Joel Whitburn's all-time Top Country Artists list

[Jonsolo]

For those of you that own any of the Joel Whitburn Top Country Songs books (2005, 2001, 1997, etc.), this could be of some interest to you. For those that don’t, this might still be worth a few moments of your time to check out. I’ve bought the last two editions of Whitburn’s country books (which list all of the songs and artists who have made it on the Billboard chart, dating back to 1944), and one of my favorite sections of the book is the Top Artists section near the back. This section uses a system to assign points for each charting song that an artist has, totals all of the points for each artist, and ranks the artists in order. The 2001 edition had the Top 400 artists, while last year’s edition trimmed it down to a Top 300.

The point system takes into account the peak position, or range, for each song: 30 points for a #51 to 60 peak, 35 pts for #41 to 50, 40 pts for #31 to 40, and so on up to 60 points for #6 to #10, 70 for #4 and #5, 80 for #3, 90 for #2, and 100 pts for a #1. In addition, bonus points are added for multiple weeks at the top three positions, and a point is added for each week the song is on the chart.

Example: Strait’s I Hate Everything was on the chart for 20 weeks, and spent two weeks at #1. So that yielded 20 (for the weeks on the chart) + 100 (for the #1 peak) + 10 (ten bonus points for each additional week at #1) = 130 points that George got for this song.

Second example, for a current song: Atkins’ Watching You is at #5 on the 12/30/06 chart. That earns 70 points, and it’s in its 14th week on the chart, for 14 more points. That gives a total of 84 points earned so far (but it’s safe to say that it’s headed well over 140 before it’s done).

It appears that a very good year for an artist would be about 300 points.

Anyway, the 2005 edition covered the songs that had debuted by the 6/25/05 chart, and included the points that had been earned by these songs up until the 9/24/05. Like I had been doing for the last few years after the 2001 edition came out, I’ve been continuing to track the points that have been earned by all the artists on that top 300 list, the ones in the #301 to #400 range on the 2001 Top 400 list, and as well as the young artists that are “contenders” for making it onto the list. With this week’s chart being the final one for 2006, I thought it’d be interesting for everyone to see where their favorite artists now rank on the all-time list.

I’ll list the artists in groups of 100, and will include a few notes after each section. After the current position, I’ll put in parentheses what the artist’s last ranking was in the 2005 Whitburn book. If they’ve gained any points since that book, I’ll put that amount in parentheses after current point total. Ties are broken by the artist with the most charting songs.

[Jonsolo]

#1 to #100:

1. (1) Eddy Arnold – 12653
2. (2) George Jones – 11922 (3 points gained since last Whitburn book)
3. (3) Johnny Cash – 9717
4. (6) George Strait – 9555 (461)
5. (4) Merle Haggard – 9165 (64)
6. (5) Conway Twitty – 9101
7. (8) Dolly Parton – 8306 (197)
8. (7) Willie Nelson – 8175
9. (9) Webb Pierce – 7975
10. (10) Ray Price – 7773
11. (13) Reba McEntire – 7507 (85)
12. (11) Buck Owens – 7492
13. (12) Waylon Jennings – 7491
14. (14) Marty Robbins – 7306
15. (15) Hank Williams Jr. – 7135 (60)
16. (16) Alabama – 6977
17. (17) Jim Reeves – 6843
18. (18) Ernest Tubb – 6474
19. (19) Charley Pride – 6422
20. (20) Loretta Lynn – 6285
21. (22) Alan Jackson – 6269 (144)
22. (21) Sonny James – 6205
23. (23) Faron Young – 6115
24. (24) Hank Snow – 6088
25. (25) Ronnie Milsap – 6025 (36)
26. (27) Kenny Rogers – 5976 (116)
27. (29) Garth Brooks – 5921 (210)
28. (26) Carl Smith – 5901
29. (28) Tammy Wynette – 5836
30. (30) Bill Anderson – 5621
31. (31) Mel Tillis – 5385
32. (32) Tanya Tucker – 5359
33. (33) Red Foley – 5326
34. (40) Tim McGraw – 5269 (327)
35. (34) Porter Wagoner – 5237
36. (35) Don Williams – 5211
37. (36) Elvis Presley – 5197
38. (37) Kitty Wells – 5134
39. (38) Don Gibson – 5090
40. (43) Brooks & Dunn – 5037 (237)
41. (39) Glen Campbell – 4971
42. (41) Statler Brothers – 4828
43. (42) Hank Thompson – 4813
44. (44) Steve Wariner – 4745
45. (45) Crystal Gayle – 4522
46. (46) Vince Gill – 4507 (103)
47. (56) Toby Keith – 4456 (385)
48. (49) Clint Black – 4398 (83)
49. (47) Hank Williams – 4395
50. (48) Jerry Lee Lewis – 4365
51. (50) Randy Travis – 4310 (46)
52. (51) David Houston – 4250
53. (52) Barbara Mandrell – 4217
54. (53) Oak Ridge Boys – 4217
55. (66) Kenny Chesney – 4211 (605)
56. (54) Bobby Bare – 4192
57. (55) Mickey Gilley – 4076
58. (57) Lynn Anderson – 4021
59. (58) Eddie Rabbitt – 3990
60. (59) Anne Murray – 3901
61. (60) Joe Stampley – 3866
62. (61) Dottie West – 3858
63. (62) Emmylou Harris – 3801
64. (63) John Anderson – 3779
65. (64) T.G. Sheppard – 3746
66. (65) Travis Tritt – 3632
67. (67) Sawyer Brown – 3608 (63)
68. (70) Bellamy Brothers – 3563 (31)
69. (75) Martina McBride – 3545 (207)
70. (68) Moe Bandy – 3537
71. (69) Tom T. Hall – 3536
72. (71) Billy Walker – 3493
73. (72) Earl Thomas Conley – 3482
74. (73) Patty Loveless – 3460
75. (74) Ferlin Husky – 3355
76. (76) Johnny Paycheck – 3266
77. (77) Gene Watson – 3247
78. (78) Connie Smith – 3218
79. (79) Freddie Hart – 3209
80. (93) Faith Hill – 3148 (321)
81. (80) Johnny Rodriguez – 3145
82. (81) Jerry Reed – 3116
83. (82) Mark Chesnutt – 3101
84. (83) Charlie Rich – 3084
85. (89) Trisha Yearwood – 3045 (95)
86. (84) Larry Gatlin & Bros. – 3031
87. (85) Ricky Skaggs – 3008
88. (86) Janie Fricke – 2993
89. (87) J.M. Montgomery – 2983
90. (88) Jim Ed Brown – 2963
91. (90) Lefty Frizzell – 2945
92. (92) Diamond Rio – 2938 (65)
93. (99) Lonestar – 2922 (155)
94. (91) Joe Diffie – 2911
95. (102) Tracy Lawrence – 2892 (165)
96. (94) Vern Gosdin – 2815
97. (95) Collin Raye – 2795
98. (96) Eddy Raven – 2793
99. (97) Billy Craddock – 2787
100. (98) Lee Greenwood – 2774

Notes on the Top 100:

· Obviously George Strait is a huge long shot to reach the top two (would need at least eight more great years to catch G. Jones), but he should catch Johnny by mid-summer ’07.
· Nice late-career move by Dolly, to get over Willie (who could still get a duet or something else down the road). The top six should be untouchable, however. Perhaps forever, and from anyone.
· With her chart career on the decline, a big question mark on whether Reba will ever make the top 10.
· AJ picks the wrong time to hit a bad slow patch (144 points in 18 months, roughly one-third of what he was once capable of). The next chart appearance gets him into the top 20, but how far will he be able to venture into it? I used to think 7000 points would be easy for him, but now I’m not too sure.
· It’s been a rough year for me watching Tim, having to see him pass several artists (Don, Elvis, Glenn, Porter) that are much more talented than him.
· Perhaps B&D have just enough left to get into top 30, but not much further.
· Vince comes through with a single just in the nick of time to fend off Toby for a few more months. Toby’s also started to fall on hard times, and 5500 points might be the absolute limit of what he can muster.
· Kenny’s point total for the last 18 months has been just shy of the Flatts’ efforts, 604 to 622, for the most of any artist. He seems capable of chasing down Toby within two years. He’ll continue to soar as long as radio/fans keep eating up his formula songs (beach fun, nostalgia for teen years, etc.).
· Martina wakes up to realize that she’s got a decent shot at 4000 points, and also wants to stay in front of Faith for the foreseeable future.
· Tracy Lawrence nickel and dimes his way into the top 100, and might be the last artist to make it there until the Flatts come calling in two years, unless Shania comes out with an album in ’07 (see the next section).

