1978 in country music

Last updated

This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1978.

Contents

List of years in country music (table)
+...

Events

Top hits of the year

Number one hits

United States

(as certified by Billboard)

DateSingle NameArtistWks. No.1CAN peakSpec. Note
January 7 Take This Job and Shove It Johnny Paycheck 2 [C]
January 21 What a Difference You've Made in My Life Ronnie Milsap 1
January 28 Out of My Head and Back in My Bed Loretta Lynn 2 [B]
February 11 I Just Wish You Were Someone I Love Larry Gatlin 13 [A]
February 18 Don't Break the Heart That Loves You Margo Smith 25 [A]
March 4 Mammas Don't Let Your Babies
Grow Up to Be Cowboys
Waylon Jennings
and Willie Nelson
4 [1]
April 1 Ready for the Times to Get Better Crystal Gayle 1
April 8 Someone Loves You Honey Charley Pride 2
April 22 Every Time Two Fools Collide Kenny Rogers
and Dottie West
2 [A] – Dottie West
May 6 It's All Wrong, But It's All Right Dolly Parton 2
May 20 She Can Put Her Shoes Under My Bed (Anytime) Johnny Duncan 1 [B]
May 27 Do You Know You Are My Sunshine The Statler Brothers 25 [A]
June 10 Georgia on My Mind Willie Nelson1
June 17 Two More Bottles of Wine Emmylou Harris 1
June 24 I'll Be True to You The Oak Ridge Boys 18 [A]
July 1 It Only Hurts for a Little While Margo Smith1 [B]
July 8 I Believe in You Mel Tillis 1
July 15 Only One Love in My Life Ronnie Milsap3
August 5 Love or Something Like It Kenny Rogers1
August 12 You Don't Love Me Anymore Eddie Rabbitt 13
August 19 Talking in Your Sleep Crystal Gayle2
September 2 Blue Skies Willie Nelson1
September 9 I've Always Been Crazy Waylon Jennings3
September 30 Heartbreaker Dolly Parton3
October 21 Tear Time Dave & Sugar 13
October 28 Let's Take the Long Way Around the World Ronnie Milsap1
November 4 Sleeping Single In a Double Bed Barbara Mandrell 3 [A]
November 25 Sweet Desire/Old Fashioned Love The Kendalls 12
December 2 I Just Want to Love You Eddie Rabbitt12
December 9 On My Knees Charlie Rich
and Janie Fricke
12 [B] – Charlie Rich
[A] – Janie Fricke
December 16 The Gambler Kenny Rogers32
Notes
  • 1 ^ No. 1 song of the year, as determined by Billboard .
  • A ^ First Billboard No. 1 hit for that artist.
  • B ^ Last Billboard No. 1 hit for that artist.
  • C ^ Only Billboard No. 1 hit for that artist to date.

Canada

(as certified by RPM)

DateSingle NameArtistWks. No.1U.S. peakSpec. Note
January 14 Take This Job and Shove It Johnny Paycheck 1 [C]
January 21 My Way Elvis Presley 22
February 4 What a Difference You've Made in My Life Ronnie Milsap 2
February 18 Out of My Head and Back in My Bed Loretta Lynn 1 [B]
February 25 You're the One The Oak Ridge Boys 22 [A]
March 11 To Daddy Emmylou Harris 13
March 18 Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys Waylon Jennings and
Willie Nelson
3 [A] – Willie Nelson
April 8 I Might as Well Believe (I'll Live Forever) Carroll Baker 1
April 15 Do I Love You (Yes in Every Way) Donna Fargo 12 [B]
April 22 Ready for the Times to Get Better Crystal Gayle 1
April 29 Someone Loves You Honey Charley Pride 2
May 13 Every Time Two Fools Collide Kenny Rogers and
Dottie West
1
May 20 It's All Wrong, But It's All Right Dolly Parton 1
May 27 She Can Put Her Shoes Under my Bed (Anytime) Johnny Duncan 1 [B]
June 3 Georgia on My Mind Willie Nelson2
June 17 Night Time Magic Larry Gatlin 12 [A]
June 24 Two More Bottles of Wine Emmylou Harris1
July 1 I Can't Wait Any Longer Bill Anderson 24 [B]
July 15 Portrait in the Window Carroll Baker1 [1]
July 22 It Only Hurts for a Little While Margo Smith 1 [C]
July 29 I Believe in You Mel Tillis 1
August 5 You Needed Me Anne Murray 14
August 12Homefolks Bob Murphy & Big Buffalo 1 [C]
August 19 Love or Something Like It Kenny Rogers1
August 26 Only One Love in My Life Ronnie Milsap1
September 2 Talking in Your Sleep Crystal Gayle1
September 9 When I Stop Leaving (I'll Be Gone) Charley Pride13
September 16 Boogie Grass Band Conway Twitty 12
September 23 Blue Skies Willie Nelson1
September 30 I've Always Been Crazy Waylon Jennings1
October 7 Heartbreaker Dolly Parton3
October 28 It's Been a Great Afternoon Merle Haggard 12
  • RPM didn't publish on November 4 or November 11.
November 18 Let's Take the Long Way Around the World Ronnie Milsap1
November 25 Cryin' Again The Oak Ridge Boys13
December 2 Sleeping Single In a Double Bed Barbara Mandrell 2 [A]
December 16 That's What You Do to Me Charly McClain 18 [A]
December 23 Hooked on a Feeling Carroll Baker2
Notes
  • 1 ^ No. 1 song of the year, as determined by RPM .
  • A ^ First RPM No. 1 hit for that artist.
  • B ^ Last RPM No. 1 hit for that artist.
  • C ^ Only RPM No. 1 hit for that artist.

