The ’90s produced some of the best-loved country songs in history. The decade saw the rise of artists like George Strait, Randy Travis, Reba McEntire, Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson, and a host of others who have become legends in the years since their heyday. Together, an elite group of artists launched dozens of singles to the top of the country charts. However, some of their finest work somehow never made it to No. 1.
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Today, we’re going to look at some ’90s country songs that have stood the test of time but never reached the top of the country charts. Most of these songs were hits and remain fan favorites, but should have done better upon release.
[RELATED: 5 Songs for Anyone Who Wants to Dive Into ’90s Country]
1. “Chasin’ That Neon Rainbow” by Alan Jackson
Alan Jackson was a dominant force in country music during the ’90s, releasing 16 No. 1 songs during the decade. Many of those songs are still favorites among genre fans today. “Chattahoochee,” “I’d Love You All Over Again,” and “Livin’ on Love” are timeless favorites. He also had multiple songs that should have been chart-toppers that weren’t. Among them was “Chasin’ That Neon Rainbow.”
Penned by the powerful writing team of Jackson and Jim McBride, “Chasin’ That Neon Rainbow” is an autobiographical song. Jackson sings about his life growing up in small-town Georgia, playing the honky tonk circuit, and his desire to be a star. It’s inspirational and a great story. At the same time, it is sonically stone cold country. However, it peaked at No. 2 upon its initial release in 1990.
To be fair, this was Jackson’s highest-charting single at that time. His debut single “Blue Blooded Woman” peaked at No. 45. His next two releases, “Here in the Real World” and “Wanted” peaked at No. 3. He wouldn’t find his first No. 1 until he released fifth single, “I’d Love You All Over Again.”
2. “The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia” by Reba McEntire
Many fans and artists will say that the storytelling aspect of country music sets it apart from other genres. While story songs have become less prevalent in country music in recent years, they were all the rage in the ’90s. Reba McEntire’s cover of “The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia” is a great example of that. At the same time, it sees the Oklahoma native keeping the tradition of murder ballads alive and well. Despite her star power, her version of the song only reached No. 12 on the Hot Country Songs chart upon its release in 1991.
Bobby Russell wrote the song and his wife Vicki Lawrence released the original version in 1973. Her rendition went to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 but peaked at No. 36 on the country chart.
3. “Better Class of Losers” by Randy Travis
Randy Travis saw his most consistent chart success in the ’80s. He scored 10 No. 1 singles between 1986 and 1989. However, he didn’t stop launching songs to the upper reaches of the country charts in the ’90s. He notched plenty of top 10 hits and chart toppers throughout the decade with songs like “If I Didn’t Have You,” “Whisper My Name,” and “Hard Rock Bottom of Your Heart” topping the chart. “Better Class of Losers” almost made it to the top but stalled out at No. 2.
Written by Travis and Alan Jackson, “Better Class of Losers” is a near-perfect country song. The lyrics are from the perspective of a working-class guy who finds himself in a relationship with a “high society” woman. He finds that all the so-called luxuries offered by her upper-class lifestyle feel more like a prison and make him long for his simple life. At the same time, her highfalutin’ friends make him long to be with people who understand him.
The writing team and lyrical content alone should have put this at the top of the country chart. Add the traditional style and Travis’ voice to the mix and you should have a recipe for a multi-week No. 1. Unfortunately, that’s not how things worked out.
4. “John Deere Green” by Joe Diffie
’90s country was full of incredibly fun songs and “John Deere Green” is among the best of them. Joe Diffie released this Dennis Linde-penned gem in 1993 as the third single from his album Honky Tony Attitude. It peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart but should have gone higher.
Much like the John Deere green heart that reads “Billy Bob loves Charlene,” this song has stood the test of time. Decades after its release, it is still one of Diffie’s best-loved songs. It seemingly ticked all of the boxes for an early ’90s chart topper. It was a love song about a couple that started young and wild and settled down together, it wasn’t short on humor, and it captured the idealized small town aesthetic of the era. Why this wasn’t a No. 1 for Diffie will forever be a mystery.
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