COUNTRY CHARTBEAT

[numberonecountryfan]

Since the Radio And Records website was shut down recently, I will be posting a weekly Country ChartBeat for you. You can follow your favorites on the charts by reading the column.

1. OUT WITH CHESNEY: Kenny Chesney collects his 17th #1 hit with Out Last Night. It becomes his first solo #1 hit since Better As A Memory in 2008. He now has four consecutive #1 hits, his longest stretch. His last two #1s were duets: Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven with the Wailers (Bob Marley's band) in 2008 and Down The Road with Mac McAnally in 2009. He hit #2 last year with George Strait on Shiftwork. With Out Last Night becoming Chesney's 14th #1 hit this decade, he only trails Toby Keith's 15 chart toppers.

2. GEORGE'S TRIPLE CROWN: Living For The Night by Strait has been on the charts for three weeks now. It debuted at #34 and got the Most Added Award. It went up ten to get the Greatest Gainer Award. Now, it is at #20 and gets the Most Increased Audience Award.

3. THE STREAK: Sure, that is the title of one of Ray Stevens' most popular recordings, but if the following went to #1, they would have added to the chart topping streaks the artists were currently enjoying:
1. Kiss A Girl-peaked at #3 for Keith Urban following the #1s: You Look Good In My Shirt, Start A Band with Brad Paisley, and Sweet Thing.
2. One In Every Crowd-peaked at #5 for Montgomery Gentry following the #1s: Back When I Knew It All and Roll WIth Me.
3. Sissy's Song-peaked at #9 for Alan Jackson following the #1s: Small Town Southern Man, Good Time, and Country Boy.

4. COUNTRY TIME: There are two singles in the top 50 that imply a quantity of time. They are:
1. 15 Minutes by Rodney Atkins-#34
2. Eight Second Ride by Jake Owen-#44

5. SUMMER #1S: These were the first singles to top the charts during the summers of 2004, 1999, 1994, 1989, and 1984:
2004: Redneck Woman-Gretchen Wilson-Epic
1999: Write This Down-George Strait-MCA
1994: Wink-Neal McCoy-Atlantic
1989: I Don't Want To Spoil The Party-Rosanne Cash-Columbia
1984: When We Make Love-Alabama-RCA

[indulgedcountrymusic]

1. Kiss A Girl-peaked at #3 for Keith Urban following the #1s: You Look Good In My Shirt, Start A Band with Brad Paisley, and Sweet Thing.
3. Sissy's Song-peaked at #9 for Alan Jackson following the #1s: Small Town Southern Man, Good Time, and Country Boy.

According to Wikipedia, "Kiss a Girl" and "Sissy's Song" aren't done yet

I do think that Alan Jackson's not going to have four straight #1s here... it looks like this one isn't going to make it

[Chris J]

Why don't you mention "High Cost of Living" that peaked at 34?

Seriously you need to also put the songs near the bottom of the list not just the top...oh well I guess we still have mediabase...

[indulgedcountrymusic]

Kellie Pickler's "Best Days of Your Life" continues to climb, at #15 up from #18 this week - I think its going to be her first Top Ten hit! I'm so happy!

And Jessica Harp's "Boy Like Me" is at #30 now, Bucky Covington's "I Want My Life Back" is at #32, and Kate & Kacey's "Dreaming Love" is at #52

Sad moment: Miranda's "Dead Flowers" didn't move up this week

And those are the 5 singles I care about right now on the charts

[numberonecountryfan]