Next up, #101 to #200…

[Jonsolo]

#101 to #200:

101. (100) John Conlee – 2756
102. (101) Kathy Mattea – 2733
103. (103) Stonewall Jackson – 2721
104. (104) Lorrie Morgan – 2709
105. (105) Del Reeves – 2666
106. (106) Roy Drusky – 2658
107. (110) Dwight Yoakam – 2656 (69)
108. (107) Dave Dudley – 2629
109. (108) Roger Miller – 2624
110. (111) Clay Walker – 2617 (54)
111. (109) Jean Shepard – 2612
112. (113) Shania Twain – 2597 (58)
113. (112) Charly McClain – 2553
114. (114) The Judds – 2529
115. (115) Donna Fargo – 2517
116. (116) Roy Clark – 2427
117. (117) Ronnie McDowell – 2420
118. (118) Bob Wills – 2418
119. (119) Ricky Van Shelton – 2405
120. (121) Tracy Byrd – 2377 (38)
121. (120) Skeeter Davis – 2353
122. (122) George Hamilton IV – 2334
123. (123) Jack Greene – 2295
124. (124) Mel McDaniel – 2290
125. (125) Johnny Duncan – 2253
126. (126) Dan Seals – 2250
127. (127) Kendalls – 2235
128. (131) Sammy Kershaw – 2209 (54)
129. (128) Nitty Gritty Dirt Band – 2174
130. (129) Jimmy Wakely – 2171
131. (130) Restless Heart – 2167
132. (142) Dixie Chicks – 2161 (127)
133. (132) Roseanne Cash – 2145
134. (133) Shenandoah – 2141
135. (139) Aaron Tippin – 2139 (49)
136. (134) Tennessee Ernie Ford – 2126
137. (135) Johnny Lee – 2107
138. (136) Gary Morris – 2107
139. (137) Gene Autry – 2101
140. (203) Rascal Flatts – 2093 (623)
141. (138) Pam Tillis – 2092
142. (145) Wynonna – 2061 (54)
143. (140) Jimmy Newman – 2047
144. (141) Hank Locklin – 2044
145. (143) Wilburn Brothers – 2019
146. (144) George Morgan – 2015
147. (155) Neal McCoy – 2013 (75)
148. (160) Jo Dee Messina – 2004 (131)
149. (146) Slim Whitman – 1996
150. (147) Al Dexter – 1996
151. (148) Tommy Overstreet – 1995
152. (149) Ed Bruce – 1993
153. (150) Billie Jo Spears – 1993
154. (151) Nat Stuckey – 1989
155. (152) Mary C. Carpenter – 1959
156. (153) Exile – 1952
157. (202) Keith Urban – 1948 (477)
158. (154) Narvel Felts – 1947
159. (198) Brad Paisley – 1930 (426)
160. (156) Michael M. Murphey – 1911
161. (157) Razzy Bailey – 1908
162. (158) Tex Ritter – 1901
163. (159) Bob Luman – 1882
164. (175) Leann Rimes – 1875 (214)
165. (161) Doug Stone – 1870
166. (183) Trace Adkins – 1839 (228)
167. (162) Sammy Smith – 1814
168. (163) Rex Allen Jr. – 1811
169. (164) Brenda Lee – 1799
170. (165) Marty Stuart – 1797
171. (166) Freddy Weller – 1784
172. (167) Jerry Wallace – 1761
173. (168) Claude King – 1754
174. (169) Billy Dean – 1717
175. (170) Tex Williams – 1715
176. (171) Juice Newton – 1688
177. (182) Terri Clark – 1683 (70)
178. (172) David Rogers – 1675
179. (173) Linda Ronstadt – 1673
180. (174) Wynn Stewart – 1670
181. (191) Lee Ann Womack – 1647 (113)
182. (176) Cal Smith – 1644
183. (177) Jan Howard – 1644
184. (206) Gary Allan – 1640 (180)
185. (178) Forester Sisters – 1636
186. (179) Red Sovine – 1621
187. (180) Susan Raye – 1616
188. (181) Lacy J. Dalton – 1614
189. (225) Sara Evans – 1611 (248)
190. (184) Keith Whitley – 1573
191. (226) Montgomery Gentry – 1569 (210)
192. (185) Ray Stevens – 1566
193. (186) Kenny Price – 1558
194. (187) Mac Davis – 1545
195. (188) Rodney Crowell – 1541
196. (189) Warner Mack – 1538
197. (190) T. Graham Brown – 1538
198. (192) Dickey Lee – 1527
199. (193) Sylvia – 1527
200. (194) Charlie Daniels – 1525

Notes on 101 to 200:

· As I mentioned earlier, the Flatts are probably the next artist to crack the top 100, within two years. Yoakam would need three charting songs to get there, and he appears to be only good for maybe one per year. Clay would be about three top 40 songs away, but he also only has maybe one charting song per year in him. Shania is the only other contender to beat the Flatts, and if she gets an album out next year, three singles from it would do the trick.
· The Chicks would have been in the top 100 over a year ago, if The Incident had never happened…
· Urban’s quiet ’06 and Paisley’s charting Christmas songs turn that match-up into a close battle. I am expecting Brad to end his career higher up on the list than Keith (perhaps top 30?), but I thought that Keith would race out to a big lead over the next several years, and Brad would have to catch up after Keith’s star began to wane.
· If Rimes ever really takes off, she could climb pretty high up on this list, as she’s still only 24 years old. Reaching 2000 points before the age of 25 would be an impressive feat. Watch out, Eddy!
· Adkins motoring right along, and he’s after the “Highest Ranking For An Artist With Only One #1” designation, I guess. But I think Bobby Bare at #56 can breathe easy in regards to that issue.
· Gary Allan is a tough artist to figure out. He’ll never be a huge superstar and reach the heights that Keith and Brad are headed to, and Toby and Kenny are at, but he could remain just steady enough to eventually hit the top 100, in the vicinity of J.M. Montgomery or Joe Diffie.
· Evans and Mont Gentry have been waging a pretty nice battle over the last two years, and that looks to continue into the next year.
· We had about ten artists crack the top 200 between mid-2004 and this past summer, but as the next section will show, it could be some time until the next new artist enters the top 200.

[Jonsolo]

#201 to #300:

201. (195) Margo Smith – 1519
202. (196) Wanda Jackson – 1512
203. (197) Jimmy Dean – 1505
204. (199) David Frizzell – 1498
205. (200) John Denver – 1495
206. (210) Mark Wills – 1479 (42)
207. (201) Billy Ray Cyrus – 1478
208. (204) Charlie Louvin – 1465
209. (205) Highway 101 – 1464
210. (207) Melba Montgomery – 1449
211. (208) Louise Mandrell – 1446
212. (209) Holly Dunn – 1437
213. (211) Lee Roy Parnell – 1428
214. (212) Suzy Bogguss – 1419
215. (213) Freddie Fender – 1402
216. (214) Everly Brothers – 1402
217. (215) Leon Everette – 1400
218. (216) Gary Stewart – 1399
219. (217) The Browns – 1398
220. (218) Dave & Sugar – 1391
221. (219) Little Texas – 1391
222. (220) Mel Street – 1390
223. (221) Gail Davis – 1388
224. (222) Patsy Cline – 1388
225. (223) Barbara Fairchild – 1386
226. (224) Jeannie Seely – 1386
227. (227) Jody Miller – 1348
228. (228) Ernest Ashworth – 1342
229. (229) Johnny Carver – 1337
230. (230) Bobby G. Rice – 1321
231. (231) Shelly West – 1307
232. (232) Bryan White – 1303
233. (233) David Allan Coe – 1302
234. (236) Blackhawk – 1301 (17)
235. (234) Merle Travis – 1300
236. (235) John Schneider – 1298
237. (237) Jacky Ward – 1283
238. (238) Claude Gray – 1269
239. (239) Cowboy Copas – 1267
240. (240) Ty Herndon – 1265
241. (241) Jeannie C. Riley – 1263
242. (242) Johnny Russell – 1262
243. (243) Tompall & Glaser – 1252
244. (244) John Berry – 1252
245. (245) Marie Osmond – 1246
246. (246) Con Hunley – 1242
247. (247) Charlie Walker – 1241
248. (248) John Wesley Ryles – 1235
249. (249) Paul Overstreet – 1216
250. (250) Johnny Horton – 1216
251. (251) K.T. Oslin – 1214
252. (252) Flatt & Scruggs – 1212
253. (258) Hal Ketchum – 1206 (44)
254. (253) Desert Rose Band – 1205
255. (254) Cristy Lane – 1202
256. (255) Jeanne Pruett – 1199
257. (256) Helen Cornelius – 1183
258. (273) Phil Vassar – 1180 (192)
259. (257) Bobby Goldsboro – 1165
260. (259) Norma Jean – 1160
261. (260) Bobby Lewis – 1156
262. (261) Billy Joe Royal – 1145
263. (271) SheDaisy – 1119 (124)
264. (279) Darryl Worley – 1114 (149)
265. (262) Jim Glaser – 1089
266. (263) Little Jimmy Dickens – 1085
267. (264) Randy Barlow – 1072
268. (265) Johnnie & Jack – 1067
269. (266) B.J. Thomas – 1060
270. (267) Leroy Van Dyke – 1042
271. (268) Olivia Newton John – 1038
272. (303) Blake Shelton – 1029 (149)
273. (351) Joe Nichols – 1011 (280)
274. (269) Confederate Railroad – 1003
275. (270) Pee Wee King – 999
276. (272) Johnny Bush – 994
277. (274) Wade Hayes – 986
278. (275) Dick Curless – 981
279. (276) Southern Pacific – 978
280. (277) Buddy Alan – 972
281. (285) Andy Griggs – 969 (32)
282. (278) Chely Wright – 968
283. (287) Jimmy Buffett – 962 (31)
284. (280) Ricochet – 959
285. (281) Margaret Whiting – 953
286. (282) Tommy Cash – 946
287. (283) Ray Griff – 940
288. (284) Elton Britt – 939
289. (286) Rick Trevino – 933
290. (288) David Lee Murphy – 930
291. (289) Red Steagall – 927
292. (290) Mundo Earwood – 926
293. (291) Patti Page – 918
294. (292) Roy Acuff – 918
295. (293) Deborah Allen – 909
296. (294) The Whites – 908
297. (-) Dierks Bentley – 907 (471)
298. (295) Susie Allanson – 903
299. (296) Carl Butler & Pearl – 898
300. (360) Craig Morgan – 898 (197)

