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The most infamous era in country music was in the early '80s. The Urban Cowboy movement led country music away from its roots. Country's move toward pop culture was popularized by John Travolta's "Urban Cowboy," and spurred on by Dolly Parton's movie 9 to 5 and the title song, which you can find here.

In the early '80s, country attempted to cross-over to the easy-listening pop audience. The result was a lot of shallow and tacky music that was neither good country, nor good pop. In many cases, Urban Cowboy country was nothing but regurgitated '60s and '70s pop music. The outlaw heroes of the 1970s -- Willie, Waylon, Johnny, and Merle -- faded into obscurity on the country scene. Aside from Parton, the biggest hits of the time were crossover tunes, including the Oak Ridge Boys "Elvira" and others.
Although most of the songs and artists coming from Nashville were forgettable, some artists did produce excellent music. One of country biggest cross-over stars was John Conlee, undoubtedly the singer with the saddest voice in country music. Born and raised on a Kentucky tobacco farm, Conlee worked as a mortician after graduating from high school, but finally landed a job as a DJ at a Fort Knox station. Moving to Nashville in 1971, and playing rock music, Conlee established important music contacts, leading to his singing with ABC records.

His initial records failed to make much impression but his fourth release, "Rose Colored Glasses," a song he co-wrote with a newsreader at the radio station, made the country Top 5 in May 1978. That same year ABC Records was absorbed by MCA, for whom John scored more than a dozen Top 10 hits, including "She Can't Say That Anymore," "I'm Only In It For The Love," "Backside of Thirty," and "Miss Emily's Picture." (424k short version) (1.1 MB long version)

John signed with Columbia Records in 1986, scoring several more Top 10 hits. This contract lasted only three years, after which he joined 16th Avenue Records, but failed to make an impact. Throughout his career, Conlee has championed the ordinary working man, typified in songs such as "Busted," "Common Man," "Working Man," and "American Faces." Inducted as the first new member of the Opry in five years in 1979, he still tours regularly, and is active with charities.
This American country-rock group has been one of the most successful country acts of recent years, with the majority of their singles hitting No.1 on the country charts, and all albums having reached gold or platinum status. They created the group sound rather than a singer accompanied by a group, and set things in motion for other outfits such as Atlanta, Exile and Bandana, and, later, Restless Heart, Confederate Railroad, Desert Rose Band, and the Kentucky HeadHunters. Initially formed in 1969 at Fort Payne, Alabama, as Wildcountry, the group was a semi-professional outfit with the nucleus of cousins Jeff Cook and Randy Owen, plus Teddy Gentry.

After signing to GRT Records at the beginning of 1977, making their first mark on the country charts with "I Want to be With You." In 1976, original drummer John Vartanian decided to quit, and the group spent several months as a three-piece until they found Mark Herndon, the fourth member of Alabama. Larry McBride, a Dallas businessman, took an interest in the group and signed them to a management deal. he set up MDJ Records and the group's first record, I Wanna Come Over, made the country charts in the autumn of 1979. Under the production of Harold Shedd they came up with another hit, "My Home's In Alabama" (a rare live version is included here).

In the early 1980s, Alabama signed with RCA Records and hit the top of the charts as one of the only country acts to stay away from the Urban Cowboy movement. Though they could have turned their back on country music, Alabama are keen to retain their country connection, and succeeds with a contagious country sound with hits such as "Mountain Music," "Take Me Down,", and "Roll On," among others. After limited success in the middle '80s, Alabama has rolled on to the tune of over 30 number 1 songs, easily the most successful group in country music history.
Discovered singing the national anthem at the 1974 National Finals Rodeo, Reba's early country career revealed a different singer altogether from the polished professional Reba of 1997. Greatly influenced by her small town upbringing, and by the music of Patsy Cline, McEntire's early work is true honky-tonk country with a twist. Although her musical legacy during her early years at Mercury Records pales in comparison to today, McEntire did cut several songs that helped to build the solid foundation to the career of one of the most acclaimed women in the history of country music. Her first single is classic Mercury Reba, "I Don't Want to be a One Night Stand." Although her early style is patterned after Patsy Cline, her own sass and emotion come through as Cline's never did, especially in her rendition of "Old Man River (I've Come to Talk Again).". Although she never released the third and final track included here, "A Cowboy Like You," is so honest, and early Rebaesque, it was a natural inclusion. (512k short version) (1.4 MB long version)