Other major hits

Singles released by American artists

USCANSingleArtist
1612 '57 Chevrolet Billie Jo Spears
42 Ain't No California Mel Tillis
34 All of Me Willie Nelson
2110Another Fine Mess Glen Campbell
108Another Goodbye Donna Fargo
210 Anyone Who Isn't Me Tonight Kenny Rogers and Dottie West
2119Baby It's You Janie Fricke
20Baby, Last Night Made My Day Susie Allanson
1713Back to the LoveSusie Allanson
68 Bartender's Blues George Jones
3616Be Your Own Best Friend Ray Stevens
102Beautiful Woman Charlie Rich
18Bedroom Eyes Don Drumm
2034Better Me Tommy Overstreet
1317Break My Mind Vern Gosdin
1312Bucket to the South Ava Barber
825The Bull and the Beaver Merle Haggard and Leona Williams
1618Can You FoolGlen Campbell
1820Caribbean Sonny James
42 Come a Little Bit Closer Johnny Duncan and Janie Fricke
1044Come on In Jerry Lee Lewis
1728 Come See Me and Come Lonely Dottie West
169Come to Me Roy Head
2316Country Lovin' Eddy Arnold
1114Cowboys Don't Get Lucky All the Time Gene Watson
2016Danger Heartbreak Ahead Zella Lehr
79Daylight T. G. Sheppard
133Do It Again Tonight Larry Gatlin
1318Don't Ever Say GoodbyeT. G. Sheppard
125 Easy From Now On Emmylou Harris
1118Fadin' In, Fadin' OutTommy Overstreet
2036Four Little Letters Stella Parton
1015The First Time Billy "Crash" Craddock
78Friend, Lover, Wife Johnny Paycheck
62From Seven Till Ten Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty
176Georgia in a JugJohnny Paycheck
1112God Made Love Mel McDaniel
49Gotta Quit Lookin' at You Baby Dave & Sugar
1612Grandest Lady of Them AllConway Twitty
19Handcuffed to a Heartache Mary K. Miller
29 Hearts on Fire Eddie Rabbitt
47Hello Mexico (And Adios Baby to You)Johnny Duncan
943 Here Comes the Hurt Again Mickey Gilley
1526Here Comes the Reason I Live Ronnie McDowell
20Here in Love Dottsy
2033High and Dry Joe Sun
2014 Hopelessly Devoted to You Olivia Newton-John
226How Can I Leave You Again John Denver
1414Hubba HubbaBilly "Crash" Craddock
44I Cheated on a Good Woman's LoveBilly "Crash" Craddock
84I Don't Need a Thing at AllGene Watson
156 I Fought the Law Hank Williams, Jr.
1423 I Just Want to Be Your Everything Connie Smith
55I Love You, I Love You, I Love YouRonnie McDowell
107I Love You (What Can I Say) Jerry Reed
1817I Promised Her a Rainbow Bobby Borchers
816I Never Will Marry Linda Ronstadt
1329I Wish I Loved Somebody Else Tom T. Hall
1223 I Would Like to See You Again Johnny Cash
10I'll Find It Where I CanJerry Lee Lewis
1141 I'll Just Take It Out in Love George Jones
1127 I'll Never Be Free Jim Ed Brown and Helen Cornelius
22 I'm Always on a Mountain When I Fall Merle Haggard
10 I'm Gonna Love You Anyway Cristy Lane
2620 I'm Leaving It All Up to You Freddy Fender
710 I've Got a Winner in You Don Williams
1726 I've Got to Go Billie Jo Spears
9If I Had a Cheating Heart Mel Street
67If the World Ran Out of Love TonightJim Ed Brown and Helen Cornelius
55If You Can Touch Her at AllWillie Nelson
69If You've Got Ten Minutes (Let's Fall in Love) Joe Stampley
22It Don't Feel Like Sinnin' to Me The Kendalls
