In the mood for some super underrated country songs from the year 1970? The first year of the decade was a fine one for country tunes. Yet, many charting hits that year did not make it to the No. 1 spot on any Billboard chart when they really should have. Let’s look at a few examples.
“A Good Year For The Roses” by George Jones
This classic from George Jones is always on classic country radio today. And yet, back when it debuted in 1970, it didn’t quite make it to No. 1. “A Good Year For The Roses”, written by Jerry Chesnut, was a No. 2 hit for Jones on the Hot Country Singles chart. It was close to being a crossover hit, too. The song peaked at No. 12 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart in the US. The song also reached No. 4 in Canada. And yet, it never quite made it to the top. Neither did Elvis Costello’s version, the duet version from 1994 between Jones and Alan Jackson.
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“I Can’t Be Myself” by Merle Haggard and The Strangers
Merle Haggard was enjoying quite a bit of success in the early 1970s. His standout single “I Can’t Be Myself” from the album Hag should have been a bigger hit than it was on the charts, considering its popularity. This country tune peaked at No. 3 on the Hot Country Songs chart and No. 6 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart. It also hit No. 2 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks chart.
“Bed Of Rose’s” by The Statler Brothers
This is a pretty gem from the group known as The Statler Brothers. Released in 1970, the song eventually took off in late 1971. It peaked at No. 9 on the Hot Country Songs chart. It also made it to No. 58 on the Hot 100 and did similarly well in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. Somehow, this very popular tune didn’t make it to the top of any chart.
“Where Have All Our Heroes Gone” by Bill Anderson
“Where Have All Our Heroes Gone” by Bill Anderson is a country protest song of sorts, bemoaning the lack of traditional heroes back in the day. Whether you agree with Anderson’s sentiments or not, it’s hard to argue how loved this song was in the US and Canada in 1970. The “Nashville Sound” tune peaked at No. 6 on the Hot Country Songs chart, No. 9 on the Canada Country Songs chart, and No. 93 on the Hot 100. Based on popularity alone, I’m a bit surprised this tune didn’t reach No. 1.
Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
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These 1970s parody songs beat all the "real" music on the charts. They blurred the lines between fake song and true hit. -
AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 01: Photo of AC DC and Angus YOUNG and AC/DC and Mark EVANS and Bon SCOTT; Mark Evans, Angus Young (playing Gibson SG guitar), Bon Scott – performing live onstage, c.1975/1976 (Photo by Bob King/Redferns) -
UNSPECIFIED – CIRCA 1970: Photo of Don Gibson Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images -
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Barry Manilow in concert at the Bottom Line, NYC during Barry Manilow Achive Images – 1975 in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by Bobby Bank/WireImage) -
(Original Caption) Charlie Daniels (3rd from left), the entertainer who dedicated his last album to "gun-rotting whiskey and hellatious fights" says he will not play gentle music just to please "damn Yankees drinking martinis" 1/20 at Jimmy Carter's inaugural reception. Daniels said he plans to play the same brand of foot-stomping Southern music he and his band have always produced. They are (from left), Charlie Hayward, Tom Crain, Daniels, Joel Digregorio, Don Murray and Fred Edwards.
