Favourite Songs of the Year - 1997

[someguy]

I like the idea of listing favourite songs from years gone by. 1997 was probably my second favourite year for country (after 1998), though 1997 yeilded many top hits. What were your favourites?

Reba McEntire - "I'd Rather Ride Around With You"
Trisha Yearwood - "How Do I Live"
Deana Carter - "How Do I Get There"
Tim McGraw & Faith Hill - "It's Your Love"
LeAnn Rimes - "Unchained Melody"
Martina McBride - "A Broken Wing"
Tim McGraw - "Everywhere"
Diamond Rio - "How Your Love Makes Me Feel"
Shania Twain - "Love Gets Me Every Time"
Reba McEntire - "How Was I To Know"
Garth Brooks & Trisha Yearwood - "In Another's Eyes"
Alabama - "Dancin', Shaggin' On The Boulevard"

Edit:

Pam Tillis - "All The Good Ones Are Gone"
Wynonna - "When Love Starts Talkin'"

[sabre14]

Going to have to dig up my memory bank a bit. But here's my top 20 :)

1. Forever And A Day - Gary Allan
2. Just To See You Smile - Tim McGraw
3. Cry On The Shoulder Of The Road - Martina McBride
4. Drink, Swear, Steal and Lie - Michael Peterson
5. The Fool - Lee Ann Womack
6. Postmarked Birmingham - BlackHawk
7. Heartbroke Every Day - Lonestar
8. Three Chords And The Truth - Sara Evans
9. Her Man - Gary Allan
10. Amen Kind Of Love - Daryle Singletary
11. She Drew A Broken Heart - Patty Loveless
12. Everywhere - Tim McGraw
13. Never Again, Again - Lee Ann Womack
14. Carrying Your Love With Me - George Strait
15. Say Yes - Burnin' Daylight
16. Nobody Knows - Kevin Sharp
17. Love Gets Me Every Time - Shania Twain
18. Who's Cheatin' Who - Alan Jackson
19. Thank God For Believers - Mark Chesnutt
20. Don't Take Her She's All I Got - Tracy Byrd

[Andy]

Blackhawk - "Postmarked Birmingham"
Brooks & Dunn - "He's Got You"
Clint Black - "Something That We Do"
Collin Raye - "Little Red Rodeo"
Diamond Rio - "How Your Love Makes Me Feel"
Garth Brooks - "You Move Me", "Two Pina Coladas", "She's Gonna Make It"
George Strait - "Carrying Your Love Me"
Kenny Chesney - "That's Why I'm Here"
Lee Ann Womack - "Never Again, Again", "The Fool", "You've Got to Talk to Me"
Mark Chesnutt - "Thank God for Believers"
Martina McBride - "Whatever You Say"
Pam Tillis - "Land of the Living"
Patty Loveless - "You Don't Seem to Miss Me"
Sara Evans - "Three Chords and the Truth"
Tim McGraw - "One of These Days", "Just to See You Smile"
Toby Keith - "We Were in Love", "Dream Walkin'," "I'm So Happy I Can't Stop Crying"
Trace Adkins - "Lonely Won't Leave Me Alone"
Tracy Lawrence - "Better Man, Better Off"

[Old Fart In NC]

Mar 28, 2014 23:24:36 GMT -5 sabre14 said:

Going to have to dig up my memory bank a bit. But here's my top 20 :)

1. Forever And A Day - Gary Allan
13. Never Again, Again - Lee Ann Womack

My favorite Gary Allan song and my favorite Lee Ann Womack song (and I like many songs from both artists).

[.indulgecountry]

[tim]

Wow, reading through this thread brings back some great memories. Nashville really was putting out some strong music during 1996 and 1997. Glad to see Gary's "Forever and A Day" get mentioned as this has always been one of my favorite Gary songs. Also have to agree with anything Lee Ann Womack put out on her debut album...same for Mark Chesnutt. Anyways, here goes...