I only keep track of the “Last Edition” positions of the artists that were in the Top 400 of the 2001 Whitburn book, so that’s why there’s a (-) for Dierks.

Notes on 201 to 300:

· Not really any active artists that are close to cracking the top 200. Mark Wills would make it with a top 40 hit, or perhaps two songs that just barely make the chart. If he is out of gas, it will probably take almost two years for Vassar (or, more likely, Dierks) to get near that 1500 point barrier.
· Not much of a goal and/or milestone, but Ketchum could limp his way into the top 250 with one more song.
· Vassar and SheDaisy had been hanging around close together, but it looks like will start putting a little distance between the two of them.
· Worley and Shelton are another two that had until recently been moving up closely together.
· Nichols is hardly lighting the world on fire, but he should be in the top 200 within three years.
· Won’t Griggs even make a try for 1000 points?
· The next big star Dierks has had an outstanding 18 months, with three #1’s in a row, and more than doubled his point total. Two more similar years gets him over Charlie Daniels into the top 200.
· Morgan has also yet to fully establish a solid voice for himself, and failed to capitalize on having the top song of 2005.
· There will be a few more future entries into the top 300 than entries into the top 200 over the same time frame, mainly because the point totals needed are much lower, and artists are more closely packed together.

[Jonsolo]

#301 to #400:

301. (297) Roy Head – 887
302. (298) Bill Phillips – 887
303. (299) Mark Collie – 885
304. (300) Bobby Helms – 884
305. (301) Tom Jones – 882
306. (302) Rose Maddox – 881
307. (309) Alison Krauss – 880 (31)
308. (304) Deana Carter – 878
309. (305) Henson Cargill – 870
310. (-) Gretchen Wilson – 870 (367)
311. (306) Don King – 864
312. (307) Bonnie Guitar – 863
313. (308) Liz Anderson – 859
314. (310) Johnny & Jonie Mosby – 846
315. (311) Johnny Darrell – 842
316. (312) Louvin Brothers – 840
317. (313) David Wills – 837
318. (314) Osbourne Brothers – 834
319. (315) Glenn Barber – 829
320. (316) Lionel Cartwright – 826
321. (392) Steve Holy – 823 (207)
322. (317) Sweethearts of the Rodeo – 822
323. (318) Asleep at the Wheel – 822
324. (319) The Carlisles – 820
325. (320) Sons of the Pioneers – 819
326. (321) Daryle Singletary – 818
327. (322) Wayne Kemp – 817
328. (323) Stephanie Winslow – 816
329. (324) McBride & the Ride – 814
330. (325) Lois Johnson – 814
331. (326) Kenny Dale – 807
332. (327) Diana Trask – 804
333. (328) Baillie & the Boys – 803
334. (329) Jessi Colter – 802
335. (330) Arlene Harden – 801
336. (331) J Blanchard/ Morgan – 797
337. (368) Chris Cagle – 789 (110)
338. (332) Billy Swan – 783
339. (333) Skip Ewing – 781
340. (334) Dean Dillon – 779
341. (335) Carl Perkins – 775
342. (336) Floyd Tillman – 775
343. (350) Rhett Akins – 766 (34)
344. (337) Wilma Burgess – 765
345. (338) June Carter – 764
346. (339) C.W. McCall – 763
347. (340) Chris LeDoux – 758
348. (341) Tommy Collins – 757
349. (342) Michael Johnson – 757
350. (343) Carlene Carter – 751
351. (344) David Ball – 751
352. (345) Debby Boone – 750
353. (346) Ray Charles – 749
354. (347) Jeff Carson – 748
355. (404) Pat Green – 747 (160)
356. (382) Jamie O'Neal – 743 (93)
357. (348) Johnny Bond – 741
358. (349) Mindy McCready – 736
359. (352) Bobby Wright – 730
360. (353) Moon Mullican – 727
361. (354) Mark Gray – 722
362. (355) Lari White – 714
363. (356) Judy Rodman – 709
364. (357) Mavericks – 704
365. (358) Chad Brock – 703
366. (359) Dottsy – 702
367. (380) Jessica Andrews – 698 (45)
368. (361) Little David Wilkens – 695
369. (362) Marion Worth – 690
370. (363) Zella Lehr – 687
371. (364) Stella Parton – 687
372. (365) Ted Daffan – 687
373. (366) Doug Supernaw – 685
374. (367) Linda Davis – 680
375. (369) La Costa – 678
376. (370) Lyle Lovett – 672
377. (371) Larry Boone – 667
378. (372) Jim Nesbitt – 665
379. (373) Joe Sun – 664
380. (374) Sheb Wooley – 664
381. (375) Hoyt Axton – 662
382. (376) Margie Singleton – 657
383. (377) Sherry Bryce – 656
384. (378) Robin Lee – 655
385. (379) Ray Pillow – 654
386. (381) R.C. Bannon – 653
387. (383) Terri Gibbs – 649
388. (384) Roy Rogers – 649
389. (385) Radney Foster – 645
390. (386) Peggy Sue – 635
391. (387) Ned Miller – 635
392. (388) Keith Stegall – 626
393. (389) Billy Parker – 619
394. (390) Bobby Borchers – 619
395. (391) Jimmie Skinner – 619
396. (393) Tony Booth – 615
397. (394) Michael Peterson – 615
398. (395) T Texas Tyler – 615
399. (396) Johnny Wright – 608
400. (397) Spade Cooley – 606

Pat’s #404 Last Edition ranking was not in the 2005 book, but based on where the point totals were for the Top 400 in the 2001 edition, that’s where he would have ranked, with all things kept equal.

Notes on #301 to #400:

· Alison makes a timely move, and will see how high she can get on the list with her current song. A top 40 appearance would help out greatly in her bid to make the top 300.
· Deana Carter picked the wrong time to disappear, so close to the top 300.
· How far and how quickly has Gretchen fallen? She racked up 707 points in her first 22 months on the Billboard chart, from March ’04 through December ’05 (32.1 pts/month). In the 12 months of ’06, she only added 162 points (13.5 pts/month). Ouch. I was thinking that she’d be the first one after Dierks and Craig to reach the top 300, but now, with Alison in front and Come To Bed struggling, it’s up in the air.
· Two inconsistent performers, Holy and Cagle, are taking their sweet time moving through this section. Maybe they should get together for a duet, like Chicks Dig Being A Brand New Girlfriend….
· Pat Green hasn’t been able to do much after his 2003 Wave On Wave breakthrough, and now Ingram might have taken the mantle of “The Chosen Billboard-Charting Texas Artist”. Still a good bet to keep inching his way up the list, especially with the Dallas/Houston airplay he gets for album cuts like Way Back Texas and Somewhere Between Texas And Mexico.

[Jonsolo]

#401 to #421 (as far as I’ve been tracking, since the 2001 Whitburn edition):

401. (398) Jack Reno – 604
402. (409) Lila McCann – 603 (31)
403 (-) Sugarland – 602 (327)
404. (399) Big Al Downing – 599
405. (400) Foster & Lloyd – 599
406. (401) Hawkshaw Hawkins – 599
407. (402) Mary Lou Turner – 592
408. (403) Becky Hobbs – 588
409. (405) Burl Ives – 586
410. (406) Charlie McCoy – 584
411. (-) Carrie Underwood – 584 (548)
412. (407) Mike Reid – 582
413. (-) Trick Pony – 576 (54)
414. (408) O'Kanes – 575
415. (410) Ronnie Sessions – 572
416. (411) Paul Brandt – 570
417. (412) Kris Kristofferson – 569
418. (413) Dorsey Burnette – 567
419. (414) Penny DeHaven – 564
420. (415) Tom Wopat – 563
421. (416) Kentucky Headhunters – 560

The Headhunters were the lowest ranking artist on the 2001 top 400 that haven’t added any points (Linda Davis and Radney Foster moved up some), so I’ve kept track of everything down to them. I next track the young contenders, which are a threat to make the list, and will mention them next.