102 It's a Heartache Bonnie Tyler
1319Let Me Be Your Baby Charly McClain
9Let's Shake Hands and Come Out Lovin' Kenny O'Dell
36 Little Things Mean a Lot Margo Smith
189 Lonely Hearts Club Billie Jo Spears
814 Lonely Street Rex Allen, Jr.
2619Love, Love, Love Sandy Posey
713 Love Me with All Your Heart (Cuando Caliente El Sol) Johnny Rodriguez
36 A Lover's Question Jacky Ward
135 May the Force Be with You Always Tom T. Hall
714 Maybe Baby Susie Allanson
43Middle Age CrazyJerry Lee Lewis
1327Mister D.J.T. G. Sheppard
930 Never My Love Vern Gosdin
84No, No, No (I'd Rather Be Free)Rex Allen, Jr.
1018No Sleep Tonight Randy Barlow
19Now You See 'Em, Now You Don'tRoy Head
1429 Old Flames Can't Hold a Candle to You Joe Sun
86One Sided ConversationGene Watson
74 Penny Arcade Cristy Lane
628Pittsburgh StealersThe Kendalls
1717Please Don't Play a Love Song Marty Robbins
124 Please Help Me, I'm Falling (in Love with You)Janie Fricke
87 The Power of Positive Drinkin' Mickey Gilley
83Puttin' in Overtime at HomeCharlie Rich
1921Ragamuffin ManDonna Fargo
32 Rake and Ramblin' Man Don Williams
17Red Hot Memory Kenny Dale
67Red Wine and Blue MemoriesJoe Stampley
68Return to MeMarty Robbins
119 Rhythm of the Rain Jacky Ward
56 Rose Colored Glasses John Conlee
1210 Running Kind Merle Haggard
1628 Shake Me I Rattle Cristy Lane
1314Shine on Me (The Sun Still Shines When It Rains) John Wesley Ryles
118Sleep Tight Good Night Man Bobby Bare
1975Slippin' Away The Bellamy Brothers
10Slow and EasyRandy Barlow
1315Soft Lights and Hard Country Music Moe Bandy
1745Some I Wrote The Statler Brothers
915Something to Brag About Mary Kay Place and Willie Nelson
1210 Spring Fever Loretta Lynn
1420Standard Lie Number OneStella Parton
16Starting All Over Again Don Gibson
2025Sweet FantasyBobby Borchers
86 Sweet, Sweet Smile The Carpenters
1310Talk to MeFreddy Fender
1110That's What Makes the Juke Box PlayMoe Bandy
25 There Ain't No Good Chain Gang Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings
18Things I Do for You Mundo Earwood
1810Think About MeFreddy Fender
1637This Is the LoveSonny James
20Three Sheets in the WindJacky Ward and Reba McEntire
525 Tonight Barbara Mandrell
2817 Tonight's the Night (Gonna Be Alright) Roy Head
2915Too Many Nights AloneBobby Bare
75 Two Doors Down Zella Lehr
1831Two Hearts Tangled in LoveKenny Dale
74Two Lonely PeopleMoe Bandy
66 Unchained Melody Elvis Presley
712 We Believe in Happy Endings Johnny Rodriguez
24We Belong TogetherSusie Allanson
2617 We Got Love Lynn Anderson
106 We've Come a Long Way Baby Loretta Lynn
1328Week-End Friend Con Hunley
42 What Did I Promise Her Last Night Mel Tillis
914 What Have You Got to Lose Tom T. Hall
920What Time Do You Have to Be Back to Heaven Razzy Bailey
529When Can We Do This AgainT. G. Sheppard
165Whiskey Trip Gary Stewart
360 Who Am I to Say The Statler Brothers
107With LoveRex Allen, Jr.
45 Woman to Woman Barbara Mandrell
33 Womanhood Tammy Wynette
1215Yes Ma'amTommy Overstreet
2035You Know WhatJerry Reed and Seidina
1420 You've Still Got a Place in My Heart Con Hunley