Alabama - "Sad Lookin' Moon"
John Berry - "She's Taken A Shine"
Clint Black - "Still Holding On" (with Martina McBride)
Brooks & Dunn - "A Man This Lonely" and "Why Would I Say Goodbye"
Deana Carter - "How Do I Get There"
Billy Ray Cyrus - "It's All The Same To Me"
Vince Gill - "Pretty Little Adrianna" and "You and You Alone"
Alan Jackson - "There Goes" and "Between The Devil and Me"
Tracy Lawrence - "Better Man, Better Off" and "The Coast Is Clear"
Patty Loveless - "The Trouble With the Truth" and "You Don't Seem to Miss Me"
Mila Mason - "Dark Horse"
Mindy McCready - "Maybe He'll Notice Her Now," "A Girl's Gotta Do...," and "What If I Do"
Reba McEntire - "How Was I To Know" and "What If" (promotional single for the Salvation Army)
Lorrie Morgan - "Good As I Was To You"
LeAnn Rimes - "The Light In Your Eyes
Collin Raye - "On the Verge"
Ricochet - "He Left A Lot To Be Desired"
Sawyer Brown - "This Night Won't Last Forever"
Kevin Sharp - "She's Sure Taking It Well"
Daryle Singletary - "Amen Kind of Love"
George Strait - "King of the Mountain," "One Night At A Time," "Carrying Your Love With Me," and "Today My World Slipped Away"
Travis Tritt - "Where Corn Don't Go"
Tanya Tucker - "Little Things"
Clay Walker - "One, Two, I Love You" and "Watch This"
Mark Wills - "Places I've Never Been"
Chely Wright - "Shut Up and Drive"

[Old Fart In NC]

Mar 30, 2014 1:23:20 GMT -5 tim said:

Wow, reading through this thread brings back some great memories. Nashville really was putting out some strong music during 1996 and 1997. Glad to see Gary's "Forever and A Day" get mentioned as this has always been one of my favorite Gary songs. Also have to agree with anything Lee Ann Womack put out on her debut album...same for Mark Chesnutt. Anyways, here goes...

Alabama - "Sad Lookin' Moon"
John Berry - "She's Taken A Shine"
Clint Black - "Still Holding On" (with Martina McBride)
Brooks & Dunn - "A Man This Lonely" and "Why Would I Say Goodbye"
Deana Carter - "How Do I Get There"
Billy Ray Cyrus - "It's All The Same To Me"
Vince Gill - "Pretty Little Adrianna" and "You and You Alone"
Alan Jackson - "There Goes" and "Between The Devil and Me"
Tracy Lawrence - "Better Man, Better Off" and "The Coast Is Clear"
Patty Loveless - "The Trouble With the Truth" and "You Don't Seem to Miss Me"
Mila Mason - "Dark Horse"
Mindy McCready - "Maybe He'll Notice Her Now," "A Girl's Gotta Do...," and "What If I Do"
Reba McEntire - "How Was I To Know" and "What If" (promotional single for the Salvation Army)
Lorrie Morgan - "Good As I Was To You"
LeAnn Rimes - "The Light In Your Eyes
Collin Raye - "On the Verge"
Ricochet - "He Left A Lot To Be Desired"
Sawyer Brown - "This Night Won't Last Forever"
Kevin Sharp - "She's Sure Taking It Well"
Daryle Singletary - "Amen Kind of Love"
George Strait - "King of the Mountain," "One Night At A Time," "Carrying Your Love With Me," and "Today My World Slipped Away"
Travis Tritt - "Where Corn Don't Go"
Tanya Tucker - "Little Things"
Clay Walker - "One, Two, I Love You" and "Watch This"
Mark Wills - "Places I've Never Been"
Chely Wright - "Shut Up and Drive"

A lot of good songs on this list, but two that stick out to me are "King of the Mountain" and "Places I've Never Been." "King of the Mountain" is one of my favorite songs from George, and I was stunned that it stalled at #19 (the second lowest peaking song of his career at that time and only his third to miss the Top 10). I didn't realize it at the time, but it was previously recorded by George Jones on his 1991 album Along Came Jones. "Places I've Never Been" is my favorite Mark Wills song, followed closely by "Wish You Were Here."

Since they're getting some love in this thread by others beside myself here are the videos for "Forever and a Day" and "Never Again, Again."

