kw9461
3x Platinum Member
Joined: January 2007
Posts: 3,767
|
Post by kw9461 on Dec 3, 2018 22:45:35 GMT -5
An Old Pair Of Shoes was the final single from Randy's Greatest Hits albums, Part One (where this single is found) and Part Two. The albums were released simultaneously, with singles alternating between both. It became Randy's first single in 8 years to miss the top 20, coming up just short at #21. I know this isn't one of his best, but I've always been a fan of this one. The production is really, really strong and it's just an enjoyable listen for me.
|
|
zaclord 🌈
Diamond Member
Jesus Jamz POTY
It'll all be alright...
Joined: July 2009
Posts: 10,807
|
Post by zaclord 🌈 on Dec 3, 2018 23:08:44 GMT -5
Ay! Perfect rank! Glad I've been losing mostly ones at the bottom of my list lately :)
|
|
kw9461
3x Platinum Member
Joined: January 2007
Posts: 3,767
|
Post by kw9461 on Dec 4, 2018 1:18:21 GMT -5
Dig Two Graves was the second single from Around The Bend. The song was nominated for Best Country Song at the 2009 Grammy's (it lost to Sugarland's "Stay"). A third single from the album, "Turn It Around", was announced but received only a minimal push. This is a really good song lyrically, but it doesn't translate all that well into a radio single. In his prime he may have had a shot with a song like this, but by 2008 it's not hard to see why this didn't take off.
|
|
.indulgecountry
Diamond Member
Best Country Poster 2011, 2017, & 2018
"You left a mark on my face // And brought a dozen red flags in a vase"
|
Post by .indulgecountry on Dec 4, 2018 3:58:07 GMT -5
The single offerings from Around the Bend were really weak. I haven't listened to him enough to know how his album cuts stack up against those, but I have to imagine there were better choices on the record than the ones they went with.
|
|
kw9461
3x Platinum Member
Joined: January 2007
Posts: 3,767
|
Post by kw9461 on Dec 4, 2018 11:01:38 GMT -5
The single offerings from Around the Bend were really weak. I haven't listened to him enough to know how his album cuts stack up against those, but I have to imagine there were better choices on the record than the ones they went with. The album was definitely ballad-heavy, so a lot of the best material was never going to fly at radio. My personal favorite is "You Didn't Have A Good Time", but a ballad about a friend's alcoholism doesn't scream radio hit either. I would've probably gone with "Turn It Around", though "Everything I Own (Has Got A Dent)" and "From Your Knees" warranted consideration as well. The whole album is pretty strong though, even if it was never very likely to yield a big hit.
|
|
kw9461
3x Platinum Member
Joined: January 2007
Posts: 3,767
|
Post by kw9461 on Dec 5, 2018 0:03:27 GMT -5
No reveals tonight, so here are two more album cuts for your enjoyment.
"Runaway Train" (tim)
"Oh, What a Time To Be Me" (me)
(Quick note on this song. I wasn't familiar with it prior to researching this rankdown and I was so thrilled to discover it. Such a great lyric, surprised it was never a single.)
|
|
kw9461
3x Platinum Member
Joined: January 2007
Posts: 3,767
|
Post by kw9461 on Dec 5, 2018 21:57:17 GMT -5
More reveals coming shortly. Up first, we lose our first #1 peaking song...
|
|
kw9461
3x Platinum Member
Joined: January 2007
Posts: 3,767
|
Post by kw9461 on Dec 5, 2018 22:15:44 GMT -5
I Won't Need You Anymore (Always and Forever) was the second single from Randy's second studio album, Always And Forever. It was the follow-up single to Forever And Ever, Amen, reaching #1 in November of 1987. Not surprised to see this as the lowest ranking #1 song, but it's still a little earlier than I'd expected (it's also the first loss for a song from the 80's). Good song, but it kind of plods and the melody isn't as good as most of Randy's material.
|
|
zaclord 🌈
Diamond Member
Jesus Jamz POTY
It'll all be alright...
Joined: July 2009
Posts: 10,807
|
Post by zaclord 🌈 on Dec 5, 2018 22:21:34 GMT -5
oh
|
|
kw9461
3x Platinum Member
Joined: January 2007
Posts: 3,767
|
Post by kw9461 on Dec 6, 2018 0:09:54 GMT -5
"Would I" was the second single from Full Cirle, peaking just one spot below the lead single at #25. I've always disliked this song, but I've found myself liking it more and more as I've listened to it a few times for this rankdown. It's quite catchy at times, but the repetitive "Would I's" still kills it for me.
|
|
kw9461
3x Platinum Member
Joined: January 2007
Posts: 3,767
|
Post by kw9461 on Dec 6, 2018 0:53:07 GMT -5
Everything And All was the lead single from Randy's 2011 collaboration album Anniversary Celebration. The version in the video is the solo version that was serviced to radio. The duet version can be found HERE. Had they been able to release the Paisley version, the song may have had some legs at radio (I think their hope was that stations would play the duet version anyway), but sadly it got lost in the shuffle pretty quickly and never really threatened to chart.