1. KENNY'S NIGHT IS TWO WEEKS LONG: Kenny Chesney spends his second week at #1 with Out Last Night. He has now spent 59 weeks with his 17 chart toppers. The songs and weeks at #1 are:
1. She's Got It All-1997-3
2. How Forever Feels-1999-6
3. You Had Me From Hello-1999-1
4. Don't Happen Twice-2001-1
5. The Good Stuff-2002-7-chart-wise, his biggest hit
6. There Goes My Life-2003-7
7. When The Sun Goes Down-with Uncle Kracker-2004-5
8. Anything But Mine-2005-2
9. Living In Fast Forward-2006-3
10. Summertime-2006-5
11. Beer In Mexico-2007-3
12. Never Wanted Nothing More-2007-5
13. Don't Blink-2007-4
14. Better As A Memory-2008-2
15. Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven-with the Wailers-2008-2
16. Down The Road-with Mac McAnally-2009-1
17. Out Last Night-2009-2
With 59 weeks at #1, Chesney now ranks in the top ten with the most weeks spent at #1. The top ten artists:
1. Eddy Arnold-145
2. Webb Pierce-111
3. George Strait-84
4. Hank Williams, Sr.-82
5. Buck Owens-82
6. Johnny Cash-69
7. Sonny James-66
8. Tim McGraw-65
9. Marty Robbins-63
10. Kenny Chesney-59
2. SUMMER AND NIGHT(S): There are four titles in the top 20 with either the word 'summer' or 'night(s)' in them. They are:
1. Out Last Night-Kenny Chesney-#1
2. Summer Nights-Rascal Flatts-#11
3. Living For The Night-George Strait-#15
4. Indian Summer-Brooks & Dunn-#20
3. A THIRD GENERATION CHARTS: Holly Williams, Hank Sr.'s granddaughter and Hank Jr.'s daughter makes her second appearance on the charts as Mama debuts at #55. Her first time on the charts happened this year with the #53 single Keep The Change. Her father recently peaked at #43 with Red, White, And Pink Slip Blues from his just released 127 Rose Avenue.
4. A LONESTAR REUNION: John Rich debuts at #59 with The Good Lord And The Man. His ex-bandmate, Richie McDonald slips three to #60 with Six Foot Teddybear.
5. THE MOST RECENT TOP SELLERS: These were the #1 CDs from 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, and 2004:
2008: Taylor Swift-Taylor Swift-Big Machine
2007: Big Dog Daddy-Toby Keith-Show Dog
2006: Taking The Long Way-the Dixie Chicks-Monument
2005: Honkytonk University-Toby Keith-Dreamworks
2004: Here For The Party-Gretchen Wilson-Epic

[numberonecountryfan]

1. GETTIN' SIDEWAYS WITH BENTLEY: Dierks Bentley collects his seventh #1 hit with Sideways. It is the second #1 hit off of the Feel That Fire CD with the title track being the first this year. Since his debut in 2003, Bentley has scored major (top 20) hits with all twelve of his singles. They are:
1. What Was I Thinkin'-2003-#1
2. My Last Name-2004-#17
3. How Am I Doin'-2005-#4
4. Lot Of Leavin' Left To Do-2005-#3
5. Come A Little Closer-2005-#1-chart wise, his biggest hit
6. Settle For A Slowdown-2006-#1
7. Every Mile A Memory-2006-#1
8. Long Trip Alone-2007-#10
9. Free And Easy Down The Road I Go-2007-#1
10. Trying To Stop Your Leaving-2008-#5
11. Feel That Fire-2009-#1
12. Sideways-2009-#1
Since Billboard 2009 began (in December, 2008), Bentley becomes the sixth artist to have two #1 hits. The others:
1. Rascal Flatts-Here and Here Comes Goodbye
2. Sugarland-Already Gone and It Happens
3. Brad Paisley-Start A Band with Keith Urban and Then
4. Keith Urban-Start A Band with Brad Paisley and Sweet Thing
5. Kenny Chesney-Down The Road with Mac McAnally and Out Last Night
6. Dierks Bentley-Feel That Fire and Sideways
2. URBAN'S TOP TWENTY YEAR: Keith Urban is from Australia, but the one place you can find him in America between July 4, 2008 to July 4, 2009 is the top 20 on the country charts. He debuted in that portion of the charts a year ago with You Look Good In My Shirt at #14. That eventually became his first #1 hit in three years. Then Arista Records released the duet between Urban and Brad Paisley with Start A Band. The duet joined the Shirt song at #16. That ended up being a #1 duet. While that was riding high on the charts, Capitol Records released the first Defying Gravity single, Sweet Thing. It joined the Band song at #20. It became Urban's tenth #1 hit. The second Gravity single, Kiss A Girl was rush released and joind the Sweet song at #20. Girl eventually peaked at #3. For Urban to land four major hits in a year's time with the charts moving slower these days is quite an accomplishment. Kiss A Girl is currently at #7.
3. THEY CAN'T WAIT FOR THEIR NEXT HIT: Two acts that currently have top five hits are debuting songs in the top 60. They are:
1. Brad Paisley-After having a #1 hit two weeks ago with Then, he debuts at #59 with Welcome To The Future (and welcome to the charts as well!).
2. Zac Brown Band-They are at #2 with Whatever It Is. They are debuting at #51 with Toes (I'll bet their next hit will be Fingers!).
4. COUNTRY OPPOSITES: Randy Houser is at #13 with Boots On while Jack Ingram is at #18 with Barefoot And Crazy.
5. INDEPENDENCE DAY #1S: I have scanned the entire 65 year of Billboard Country Charts and these are the #1s for the week ending July 4:
1953: Take These Chains From My Heart-Hank Williams, Sr.-MGM
1959: The Battle Of New Orleans-Johnny Horton-Columbia
1964: My Heart Skips A Beat-Buck Owens-Capitol
1970: He Loves Me All The Way-Tammy Wynette-Epic
1981: I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool-Barbara Mandrell-MCA
1987: That Was A Close One-Earl Thomas Conley-RCA
1992: I Saw The Light-Wynonna Judd-MCA
1998: If You See Him/If You See Her-Reba McEntire with Brooks & Dunn-MCA/Arista
2009: Out Last Night-Kenny Chesney-BNA

