Nashville Anthems: Dissecting 80s & 90s Country Music
Have you always thought there was something special about 80s and 90s country music that you've never been able to put your finger on? Why does this music stand out? Well, let's don our cowboy hats, adjust our oversized belt buckles, tease that hair, and see if we can get the bottom of it, by picking apart one song at a time.
Episodes
71 episodes since 2022
Dissecting "A Little Less Talk and a Lot More Action" by Toby Keith
We take our first look at the late, great Toby Keith, and his 1993 hit (from the Long Names Department) "A Little Less Talk and a Lot More Action". We get all of the trademark ...
September 16, 2024
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17:35
Dissecting "Wanted" by Alan Jackson
We explore the supremely earnest delivery of Alan Jackson, as exemplified in 1990's "Wanted". Honky-tonk meets gospel in this quintessentially neotraditionalist gem, but ...
September 02, 2024
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21:05
Dissecting "We Tell Ourselves" by Clint Black
We take another look at the Haggard-esque neo-traditional grit of early Clint Black, with his 1992 hit, "We Tell Ourselves". We get all the earthy blues we'd expect, but ...
August 19, 2024
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18:11
Dissecting "Please Remember Me" by Tim McGraw
We explore the late-90s country pop of megastar Tim McGraw's megahit "Please Remember Me". Dramatics abound in this go-big-or-go-home production, but why exactly does...
August 05, 2024
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25:26
Dissecting "Somewhere in My Broken Heart" by Billy Dean
Melody, harmony, and lyrics all meticulously and perfectly set a specifically bittersweet tone on Billy Dean's 1991 classic: "Somewhere in My Broken Heart". One listen to...
July 22, 2024
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30:49
Dissecting "Islands in the Stream" by Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton
Things turns all kinds of Yacht Rock as we sail away with one of the biggest hits of the 1980s, Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton's iconic duet, "Islands in the Stream". We'r...
July 08, 2024
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35:49
Dissecting "God Bless the U.S.A." by Lee Greenwood
Bonus episode! For the Fourth of July, we had to turn to Lee Greenwood's towering, uber-patriotic, 1984 single, "God Bless the U.S.A." That he's proud to be an Amer...
July 01, 2024
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31:31
Dissecting "The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter" by Reba McEntire
Reba McEntire helps us connect some of the dots that comprise the specific mid-90s MCA sound, as she narrates the complexities of adulthood as only she can, in her 1995 hit "The He...
June 24, 2024
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17:46
Dissecting "Cadillac Style" by Sammy Kershaw
We cruise down to southwestern Louisiana to encounter Sammy Kershaw and his debut single, "Cadillac Style". We've all always known there was a lot of Jones in Kershaw, bu...
June 10, 2024
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23:12
Dissecting "My Love" by Little Texas
Little Texas continue to blend musical streams with their only #1 single, 1994's "My Love". This song is more than just the video, and this band is more than just the hai...
May 27, 2024
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33:55
Dissecting "It's a Little Too Late" by Tanya Tucker
In this episode, we dance across the familiar ground of 12-bar blues, as the energetic shuffle of Tanya Tucker's 1993 hit "It's a Little Too Late" convinces us to kick up...
May 13, 2024
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17:38
Dissecting "Straight Tequila Night" by John Anderson
We take a shot of an all-time classic, John Anderson's "Straight Tequila Night". Anderson's signature breathy vocals anchor a particularly textural take on neotradional h...
April 29, 2024
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31:56
Dissecting "Lost and Found" by Brooks & Dunn
We search through another early Brooks & Dunn hit, 1992's "Lost and Found". It's all about the flow, as this song always seems to take us exactly where we want to go, measu...
April 15, 2024
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25:48
Dissecting "Honey, I'm Home" by Shania Twain
90s icon Shania Twain takes us right back to the world of 90s feminism with her half-arena-rock / half-honky-tonk hit, "Honey, I'm Home". Twain played big, and this song plays ...
April 01, 2024
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26:46
Dissecting "One Man Woman" by The Judds
We look at how The Judds bring their acoustic-with-attitude vibe to the sultry, electric piano-infused "One Man Woman". Slow, dark, and bluesy is the order of the day on this l...
March 18, 2024
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23:08
Dissecting "Smoky Mountain Rain" by Ronnie Milsap
We take a ride with a legend in his prime in this episode on Ronnie Milsap's 1980 classic "Smoky Mountain Rain". The connection to Elvis's "
March 04, 2024
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33:33
Dissecting "Love, Me" by Collin Raye
In this episode, we look at how Collin Raye's signature song, "Love, Me" kept it gentle sentimental. Everything contributes, from the memorable acoustic guitar intro to Raye's ...
February 19, 2024
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27:10
Dissecting "Better Things to Do" by Terri Clark
Terri Clark tells her ex where he ranks in no uncertain terms, with her debut hit, "Better Things to Do". Or does she? There's plenty of 90s attitude here, but what...
February 05, 2024
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23:13
Dissecting "Carrying Your Love with Me" by George Strait
Melton finally gets to take on the King, by way of his 1997 hit "Carrying Your Love with Me". Everything works in this perfect little country song, but how does it all work&nbs...
January 22, 2024
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25:05
Dissecting "I Feel Lucky" by Mary Chapin Carpenter
We continue to explore the quirky side of Mary Chapin Carpenter, and of early 90s country, with her Grammy-winning 1992 hit "I Feel Lucky". So what is it besides the Dwight Yo...
January 08, 2024
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22:05
Dissecting "Christmas in Dixie" by Alabama
For Christmas day, we went with the perfect song about Christmas night: Alabama's 1982 classic "Christmas in Dixie". The joyful yuletide setting is plenty expli...
December 25, 2023
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29:30
Dissecting "John Deere Green" by Joe Diffie
We plow through one of Melton's all-time favorite's, Joe Diffie's and Dennis Linde's 1993 classic: "John Deere Green". The tongue-in-cheek Mayberry tone carries over from "Bubb...
December 11, 2023
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17:52
Dissecting "On the Other Hand" by Randy Travis
They don't get much more classic than Randy Travis's major label debut single, 1985's "On the Other Hand". We could have spent the whole episode on Travis's...
November 27, 2023
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27:08