top Country Hits: 1962
Compilation album by
various artists
ReleasedJune 12, 1990
Recorded1962
GenreCountry
Length28:49
LabelRhino
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[7]

Five of the tracks included on this album reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart during 1962, including the year's No. 1 song, "Wolverton Mountain" by Claude King. The other five tracks all peaked in the top five.

No.TitleWriter(s)ArtistLength
1."Wolverton Mountain"Claude King2:59
2."She's Got You"Hank CochranPatsy Cline3:03
3."Devil Woman"Marty RobbinsMarty Robbins2:53
4."Old Rivers"Cliff CroffordWalter Brennan2:49
5."Don't Go Near the Indians"Lorene MannRex Allen3:07
6."I've Been Everywhere"Geoff MackHank Snow2:49
7."Crazy"Willie NelsonPatsy Cline2:44
8."She Thinks I Still Care"
George Jones2:38
9."P.T. 109"Jimmy Dean3:15
10."Adios Amigo"Jim Reeves2:32
Total length:28:49

1963

Billboard Top Country Hits: 1963
Compilation album by
various artists
ReleasedJune 12, 1990
Recorded1963
GenreCountry
Length24:24
LabelRhino
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[9]

Seven of the tracks included on this album reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart during 1963, including the year's No. 1 song, "Still" by Bill Anderson. The other three tracks all peaked in the Top 5.

No.TitleWriter(s)ArtistLength
1."Ring of Fire"Johnny Cash2:39
2."From a Jack to a King"Ned MillerNed Miller2:13
3."Love's Gonna Live Here"Buck OwensBuck Owens2:02
4."Ruby Ann"
Marty Robbins2:02
5."The End of the World"Skeeter Davis2:40
6."Abilene"George Hamilton IV2:14
7."Six Days on the Road"
  • Earl Green
  • Carl Montgomery
Dave Dudley2:24
8."Act Naturally"
Buck Owens2:24
9."Don't Let Me Cross Over"Penny JayCarl Butler and Pearl2:59
10."Still"Bill AndersonBill Anderson2:47
Total length:24:24

1964

Billboard Top Country Hits: 1964
Compilation album by
Various artists
ReleasedOctober 17, 1990 (1990-10-17)
Recorded1963
GenreCountry
Length24:04
LabelRhino
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[11]

Eight of the tracks included on this album reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart during 1964, including the year's No. 1 song, "My Heart Skips a Beat" by Buck Owens. The other two tracks — "Chug-A-Lug" by Roger Miller and "The Race Is On" by George Jones — peaked in the top five.

No.TitleWriter(s)ArtistLength
1."Once a Day"Bill AndersonConnie Smith2:21
2."Understand Your Man"Johnny CashJohnny Cash2:42
3."Dang Me"Roger MillerRoger Miller1:52
4."Saginaw, Michigan"
Lefty Frizzell3:05
5."My Heart Skips a Beat"Buck OwensBuck Owens2:27
6."The Race Is On"Don RollinsGeorge Jones2:09
7."I Guess I'm Crazy"Werly FairburnJim Reeves2:27
8."Chug-a-Lug"Roger MillerRoger Miller2:06
9."Together Again"Buck OwensBuck Owens2:27
10."Begging to You"Marty RobbinsMarty Robbins2:28
Total length:24:04

1965

Billboard Top Country Hits: 1965
Compilation album by
various artists
ReleasedAugust 17, 1990 (1990-08-17)
Recorded1965
GenreCountry
Length25:00
LabelRhino
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[13]

Eight of the tracks included on this album reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart during 1965. The other two tracks — "Truck Drivin' Son-of-a-Gun" by Dave Dudley and "I'll Keep Holding On (Just to Your Love)" by Sonny James — peaked in the top five.