[castleoblivion26]

I first started listening to country music in 1997 so this is one of my favorite years for country. Some of my favorites are:

The Fool - Lee Ann Womack (this is the song that made me a country fan)
You Don't Seem to Miss Me - Patty Loveless & George Jones
Still Holding On - Clint Black & Martina McBride
One, Two, I Love You - Clay Walker
Carrying Your Love With Me - George Strait
Between the Devil and Me - Alan Jackson
All The Good Ones Are Gone - Pam Tillis
How Do I Get There - Deana Carter
Little Red Rodeo - Collin Raye
Postmarked Birmingham - Blackhawk
How Your Love Makes Me Feel - Diamond Rio
That's Why I'm Here - Kenny Chesney
You've Got To Talk To Me - Lee Ann Womack
Everywhere - Tim McGraw
Drink, Swear, Steal and Lie - Michael Peterson
Down Came A Blackbird - Lila McCann
Love Gets Me Every Time - Shania Twain
In Another's Eyes - Garth Brooks & Trisha Yearwood
Sad Lookin' Moon - Alabama
What The Heart Wants - Collin Raye

There are a lot of music from 1997 I liked but those stand out to me right now. I could probably add more from Collin Raye, Tim McGraw and Deana Carter as those three were the first three country cds I ever bought (Direct Hits, Everywhere and Did I Shave My Legs For This? respectively).

[sabre14]

Hate to nitpick with "Little Red Rodeo" because it is one of my all-time favorites from the 90's, but it was released in December of 1997, so I always consider it a song from 1998. Again, not that important, but figured it was worth mentioning.

Regarding "Forever And A Day" by Gary Allan; It's easily in my top 5 all time Gary songs and was the no brainer choice for my #1 favorite of 97 when I originally saw this thread. Listening to that song is like sweet candy for my ears.

[rbundy1987]

1997 Favorites of mine :)

Alabama- "Sad Lookin' Moon"
Alabama- "Dancin', Shaggin', On The Boulevard"
Big House- "Cold Outside"
Billy Ray Cyrus- "Three Little Words"
Billy Ray Cyrus- "It's All The Same To Me"
Blake & Brian- "Another Perfect Day"
Clint Black- "Something That We Do"
Clint Black duet with Martina McBride- "Still Holding On"
Collin Raye- "On The Verge"
Collin Raye- "What The Heart Wants"
Reba McEntire- "I Rather Ride Around With You"
Reba McEntire- "What If It's You"
Clay Walker- "Rumor Has It" (#1 hit)
Clay Walker- "Watch This"
Michael Peterson- "Drink, Swear, Steal & Lie"
Michael Peterson- "From Here To Eternity" (#1 Hit)
Sawyer Brown- "Six Days On The Road"
Sawyer Brown- "This Night Won't Last Forever"
Chely Wright- "Shut Up And Drive"
Tim McGraw with Faith Hill- "It's Your Love" (#1 Hit)
Tim McGraw- "Everywhere" (#1 Hit)
Tim McGraw- "Just To See You Smile" (#1 Hit in early 1998)
Martina McBride- "A Broken Wing" (#1 Hit In early 1998)
Bryan White- "Sittin' On Go" (#1 Hit)
Bryan White- "Love Is The Right Place"
David Lee Murphy- "All Lit Up In Love"
Deana Carter- "Count Me In"
Deana Carter- "How Do I Get There" (#1 Hit)
Diamond Rio- "How Your Love Makes Me Feel" (#1 Hit)
Diamond Rio- "Imagine That"
George Strait- "One Night At A Time" (#1 Hit)
George Strait- "Carrying Your Love With Me" (#1 Hit)
George Strait- "Today My World Slipped Away"
John Michael Montgomery- "I Miss You A Little"
John Michael Montgomery- "How Was I To Know"
John Michael Montgomery- "Angel In My Eyes"
Kenny Chesney- "She's Got It All" (#1 Hit)
Lee Ann Womack- "The Fool"
Lorrie Morgan- "Good As I Was To You"
Lorrie Morgan- "One Of Those Nights"
Mark Chesnutt- "Let It Rain"
Mark Wills- "Places I've Never Been"
Sammy Kershaw- "Politics, Religion, And Her"
Sammy Kershaw- "Love Of My Life"
Shania Twain- "Love Gets Me Every Time" (#1 Hit)

[Kanenrá:ke]

This was a great year for country music...I had a hard time narrowing it down but these were my final 20 songs. I'm not sure this is my final ranking of the top 20 but here goes. :)