Contenders for the Whitburn list:

Billy Currington – 556
Rodney Atkins – 541
Big & Rich – 533
Emerson Drive – 528
Josh Turner – 523
Josh Gracin – 515
Warren Brothers – 511
Sherrie Austin – 491
Carolyn Dawn Johnson – 439
Jimmy Wayne – 437
Steve Azar – 424
Little Big Town – 400
Jeff Bates – 384
Keith Anderson – 307
Jason Aldean – 306
Miranda Lambert – 302
Trent Willmon – 298
Cross Canadian Ragweed – 290
Amy Dalley – 251
Blue County – 244
Blaine Larsen – 241

Notes:

· Not too hard to see who the two heavy hitters are going to be in that #401 - #421 section: Lila McCann and Trick Pony, of course.

Seriously, Sugarland should be reaching the top 400 in January, and Underwood by probably February. As long as they stay intact (the former artist) and avoid any burnout from over-exposure (the latter artist), they should be moving swiftly up the list.

· Currington will make the “ranked” portion of the list as soon as his Directions goes top 30, but Rodney will blow right by him (with 50+ points still to come from Watching You in January), and will join Sugarland and Underwood to form a young “power trio”.
· Not sure what Big & Rich’s next move is, but they’ve come a long way without ever having a top 10 song. They’ve sold enough albums to probably warrant a few more singles.
· Josh Turner appears to be the next young artist to break out of the “contenders” group and make some noise. Me And God should get him up on the “ranked” section of the list.
· The “other” Josh, Gracin, is starting to trip up badly, after having a nice start to his career.
· Finally, you have to like the solid foundations that Little Big Town and Jason Aldean are putting together. They still have a lot to prove before they can be accepted as “long-term” performers, but they’re making the right moves and decisions with respect to singles.

And that will do it for now. Hopefully this will generate some interest, and not automatically get shoved off the front page. And I am at times susceptible to mistakes, so the point totals should not be quoted as Gospel.

[prenatt1166]

Thank you for the imformative analysis, Jonsolo! After looking at the list, do you think the change in compiling Billboard's country chart in the 1990's helped or hurt newer acts?

For many years there were be a different number one song nearly every week, only to fall into the 30's the following week.

[EmersonDrive13Rocks]

"Moments" by Emerson Drive should propel them top 400 also!!!

If Rascal Flatts can continue getting over 600 points in 18 months then they will almost hit top 100 with the next update 18 months from now.

[Zazie]

RF had an amazing year, fueled in part by all their charting album tracks (plus the unexpected 70 points for Life Is a Highway). They have a good shot at the top 100 by the next edition, but it's hard to believe they can maintain the 600-a-year pace.

As for EDrive, if they need 620 points to make the 400 (because other entries push the #400 position a bit higher), they'll need another 92 points from this song -- they have scored 36 already. 128 points means a week at #1 plus 28 chart weeks -- sure, it could happen. I wouldn't count on it, but it could. Otherwise, a #2 peak would mean needing 38 chart weeks -- that won't happen this time.

Still, a good run by Moments will get them another single release and they'll enter the top 400 with that one.

And Jonsolo -- great job compiling all these numbers!

[Ten Pound Hammer]

jonsolo said:

Not too hard to see who the two heavy hitters are going to be in that #401 - #421 section: Lila McCann and Trick Pony, of course.

So that's why I've been hearing "Down Came a Blackbird" so much lately. Lila must have re-released it.

... Yes, I'm joking, and I'm fully aware you're joking too. But it's no joke that "Down Came a Blackbird" is one of my all-time favorites.

Thanks for crunching the numbers, Jonsolo. There are a TON of top 400 artists I don't even recognize, the highest being #28 - Carl Smith.

And how did Joe Diffie get 91 points in 2005-6? He hasn't charted since 2004's "If I Could Only Bring You Back".

[luvhonkytonk]

Joe Diffie had a song out called "Tougher Than Nails". I think it was 2005. My radio station played it to death.

[Ten Pound Hammer]

"Tougher Than Nails" was early 2004, before "If I Could Only Bring You Back". If I recall correctly, TTN peaked at #17 and IICOBYB peaked mid 40s. But IICOBYB was off the charts by October if I'm not mistaken, and Joe's had nothing since. (He did help out on Trick Pony's "Ain't Wastin' Good Whiskey On You", but that was an uncredited cameo.)

Maybe they were just leftover points that should have been added before but weren't?

[Jonsolo]

tenpoundhammer said:

And how did Joe Diffie get 91 points in 2005-6? He hasn't charted since 2004's "If I Could Only Bring You Back".

Okay, that was one mistype (and probably not the last), where I got "91-crazy", and put 91 in as the "Last Edition position", which is correct, but then typed it in as a "Points gained since that last edition", which is incorrect. I modified that post, and removed the extra "91".

Thanks for spotting the error.

[Jonsolo]

There was somewhat a little bit of interest shown to this topic when I started it back at the end of December, when the 2006 chart year ended, and I listed the updated list of Joel Whitburn's Top Country Artists, as following along in his latest Record Research book. With half of 2007 over, I thought I'd go ahead and do some updates on some notable moves during that six-month span, for each of the major sections. The points are updated through the 7/07/07 chart, and 6/30/07 was technically the end of the first half of the year, but I was on vacation last week, and waiting until this week allows me to include a huge move at the top of the list...

You can refer to the first post on this thread to get a so-so explanation of the points system, and the subsequent posts for how the list looked six months ago.

Notes for #1 to #100:

- With Wrapped moving to #2 this week, George Strait increases his total to 9721 pts, and passes Johnny Cash for #3 overall. Such a move is truly very historic, and George will now get to have his picture included at the top of the Top Artist list in the next edition of Whitburn's book, next to Eddy and George Jones. And Strait should be on pace to reach 10,000 points by this time next year.

- Reba smartly goes the "duet" route, in her attempt to crack the top ten. She's up to 7563 pts now, and if Because Of You and two follow-up singles make the top five, she'll catch Ray Price.

- AJ uses A Woman's Love to reach the top 20, with 6365 pts, and a top 40 follow-up will get him past Charley Pride. Not sure if he'll just wait until the next album, however.

- Tim's making a mess of his #1 chances with his two dueling songs, but the points bonanza from them and Last Dollar now have him at #31 with 5543, and he's closing the gap to Bill Anderson quickly.

- Slow first half of the year for B&D, as they have only passed Don Gibson for #39, with 5104.

- An extremely active 40's section, where Vince holds on to his #46 standing with a timely single, reaching 4555 pts, passing Crystal Gayle and getting passed by Toby (#45 with 4605). Clint benefits from my one-week delay in the update, using his Strong One to reach 4429 pts. And The Machine, Kenny Chesney, continues to chew up points and positions, adding 218 pts so far in '07, and vaulting up six positions to #49. And with a new album coming out soon, expect a barrelful of charting album cuts boosting him even higher, and making Toby sweat.

- Travis and Martina have become joined at the hip, at least for the moment, at #'s 66 and 67, with 3675 and 3643 pts, respectively. With Martina demonstrating that she's more or less back to her old self, she'll be passing Travis by the end of the year.

- Faith benefitting greatly from the double dip in songs, no matter if Lost is lost at sea, and I Need You is struggling to even make the top ten. She's up four positions to #76, with 3270 pts.

- Ahh, Mr. Lawrence... He cashes in on perhaps the year's biggest surprise #1 song (thank you, Mr. Memo!!) to vault up six positions to #89, pass Joe Diffie, Diamond Rio, Lonestar, and J.M. Montgomery, and draw close to the 3K barrier with 2984.


Notes for #101 to #200:

- Clay Walker makes the most of the group of tightly-bunched artists, to pass five to reach #105 with 2693 pts. He'd need Fall and the follow-up to hit the top 10 in order to make the top 100, but that's probably a tad too ambitious.

- Wasn't Shania supposed to have new music out this year? Just twiddling our thumbs, waiting for her to mount her charge to the top 100.

- Brad Paisley uses a treasure chest of charting Christmas songs the first week of January, two big #1's, and this week's Online debut to sail past 2000 and actually catch Rascal Flatts, 2243 to 2219. Those 313 pts in the first six months (by far the best performance) propel him up from #159 all the way to #127. The Flatts don't do too badly with their 126 earned pts, moving from #140 to #129. And they'll probably have no problem doing something that Brad failed to do: chart a ton of songs during the week after their new album comes out. That should put them back far ahead of Brad by October.

- Keith Urban's had a tough 2007, after an even tougher 2006, but he has broke the 2000 point barrier, up from #157 to #144 with 2066 pts.