No.TitleWriter(s)ArtistLength
1."King of the Road"Roger MillerRoger Miller2:28
2."I've Got a Tiger by the Tail"Buck Owens3:13
3."I'll Keep Holding On (Just to Your Love)"
Sonny James2:21
4."Girl on the Billboard"Del Reeves2:44
5."Truck Drivin' Son-of-a-Gun"
  • Iris Buswell
  • Joseph R. Phillips
Dave Dudley2:12
6."Make the World Go Away"Hank CochranEddy Arnold2:41
7."Before You Go"
Buck Owens2:11
8."Behind the Tear"
Sonny James2:04
9."This Is It"Cindy WalkerJim Reeves3:08
10."Buckaroo"Bob MorrisBuck Owens & His Buckaroos1:58
Total length:25:00

1966

Billboard Top Country Hits: 1966
Compilation album by
various artists
ReleasedAugust 17, 1990 (1990-08-17)
Recorded1966
GenreCountry
Length25:08
LabelRhino
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[15]

Eight of the tracks included on this album reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart during 1966, including the year's No. 1 song, "Almost Persuaded" by David Houston. The other two tracks — "You Ain't Woman Enough" by Loretta Lynn and "Tippy-Toeing" by the Harden Trio — peaked at No. 2.

No.TitleWriter(s)ArtistLength
1."There Goes My Everything"Dallas FrazierJack Greene2:36
2."I Get the Fever"Bill AndersonBil Anderson2:22
3."Almost Persuaded"David Houston2:58
4."Waitin' in Your Welfare Line"Buck Owens & His Buckaroos2:21
5."Flowers on the Wall"Lew DeWittThe Statler Brothers2:22
6."I Want to Go with You"Hank CochranEddy Arnold2:43
7."You Ain't Woman Enough (To Take My Man)"Loretta LynnLoretta Lynn2:16
8."Distant Drums"Cindy WalkerJim Reeves2:56
9."Take Good Care of Her"
Sonny James2:32
10."Tippy-Toeing"Bobby HardenThe Harden Trio2:02
Total length:25:08

1967

Billboard Top Country Hits: 1967
Compilation album by
various artists
ReleasedAugust 17, 1990 (1990-08-17)
Recorded1967
GenreCountry
Length25:29
LabelRhino
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[17]

Each of the tracks on this album reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart during 1967. Included is the year's No. 1 song, "All the Time" by Jack Greene.

No.TitleWriter(s)ArtistLength
1."All the Time"
Jack Greene2:43
2."The Fugitive"
Merle Haggard2:57
3."My Elusive Dreams"David Houston & Tammy Wynette2:52
4."Walk Through This World With Me"
  • Sandy Seamons
  • Kaye Savage
George Jones2:19
5."For Loving You"
  • Steve Karliski
  • Rossini Pinto
Bill Anderson & Jan Howard2:47
6."It's Such a Pretty World Today"Dale NoeWynn Stewart2:32
7."Sam's Place"Buck Owens & His Buckaroos2:00
8."I Don't Wanna Play House"Tammy Wynette2:38
9."I'll Never Find Another You"Tom SpringfieldSonny James2:26
10."You Mean the World to Me"
  • Billy Sherrill
  • Glenn Sutton
David Houston2:15
Total length:25:29

1968

Billboard Top Country Hits: 1968
Compilation album by
various artists
ReleasedAugust 17, 1990 (1990-08-17)
Recorded1968
GenreCountry
Length27:18
LabelRhino
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[19]

Each of the tracks reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart during 1968. Included is the year's No. 1 song, "Folsom Prison Blues" by Johnny Cash. "Harper Valley PTA" by Jeannie C. Riley also was a No. 1 single on the Billboard Hot 100.

No.TitleWriter(s)ArtistLength
1."Stand by Your Man"Tammy Wynette2:41
2."Heaven Says Hello"Cindy WalkerSonny James2:06
3."Mama Tried"Merle HaggardMerle Haggard2:13
4."Folsom Prison Blues"Johnny CashJohnny Cash2:46
5."Skip a Rope"
Henson Cargill2:39
6."Wichita Lineman"Jimmy WebbGlen Campbell3:09
7."Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye"John D. LoudermilkEddy Arnold2:50
8."Sing Me Back Home"Merle HaggardMerle Haggard2:50
9."Next in Line"
Conway Twitty2:53
10."Harper Valley PTA"Tom T. HallJeannie C. Riley3:11
Total length:27:18

1986

Billboard Top Country Hits: 1986
Compilation album by
various artists
ReleasedOctober 19, 1993 (1993-10-19)
Recorded1986
GenreCountry
Length34:09
LabelRhino
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[21]

Each of the tracks in this volume reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart during 1986 and early 1987.

