This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1980.
"Daydream Believer" is a song composed by American songwriter John Stewart shortly before he left The Kingston Trio. It was originally recorded by the Monkees, with Davy Jones singing the lead. The single reached No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart in December 1967, remaining there for four weeks, and peaked at No. 5 on the UK Singles Chart. It was the Monkees' third and last No. 1 hit in the U.S.
"What Are We Doin' in Love" is a song written by Randy Goodrum and recorded by American country music artist Dottie West. Although not credited on the single release, the song also features American country and pop recording artist Kenny Rogers. It was released in March 1981 as the second single from the album Wild West. The song was West and Rogers' third and final number one on the country chart.
"Touch Me When We're Dancing" is a song written by Terry Skinner, J. L. Wallace and Ken Bell. Skinner and Wallace headed the Muscle Shoals, Alabama session group Bama, who first recorded this song and released it as a single in 1979 reaching number 42 on the Billboard Easy Listening chart and number 86 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song was later recorded by The Carpenters in 1981 for their Made in America album. In 1984, it was recorded by country music artists Mickey Gilley and Charly McClain for their 1984 duet album It Takes Believers and in 1986 by the country music group Alabama.
"Lady" is a song written by Lionel Richie and first recorded by American country music artist Kenny Rogers. It was released in September 1980 on the album Kenny Rogers' Greatest Hits.
"I Just Fall in Love Again" is a song written by Larry Herbstritt, with co-writers Steve Dorff, Harry Lloyd, and Gloria Sklerov. Herbstritt had composed the melody and chords for the chorus and a chord progression for the verse, which he took to his friend Steve Dorff. Harry Lloyd and Gloria Sklerov completed the lyrics. The song was originally recorded by the Carpenters and later covered by Dusty Springfield, and Anne Murray, who was unaware Springfield had recorded it just 6 months prior.
The discography for Canadian country-pop singer Anne Murray includes 32 studio albums, 15 compilation albums and 76 singles. Murray has sold over 55 million records across the world, becoming one of the best-selling Canadian artists in history. She has scored 10 number one hits on Hot Country Songs and 8 number one hits on Adult Contemporary Chart.
"Shadows in the Moonlight" is a song written by Charlie Black and Rory Bourke, and recorded by Canadian country pop music singer Anne Murray. It was released in May 1979 as the second single from the album New Kind of Feeling. The song reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart that July, and was one of three chart-toppers for her during the year. "Shadows in the Moonlight" was Murray's third No. 1 single on the country chart and fourth overall.
"Broken Hearted Me" is a song written by Randy Goodrum, originally recorded by England Dan & John Ford Coley for their album Dr. Heckle and Mr. Jive, and later covered by Canadian country and pop music singer Anne Murray. It was released in September 1979 as the first single from her album I'll Always Love You. The song reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in December, Murray's fourth No. 1 single on that chart. She also recorded a version of the song in Spanish, which was released on vinyl, and later on CD.
"Danny's Song" is a song written by American singer-songwriter Kenny Loggins, as a gift for his brother Danny for the birth of his son, Colin. It first appeared on an album by Gator Creek and a year later on the album Sittin' In, the debut album by Loggins and Messina. The song is well remembered for both the Loggins and Messina original, as well as for Anne Murray's 1972 top-ten-charting cover.
"Funny How Time Slips Away" is a song written by Willie Nelson and first recorded by country singer Billy Walker. Walker's version was issued as a single by Columbia Records in June 1961 and peaked at number 23 on the Hot C&W Sides chart. The song has been featured in several live action films and television shows, such as in the first episode of the second season of AMC’s Better Call Saul and in the 2020 Netflix drama The Devil All the Time.
"Please Help Me, I'm Falling" is a 1960 song written by Don Robertson and Hal Blair and first recorded by Hank Locklin. The single was Locklin's most successful recording and was his second number one on the country charts. "Please Help Me, I'm Falling" spent 14 weeks at the top spot and spent nine months on the country chart and crossed over to the Hot 100 peaking at number eight.
"Blessed Are the Believers" is a song written by Charlie Black, Rory Bourke and Sandy Pinkard, and recorded by Canadian country music artist Anne Murray. It was released in March 1981 as the first single from Murray's Gold-certified Where Do You Go When You Dream album.
"What's Forever For" is a song written by Rafe Van Hoy and first recorded by England Dan & John Ford Coley on their 1979 album Dr. Heckle and Mr. Jive.
"A Little Good News" is a song recorded by Canadian recording artist Anne Murray. It was released in September 1983 as the lead single from the album of the same name. The song was written by Tommy Rocco, Charlie Black, and Rory Bourke and was Anne Murray's seventh #1 hit on the Billboard country chart.
"Nobody Loves Me Like You Do" is a song written by James Dunne and Pamela Phillips-Oland, and originally performed on the CBS soap opera As the World Turns by Dunne himself with series regular Tonya Pinkins. It was later recorded by Jermaine Jackson with a then-unknown Whitney Houston, and also by Canadian country music artist Anne Murray with singer-songwriter Dave Loggins. Jackson and Houston actually premiered their version on As the World Turns as well, on the August 1, 1984 episode, while the Murray-Loggins version was released as a country single shortly thereafter, in September of '84. The former appeared on Houston's 1985 self-titled debut album and on the 2009 compilation album, The Collection. The latter was the first single from Murray's album Heart Over Mind, peaking at number one on December 15, 1984. It was Murray's ninth American number-one country hit, and it also hit the top ten on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. The song was Loggins' only hit on the country chart. In live performances, Murray sang the duet with Billie Hughes. The song also appears on Murray's 2007 album Anne Murray Duets: Friends & Legends, performed as a duet with her daughter, Dawn Langstroth.
"Don't Call Him a Cowboy" is a song written by Debbie Hupp, Johnny MacRae and Bob Morrison, and recorded by American country music artist Conway Twitty. It was released in February 1985 as the first single and title track from the album Don't Call Him a Cowboy. The song was Twitty's 34th Billboard number one single on the country chart but his 50th overall. The single went to number one for one week and spent a total of 13 weeks on the chart.
"Now and Forever (You and Me)" is a 1986 song written by David Foster, Randy Goodrum and Jim Vallance and recorded by Canadian country music artist Anne Murray. It was aided by a popular music video, filmed in Toronto. The back-up vocal was sung by Richard Page, lead singer for the pop group Mr. Mister. It was released in January 1986 as the first single from her twentieth studio album Something to Talk About.
"We Believe in Happy Endings" is a song written by Bob McDill and recorded by American country music artist Johnny Rodriguez. It was released in September 1978 as the second single from the album Just for You. The single went to number seven on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.
"Sea of Heartbreak" is a song written by Paul Hampton and Hal David and recorded by Don Gibson in 1961. The song reached #2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.
