3 Country Songs That Defined the Ever-So-Sweet Nashville Sound

Popular country music as we know it today, like it or not, primarily derives from the principles of one sound, the Nashville Sound. Chet Atkins, the famous producer, is often credited with being the main architect of the genre. Which he did in the late 50s and early 60s. In short, what he architected was a smoother and more polished style of country music that was more radio-friendly. In other words, it is the very sound that birthed popular country music.

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Before the creation of the Nashville sound, country consisted of a raw sound associated with bluegrass and traditional honky-tonk music. However, the Nashville Sound removed that rawness and created a pristine sound similar to an orchestra. It was a major milestone in the genre, and these three songs helped define the ever-so-sweet Nashville Sound.

“Walkin’ After Midnight” by Patsy Cline

In the late 50s and early 60s, Patsy Cline was one of the premier faces of country music. That being so, she was one of the individuals who helped country music become the monstrous industry it is today. She did that by utilizing the Nashville Sound in several of her songs, including the 1957 classic, “Walkin’ After Midnight”.

Following the release of “Walkin’ After Midnight”, the single peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Country chart and at No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It was Cline’s first major single, and given its success in both pop and country, it showed that the Nashville Sound had the potential to crisscross between genres.

“Four Walls” by Jim Reeves

Folks often cite Jim Reeves‘ “Four Walls” as the first-ever song to incorporate the Nashville Sound. This claim makes sense, as the producer in the control room of the recording session was the architect of the Nashville sound himself, Chet Atkins.

Reeves released “Four Walls” in 1957, which was a huge hit on the country music charts. Specifically, Reeves’ single peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Country Chart. Also, like Cline, the single proved the crossover power of the Nashville Sound, as Reeves’ single peaked at No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100.

“Oh Lonesome Me” by Don Gibson

Unsurprisingly, Don Gibson‘s “Oh Lonesome Me” was also produced by Chet Atkins. Released in 1958, Don Gibson’s single was the epitome of the clean-cut, swing-dancing, 50s music that was coming out of Nashville at the time. Consequently, it was a major success.

Following its 1958 release, Gibson’s single peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Country Charts. Furthermore, Atkins’ desired crossover effect came to fruition furtherly, as it also peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100.

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