[numberonecountryfan]

1. FINALLY!: We are not talking about the #1 hit by T.G. Sheppard in 1982, but Tim McGraw enters the chart at #35 with It's A Business Doing Pleasure With You, his 63rd chart single. It is the first time in almost three years he is debuting music NOT on the Let It Go CD. The previous hit prior to that CD was My Little Girl (which peaked at #3 in early 2007). That came from his second greatest hits package. We all know the rest: seven major (top 20) hits from the Let It Go CD and then a third greatest hits CD. You can say this was coming 'not a moment too soon'!
2. SIDEWAYS TIMES TWO: Dierks Bentley spends a second week at #1 with Sideways. He has now spent eleven weeks at #1 with his seven chart toppers. The songs and weeks at #1 are:
1. What Was I Thinkin'-2003-1
2. Come A Little Closer-2005-3
3. Settle For A Slowdown-2006-2
4. Every Mile A Memory-2006-1
5. Free And Easy Down The Road I Go-2007-1
6. Feel That Fire-2009-1
7. Sideways-2009-2
3. #1 AND #59: Brad Paisley has the #1 CD with American Saturday Night. The title track debuts at #59.
4. SINGLE WORDED TITLES: There are ten one worded hits on the charts. They are:
1. Sideways-Dierks Bentley-#1
2. Then-Brad Paisley-#5
3. Alright-Darius Rucker-#6
4. Strange-Reba McEntire-#13
5. Runaway-Love And Theft-#23
6. Believers-Joe Nichols-#27
7. Bonfire-Craig Morgan-#32
8. Joey-Sugarland-#43
9. Toes-Zac Brown Band-#49
10. Today-Gary Allan-#50
5. THE EARLIEST TOP SELLERS: Since Billboard started a country album chart in January, 1964, these were the #1 albums in July, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, and 1968:
1964: Moonlight And Roses-Jim Reeves-RCA
1965: Connie Smith-Connie Smith-RCA
1966: Distant Drums-Jim Reeves-RCA
1967: The Best Of Eddy Arnold-Eddy Arnold-RCA
1968: Honey-Bobby Goldsboro-United Artists
You can say RCA knew how to pick them!

