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Music > Features > Country's Top 100 
Country's Top 100All-Time Best Songs 20-1[20 September 2007] By Shirley Jinkins and Malcolm MayhewMcClatchy Newspapers (MCT) Country’s Top 100: All-Time Best Songs 20Johnny Cash“Folsom Prison Blues”There were plenty of songs about being sent TO prison, but when Cash performed “Folsom Prison Blues,” outsiders could finally grasp the frustration and boredom of those who were IN prison.  19David Allen Coe“You Never Even Called Me by My Name”And now for something completely different—Coe’s masterpiece of irreverence is a song-within-a-song that still has all of country music laughing at itself (and at mama, trains, prison and gettin’ drunk ...).  18Dolly Parton“Coat of Many Colors”This homespun country tale of a loving but impoverished childhood introduced fans to Parton’s warmth and storytelling capabilities.  17Emmylou Harris“Making Believe”Harris’ sadly eloquent voice made this song of self-deception more than a tear-jerker du jour.  16Tammy Wynette“Stand By Your Man”The country woman’s anthem, presented with loyalty and resignation, though somehow we all knew Wynette really wouldn’t put up with all that funny business. One bad marriage to George Jones later, she didn’t.  15Ray Charles“I Can’t Stop Loving You”Another Charles classic from his country years that continues to find appreciative audiences and willing vocalists.  14Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys“San Antonio Rose”Another Western Swing classic that put Wills and company on every jukebox shortlist in the `40s and keeps cheerfully scooting boots even today.  13Waylon Jennings“Luckenbach, Texas”“Baby, let’s sell your diamond ring, buy some boots and faded jeans and go away,” sang grizzled ol’ Jennings, drawing country fans away from slick Nashville and “back to the basics of love.”  12Bill Monroe and His Blue Grass Boys“Blue Moon of Kentucky”Often covered, never imitated, “Blue Moon” helped the Father of Bluegrass introduce a new American music form to commercial audiences.  11The Charlie Daniels Band“The Devil Went Down to Georgia”The drama, the sizzle of an irresistible melody paired with a good-versus-evil morality tale, all delivered with lightning-fast licks. 10Ray Charles“Cryin’ Time”Another vintage 1960s song that gave people something to slow-dance to, as Charles’ wistful voice transformed the mournful tune into a crossover hit.  9Roger Miller“King of the Road”A quirky, laid-back singalong song that was novel enough in the `60s to draw rock-crazed crowds back into country music. Miller was the perfect foil for the British popsters of the day. 8Johnny Cash“Orange Blossom Special”Of the many versions of this fiddler’s classic, anyone can sing along with Johnny Cash’s cover of THE best train song ever. 7Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys“Faded Love”If the twin fiddles of this Texas dancehall favorite don’t get you, move somewhere else. Quickly.  6Hank Williams Sr.“I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry”He had bigger hits, but Williams’ elemental ode to sadness has been covered by dozens of artists and taken to heart by millions of fans. Elvis Presley version  5Willie Nelson“Whiskey River”How many concerts have you attended that started with TWANG, TWANG, TWANG, TWANG, then these two words? We thought so.  4George Jones“He Stopped Loving Her Today”Death, unrequited love, third-party gossip, it’s all here—along with Jones’ hangdog baritone.  3Merle Haggard“Mama Tried”Haggard was still a handsome rebel himself when this tale of misspent youth made us all a little restless.  2Patsy Cline“Sweet Dreams”The gold standard of songs for Cline wannabes—it takes pluck to attempt her triumph of vocal range and emotion. 1Johnny Cash“Ring of Fire”The horns, the tempo, Cash’s smoldering voice and June Carter’s dead-on songwriting remain as exciting now as in the 1960s. 
 Country’s Top 100: All-Time Best Songs |
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Comments
No Webb Pierce in the top 100? More and More, I’m forgettin’ the past….and apparently so is popmatters.
Comment by pilight from macon ga — September 20, 2007 @ 7:16 am
Waylon ain’t in the top ten. Ain’t nobody can help you with what you got wrong there, so fuck it.
Comment by Ronnie — September 21, 2007 @ 8:52 am
Where can i get recordings of your top 100 picks.
Thanks
Mike Hoppes
Comment by Mike from san antonio, texas — May 9, 2008 @ 9:38 am
This, seriously. Number 1. Top 5 at least
Comment by Sara — June 30, 2008 @ 7:47 am
btw, it’s the link in case someone misses it, this is the url: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uw1bHaUk1CM&NR=1
Comment by Sara — June 30, 2008 @ 7:49 am
Not to take anything away from Johnny Cash. But I can think of at least six, not three, by LEFTY FRIZZELL that most lovers of classic country music would agree with me are better than the three chosen from Cash as being in the top 20.