|
|
kw9461
3x Platinum Member
Joined: January 2007
Posts: 3,767
|
Post by kw9461 on Dec 6, 2018 21:22:24 GMT -5
Up next is another #1 single, and someone nearly loses a top 10.
|
|
kw9461
3x Platinum Member
Joined: January 2007
Posts: 3,767
|
Post by kw9461 on Dec 6, 2018 21:58:38 GMT -5
Honky Tonk Moon was the lead single from Old 8x10, Randy's 3rd studio album. Starting to get into some pretty strong songs. I've always really liked this one...and yet 30th was as high as I could rank it. Love the steel on this one.
|
|
kw9461
3x Platinum Member
Joined: January 2007
Posts: 3,767
|
Post by kw9461 on Dec 6, 2018 22:19:49 GMT -5
A Little Left Of Center was the 3rd single off of A Man Ain't Made Of Stone, failing to reach the top 50. Pleasantly surprised at how well this one did. It was one of the few songs I didn't really remember prior to the rankdown, and I think I under-ranked it as a result. It's a really solid song, and I wonder if it had been the 2nd single instead of the 3rd (after Where Can I Surrender failed to reach the T40), if it might've had a better go on the charts.
|
|
kw9461
3x Platinum Member
Joined: January 2007
Posts: 3,767
|
Post by kw9461 on Dec 7, 2018 0:36:54 GMT -5
Been a busy week, so that's all for tonight. Another #1 single up next, then at #31 is the highest standard deviation of the whole rankdown (plus someone finally loses a top 5!)).
|
|
|
Post by tim on Dec 7, 2018 1:09:44 GMT -5
"I Won't Need You Anymore (Always and Forever)" is one of those songs that I always forget how it goes. The song has little replay value and is one of the few hits from Randy that I ever revisit. At this point I couldn’t even tell you again how the song goes…
I’ve never quite known what to make of “Would I” exactly…at times it can be a catchy tune and at other times I find it to be a bit off-putting. I've always quite enjoyed the album Full Circle but this is one of the songs I found I often skipped.
I think I initially had “Honky Tonk Moon” ranked a little lower than my final submission so I’m not at all surprised tor see it out already. This song probably worked pretty well for country radio back in 1988, but it just hasn’t aged quite as well. Nonetheless it’s a rather easy listening song.
“A Little Left of Center” is probably one of my favorite “discoveries” from this rankdown and I really wanted to rank this one a bit higher than I did, but given Randy’s strong discography this placement feels about right.
|
|
sabre14
Diamond Member
Vince Gill & the Muppets make everything better
Joined: October 2013
Posts: 26,919
|
Post by sabre14 on Dec 7, 2018 14:30:23 GMT -5
Been a busy week, so that's all for tonight. Another #1 single up next, then at #31 is the highest standard deviation of the whole rankdown (plus someone finally loses a top 5!)). I’d be shocked if this isn’t my top 5.
|
|
kw9461
3x Platinum Member
Joined: January 2007
Posts: 3,767
|
Post by kw9461 on Dec 10, 2018 0:12:29 GMT -5
Sorry to do this so late, but let's get this down to the top 30.
|
|
kw9461
3x Platinum Member
Joined: January 2007
Posts: 3,767
|
Post by kw9461 on Dec 10, 2018 0:35:47 GMT -5
Point Of Light was the lead single from High Lonesome, released in May 1991. The song was written by Don Schlitz and Thom Schuyler, in response to then President Bush's "Points Of Light" campaign to promote volunteerism. Okay I fibbed before, not sure why I thought this hit #1, but it actually peaked at #3 (it did hit #1 in Canada though). I've never loved this one, but it's a solid song. Cheesy to be sure, but it does promote a good message.
|
|
kw9461
3x Platinum Member
Joined: January 2007
Posts: 3,767
|
Post by kw9461 on Dec 10, 2018 1:07:40 GMT -5
Angels was the second single from Passing Through, peaking at #48 in September of 2005. It marked Randy's final chart appearance as a solo artist (he later appeared as a featured artist on Carrie Underwood's remake of "I Told You So") As he predicted, sabre14 becomes the first to lose a top 5, though two others lose a top 12 as well. The strong placements just couldn't overcome 5 bottom-5 rankings. Not surprised that this was polarizing (though slightly surprised it was the MOST polarizing). I've always been in the middle on it; it's a good genuine song, but not something I really seek out. Anxious to hear sabre14 's take.
|
|
kw9461
3x Platinum Member
Joined: January 2007
Posts: 3,767
|
Post by kw9461 on Dec 10, 2018 1:13:16 GMT -5
And with that, we have our Top 30!!