[numberonecountryfan]

1. THIS LADY IS #1: Lady Antebellum scores their first #1 hit with I Run To You. It is their third major hit:
1. Love Don't Live Here-2008-#3
2. Lookin' For A Good Time-2008-#11
3. I Run To You-2009-#1
Lady Antebellum is on the Capitol Records label. The last group to score a #1 hit for the label was Sawyer Brown's Some Girls Do in 1992.
One-third of Lady Antebellum is Hillary Scott. She matches her mother's achievement of having a #1 single. Her mother is Linda Davis, who enjoyed a #1 duet with Reba McEntire with Does He Love You in 1993.
2. THE SECOND TO 81: George Strait collect the 81st top ten of his career with Living For The Night (#10 this week). He needs eleven more to tie Eddy Arnold and of course, twelve more to be in first place all to himself.
3. WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN: That is the title of Little Texas' #2 hit in 1993, but had the Zac Brown Band took Whatever It Is to #1, they would have been the first group to score two chart toppers with its first two singles. Chicken Fried hit #1 in December, 2008. However, they are the first group to score consecutive top two hits with their first two singles. They bested Diamond Rio by one placing with their second single. Diamond Rio started their chart life at #1 in 1991 with Meet In The Middle and followed it up with the #3 placing of Mirror Mirror.
4. REALLY FAST MOVERS: We have five singles going up at least ten spots on the charts. They are:
1. It's A Business Doing Pleasure With You-Tim McGraw-#35 to #23.
2. American Ride-Toby Keith-#38 to #27.
3. Welcome To The Future-Brad Paisley-#41 to #28.
4. Only You Can Love Me This Way-Keith Urban-#52 to #30.
5. Joey-Sugarland-#43 to #33.
5. LOVE GOING TO CHURCH: Eric Church collects his fourth major hit (top 20) with Love Your Love The Most. It is at #20. His others are:
1. How 'Bout You-2006-#14
2. Two Pink Lines-2006-#19
3. Guys Like Me-2007-#17
4. Love Your Love The Most-2009-#20
6. GOING BACK IN TIME: These were the #1 hits from 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 years ago:
2004: Live Like You Were Dying-Tim McGraw-Curb
1999: Amazed-Lonestar-BNA
1994: Foolish Pride-Travis Tritt-Warner Bros.
1989: In A Letter To You-Eddy Raven-Universal
1984: I Don't Want To Be A Memory-Exile-Epic

[indulgedcountrymusic]

Congrats Lady A! "I Run to You" is an awesome song, I just love it

[Razor X]

I don't mean to nitpick but could you try adding some spaces between the paragraphs of these posts? They're very hard to read.

[numberonecountryfan]

1. THAT CRAZY CURRINGTON: Billy Currington collects his third number one hit with People Are Crazy. It is eighth major hit. The others:
1. Walk A Little Straighter-2003-#8
2. I Got A Feelin'-2004-#5
3. Party For Two-with Shania Twain-2004-#7
4. Must Be Doin' Somethin' Right-2005-#1
5. Why, Why, Why-2006-#13
6. Good Directions-2007-#1-chart-wise, his biggest hit
7. Don't-2009-#2
8. People Are Crazy-2009-#1
2. HIS BOOTS ARE ON: While George Strait is currently enjoying his 81st top ten hit this week with Living For The Night at #9, Randy Houser is enjoying his first as Boots On is at #8. It is his second major hit as Anything Goes peaked at #16 this year.
3. SOUNDS LIKE A HIT: Darryl Worley collects his first major hit on the Stroudavarious label as Sounds Like Life To Me is at #17 this week. He collected seven major hits between 2000-2005 on the Dreamworks label. They are:
1. When You Need My Love-2000-#15
2. A Good Day To Run-2001-#12
3. Second Wind-2001-#20
4. I Miss My Friend-2002-#1
5. Have You Forgotten-2003-#1-chart-wise, his biggest hit
6. Awful, Beautiful Life-2005-#1
7. If Something Should Happen-2005-#9
4. BRAD'S GREATEST AMERICAN SATURDAY NIGHT HITS: Brad Paisley's American Saturday Night CD has been out only three weeks, but has produced four chart singles. They are:
1. Then-#1
2. Welcome To The Future-#21 this week
3. American Saturday Night-#59
4. Water-#58
5. TOBY'S TOP TWENTY STREAK: Toby Keith's last single, Lost You Anyway departed the charts at #17 last week. However, the follow up, American Ride debuts at #20 in that section of the chart.
6. THE TOP SELLERS: These were the #1 CDs from 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 years ago:
2004: License To Chill-Jimmy Buffett-Mailboat
1999: Come On Over-Shania Twain-Mercury
1994: Not A Moment Too Soon-Tim McGraw-Curb
1989: Sweet Sixteen-Reba McEntire-MCA
1984: Major Moves-Hank Williams, Jr.-Warner Bros.