No.TitleWriter(s)ArtistLength
1."Mind Your Own Business" (with Reba McEntire, Tom Petty, Reverend Ike, and Willie Nelson)Hank WilliamsHank Williams Jr.2:26
2."Cajun Moon"Jim RushingRicky Skaggs3:48
3."It'll Be Me"Exile2:57
4."Hell and High Water"T. Graham Brown3:14
5."Mornin' Ride"
  • Steve Bogard
  • Jeff Tweel
Lee Greenwood3:24
6."Life's Highway"Steve Wariner3:17
7."Just Another Love"Paul DavisTanya Tucker3:14
8."You Still Move Me"Dan SealsDan Seals5:11
9."Strong Heart"T. G. Sheppard3:36
10."Got My Heart Set on You"
John Conlee3:02
Total length:34:09

1987

Billboard Top Country Hits: 1987
Compilation album by
various artists
ReleasedOctober 19, 1993 (1993-10-19)
Recorded1987
GenreCountry
Length33:39
LabelRhino
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic [23]

Each of the tracks in this volume reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart during 1987 and early 1988.

No.TitleWriter(s)ArtistLength
1."Forever and Ever, Amen"Randy Travis3:31
2."Somewhere Tonight"Highway 1013:17
3."Fishin' in the Dark"Nitty Gritty Dirt Band3:19
4."The Way We Make a Broken Heart"John HiattRosanne Cash3:55
5."You Again"The Forester Sisters3:21
6."One Friend"Dan SealsDan Seals3:13
7."She's Too Good to Be True"Exile3:38
8."The Weekend"
Steve Wariner3:51
9."Can't Stop My Heart from Loving You"The O'Kanes2:49
10."Born to Boogie"Hank Williams Jr.Hank Williams Jr.2:45
Total length:33:39

1988

Billboard Top Country Hits: 1988
Compilation album by
various artists
ReleasedOctober 19, 1993 (1993-10-19)
Recorded1988
GenreCountry
Length32:56
LabelRhino
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[25]

Each of the tracks in this volume reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart during 1988 and early 1989.

No.TitleWriter(s)ArtistLength
1."I Couldn't Leave You If I Tried"Rodney CrowellRodney Crowell3:17
2."Set 'Em Up Joe"Vern Gosdin2:28
3."I Sang Dixie"Dwight YoakamDwight Yoakam3:50
4."Hold Me"K. T. OslinK. T. Oslin4:01
5."When You Say Nothing at All"Keith Whitley3:43
6."Strong Enough to Bend"Tanya Tucker2:45
7."What I'd Say"
Earl Thomas Conley3:53
8."I Told You So"Randy TravisRandy Travis3:40
9."Cry, Cry, Cry"Highway 1012:31
10."Streets of Bakersfield"Homer JoyDwight Yoakam & Buck Owens2:48
Total length:32:56

1989

Billboard Top Country Hits: 1989
Compilation album by
various artists
ReleasedOctober 19, 1993 (1993-10-19)
Recorded1989
GenreCountry
Length34:04
LabelRhino
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[27]

Each of the tracks in this volume reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart during 1989 and early 1990.

No.TitleWriter(s)ArtistLength
1."The Church on Cumberland Road"Shenandoah3:02
2."I Got Dreams"Steve Wariner3:52
3."Timber, I'm Falling in Love"KostasPatty Loveless2:32
4."I'm No Stranger to the Rain"
Keith Whitley3:37
5."It's Just a Matter of Time"Randy Travis3:58
6."A Woman in Love"
Ronnie Milsap3:16
7."Yellow Roses"Dolly PartonDolly Parton3:57
8."On Second Thought"Eddie RabbittEddie Rabbitt3:39
9."Who's Lonely Now"Highway 1013:25
10."Bayou Boys"Eddy Raven2:46
Total length:34:04

1990

Billboard Top Country Hits: 1990
Compilation album by
various artists
ReleasedOctober 19, 1993 (1993-10-19)
Recorded1990
GenreCountry
Length33:53
LabelRhino
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic [29]

Each of the tracks in this volume reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart during 1990 and early 1991.