- Adkins uses his first #1 in eleven years to gain a little distance from the rest of the current stars in the #150 to #200 range, moving up to #157 with 1971 pts.

- Other current stars in this range are:

- Leann Rimes, finally getting started with new music to move to #161 with 1914 pts.
- Terri Clark, struggling mightily as a Dirty Girl and limping to #174 with 1744.
- Mont Gentry, continuing their fierce battle with Sara Evans, as they now occupy the #178 and #179 slots, with 1683 andd 1680. That will continue to go back and forth for awhile.
- Gary Allan crawls up one to #183 with 1668, slipping past the frozen Lee Ann Womack.

- And we have a new entry into the top 200, as Mark Wills uses his two so-so songs to move him from #206 to #194, with 1558 points.


Notes on #201 to #300:

- Little Texas come back from oblivion to move from #221 to #212 (and could very well return there).

- Phil Vassar uses his silly song to break the top 250, moving from #258 to #249, with 1229.

- Darryl Worley continues to see the worst luck, with his label collapsing soon after releasing a new song, and only moving up four positions to #260 with 1162.

- Blake Shelton and Joe Nichols continue to wage a little battle, now at #265 and #267, with 1103 and 1086 pts.

- Dierks Bentley breaks the 1000 pt barrier, moving up twenty-two positions to #275, with 1002 pts, while Craig Mrogan (#280, 980 pts) should be the next artist to pass that mark.

- We have two new entries into the top 300:

- Gretchen Wilson, at #292 with 938 pts, as yet another single of hers dies a slow death. Anybody want to bet she'll make the top 200?
- Alison Krauss uses her Missing You duet to motor in to #298, with 910 pts. And with Simple Love a possibility, she appears hungry for more. At this point, I'd almost expect her to wind up higher on the list when her career is over than Gretchen.


Notes on #301 to #400:

- Steve Holy appears on track to enter the top 300 by the end of the year, now at #305 and 887 pts. But will my sanity stay intact that long after being subjected to Men Buy The Drinks?

- Pat Green did increase ten positions, to #345 with 775 pts, but unfortunately his next single, Way Back Texas, already charted, which will mean it won't be adding positional points until it makes the top 40.

- And a ton of young stars cracked the top 400 this spring, six of them to be precise, and all with nice #1's during that timeframe:

- Sugarland leads the way, at #340 with 783 pts.
- Carrie sails into the section, at #358 and 743 pts. She smartly keeps the point faucet running with Stand By You, while waiting for her new single to be ready.
- Billy Currington is at #371, with 694 pts.
- Rodney Atkins is at #377, with 685 pts.
- Big & Rich saunter up to #385, with 664 pts, and a ton more to come from Lost In This Moment (as I'm assuming that one will be a #1).
- Finally, Emerson Drive edge in at #398 with 620 pts, and have a new single on the way.


Notes on #401 on down:

- After all that action during the fist six months, we might only get one entry into the top 400 the second half of the year. Josh Turner (#427 with 553 pts) needs a top 20 with his Firecracker to claim Bobby Borcher's #400 position.

- Josh Gracin floundering at #438, for some reason delaying the inevitable phone call to Lonestar and asking to take over as their lead singer. Solo just ain't cutting it.

- Little Big Town are remaining steady, nearly the 500 pt mark (now with 488).

- Jack Ingram recently passed 400 points (403 now), and Jason Aldean, with 398, should join him next week.

That's all for now, and I'll plan on reprinting the full points lists, like I did on the first few posts of this thread, in December when the 2007 chart year is complete, after the 12/29/07 chart has been released.

[Deleted]

I can't wait for the next edition of the BOOK! Thanks for the update to this topic.

[WhySoSerious?]

Thanks for the updates.

[Marv]

Thanks you for this; I'd never seen this thread before, and it was really fascinating.

[EmersonDrive13Rocks]

Thanks for the updates!!!

[EmersonDrive13Rocks]

zazie said:

As for EDrive, if they need 620 points to make the 400 (because other entries push the #400 position a bit higher), they'll need another 92 points from this song -- they have scored 36 already. 128 points means a week at #1 plus 28 chart weeks -- sure, it could happen. I wouldn't count on it, but it could. Otherwise, a #2 peak would mean needing 38 chart weeks -- that won't happen this time.

Still, a good run by Moments will get them another single release and they'll enter the top 400 with that one.

Well Zazie guess what? "Moments" hit #1 for 1 week with exactly 28 weeks on the chart so they are now top 400!!!

[leilamaurizia]

Any updates, Jonsolo? Would really appreciate it. Thanks so much!

[Zazie]

I have a feeling there will be an update once the positions from the final chart week of 2007 have been released. (He says above that he'll do that, and I know he's planning to. As long as Ten Pound Hammer doesn't find too many more mistakes....) I'm sure Jon will be glad to see there is a request for this.

[edwin1961]

zazie said:

I have a feeling there will be an update once the positions from the final chart week of 2007 have been released. (He says above that he'll do that, and I know he's planning to. As long as Ten Pound Hammer doesn't find too many more mistakes....) I'm sure Jon will be glad to see there is a request for this.

Maybe Jon should find employment with Joel....
I'll be interested in seeing the list too.

Does anybody know when Joel will publish the next edition?
I keep a running total of all the debuts since the last edition (and I'm sure all of you do this as well).

I t would be interesting how Joh's data would stack up with Joel's. The accuracy % must be pretty good.

[Zazie]

edwin1961 said:

zazie said:

I t would be interesting how Joh's data would stack up with Joel's. The accuracy % must be pretty good.

Sure, it's very good, because he has me to correct his every non-Diffie-related error.

Although, to tell the truth for once, he finds 10 errors in my tabulation for every error I find in his. Jon's pretty careful. He's only wrong a bunch when Whitburn changes something in his method of calculation, as he did in the 2005 edition for collaborative efforts.

I haven't heard when the new edition will be out, but I'm sure it will be at least a year from now, and maybe 18 months from now.

[Jonsolo]

Wow. While I'm just about ready to post the updated list (just need to see the 12/29/07 positions), I wasn't expecting someone to remember and go back and resurface this thread. I was planning on starting a new one, and just include the link to this one, to have all of the explanations on how points are figured. With this thread being brought back to the front page, I'll just attach the 2007 list to the end of it.

I spent Sunday getting the list and comments all ready to go, and just need to alter the points for this week's chart. That should be by Wednesday evening at the latest, after the R&R website is updated, but I could always just go by what Hit Predictor shows today, and guess on the songs that aren't listed, and always come back later and edit the list when the chart is finally released. The only major questions that Hit Predictor might not answer, is what artists might or might not have broken into the top 40 or 50, and earned +5 bonuses for the next level that they reached (consult the aforementioned "points explanation" at the beginning of the thread). That would probably involve the Christmas songs by Toby, Taylor, and Carrie, and if they move up the rankings after this very last chart week.

[Jonsolo]

Okay, just like at the end of '06, I'll do an update here of how Joel Whitburn's list of the Top Artists of all time should now look, as of the 12/29/07 chart. The very last chart week of the year gave Sugarland an unexpected boost into the top 300, and Toby and Taylor yet more Christmas presents.

I'll once again break this up into 100-segments, with each artist having their 2006 rankings in parenthesis, as well as how many points, if any, that they gained during 2007, and make some comments at the end of each segment.

[Jonsolo]

#1 to #100:

1. (#1 at the end of 2006) Eddy Arnold – 12653
2. (2) George Jones – 11922
3. (4) George Strait – 9888 (333 points gained in '07)
4. (3) Johnny Cash – 9717
5. (5) Merle Haggard – 9165
6. (6) Conway Twitty – 9101
7. (7) Dolly Parton – 8349 (43)
8. (8) Willie Nelson – 8175
9. (9) Webb Pierce – 7975
10. (10) Ray Price – 7773
11. (11) Reba McEntire – 7617 (110)
12. (12) Buck Owens – 7492
13. (13) Waylon Jennings – 7491
14. (14) Marty Robbins – 7306
15. (15) Hank Williams Jr. – 7174 (39)
16. (16) Alabama – 6977
17. (17) Jim Reeves – 6843
18. (18) Ernest Tubb – 6474
19. (19) Charley Pride – 6422
20. (21) Alan Jackson – 6421 (152)
21. (20) Loretta Lynn – 6285
22. (22) Sonny James – 6205
23. (23) Faron Young – 6115
24. (24) Hank Snow – 6088
25. (27) Garth Brooks – 6073 (152)
26. (25) Ronnie Milsap – 6025
27. (26) Kenny Rogers – 6014 (38)
28. (28) Carl Smith – 5901
29. (29) Tammy Wynette – 5836
30. (34) Tim McGraw – 5632 (363)
31. (30) Bill Anderson – 5621
32. (31) Mel Tillis – 5385
33. (32) Tanya Tucker – 5359
34. (33) Red Foley – 5326
35. (35) Porter Wagoner – 5237
36. (40) Brooks & Dunn – 5230 (193)
37. (36) Don Williams – 5211
38. (37) Elvis Presley – 5197
39. (38) Kitty Wells – 5134
40. (39) Don Gibson – 5090
41. (41) Glen Campbell – 4971
42. (47) Toby Keith – 4838 (382)
43. (42) Statler Brothers – 4828
44. (43) Hank Thompson – 4813
45. (55) Kenny Chesney – 4758 (547)
46. (44) Steve Wariner – 4745
47. (46) Vince Gill – 4555 (48)
48. (45) Crystal Gayle – 4522
49. (48) Clint Black – 4464 (66)
50. (49) Hank Williams – 4395
51. (50) Jerry Lee Lewis – 4365
52. (51) Randy Travis – 4310
53. (52) David Houston – 4250
54. (53) Barbara Mandrell – 4217
55. (54) Oak Ridge Boys – 4217
56. (56) Bobby Bare – 4192
57. (57) Mickey Gilley – 4076
58. (58) Lynn Anderson – 4021
59. (59) Eddie Rabbitt – 3990
60. (60) Anne Murray – 3901
61. (61) Joe Stampley – 3866
62. (62) Dottie West – 3858
63. (63) John Anderson – 3810
64. (64) Emmylou Harris – 3801
65. (65) T.G. Sheppard – 3746
66. (69) Martina McBride – 3710 (165)
67. (66) Travis Tritt – 3698 (66)
68. (67) Sawyer Brown – 3608
69. (68) Bellamy Brothers – 3563
70. (70) Moe Bandy – 3537
71. (71) Tom T. Hall – 3536
72. (72) Billy Walker – 3493
73. (73) Earl Thomas Conley – 3482
74. (74) Patty Loveless – 3460
75. (75) Ferlin Husky – 3355
76. (80) Faith Hill – 3348 (200)
77. (76) Johnny Paycheck – 3266
78. (77) Gene Watson – 3247
79. (78) Connie Smith – 3218
80. (79) Freddie Hart – 3209
81. (83) Mark Chesnutt – 3164 (63)
82. (81) Johnny Rodriguez – 3145
83. (82) Jerry Reed – 3116
84. (85) Trisha Yearwood – 3115 (70)
85. (84) Charlie Rich – 3084
86. (86) Larry Gatlin & Bros. – 3031
87. (95) Tracy Lawrence – 3018 (126)
88. (87) Ricky Skaggs – 3008
89. (88) Janie Fricke – 2993
90. (89) J.M. Montgomery – 2983
91. (90) Jim Ed Brown – 2963
92. (93) Lonestar – 2956 (34)
93. (91) Lefty Frizzell – 2945
94. (92) Diamond Rio – 2938
95. (94) Joe Diffie – 2911
96. (97) Collin Raye – 2826 (31)
97. (96) Vern Gosdin – 2815
98. (98) Eddy Raven – 2793
99. (99) Billy Craddock – 2787
100. (100) Lee Greenwood – 2774

Notes on the Top 100:

- I'm counting Shiftwork in George Strait's totals (as I think Joel Whitburn will do; if Shiftwork isn't counted, put George down to 9834, still a respectable total), and as a result, he's looking at breaking the 10K barrier with the lead single from his next album, possibly by late spring. He would still need seven more great years to catch The Possum, but he's yet to show substantial evidence of slowing down anytime soon.

- Reba McEntire's taking her time getting her follow-up to Because Of You out there, but she's only two top 10 singles away from cracking the top ten artists.

- A strong new single and forthcoming album by Alan Jackson will have him past Ernest Tubb for #18 by April, and he can disappear into the Jim Reeves gap (and hopefully emerge on the other side within two years).

- Garth Brooks' 83rd comeback single after his 83rd retirement moved him up to the top 25. Maybe he'll stay interested long enough this time around to reach Faron Young this year.

- Tim McGraw cracks the top 30 after a strong year, where I actually liked two of his singles quite a bit (Need & Letter). Thankfully, he returns to form with a wretched new single, and will probably only catch Tammy Wynette in '08.

- Count me in the crowd that considers Brooks & Dunn well past their prime, and I'll be surprised if they make it much past 6K before they call it quits.

- After a solid 346-pt effort in '06, Kenny went into overdrive this year, cashing in a humongous 500-pt gain, and cruising up ten positions. 5K awaits this year. Toby (like Brad Paisley last year) utilizes a Christmas album to get several charting chances, and fends off Kenny for a little while longer. He's tracking down Don Gibson for #40 by the end of '08. Kenny could also reach Gibson, but he's starting off the new year with a questionable single.

- Vince Gill and Clint Black have solidified their status in the top 50 for years to come.

- Martina McBride and Faith Hill appear to be lost in the Carrie/Taylor-mania, but at least are generating respectable point totals. Much better than what the sputtering Trisha Yearwood is straining to do. Martina's shooting for #60 in '08, and Faith is going for #70.

- Welcome to the 3K club, Tracy L.!

[Jonsolo]

#101 to #200:

101. (100) John Conlee – 2756
102. (110) Clay Walker – 2741 (124)
103. (102) Kathy Mattea – 2733
104. (103) Stonewall Jackson – 2721
105. (104) Lorrie Morgan – 2709
106. (105) Del Reeves – 2666
107. (106) Roy Drusky – 2658
108. (107) Dwight Yoakam – 2656
109. (108) Dave Dudley – 2629
110. (109) Roger Miller – 2624
111. (111) Jean Shepard – 2612
112. (112) Shania Twain – 2597
113. (113) Charly McClain – 2553
114. (114) The Judds – 2529
115. (115) Donna Fargo – 2517
116. (140) Rascal Flatts – 2493 (400)
117. (116) Roy Clark – 2427
118. (117) Ronnie McDowell – 2420
119. (118) Bob Wills – 2418
120. (119) Ricky Van Shelton – 2405
121. (159) Brad Paisley – 2405 (475)
122. (120) Tracy Byrd – 2377
123. (121) Skeeter Davis – 2353
124. (122) George Hamilton IV – 2334
125. (123) Jack Greene – 2295
126. (124) Mel McDaniel – 2290
127. (125) Johnny Duncan – 2253
128. (126) Dan Seals – 2250
129. (127) Kendalls – 2235
130. (128) Sammy Kershaw – 2209
131. (157) Keith Urban – 2187 (239)
132. (129) Nitty Gritty Dirt Band – 2174
133. (135) Aaron Tippin – 2173 (34)
134. (130) Jimmy Wakely – 2171
135. (131) Restless Heart – 2167
136. (132) Dixie Chicks – 2161
137. (133) Roseanne Cash – 2145
138. (134) Shenandoah – 2141
139. (136) Tennessee Ernie Ford – 2126
140. (137) Johnny Lee – 2107
141. (138) Gary Morris – 2107
142. (139) Gene Autry – 2101
143. (141) Pam Tillis – 2092
144. (142) Wynonna – 2092 (31)
145. (166) Trace Adkins – 2065 (226)
146. (143) Jimmy Newman – 2047
147. (148) Jo Dee Messina – 2046 (42)
148. (144) Hank Locklin – 2044
149. (145) Wilburn Brothers – 2019
150. (146) George Morgan – 2015
151. (147) Neal McCoy – 2013
152. (164) Leann Rimes – 2006 (131)
153. (149) Slim Whitman – 1996
154. (150) Al Dexter – 1996
155. (151) Tommy Overstreet – 1995
156. (152) Ed Bruce – 1993
157. (153) Billie Jo Spears – 1993
158. (154) Nat Stuckey – 1989
159. (155) Mary C. Carpenter – 1959
160. (156) Exile – 1952
161. (158) Narvel Felts – 1947
162. (160) Michael M. Murphey – 1911
163. (161) Razzy Bailey – 1908
164. (162) Tex Ritter – 1901
165. (163) Bob Luman – 1882
166. (165) Doug Stone – 1870
167. (167) Sammy Smith – 1814
168. (168) Rex Allen Jr. – 1811
169. (169) Brenda Lee – 1799
170. (191) Montgomery Gentry – 1798 (229)
171. (170) Marty Stuart – 1797
172. (177) Terri Clark – 1787 (104)
173. (171) Freddy Weller – 1784
174. (172) Jerry Wallace – 1761
175. (173) Claude King – 1754
176. (184) Gary Allan – 1750 (110)
177. (189) Sara Evans – 1724 (113)
178. (174) Billy Dean – 1717
179. (175) Tex Williams – 1715
180. (176) Juice Newton – 1688
181. (178) David Rogers – 1675
182. (179) Linda Ronstadt – 1673
183. (180) Wynn Stewart – 1670
184. (181) Lee Ann Womack – 1647
185. (182) Cal Smith – 1644
186. (183) Jan Howard – 1644
187. (185) Forester Sisters – 1636
188. (186) Red Sovine – 1621
189. (187) Susan Raye – 1616
190. (188) Lacy J. Dalton – 1614
191. (190) Keith Whitley – 1573
192. (206) Mark Wills – 1571 (92)
193. (192) Ray Stevens – 1566
194. (193) Kenny Price – 1558
195. (207) Billy Ray Cyrus – 1554 (76)
196. (194) Mac Davis – 1545
197. (195) Rodney Crowell – 1541
198. (196) Warner Mack – 1538
199. (197) T. Graham Brown – 1538
200. (198) Dickey Lee – 1527

Notes on #101 to #200:

- Clay Walker had a lot more success with Fall than I was expecting, and the follow-up single that it should generate will put him into the top 100. But with RF and Brad sprinting up the list, he'd better make sure he gets up to #98 just to play it safe.