[numberonecountryfan]

1. SHE'S FINALLY IN THE TOP TEN: Kellie Pickler lands her first top ten hit after being on the charts for 'only' 37 weeks as Best Days Of Your Life hits #10 this week. When she debuted at #56 for the 11-29-08 chart, Taylor Swift was at #1 with Love Story. It is appropriate that Swift was #1 because the Pickler song was written by Swift, making Pickler the second artist to take a Swift song into the country top ten. Pickler also becomes the fifth American Idol contestant with a top ten hit. The others in chronological order are:
1. Josh Gracin-I Want To Live-2004-#4
Nothin' To Lose-2005-#1
Stay With Me Brass Bed-2005-#5
We Weren't Crazy-2007-#10
2. Carrie Underwood-Jesus, Take The Wheel-2006-#1
Don't Forget To Remember Me-2006-#2
Before He Cheats-2006-#1
Wasted-2007-#1
So Small-2007-#1
All American Girl-2008-#1
Last Name-2008-#1
Just A Dream-2008-#1
I Told You So-with Randy Travis-2009-#2
3. Bucky Covington-A Different World-2007-#6
I'll Walk-2008-#10
4. Kelly Clarkson-Because Of You-with Reba McEntire-2007-#2
5. Kellie Pickler-Best Days Of Your Life-2009-#10 so far
To put Pickler's 37 week run into the top ten in perspective, George Strait debuted at #45 on the 11-22-08 chart with River Of Love and it took him 22 weeks to hit #1 with that song. Strait is currently at #8 with Living For The Night.
Swift is at #3 with You Belong With Me. Speaking of Covington, he is on the charts at #36 with I Want My Life Back.
2. BILLY'S PEOPLE: Billy Currington spends a second week at #1 with People Are Crazy. He has now spent seven weeks at #1 with his three chart toppers:
1. Must Be Doin' Somethin' Right-2005-2
2. Good Directions-2007-3
3. People Are Crazy-2009-2
3. WE STILL LIKE JACKSON: Alan Jackson debuts his fifth Good Time single, I Still Like Bologna at #56. If it hits the top ten, it will be his first CD in eleven years to have a quintet of top tens. The Everything I Love CD generated the following hits:
1. Little Bitty-1996-#1
2. Everything I Love-1997-#9
3. Who's Cheatin' Who-1997-#2
4. There Goes-1997-#1
5. Between The Devil And Me-1998-#2
4. PATRIOTIC COUNTRY: Justin Moore is at #13 with Small Town USA while Toby Keith is at #19 with American Ride.
5. A 90S LOOK: These were the top singles from the last week of July during the 1990s:
1990: The Dance-Garth Brooks-Capitol
1991: I Am A Simple Man-Ricky Van Shelton-Columbia
1992: Boot Scootin' Boogie-Brooks & Dunn-Arista
1993: Chattahoochee-Alan Jackson-Arista
1994: Summertime Blues-Alan Jackson-Arista
1995: Any Man Of Mine-Shania Twain-Mercury
1996: Daddy's Money-Ricochet-Columbia
1997: Carrying Your Love WIth Me-George Strait-MCA
1998: To Make You Feel My Love-Garth Brooks-Capitol
1999: Amazed-Lonestar-BNA

[numberonecountryfan]