No.TitleWriter(s)ArtistLength
1."You Really Had Me Going"Holly Dunn2:50
2."Next to You, Next to Me"Shenandoah3:41
3."Walk on Faith"Mike Reid3:12
4."Hard Rock Bottom of Your Heart"Hugh PrestwoodRandy Travis4:06
5."Five Minutes"Beth Nielsen ChapmanLorrie Morgan3:35
6."Jukebox in My Mind"Alabama3:33
7."Home"
  • Fred Lehner
  • Andy Spooner
Joe Diffie3:21
8."Daddy's Come Around"Paul Overstreet3:33
9."Chains"
Patty Loveless2:29
10."Good Times"Sam CookeDan Seals3:33
Total length:33:53

References

  1. ^ Cook, Stephen. Billboard Top Country Hits: 1959 at AllMusic
  2. ^ Billboard Top Country Hits: 1959 (liner notes). Various artists. Rhino. 1990.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  3. ^ Koda, Cub. Billboard Top Country Hits: 1960 at AllMusic
  4. ^ Billboard Top Country Hits: 1960 (liner notes). Various artists. Rhino. 1990.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  5. ^ Koda, Cub. Billboard Top Country Hits: 1961 at AllMusic
  6. ^ Billboard Top Country Hits: 1961 (liner notes). Various artists. Rhino. 1990.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. ^ Cook, Stephen. Billboard Top Country Hits: 1962 at AllMusic
  8. ^ Billboard Top Country Hits: 1962 (liner notes). Various artists. Rhino. 1990.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. ^ Koda, Cub. Billboard Top Country Hits: 1963 at AllMusic
  10. ^ Billboard Top Country Hits: 1963 (liner notes). Various artists. Rhino. 1990.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. ^ Koda, Cub. Billboard Top Country Hits: 1964 at AllMusic
  12. ^ Billboard Top Country Hits: 1964 (liner notes). Various artists. Rhino. 1990.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. ^ Cook, Stephen. Billboard Top Country Hits: 1965 at AllMusic
  14. ^ Billboard Top Country Hits: 1965 (liner notes). Various artists. Rhino. 1990.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. ^ Campbell, Al. Billboard Top Country Hits: 1966 at AllMusic
  16. ^ Billboard Top Country Hits: 1966 (liner notes). Various artists. Rhino. 1990.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  17. ^ Cook, Stephen. Billboard Top Country Hits: 1967 at AllMusic
  18. ^ Billboard Top Country Hits: 1967 (liner notes). Various artists. Rhino. 1990.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  19. ^ Cook, Stephen. Billboard Top Country Hits: 1968 at AllMusic
  20. ^ Billboard Top Country Hits: 1968 (liner notes). Various artists. Rhino. 1990.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  21. ^ Campbell, Al. Billboard Top Country Hits: 1986 at AllMusic
  22. ^ Billboard Top Country Hits: 1986 (liner notes). Various artists. Rhino. 1993.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  23. ^ Campbell, Al. Billboard Top Country Hits: 1987 at AllMusic
  24. ^ Billboard Top Country Hits: 1987 (liner notes). Various artists. Rhino. 1993.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  25. ^ Campbell, Al. Billboard Top Country Hits: 1988 at AllMusic
  26. ^ Billboard Top Country Hits: 1988 (liner notes). Various artists. Rhino. 1993.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  27. ^ Campbell, Al. Billboard Top Country Hits: 1989 at AllMusic
  28. ^ Billboard Top Country Hits: 1989 (liner notes). Various artists. Rhino. 1993.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  29. ^ Campbell, Al. Billboard Top Country Hits: 1990 at AllMusic
  30. ^ Billboard Top Country Hits: 1990 (liner notes). Various artists. Rhino. 1993.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)