Hit Country Songs From the 1980s You Forgot Were Awesome

When it comes to the wider conversation about country music, the 1980s get overlooked much too often. The 1970s saw big acts like Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson rise to prominence. Additionally, legacy acts like George Jones and Dolly Parton were making major moves. Then, the 1990s came along and gave generations of fans their favorite era of the genre. As a result, the 1980s are akin to country music’s middle child.

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The decade brought us plenty of great music, though. In fact, some of country’s biggest names started releasing music in the 1980s. George Strait, Randy Travis, Clint Black, and more were already making hits. Today, we’re going to look back at some hit songs that are as criminally overlooked as the decade in which they were released.

[RELATED: Country Songs of the 1980s That Had No. 1 Potential—but Didn’t Get Enough Radio Love]

1. “Would You Catch a Falling Star” by John Anderson

John Anderson released some of the best songs in country music during the 1980s and 1990s. Tracks like “Seminole Wind,” “Wild and Blue,” “Swingin’,” and “Straight Tequila Night” often overshadow some of his other great tunes. “Would You Catch a Falling Star” is among those that are criminally underrated. The song tells the story of a former country star who is watching his fame slip away, and Anderson’s vocal delivery sells every word of the narrative.

The legendary Bobby Braddock wrote this song, and Anderson released it in 1982 as the second and final single from his album I Just Came Home to Count the Memories. It went to No. 6 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, giving him his fifth consecutive top 10 hit.

2. “Right or Wrong” by George Strait

“Right or Wrong” is an old song. Composed by Arthur Sizemore and Paul Biese with lyrics by Haven Gillespie, it was first published in 1921. Over the years, countless artists have put their spin on the jazz ballad. However, one of the most influential recordings came from Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys. The Western Swing pioneers recorded it in 1936. Nearly 50 years later, a young George Strait would reintroduce the song to the country music world of the 1980s.

“Right or Wrong” was the second single and title track from Strait’s third album. It was also his second No. 1. Unfortunately, this nod to one of the King of Country Music’s heroes gets overshadowed by some of his bigger hits. However, it’s well worth a second look.

3. “From a Jack to a King” by Ricky Van Shelton

Ned Miller wrote “From a Jack to a King” and released it in 1957. He re-released the track in 1962 and found a crossover hit. More than two decades later, Ricky Van Shelton released his version of the song as a single in 1988. It was a hit for him as well. More specifically, it was his fifth consecutive chart-topper.

Really, any of Shelton’s many hits would have fit on this list. His voice and traditional country music style brought him much success in the 1980s and early 1990s. When he retired in 2006, he left the world with a collection of great music including this classic cover.

4. “Why’d You Come in Here Lookin’ Like That” by Dolly Parton (1989)

When fans discuss Dolly Parton’s hit songs, many go straight to “9 to 5,” “Jolene,” or “I Will Always Love You.” However, Parton has a long list of hit songs. In fact, “Why’d You Come in Here Lookin’ Like That” became her 22^nd No. 1 after she released it as the lead single from White Limozeen in 1989.

Written by Bob Carlisle and Randy Thomas, Parton was the perfect artist for this track. Few artists could nail the blend of heartbreak, longing, and fun demanded by the lyrics. The song sees Parton taking the position of a woman watching her ex walk into the bar she’s in, “all decked out like a cowgirl’s dream.”

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