01. "The Fool" - Lee Ann Womack
02. "Between The Devil And Me" - Alan Jackson
03. "Everybody Knows" - Trisha Yearwood
04. "Forever And A Day" - Gary Allan
05. "Three Chords & The Truth" - Sara Evans
06. "Cry On The Shoulder Of The Road" - Martina McBride
07. "Running Out Of Reasons To Run" - Rick Trevino
08. "Back When We Were Beautiful" - Matraca Berg
09. "Shut Up And Drive" - Chely Wright
10. "You Don't Seem To Miss Me" - Patty Loveless & George Jones
11. "Count Me In" - Deana Carter
12. "Pretty Little Adrianna" - Vince Gill
13. "Drink, Swear, Steal & Lie" - Michael Peterson
14. "Naked To The Pain" - James Bonamy
15. "Maybe He'll Notice Her Now" - Mindy McCready
16. "She Wants To Be Wanted Again" - Ty Herndon
17. "Politics, Religion & Her" - Sammy Kershaw
18. "Cool Water" - Tammy Graham
19. "Born Again In Dixieland" - Jason McCoy
20. "The Kind Of Heart That Breaks" - Chris Cummings

Honorable Mentions
"455 Rocket" - Kathy Mattea
"(Don't Take Her) She's All I Got" - Tracy Byrd
"Down Came A Blackbird" - Lila McCann
"What's Come Over You" - Paul Brandt

[Ten Pound Hammer]

Too long ago to remember what I liked back then vs. after the fact. But I can definitely say that the output of the Buffalo Club was severely underrated.

[ky24941]

My top 20

1. Burnin' Daylight - Say Yes
2. Clint Black & Martina McBride - Still Holding On
3. Diamond Rio - How Your Love Makes Me Feel
4. Kathy Mattea - 455 Rocket
5. Kippi Brannon - I'd Be With You
6. Lila McCann - Down Came a Blackbird
7. Michael Peterson - Drink, Swear, Steal & Lie
8. Mindy McCready - What If I Do
9. Nikki Nelson - Too Little Too Much
10. Pam Tillis - Land of The Living
11. Paul Brandt - A Little In Love
12. Paul Brandt - Take It From Me
13. Patty Loveless - She Drew a Broken Heart
14. Patty Loveless & George Jones - You Don't Seem To Miss Me
15. Shania Twain - Love Gets Me Every Time
16. Sherrie Austin - Lucky In Love
17. Terri Clark - Emotional Girl
18. Tim McGraw - Maybe We Should Just Sleep On It
19. Tracy Byrd - Big Love
20. Ty Herndon - I Have To Surrender

Honorable mentions:

1. Chely Wright - Shut Up and Drive
2. Jason Sellers - I'm Your Man
3. The Kinleys - Please
4. Reba McEntire - How Was I To Know
5. Sons of the Desert - Whatever Comes First

[tim]

^How'd I forget "Down Came A Blackbird?!?" Always liked the video too.

[carriekins]

Apr 1, 2014 0:05:17 GMT -5 tim said:

^How'd I forget "Down Came A Blackbird?!?" Always liked the video too.

I LOVED Lila McCann - saw her open for the George Strait Country Music Festival!

I need to do this year - my senior year in HS. :)

[dajross6]

Here's my Top 20 of 1997 (special thanks for getting me to dig out my notebook!!)

1. One Night At A Time - George Strait
2. Everywhere - Tim McGraw
3. Carrying Your Love With Me - George Strait
4. Politics, Religion, and Her - Sammy Kershaw
5. Just To See You Smile - Tim McGraw
6. Is That A Tear - Tracy Lawrence
7. Amen Kind of Love - Darryl Singletary
8. It's Your Love - Tim McGraw with Faith Hill
9. Rumor Has It - Clay Walker
10. Another You - David Kersh
11. How Was I To Know - John Michael Montgomery
12. She's Got It All - Kenny Chesney
13. I'm So Happy I Can't Stop Crying - Toby Keith with Sting
14. Between The Devil and Me - Alan Jackson
15. From Here to Eternity - Michael Peterson
16. I Can't Do That Anymore - Faith Hill
17. Me Too - Toby Keith
18. In Another's Eyes - Garth Brooks with Trisha Yearwood
19. King of the Mountain - George Strait
20. Today My World Slipped Away - George Strait

[tim]

Apr 2, 2014 22:31:25 GMT -5 dajross6 said:

Here's my Top 20 of 1997 (special thanks for getting me to dig out my notebook!!)


4. Politics, Religion, and Her - Sammy Kershaw

That was such a stellar album and a standout from 1996. "Meant to Be" and "Vidalia" were both great songs from '96 as was the title cut (which charted in '97). I'd have to add "Fit To Be Tied Down" to my '97 list of songs. Forgot how much I enjoyed that one. I remember being so frustrated that it didn't chart higher and get more airplay.

