Willie Nelson - Always On My Mind (35th anniversary)

Today (February 28th) marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of Always On My Mind by Willie Nelson. The 1982 album spent ninety-nine weeks on the US Billboard Album charts, including three weeks at the peak spot of number 2. On the US Billboard Country charts, it spent an impressive 253 weeks on the charts, which included a total of 22 weeks at the number 1 spot.

For more on this album, click here.

Dolly Parton - 9 to 5 and Odd Jobs (35th anniversary)

Today (December 6th) marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of the Billboard Album chart debut of 9 to 5 and Odd Jobs, the twenty-third solo album from country music legend Dolly Parton. Beginning her third decade in the business, the album reached number 1 on the US Country charts, number 11 on the US Billboard Album charts (with a thirty-four week total run), number 36 on the Canadian Country charts, and number 15 on the general Canadian music charts.

For full details on this record, click here.

For more from Dolly Parton, click here.

J.D. Shelburne - live and on CDs

Our final day of our Nashville trip rounded out with a stop at the Tequila Cowboy, a restaurant and bar on Broadway. It was there that we were treated to final hour of an afternoon acoustic set by J.D. Shelburne. He was joined on stage by acoustic cajon player Eric Carby.

Shelburne hails from Taylorsville, Kentucky. This hard-working musician has been playing gigs regularly since he graduated the University of Kentucky in 2007. He has even opened for such big name country acts as Kellie Pickler, Montgomery Gentry and Miranda Lambert.

Urban Cowboy (soundtrack) (35th anniversary)

This month marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of the release of the soundtrack from Urban Cowboy. The album spent forty-seven weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, including two weeks at its peak position of number 3. The film would open on June 6th of 1980.

For my complete lowdown on this country-rock hoedown, click here.

Crystal Gayle - Miss the Mississippi (35th anniversary)

Welcome to another edition of Seventies Saturday.

This month marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of Miss the Mississippi, the seventh studio album from Crystal Gayle. It spent twenty-eight weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 36.

For my full review, click here.

The Oak Ridge Boys - Deliver

Nine months exactly after the release of American Made (click here for that review), the Oak Ridge Boys put out their tenth studio album Deliver. Today (October 20th), we mark the thirtieth anniversary of that 1983 release which charted at number 121 on the US Billboard Album chart and number 1 on the US Billboard Country chart.

George Strait - Right Or Wrong

Today (October 6th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Right Or Wrong, the third studio album from American country singer George Strait. This 1983 release stopped at number 163 on the US Billboard Album Chart but reached number 1 on the US Billboard Country chart.

Sissy Spacek - Hangin' Up My Heart

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of Hangin’ Up My Heart, the first studio album for actress Sissy Spacek. Having done an amazing job in the 1980 film Coal Miner’s Daughter (her Oscar winning performance in the biography of country star Loretta Lynn), Spacek hit the studio for this 1983 release to continue to explore her musical side. The results resonated with fans, climbing all the way to number 17 on the US Billboard Country chart.

Stroker Ace (soundtrack)

Welcome to another edition of Soundtrack Sunday.

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of the release of Stroker Ace, the 1983 film about NASCAR driving that starred Burt Reynolds, his future wife Loni Anderson (they wed in 1988), Jim Nabors, Ned Beatty, Parker Stevenson and pro football player turned actor Bubba Smith. There were also appearances in the movie by real-life NASCAR drivers Dale Earnhardt, Richard Petty, Ricky Rudd, Benny Parsons and many more.

Willie Nelson with Waylon Jennings - Take It to the Limit

Happy eightieth birthday today (April 30th) to Willie Nelson.

This month also marks the thirtieth anniversary of the release of Take It to the Limit, the third studio album that Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings released together as a team. The record went to number 3 on the US Billboard Country chart and crossed over to number 60 on the US Billboard Hot 200.

The tracks break down with duets by the two men on the odd tracks, while the even ones are Nelson performing solo.

Ronnie Milsap - Keyed Up

Today (March 31st) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Keyed Up, the fifteenth studio album from country singer Ronnie Milsap. It charted at number 2 on the US Billboard Country chart and crossed over to number 36 on the US Billboard Hot 200.

The original vinyl release included ten songs, but the later US CD release cut it back to only seven for some reason (import CDs from Japan restored it to ten). For this review, I will stick to the full vinyl content.

Alabama - The Closer You Get...

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of the release of The Closer You Get..., the fourth studio album from Alabama. Just as their 1982 album Mountain Music did, this 1983 release also went multi-Platinum. On the charts, it went to number 17 in Canada, number 10 on the US Billboard Hot 200 and number 1 on the US Billboard Country chart.

Hank Williams, Jr. - Strong Stuff

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of the release of Strong Stuff, the thirty-fifth studio album from American country singer Hank Williams, Jr. The Gold selling album reached number 64 on the US Billboard Hot 200 and number 7 on the US Billboard Country charts.

The Oak Ridge Boys - American Made

Tomorrow (January 20th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of the release of American Made, the ninth studio album from the American country band the Oak Ridge Boys (Duane Allen, Joe Bonsall, William Lee Golden and Richard Sterban). The record went to number 51 on the US Billboard Hot 200 and number 2 on the Billboard Country charts. It also generated a pair of number 1 country hits in the US.

Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson - Poncho & Lefty

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of Pancho & Lefty, the chart-topping 1983 country album from Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson. It went to number 1 on the US Billboard Country charts and crossed over to number 37 on the US Billboard Hot 200 as well. It also generated a pair of hit singles.

Sylvia - Just Sylvia

Country singer Sylvia followed her 1981 debut album Drifter with the 1982 follow-up album Just Sylvia, a title that referred to her performing under just her first name. Today we celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of the record. It would be her best-selling album to date, going Gold in both the US and Canada. Chart-wise, it hit number 51 in Canada, number 56 on the US Billboard Hot 200 and number 2 on the US Billboard Country chart.

Eddie Rabbitt - Radio Romance

Today (October 1st) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Radio Romance, the eighth studio album from singer-songwriter Eddie Rabbitt. This release went to number 31 on the US Billboard Hot 200 and number 5 on the Billboard Country charts.

Shania Twain - Come On Over

Happy forty-seventh birthday today (August 28th) to Eilleen Regina Edwards, known better to music fans as the Canadian country pop singer Shania Twain.

On November 4, 1997, she released Come On Over, her third studio album. This album, co-produced by her husband at the time "Mutt" Lange, went multi-Platinum the world over and has sold more than 40 million copies to date.

Rosanne Cash - Somewhere in the Stars

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of the release of Somewhere in the Stars, the fourth studio album from Rosanne Cash. She is the eldest daughter of the late Johnny Cash and his first wife.

This June 1982 release went to number 76 on the US Billboard Hot 200 and number 6 on the US Billboard Country charts. It also produced a trio of top 20 hits on the Country singles charts.

Kenny Rogers - Love Will Turn You Around

Today (June 1st) marks the 30th anniversary of the tenth solo studio album by American country singer/songwriter Kenny Rogers. 1982’s Love Will Turn You Around went to number 34 on the US Billboard Hot 200 and number 5 on the Billboard Country charts. The Platinum selling record also reached number 23 on the charts in Canada.