1. RUCKER IS ALRIGHT: You have to admit that Darius Rucker is the hottest new artist out there. His third chart hit is his third #1 hit as Alright claims the penthouse. It follows Don't Think I Don't Think About It and It Won't Be Like This For Long as chart toppers. Rucker is on the Capitol label. The last artist to pull three #1s on that label was Keith Urban and the Be Here CD (Days Go By-2004, Making Memories Of Us-2005, and Be Here-2005).
The last African-American to have three consecutive #1 hits is Charley Pride. They are: I'll Be Leaving Alone-1977, More To Me-1977, and Someone Loves You Honey-1978.
Ready for one more fact about Alright? It is the first number one hit in four years that mentions Patsy Cline. The last #1 to do so was Play Something Country by Brooks & Dunn.
2. REBA'S SOLO DROUGHT CONTINUES: Strange by Reba McEntire drops from #11 to #21 this week. Had it went top ten, it would have been her first solo top ten hit in four years. Her last one was He Gets That From Me, a #7 hit in 2005. Her last two top ten hits were both duets, both peaking at #2:
1. Because Of You-with Kelly Clarkson-2007
2. Cowgirls Don't Cry-with Brooks & Dunn-2009
Her last chart topper was Somebody in 2004. Strange becomes her first #11 hit.
Now let us update the top ten in top tens:
1. Eddy Arnold-92-1945-1980
2. George Strait-81-1981-2009
3. George Jones-78-1955-1990
4. Conway Twitty-75-1968-1991
5. Merle Haggard-71-1965-1989
6. Ernest Tubb-58-1944-1983
7. Reba McEntire-57-1980-2009
8. Red Foley-56-1944-1956
9. Dolly Parton-55-1968-2006
10. Webb Pierce-54-1952-1967
3. A SHELTON TRIFECTA: Blake Shelton lands his third consective top ten hit with I'll Just Hold On at #10 this week. It follows his two chart toppers Home and She Wouldn't Be Gone. It is the second time he has scored three consecutive top tens. His first streak was:
1. Some Beach-2004-#1
2. Goodbye Time-2005-#10
3. Nobody But Me-2005-#4
4. THE FIRST TO FOUR: Keith Urban is the first artist in Billboard 2009 (since December, 2008) to land four major (top 20) hits as Only You Can Love Me This Way lands at #20 this week. It follows:
1. Start A Band-with Brad Paisley-#1
2. Sweet Thing-#1
3. Kiss A Girl-#3
4. Only You Can Love Me This Way-#20
5. HURRY UP!: These artists are in the top 20, but are debuting songs in the top 60:
1. George Strait-He is at #7 with Living For The Night. He is new at #58 with El Rey.
2. Brooks & Dunn-They are at #18 with Indian Summer. They are new at #60 with Honky Tonk Stomp with Billy Gibbons.
6. A 90S LOOK, PART II: We did all of the top singles for the last week of July during the 1990s. Now let us review the top selling CDs for the first week of August during the 1990s:
1990: Killin' Time-Clint Black-RCA
1991: No Fences-Garth Brooks-Capitol
1992: Some Gave All-Billy Ray Cyrus-Mercury
1993: It Won't Be The Last-Billy Ray Cyrus-Mercury
1994: Not A Moment Too Soon-Tim McGraw-Curb
1995: The Woman In Me-Shania Twain-Mercury
1996: Blue-LeAnn Rimes-Curb
1997: Everywhere-Tim McGraw-Curb
1998: Hope Floats-Soundtrack-Capitol
1999: Come On Over-Shania Twain-Mercury

[numberonecountryfan]