- A huge final half of '07 (274 pts) gives Rascal Flatts a very good year, and it could have been even higher if they had gotten the multiple charting album cuts that I was expecting when their new CD was released. They'll reach the top 100 in '08, and it might be time next December for them to get a Christmas album out.

- Brad Paisley had a dynamite year, very Chesney-like, and was aided greatly by his five Christmas songs that kicked in 105 points on the very first chart week of '07. He'll aim for Stonewall Jackson in '08.

- Keith Urban continues to lose ground to RF and Brad, and is facing a make-or-break year. Assuming he has a new album out in '08, we'll see if he can return to being dependable with producing #1's (it's been 25 months since his last one), or will be content moving down to second-tier status, with only strong top ten and top five efforts.

- Trace Adkins breaks into the top 150, and keeps alive the possibility that he'll make the top 100 someday. But I'm hoping he starts making better single choices.

- Leann Rimes gets over 2000, and is also nearing the top 150.

- Mont Gentry appears to be leaving Gary Allan and Sara Evans far behind. The duo could get close to the top 150 in '08, while Gary and Sara badly need a top 5 hit.

- Mark Wills joined the top 200 in the spring, and Billy Ray Cyrus comes out of nowhere in the fall to also pass that benchmark. Will he stick around in '08, and without his daughter?

[Jonsolo]

#201 to #300:

201. (199) Sylvia – 1527
202. (200) Charlie Daniels – 1525
203. (201) Margo Smith – 1519
204. (202) Wanda Jackson – 1512
205. (203) Jimmy Dean – 1505
206. (204) David Frizzell – 1498
207. (205) John Denver – 1495
208. (208) Charlie Louvin – 1465
209. (209) Highway 101 – 1464
210. (210) Melba Montgomery – 1449
211. (211) Louise Mandrell – 1446
212. (221) Little Texas – 1440 (49)
213. (212) Holly Dunn – 1437
214. (213) Lee Roy Parnell – 1428
215. (214) Suzy Bogguss – 1419
216. (215) Freddie Fender – 1402
217. (216) Everly Brothers – 1402
218. (217) Leon Everette – 1400
219. (218) Gary Stewart – 1399
220. (219) The Browns – 1398
221. (220) Dave & Sugar – 1391
222. (222) Mel Street – 1390
223. (223) Gail Davis – 1388
224. (224) Patsy Cline – 1388
225. (225) Barbara Fairchild – 1386
226. (226) Jeannie Seely – 1386
227. (227) Jody Miller – 1348
228. (228) Ernest Ashworth – 1342
229. (229) Johnny Carver – 1337
230. (230) Bobby G. Rice – 1321
231. (231) Shelly West – 1307
232. (232) Bryan White – 1303
233. (233) David Allan Coe – 1302
234. (234) Blackhawk – 1301
235. (235) Merle Travis – 1300
236. (236) John Schneider – 1298
237. (258) Phil Vassar – 1293 (113)
238. (237) Jacky Ward – 1283
239. (238) Claude Gray – 1269
240. (239) Cowboy Copas – 1267
241. (240) Ty Herndon – 1265
242. (241) Jeannie C. Riley – 1263
243. (242) Johnny Russell – 1262
244. (243) Tompall & Glaser – 1252
245. (244) John Berry – 1252
246. (245) Marie Osmond – 1246
247. (246) Con Hunley – 1242
248. (247) Charlie Walker – 1241
249. (248) John Wesley Ryles – 1235
250. (249) Paul Overstreet – 1216
251. (250) Johnny Horton – 1216
252. (251) K.T. Oslin – 1214
253. (252) Flatt & Scruggs – 1212
254. (253) Hal Ketchum – 1206
255. (254) Desert Rose Band – 1205
256. (255) Cristy Lane – 1202
257. (256) Jeanne Pruett – 1199
258. (257) Helen Cornelius – 1183
259. (259) Bobby Goldsboro – 1165
260. (264) Darryl Worley – 1162 (48)
261. (260) Norma Jean – 1160
262. (261) Bobby Lewis – 1156
263. (272) Blake Shelton – 1148 (119)
264. (262) Billy Joe Royal – 1145
265. (263) SheDaisy – 1119
266. (273) Joe Nichols – 1115 (104)
267. (265) Jim Glaser – 1089
268. (266) Little Jimmy Dickens – 1085
269. (297) Dierks Bentley – 1084 (167)
270. (267) Randy Barlow – 1072
271. (268) Johnnie & Jack – 1067
272. (269) B.J. Thomas – 1060
273. (300) Craig Morgan – 1057 (159)
274. (281) Andy Griggs – 1043 (74)
275. (270) Leroy Van Dyke – 1042
276. (271) Olivia Newton John – 1038
277. (274) Confederate Railroad – 1003
278. (275) Pee Wee King – 999
279. (276) Johnny Bush – 994
280. (277) Wade Hayes – 986
281. (411) Carrie Underwood – 985 (401)
282. (278) Dick Curless – 981
283. (310) Gretchen Wilson – 979 (109)
284. (279) Southern Pacific – 978
285. (280) Buddy Alan – 972
286. (282) Chely Wright – 968
287. (289) Rick Trevino – 964 (31)
288. (283) Jimmy Buffett – 962
289. (284) Ricochet – 959
290. (285) Margaret Whiting – 953
291. (286) Tommy Cash – 946
292. (287) Ray Griff – 940
293. (288) Elton Britt – 939
294. (290) David Lee Murphy – 930
295. (291) Red Steagall – 927
296. (292) Mundo Earwood – 926
297. (403) Sugarland – 922 (320)
298. (293) Patti Page – 918
299. (294) Roy Acuff – 918
300. (307) Alison Krauss – 910 (30)


Notes on #201 to #300:

- Not much action in the top half of this section, but Phil Vassar breaks out of his string of mediocre singles with Love Is A Beautiful Thing, and it could get him near Jody Miller if it really takes off.

- Blake Shelton and Joe Nichols should continue another year of staying within a hundred points of each other. They will zoom past the stalled Darryl Worley, and be shooting for top 250 in '08.

- With Carrie looming, it doesn't look like Dierks Bentley will be the first artist from this section to crack the top 200. He can maybe chase down Phil and be the second, however.

- Craig Morgan's star has waned a bit since his What I Love About Sunday breakthrough, but he appears consistent enough to be capable of chasing down Blake and Joe within 18 months.

- Nothing can stop Carrie, as she made the top 400 back in the spring, and the top 300 in early December. With less than 600 points needed for the top 200, expect her to make it there by summer '09 at the latest.

- It's pretty entertaining to watch the downfall of Gretchen. After averaging a gain of 32.1 pts per month on this list from March '04 to December '05, and 13.5 pts per month in '06, she only averaged 9.1 pts/month in '07. And it might get worse before it gets better.

- Approximately 390 of Sugarland's point total was earned when Kristen Hall was with the band, and about 530 has come since her departure on 1/17/06. It doesn't appear they're missing her much, as they, along with Carrie, cracked the top 400 and top 300 barriers in '07. Top 250 in '08?

- Along with Gretchen, Sugarland, and Carrie, Alison was the fourth artist to make the top 300 this year. She's taking her time, but 1000 pts shouldn't be too much to ask for within two years.