Singles released by Canadian artists

USCANSingleArtist
11All Cried Out Van Dyke
19Caribou to Nashville Gary Fjellgaard
929The Circle Is Small (I Can See It in Your Eyes) Gordon Lightfoot
10Comin' on Stronger Mercey Brothers
12Does the Rain Only Fall on My Mansion Jerry Palmer
7Dream Maker Sheila Ann
9The Fastest Gun Dallas Harms
12George the Hermit Jack Hennig
14Goin' Home Burton & Honeyman
4Here's Your Watch John Canadian Zephyr
14Hold Me Like a Baby Tim Daniels
10Living in the Best of Two Worlds Rondini
6Love Is a Contact Sport Family Brown
18Master of the Classical GuitarDallas Harms
18MindyJack Hennig
16My Good Woman Dick Damron
14Ol' Amos Orval Prophet
16Riding HighVan Dyke
18Sun Always Shines Laura Vinson
14There's More Love Where That Came From Joyce Seamone
16Truck Driver's Girl The Good Brothers
42 Walk Right Back Anne Murray
19Where Have All the Cowboy Songs GoneOrval Prophet
9Whiskey JackDick Damron
3You're the LightFamily Brown

Top new album releases

SingleArtistRecord Label
Burgers and Fries/When I Stop Leaving (I'll Be Gone) Charley Pride RCA
Dark Eyed Lady Donna Fargo Warner Bros.
The Gambler Kenny Rogers United Artists
Heartbreaker Dolly Parton RCA
I've Always Been Crazy Waylon Jennings RCA
I've Cried the Blue Right Out of My Eyes Crystal Gayle MCA1
Night Time Magic Larry Gatlin Monument
Quarter Moon in a Ten Cent Town Emmylou Harris Warner/Reprise
Stardust Willie Nelson Columbia/CBS
Someone Loves You Honey Charley Pride RCA
TG T. G. Sheppard Warner Bros./Curb
TNT Tanya Tucker MCA
Waylon & Willie Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson RCA
When I Dream Crystal Gayle United Artists

1 A collection of Crystal Gayle's earliest recordings from the early 1970s.

Other albums

SingleArtistRecord Label
Ain't Living Long Like This Rodney Crowell Warner Bros.
Bartender's Blues George Jones Epic/CBS
Billy "Crash" Craddock Billy "Crash" Craddock Capitol
Country Soul Mel Street Polydor/Polygram
Don't Break the Heart That Loves You Margo Smith Warner Bros.
Entertainers On and Off the Record Statler Brothers Mercury/Polygram
Every Time Two Fools Collide Kenny Rogers and Dottie West United Artists
Expressions Don Williams ABC/Dot
I Still Believe in Love Charlie Rich United Artists
Lonely Hearts Club Billie Jo Spears United Artists
Love Lies Cristy Lane LS
Love's Ups and Downs Barbara Mandrell ABC/Dot
A Lover's Question Jacky Ward Mercury/Polygram
Only One Love in My Life Ronnie Milsap RCA
Oh Brother! Larry Gatlin Monument
Let's Keep It That Way Anne Murray Capitol
Love...& Other Sad Stories Bill Anderson MCA
Love or Something Like It Kenny Rogers United Artists
Room Service Oak Ridge Boys ABC/Dot
Rose Colored Glasses John Conlee ABC/Dot
She Can Put Her Shoes Under My Bed (Anytime) Johnny Duncan Columbia/CBS
Tear Time Dave & Sugar RCA
Variations Eddie Rabbitt Elektra
White Mansions Waylon Jennings RCA

Christmas albums

Births

Deaths

Country Music Hall of Fame Inductees

Major awards

Grammy Awards

Juno Awards

Academy of Country Music

Country Music Association

Further reading

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ronnie Milsap</span> American recording artist; country music singer and pianist

Ronnie Lee Milsap is an American country music singer and pianist.

This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1991.

This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1974.

This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1975.

This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1976.

This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1977.

This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1979.

This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1980.

This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1981.

This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1982.

This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1983.

This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1985.

This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1986.

This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1987.

This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1970.

This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in 1969.

This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in 1968.

This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in 1967.

This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in 1965.