[Ten Pound Hammer]

For 1996, picking my top song was easy and picking my bottom one was hard. For this year, the reverse is true.

1997

TOP
1. Blackhawk - Postmarked Birmingham
2. Trace Adkins - (This Ain't) No Thinkin' Thing
3. Mindy McCready/Richie McDonald - Maybe He'll Notice Her Now
4. Lila McCann - Down Came a Blackbird
5. John Michael Montgomery - Friends
6. Mila Mason - Dark Horse
7. Sawyer Brown - This Night Won't Last Forever
8. Tim McGraw - Everywhere
9. Chely Wright - Shut Up and Drive
10. Reba - I'd Rather Ride Around with You
11. Travis Tritt/Lari White - Helping Me Get over You
12. Martina McBride - Cry on the Shoulder of the Road
13. Ty Herndon - I Have to Surrender
14. Daryle Singletary - Amen Kind of Love
15. Billy Yates - Flowers
16. Lonestar - Heartbroke Every Day
17. The Kinleys - Please
18. River Road - Nickajack
19. Tammy Graham - A Dozen Red Roses
20. James Bonamy - The Swing
21. Michael Peterson - Drink, Swear, Steal & Lie
22. Tracy Byrd - Don't Take Her She's All I Got
23. Kathy Mattea - 455 Rocket
24. Alabama - Sad Lookin' Moon
25. The Buffalo Club - If She Don't Love You
26. Regina Regina - More than I Wanted to Know
27. Bryan White - Sittin' on Go
28. Burnin' Daylight - Say Yes
29. Diamond Rio - How Your Love Makes Me Feel
30. Lorrie Morgan - Good as I Was to You
31. Tracy Lawrence - The Coast Is Clear
32. Sons of the Desert - Whatever Comes First
33. Deryl Dodd - That's How I Got to Memphis
34. Toby Keith - We Were in Love
35. Big House - Cold Outside
36. Mark Chesnutt - Thank God for Believers
37. Kevin Sharp - Nobody Knows
38. Collin Raye - What If Jesus Comes Back Like That/On the Verge
39. Patty Loveless - She Drew a Broken Heart
40. Thrasher Shiver - Be Honest
41. Travis Tritt - Where Corn Don't Grow
42. Gary Allan - Her Man/Forever and a Day
43. John Berry - She's Taken a Shine
44. Rick Trevino - Running Out of Reasons to Run
45. Pam Tillis - All the Good Ones Are Gone/Land of the Living
46. Raybon Brothers - Butterfly Kisses (aka "the good version of this song")
47. Jason Sellers - I'm Your Man
48. Blake & Brian - Another Perfect Day
49. Alan Jackson - There Goes
50. Rodney Atkins - In a Heartbeat
51. Brooks & Dunn - Why Would I Say Goodbye
52. Joe Diffie - This Is Your Brain

BOTTOM

1. Tim McGraw / Faith Hill - It's Your Love
2. Trisha Yearwood OR LeAnn Rimes - How Do I Live
3. Clint Black - Something That We Do
4. Clay Walker - Watch This
5. Reba - What If It's You
6. John Anderson - Somebody Slap Me
7. Garth Brooks/Trisha Yearwood - In Another's Eyes
8. Alabama - Dancin', Shaggin' on the Boulevard (good harmonies, though)

[Todd]

1. LeAnn Rimes - "Unchained Melody"
2. Lee Ann Womack - "Never Again, Again"
3. Billy Yates - "Flowers"
4. George Strait - "Carrying Your Love with Me"
5. Tracy Lawrence - "How a Cowgirl Says Goodbye"
6. Bryan White - "That's Another Song"
7. LeAnn Rimes - "How Do I Live"
8. Vince Gill - "You and You Alone"
9. Kevin Sharp - "Nobody Knows"
10. John Berry - "I Will, If You Will"

[sabre14]

Jul 21, 2015 22:28:17 GMT -5 Ten Pound Hammer said:

TOP
40. Thrasher Shiver - Be Honest

Great song; I should have remembered to include it in my list.

[Deleted]

Wow, I've been so preoccupied with searching through the vast world of alt-country and Americana that I've forgotten to dig into the past. Though I know quite a few songs here, there's still many here I need to listen to. Especially since this is my birth year! :)