"On the Other Hand" "1982" "Diggin' Up Bones" "No Place Like Home" "Forever and Ever, Amen" "Too Gone Too Long" "I Told You So" "Deeper Than the Holler" "Is It Still Over?" "Promises" "It's Just a Matter of Time" "Hard Rock Bottom of Your Heart" "He Walked on Water" "Heroes and Friends" "Forever Together" "Better Class of Losers" "If I Didn't Have You" "Look Heart, No Hands" "Before You Kill Us All" "Whisper My Name" "This Is Me" "The Box" "King of the Road" "Out of My Bones" "The Hole" "Spirit of a Boy, Wisdom of a Man" "Stranger in My Mirror" "A Man Ain't Made of Stone" "Three Wooden Crosses" "Pray for the Fish"
|
|
bboat11
Moderator
Pulse's Resident Martina McBride Expert
Joined: February 2013
Posts: 27,283
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Staff
|
Post by bboat11 on Dec 10, 2018 2:30:54 GMT -5
Very solid top 30! I am a little surprised to see "Pray For The Fish" still hanging in there, but definitely not gonna complain!
|
|
sabre14
Diamond Member
Vince Gill & the Muppets make everything better
Joined: October 2013
Posts: 26,919
|
Post by sabre14 on Dec 10, 2018 7:05:44 GMT -5
“Angels” was a gut-punch. Usually you know where any song is going, even ones where it’s supposed to be a twist, but I did not see that one being about your mom. The hook is fantastic, as is Randy’s cadence and delivery of the lyrics. It starts out really slow and almost talking the verses, so I understand why it’s polatizing but it’s nowhere near bottom 5.
|
|
kw9461
3x Platinum Member
Joined: January 2007
Posts: 3,767
|
Post by kw9461 on Dec 12, 2018 20:45:01 GMT -5
Okay, who's ready for some more reveals??
|
|
kw9461
3x Platinum Member
Joined: January 2007
Posts: 3,767
|
Post by kw9461 on Dec 12, 2018 20:58:08 GMT -5
Stranger In My Mirror was the 4th and final single from You And You Alone, Randy's first album for DreamWorks. It was the only single from the album to miss the top 10. castleoblivion26 loses a top 10 here, but most seemed to have this in the neighborhood of where it landed at #30. I enjoy this one, it's just a solid, lighthearted radio ditty. I'm guessing the way he says "mirror" may turn some off, but I've heard it enough I don't even really notice it.
|
|
kw9461
3x Platinum Member
Joined: January 2007
Posts: 3,767
|
Post by kw9461 on Dec 12, 2018 21:27:36 GMT -5
Forever Together was the second single off of High Lonesome, released in late 1991. It was the first of three singles from the album written by Alan Jackson and Randy (and the only one to peak at #1). Two top 10's go down here, as both gardyfan and .indulgecountry fall victim. I think this is one of Randy's strongest vocal performances, though the song itself isn't the most interesting.
|
|
kw9461
3x Platinum Member
Joined: January 2007
Posts: 3,767
|
Post by kw9461 on Dec 12, 2018 22:47:30 GMT -5
Promises was the 4th and final single from Old 8 x 10. The song snapped a string of 7 straight #1 singles for Randy, and was his first single to miss the top 10. bboat11 becomes the second person to lose a top 5, and mercifully I finally lose my last place song. .indulgecountry is now the only person with their #52 left standing. This is pretty good lyrically, but it has literally no melody. This has always been among my least favorites from Randy. Old 8 x 10 was my favorite cassette as a kid, and I distinctly remember having to fast forward through this song every time.
|
|
kw9461
3x Platinum Member
Joined: January 2007
Posts: 3,767
|
Post by kw9461 on Dec 12, 2018 22:55:07 GMT -5
Just one more song rounds out the bottom half...
|
|
.indulgecountry
Diamond Member
Best Country Poster 2011, 2017, & 2018
"You left a mark on my face // And brought a dozen red flags in a vase"
|
Post by .indulgecountry on Dec 12, 2018 23:09:23 GMT -5
@ my #52 still being in. I hadn't even noticed. I'm perplexed that people apparently like it this much; it was one of only a few songs in this list that I thought was truly bad.
|
|
kw9461
3x Platinum Member
Joined: January 2007
Posts: 3,767
|
Post by kw9461 on Dec 12, 2018 23:18:39 GMT -5
Pray For The Fish was the second single off of Rise And Shine, follow up single to "Three Wooden Crosses". I've always loved this song, it's just such a fun, clever song. It was always going to be hard to follow up "Three Wooden Crosses" with another hit, and the odd sounding title probably didn't help, but I really wish radio had given this a chance. I'm kind of surprised this turned out to be so polarizing.
|
|