1. SWIFT BELONGS AT #1: We have had the following hit #1 this year:
1. Solo Males-Dierks Bentley-Feel That Fire
2. Duos-Sugarland-Already Gone
3. Groups-Rascal Flatts-Here Comes Goodbye
4. Male Duets-Brad Paisley and Keith Urban-Start A Band
However, we have not had a solo female artist hit #1 since November, 2008 when Taylor Swift was at the top with Love Story. That changes as she scores her fourth #1 with You Belong With Me. She has now spent 11 weeks at #1 with her four chart toppers:
1. Our Song-2007-6-chart-wise, her biggest hit
2. Should've Said No-2008-2
3. Love Story-2008-2
4. You Belong With Me-2009-1 so far
Between Love Story and You Belong With Me, she hit #2 with White Horse. This is the longest drought for female artists since Martina McBride hit #1 with Blessed in 2002 until Redneck Woman by Gretchen Wilson hit #1 in 2004. That is a gap of two years and two months.
2. DAVE MATTHEWS COUNTRY: Dave Matthews scores his first country top 40 hit as I'm Alive with Kenny Chesney hits #26 and gets the greatest gainer award. He joins an unusual list of artists gaining their first top 40 hit this decade. They are:
1. Kid Rock and Sheryl Crow-Picture-2003-#21
2. John (Cougar) Mellencamp-What Say You-with Travis Tritt-2004-#21
3. Elton John-Where We Both Say Goodbye-with Catherine Britt-2005-#38
4. Bon Jovi-Who Says You Can't Go Home-with Jennifer Nettles-2006-#1
5. The Wreckers-Michelle Branch and Jessica Harp-Leave The Pieces-2006-#1
Chesney has been scoring pretty big with his duets over the past five years. They are:
1. When The Sun Goes Down-with Uncle Kracker (another unusual artist)-2004-#1
2. Shiftwork-with George Strait-2008-#2
3. Every Other Weekend-with Reba McEntire-2008-#15
4. Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven-with the Wailers (another unusual artist)-2008-#1
5. Down The Road-with Mac McAnally-2009-#1
Since I'm Alive appears on two consecutive Chesney CDs (Lucky Old Sun and Greatest Hits II), it is the first time since Brad Paisley's Waitin' On A Woman appeared on his Time Well Wasted and 5th Gear (second release) CDs.
3. THAT'S MAJOR YOUNG TO YOU: Chris Young has won Nashville Star in 2006. This year he was voted sexiest bachelor in Country Weekly. Now, he has scored his first top 20 hit as Gettin' You Home The Black Dress Song is at #19 this week.
4. WHAT, NO PICKLER?: After 38 weeks on the charts, Kellie Pickler's Best Days Of Your Life has been moved to the recurrents chart.
5. A BROOKS & DUNN FAREWELL: Since Brooks & Dunn have announced their last tour will be next year and their next CD is a #1s CD, let us rank their #1 hits according to number of weeks at #1 followed by number of weeks in the top 40:
1. Ain't Nothing 'Bout You-2001-6-28
2. Boot Scootin' Boogie-1992-4-16
3. My Maria-1996-3-20
4. How Long Gone-1998-3-19
5. If You See Him/If You See Her-with Reba McEntire-1998-2-20
6. She's Not The Cheatin' Kind-1994-2-18
7. Neon Moon-1992-2-17
8. My Next Broken Heart-1991-2-17
9. You're Gonna Miss Me When I'm Gone-1995-2-17
10. Brand New Man-1991-2-16
11. Only In America-2001-1-31
12. Red Dirt Road-2003-1-27
13. The Long Goodbye-2002-1-25
14. It's Getting Better All The Time-2005-1-24
15. Play Something Country-2005-1-20
16. A Man This Lonely-1997-1-19
17. Husbands And Wives-1998-1-18
18. That Ain't No Way To Go-1994-1-17
19. Little Miss Honky Tonk-1995-1-17
20. She Used To Be Mine-1993-1-17
I find it ironic that B & D are touring during the 20th anniversary of the Judds announcing their retirement of the music business. Thank you for the great music Brooks & Dunn!
6. RETRO COUNTRY: Let us go back every ten years to see who was #1:
1999: Amazed-Lonestar-BNA
1989: Timber, I'm Falling In Love-Patty Loveless-MCA
1979: Coca Cola Cowboy-Mel Tillis-MCA
1969: Workin' Man Blues-Merle haggard-Capitol
1959: Waterloo-Stonewall Jackson-Columbia

[numberonecountryfan]