[Jonsolo]

#301 to #400:


301. (295) Deborah Allen – 909
302. (296) The Whites – 908
303. (321) Steve Holy – 904 (81)
304. (298) Susie Allanson – 903
305. (299) Carl Butler & Pearl – 898
306. (301) Roy Head – 887
307. (302) Bill Phillips – 887
308. (303) Mark Collie – 885
309. (304) Bobby Helms – 884
310. (305) Tom Jones – 882
311. (306) Rose Maddox – 881
312. (308) Deana Carter – 878
313. (309) Henson Cargill – 870
314. (311) Don King – 864
315. (312) Bonnie Guitar – 863
316. (337) Chris Cagle – 861 (72)
317. (313) Liz Anderson – 859
318. (314) Johnny & Jonie Mosby – 846
319. (315) Johnny Darrell – 842
320. (316) Louvin Brothers – 840
321. (317) David Wills – 837
322. (318) Osbourne Brothers – 834
323. (319) Glenn Barber – 829
324. (320) Lionel Cartwright – 826
325. (322) Sweethearts of the Rodeo – 822
326. (323) Asleep at the Wheel – 822
327. (324) The Carlisles – 820
328. (325) Sons of the Pioneers – 819
329. (326) Daryle Singletary – 818
330. (327) Wayne Kemp – 817
331. (328) Stephanie Winslow – 816
332. (329) McBride & the Ride – 814
333. (330) Lois Johnson – 814
334. (-) Rodney Atkins - 809 (268)
335. (331) Kenny Dale – 807
336. (332) Diana Trask – 804
337. (333) Baillie & the Boys – 803
338. (334) Jessi Colter – 802
339. (355) Pat Green – 802 (55)
340. (335) Arlene Harden – 801
341. (336) J Blanchard/ Morgan – 797
342. (356) Jamie O'Neal – 789 (46)
343. (-) Big & Rich - 789 (256)
344. (338) Billy Swan – 783
345. (339) Skip Ewing – 781
346. (340) Dean Dillon – 779
347. (341) Carl Perkins – 775
348. (342) Floyd Tillman – 775
349. (343) Rhett Akins – 766
350. (344) Wilma Burgess – 765
351. (345) June Carter – 764
352. (346) C.W. McCall – 763
353. (347) Chris LeDoux – 758
354. (348) Tommy Collins – 757
355. (349) Michael Johnson – 757
356. (350) Carlene Carter – 751
357. (351) David Ball – 751
358. (352) Debby Boone – 750
359. (353) Ray Charles – 749
360. (354) Jeff Carson – 748
361. (357) Johnny Bond – 741
362. (358) Mindy McCready – 736
363. (359) Bobby Wright – 730
364. (-) Billy Currington - 728 (172)
365. (360) Moon Mullican – 727
366. (361) Mark Gray – 722
367. (362) Lari White – 714
368. (363) Judy Rodman – 709
369. (364) Mavericks – 704
370. (365) Chad Brock – 703
371. (366) Dottsy – 702
372. (367) Jessica Andrews – 698
373. (368) Little David Wilkens – 695
374. (369) Marion Worth – 690
375. (370) Zella Lehr – 687
376. (371) Stella Parton – 687
377. (372) Ted Daffan – 687
378. (-) Emerson Drive - 687 (159)
379. (373) Doug Supernaw – 685
380. (374) Linda Davis – 680
381. (375) La Costa – 678
382. (-) Josh Turner - 673 (150)
383. (376) Lyle Lovett – 672
384. (377) Larry Boone – 667
385. (378) Jim Nesbitt – 665
386. (379) Joe Sun – 664
387. (380) Sheb Wooley – 664
388. (381) Hoyt Axton – 662
389. (382) Margie Singleton – 657
390. (383) Sherry Bryce – 656
391. (384) Robin Lee – 655
392. (385) Ray Pillow – 654
393. (386) R.C. Bannon – 653
394. (387) Terri Gibbs – 649
395. (388) Roy Rogers – 649
396. (389) Radney Foster – 645
397. (390) Peggy Sue – 635
398. (391) Ned Miller – 635
399. (392) Keith Stegall – 626
400. (393) Billy Parker – 619

Notes on #301 to #400:

- Counting Carrie and Sugarland, there were seven artists to make it into the top 400 in '07, an extremely active year. As we'll see when we get down to the "contenders" section, it should be an awfully lot more slower in '08.

- Steve Holy just needs one more hit to make the top 300, though God help us if it's as bad as Men Buy The Drinks was.

- It doesn't appear that What Kinda Gone will be enough to get Chris Cagle into the top 300, but a strong enough of a showing would bring a follow-up single, and that would get it done.

- I doubt Cleaning This Gun will keep alive Rodney Atkins' streak of #1's, but he appears to be set to make the top 300 by summer.

- It's been a long four years since Wave On Wave, and it's doubtful that Pat Green will get the 120 points he'd need to make the top 300 in '08, unless the Texas radio stations get him a charting album cut or two.

- Big & Rich have had two pitiful follow-ups to their smash #1, Lost In This Moment, so they are a shaky bet to make the top 300 in '08. Two other artists that had big #1's in '07, Billy Currington and Emerson Drive, are also having trouble following that accomplishment up. They can both still make the top 350 in '08, however.

- Finally, with Taylor's Our Song in the way, Josh Turner might not be able to get to the top with Firecracker, but it should lead him into a strong year, and he'll aim for those Sweethearts at #325.

[Jonsolo]

#401 to #447 (as far as I’ve been tracking, with the artists that have fallen out of the top 400 since the 2001 Whitburn edition; the 2005 Whitburn book stopped at the top 300):

401. (394) Bobby Borchers – 619
402. (395) Jimmie Skinner – 619
403. (396) Tony Booth – 615
404. (397) T Texas Tyler – 615
405. (398) Michael Peterson – 615
406. (399) Johnny Wright – 608
407. (400) Spade Cooley – 606
408. (401) Jack Reno – 604
409. (402) Lila McCann – 603
410. (404) Big Al Downing – 599
411. (405) Foster & Lloyd – 599
412. (406) Hawkshaw Hawkins – 599
413. (407) Mary Lou Turner – 592
414. (408) Becky Hobbs – 588
415. (409) Burl Ives – 586
416. (410) Charlie McCoy – 584
417. (412) Mike Reid – 582
418. (-) Josh Gracin - 577 (62)
419. (413) Trick Pony – 576
420. (414) O'Kanes – 575
421. (415) Ronnie Sessions – 572
422. (416) Paul Brandt – 570
423. (417) Kris Kristofferson – 569
424. (418) Dorsey Burnette – 567
425. (419) Penny DeHaven – 564
426. (420) Tom Wopat – 563
427. (421) Kentucky Headhunters – 560

After buying on eBay the 1988 Country Whitbook during the summer (out of curiosity), I was able to add to this list:

428. (-) Darrell McCall - 555
429. (-) Bill Monroe - 552
430. (-) Little Big Town - 551 (151)
431. (-) Carl Belew - 550
432. (-) Ray Sanders - 547
433. (-) Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper - 547
434. (-) Hugh X. Lewis - 543
435. (-) Stoney Edwards - 542
436. (-) Lane Brody - 539
437. (-) Leon Ashley - 538
438. (-) LaWanda Lindsey - 537
439. (-) SKO - 533
440. (-) Sonny Curtis - 530
441. (-) Mason Dixon - 527
442. (-) Ricky Nelson - 526
443. (-) Doug Kershaw/Rusty - 522
444. (-) Bandana - 519
445. (-) Brian Collins - 515
446. (-) Warren Brothers - 511
447. (-) Kenny Starr - 509

And the Contenders for the ranked portion of the Whitburn list:

Sherrie Austin - 491
Taylor Swift - 482 (395)
Jason Aldean - 472 (167)
Jack Ingram - 467 (135)
Jimmy Wayne - 441 (4)
Carolyn Dawn Johnson - 439
Steve Azar - 424
Miranda Lambert - 394 (92)
Jeff Bates - 384
Keith Anderson - 375 (68)
Trent Willmon - 298
Blaine Larsen - 295 (54)
Cross Canadian Ragweed - 290
Blue County - 286 (42)
Amy Dalley - 282 (31)


Notes on #401 on down:

- Josh Gracin is still trying it solo, despite the evidence against this decision. He can probably make the top 400 next year, but it'll take the single after We Weren't Crazy.

- Little Big Town took a bit of a step back in '07, chart-wise. Their sound may be too genuine and pure for today's radio for widespread success, but they should also find the top 400 in '08.

- With a huge Christmas song points bonanza underway (200 for December alone), and a #1 song sure to remain in place throughout the holidays, Taylor Swift might beat both Josh and LBT to the top 400. Will she out-point Carrie in '08, after just missing in '07 (395 to 401)?

- If Jason Aldean has a similar year in '08 like he did in '07, he'll make the top 400 as well. But after seven artists made it past the benchmark in '07, these previous four artists are the only chances to make it in '08.

- Jack Ingram could use a big hit, just to position himself well for the top 400 in '09. Miranda Lambert and Keith Anderson just need a hit period.

Once again, any and all comments are welcome. I'll see about doing another short update when '08 is half over, just listing some comments on how the big artists have done in the new year. I'll probably be adding up Kellie Pickler's points in January, as she's probably getting close to 250 in her career. Eric Church, Jake Owen, Jason Michael Carroll, and Trent Tomlinson might also be nearing the point that I'll pay attention to them.

I'm hoping that the next edition of the Country Whitburn book doesn't get released until after 2009 is over, just so they'll be able to have the current decade complete for all of their other lists in the back of the book (top artists of each decade, top #1 songs of each decade, etc.). If they wait until the 12/26/09 chart week is released, they could probably publish the new book during the summer of 2010, which would be similar to the '01 book, which covered the 12/29/01 chart, and was released in July 2002.