Nearly every country music fan has a favorite era of the genre. For some, it doesn’t get any better than ’90s country. Many of those fans will likely tell you that the genre’s peak came somewhere between 1989 and 1996. The neotraditional sound, packed with fiddle, pedal steel, and Telecaster twang, ruled the charts and airwaves. From that point of view, 1993 was arguably one of the best years for country music.
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All of the songs below topped the Hot Country Songs chart in 1993. Some fans who were cranking their local country radio station at the time will likely remember them from the good old days. Younger fans who are just dipping their toes into ’90s country might find something new to add to their throwback playlists. Either way, there’s no denying that these tunes come from a high point in the genre’s history.
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1. “One More Last Chance” by Vince Gill
If you need proof that 1993 was a great year for country music, look no further than “One More Last Chance.” It was Vince Gill’s third chart-topper of the year. He started the year at No. 1 with “Don’t Let Our Love Start Slipping Away.” Later in the year, “The Heart Won’t Lie,” his duet with Reba McEntire, took the top spot. Finally, in early October, this banger reached No. 1 for a week.
Gill is widely known for his touching numbers, like his first No. 1 of the year or “Go Rest High on That Mountain.” However, “One More Last Chance” is pure hony tonk fun, illustrating just how versatile Gill could be.
2. “Alibis” by Tracy Lawrence
Tracy Lawrence scored his second career No. 1 on the Hot Country Songs chart with this 1993 standout. The decade was full of songs about broken relationships, homes, and hearts. However, “Alibis” is something special.
It’s a song about a woman who has gotten so fed up with her man’s cheating ways that she starts stepping out on him, but it’s just so pretty. Sonny Garrish on the steel guitar and fiddle player Joe Spivey elevate the arrangement so much. They just don’t make them like this anymore.
3. “Why Didn’t I Think of That” by Doug Stone
Doug Stone found his final Hot Country Songs No. 1 in August 1993 with this Marshall Tucker Band cover. “Why Didn’t I Think of That” sounds like an upbeat song. If it were just playing in the background, you could tap your toes to it. However, the lyrics are a perfect blend of heartbreak, self-awareness, and regret from the songwriting duo of Bob McDill and Paul Harrison.
4. “Chattahoochee” by Alan Jackson
Alan Jackson pretty much summed up ’90s country with his 1993 banger. Honestly, “Chattahoochee” is one of those songs that comes up nearly every time this era of country music is discussed for a reason. The arrangement, the lyrics, and Jackson’s delivery are just so representative of what made the ’90s an amazing decade for the genre.
This song would almost be enough to make the argument that 1993 was the best year for country music, but not quite.
Featured Image by Beth Gwinn/Redferns
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