1. YOU BELONG AT #1: After edging out Darius Rucker's Alright last week to claim her fourth #1 hit, Taylor Swift consolidates her chart topping status for a second week as You Belong With Me stays there for a second seven day time period. All of her chart toppers have been #1 for multiple weeks.
2. HIS 23RD #1: George Strait lands at #1 on three CD charts: country, top 200, and the comprehensive chart as Twang sells 155,000 copies in its first week. It joins the following #1 country CDs:
1. Right Or Wrong-1983
2. Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind-1984
3. Something Special-1985
4. #7-1986
5. Ocean Front Property-1987
6. Greatest Hits, Vol. 2-1987
7. If You Ain't Lovin', You AIn't Livin'-1988
8. Beyond The Blue Neon-1989
9. Livin' It Up-1990
10. Pure Country-1992
11. Lead On-1994
12. Blue Clear Sky-1996
13. Carrying Your Love With Me-1997-a #1 Billboard 200 CD
14. One Step At A Time-1998
15. Latest Greatest Straitest Hits-2000
16. George Strait-2000
17. The Road Less Traveled-2001
18. Honkytonkville-2003
19. 50 Number Ones-2004-a #1 Billboard 200 CD
20. Somewhere Down In Texas-2005-a #1 Billboard 200 CD
21. It Just Comes Natural-2006
22. Troubadour-2008-a #1 Billboard 200 CD
23. Twang-2009-a #1 Billboard 200 CD
Twang, the single, is at #51 this week.
3. THE DUOS MUST BE CURSED: Since Brooks & Dunn have announced their retirement, other duos are going their separate ways: The Wreckers and Big & Rich.
Jessica Harp from the Wreckers (Leave The Pieces) has already charted solo this year with the #30 single Boy Like Me. Michelle Branch has yet to chart a solo country single.
Now we have Big Kenny from Big & Rich (Lost In This Moment) making his solo debut at #57 with Long After I'm Gone. John Rich has already charted three times since going solo: Another You-#45, Shuttin' Detroit Down-#12, and The Good Lord And The Man-#56-all 2009.
Speaking of Brooks & Dunn, they hold down #34 with Honky Tonk Stomp with Billy Gibbons and #35 with Indian Summer.
4. BLAINE'S MAGIC: We are not talking about David Blaine, but Blaine Larsen. He debuts at #59 with It Did. He is having a very good 2009. After all, he landed a cut on George Strait's latest CD Twang (I Gotta Get To You). He is best known for having the hit, How Do You Get That Lonely, a #18 single in 2005.
5. JOHNSON'S WAY: Another songwriter who has benefitted from Strait is Jamey Johnson. His Give It Away became Strait's 41st #1 hit in 2006. Johnson is also having a very good 2009 as he won A.C.M. Song of the Year with In Color. He debuts this week with My Way To You at #56.
6. TOP TENS VS. #1S: Toby Keith lands his 25th top ten this decade as American Ride hits #9. He has the most #1 hits this decade with fifteen. However, Kenny Chesney has 27 top tens with fourteen hitting #1.
7. A LOT OF COINCIDENCES: Steel Magnolia, winner of season two of Can You Duet makes their chart debut with Keep On Lovin' You at #58. There are some interesting parallels:
1. They are making their debut exactly twenty years after the movie Steel Magnolias, which featured Dolly Parton.
2. The title of their first single is the name of the latest CD by Reba McEntire, who is charting with the second single Consider Me Gone at #43.
3. Steel Magnolia is on the Big Machine label while McEntire is on the sister label Valory.
8. THE #1 CDS: Let us see who had the top selling CDs from 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 years ago:
2004: License To Chill-Jimmy Buffett-Mailboat
1999: Come On Over-Shania Twain-Mercury
1994: Not A Moment To Soon-Tim McGraw-Curb
1989: Sweet Sixteen-Reba McEntire-MCA
1984: Major Moves-Hank Williams, Jr.-Warner Bros.

[indulgedcountrymusic]

3. THE DUOS MUST BE CURSED: Since Brooks & Dunn have announced their retirement, other duos are going their separate ways: The Wreckers and Big & Rich.

Ummm... The Wreckers and Big & Rich have already been done for a couple of years now

[numberonecountryfan]

Please reread it. I had stated that Jessica Harp, John Rich, and Big Kenny are charting solo singles THIS year. I know that the Wreckers basically stopped being a duo shortly after their Leave The Pieces success, but again Harp is JUST charting solo this year!

[indulgedcountrymusic]

Please reread it.

I did, and nothing has changed. The first sentence still implies that with the announcement of Brooks & Dunn calling it quits, that Big & Rich and The Wreckers were "cursed" and thus had chosen to due the same. That sentence made no sense at all.

[Stormy]

If it means Big and Rich are cursed it doesn't have to make sense.

[indulgedcountrymusic]

If it means Big and Rich are cursed it doesn't have to make sense.

Yeah... they're quite the odd coupling too I've noticed; John Rich is the brawler and has a large ego... and Big Kenny is a peace-lovin' hippie of sorts