Really, I think the only one by Cash good enough to be in the top 20 is “Ring of Fire.” But I’d rank it at only about #15 or so.
It’s a disgrace not having at least three by Frizzell, and another three by Hank Williams, in the top 20. I don’t think Johnny Cash himself would say that he had three songs better than anything Lefty did.
And how Webb Pierce could be overlooked in the top 100 tells me that this list doesn’t truly represent the top 100 of all time, but instead is a personal tribute by a fan with strong biases.
Comment by Tom from New Castle, Delaware — October 26, 2008 @ 8:57 pm
This should be titled: “My Favorite Country Songs”, because when considering greatest you are way off base. Some you refer to were not even the artist that made the hit.
Comment by TriCitySam from Washington — March 19, 2009 @ 4:00 pm
No Ronnie Milsap or Kenny Rogers? Ray Charles is a legend, but not a Country Legend. The Dixie Chicks don’t deserve that kind of status. YOU ARE WAY OFF BASE!!!
Comment by DJDavid from Ocala, Fl — June 2, 2009 @ 10:22 pm
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It’s good to see that others agree with me that this guy’s list is “way off base.
It makes me wonder if he is even qualified to give a knowledgeable opinion. For anyone truly familiar with everything Lefty Frizzell and Hank Williams did would certainly never listed them lower than Johnny Cash.
Whiskey River by Willie Nelson is okay, but certainly not even the fifth best song Willie Nelson did, let alone the best anyone in Country Music did.
And Luckenbach, Texas at #13 all-time best??? Come on. Nothing Waylon Jenniongs did was good enough to make the top twenty. And he did other songs that were better than Luckenbach, Texas.
Does anyone know another website where I can find a knowledgeable all-time best Country Music song list based on well-researched data, and not some fan trying to push his personal favorites list on us?
Comment by Tom from New Castle, Delaware — June 3, 2009 @ 8:53 am
I agree with you as well Tom, whoever posted this didn’t know enough. I also agree that “Ring of Fire” is good but should be closer to 15.
Way to much Cash in the top 20. Don’t get me wrong, I love his music. but this is supposed to be the top 100 country songs of all time… not the top 100 oldies. I don’t mean to offend anyone that prefers the older music, I like it as well. This list seems compiled mainly on what this person’s personal opinion is, nowhere near a list I or by the looks of it anyone else that has posted, would agree with.
Garth Brooks “The Dance” all the way back in the 50s? What the? And yet Leann Womack’s “I hope you dance” almost made the top 20… They are basically the same song they should not be more than 5 apart. If you watch the documentary with the music video of “The Dance” you would know why it should easily make at the bare minimum the top 30.
Comment by Jerico from doesnt matter — August 27, 2009 @ 3:39 pm
At least it’s a better list than the one CMT “voters” concocted a few years ago. THAT one put “Wide Open Spaces” ahead of “I Walk The Line” and completely left Marty Robbins off.
Comment by Rick from Omaha, Neb, — September 22, 2009 @ 5:19 pm
If anyone knows the web address of a more objective all-time top 100 country list, please post it for us.
Although I am partial to the old stuff, some of the “new” stuff is good too. Just don’t include record club promo trying to tout Kenny Chesney and others as being great. :)
There’s so many great ones in Country Music’s history, from the beginning to now, that it would be a monumental task to consider all fairly and objectively.
Lefty Friizzel was the acknowledged role model for George Jones, Bill Strait and most other Country male singers. His influence on Country Music was on par with Hank Williams. And both of them’s songs have been done by more others in Country Music than anyone else. Plus their own versions were almost always the best version.
So how can they not have at least several hits in the top twenty? Those two were the BEST of the best. Sure, I like countless others. But no others are on the same level as Lefty and H.W. Willie Nelson even did a tribute album devoted solely to Lefty, who Nelson acknowledged Lefty as the Master.
I like a lot of what Marty Stuart has done. But I couldn’t say much was truly great. Marty is a proficient bar-band type performer, who you can count on to deliver a consistently good product, mostly rockabilly, but sometimes heartfelt ballads. His singing is adequate, but not great. But his music is easy to take, and doesn’t get old.
I can say pretty much the same for many other Country Music performers. Martina McBride being another like that. And her voice is very good, although not pure Country. Her voice is impressive. But doesn’t send chills up and down my spine like Tammy’s or Loretta’s. One of the most under-rated female Country Music singers I’ve ever heard was Sammi Smith.
Comment by Tom from New Castle, Delaware — September 23, 2009 @ 4:34 pm
This is dumb . Reba only has one song and its not even her best , im pretty amazed fancy didnt make it onto your list . who ever made this needs too roll up in a cave .
Comment by samia from florida — November 7, 2009 @ 6:15 pm