List of Hot Country Singles number ones of 1980

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The Oak Ridge Boys (pictured in 2013) had two number one singles in 1980. The Oak Ridge Boys by Gage Skidmore.jpg
The Oak Ridge Boys (pictured in 2013) had two number one singles in 1980.

Hot Country Songs is a chart that ranks the top-performing country music songs in the United States, published by Billboard magazine. In 1980, 43 different singles topped the chart, then published under the title Hot Country Singles, in 52 issues of the magazine, based on playlists submitted by country music radio stations and sales reports submitted by stores. [1]

Contents

In the first issue of Billboard of 1980, Kenny Rogers moved into the number one position with "Coward of the County", [2] his fifth consecutive country number one. [3] The song went on to tie for the year's longest unbroken run at the top with Ronnie Milsap's double A-sided single "My Heart" / "Silent Night (After the Fight)" and "Lookin' for Love" by Johnny Lee. All three singles spent three consecutive weeks at number one. Rogers returned to the top of the country chart later in the year with "Lady", which was a crossover success, also reaching number one on Billboard's all-genres chart, the Hot 100. [4] Rogers was experiencing a lengthy spell of success with smooth sounds which appealed equally to country and pop audiences and established him as a major star in both genres. [3] Milsap had the most country number ones of any artist in 1980, taking four different singles to the top spot, followed by Mickey Gilley with three. Milsap's total of six weeks at number one was the most achieved by an individual act.

Cristy Lane reached number one for the first and only time in June with "One Day at a Time". [5] [6] Another first-time chart topper was the actor Clint Eastwood, who duetted with Merle Haggard on the song "Bar Room Buddies" for the soundtrack of his film Bronco Billy , in which Haggard made a cameo appearance. [7] [8] Eastwood had made occasional previous forays into music, including the full-length album Rawhide's Clint Eastwood Sings Cowboy Favorites in 1963, [9] but "Bar Room Buddies" was his first ever Hot Country hit. [10] Ronnie Milsap's number-one song "Cowboys and Clowns" also featured in Bronco Billy. [11] A song from a film soundtrack also gave Johnny Lee his first number one in 1980, [12] [13] as "Lookin' for Love" was recorded for the film Urban Cowboy . [14] Mickey Gilley's chart-topping version of "Stand by Me" was taken from the same film, [15] in which Gilley himself appeared, as was "Could I Have This Dance" by Canadian country artist Anne Murray. [16] [17] The final artist to debut at number one in 1980 was Razzy Bailey with "Loving Up a Storm" in October. [18] Johnny Lee's second chart-topper of the year, "One in a Million", was the final number one of the year.

Chart history

Actor Clint Eastwood collaborated with Merle Haggard on the song "Bar Room Buddies", which appeared in Eastwood's film Bronco Billy. Eastwood1981.jpg
Actor Clint Eastwood collaborated with Merle Haggard on the song "Bar Room Buddies", which appeared in Eastwood's film Bronco Billy .
Ronnie Milsap spent six weeks at number one in 1980, the most by any artist. Ronnie Milsap.png
Ronnie Milsap spent six weeks at number one in 1980, the most by any artist.
Waylon Jennings had two number ones, including the theme song from the TV series The Dukes of Hazzard. Waylon Jennings RCA cropped.jpg
Waylon Jennings had two number ones, including the theme song from the TV series The Dukes of Hazzard .
Issue dateTitleArtist(s)Ref.
January 5"Coward of the County" Kenny Rogers [2]
January 12 [19]
January 19 [20]
January 26"I'll Be Coming Back for More" T. G. Sheppard [21]
February 2 [22]
February 9"Leaving Louisiana in the Broad Daylight" The Oak Ridge Boys [23]
February 16"Love Me Over Again" Don Williams [24]
February 23"Years" Barbara Mandrell [25]
March 1"I Ain't Living Long Like This" Waylon Jennings [26]
March 8"My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys" Willie Nelson [27]
March 15 [28]
March 22"Why Don't You Spend the Night" Ronnie Milsap [29]
March 29"I'd Love to Lay You Down" Conway Twitty [30]
April 5"Sugar Daddy" The Bellamy Brothers [31]
April 12"Honky Tonk Blues" Charley Pride [32]
April 19"It's Like We Never Said Goodbye" Crystal Gayle [33]
April 26"A Lesson in Leavin'" Dottie West [34]
May 3"Are You on the Road to Lovin' Me Again" Debby Boone [35]
May 10"Beneath Still Waters" Emmylou Harris [36]
May 17"Gone Too Far" Eddie Rabbitt [37]
May 24"Starting Over Again" Dolly Parton [38]
May 31"My Heart" / "Silent Night (After the Fight)" [a] Ronnie Milsap [39]
June 7 [40]
June 14 [41]
June 21"One Day at a Time" Cristy Lane [42]
June 28"Trying to Love Two Women" The Oak Ridge Boys [43]
July 5"He Stopped Loving Her Today" George Jones [44]
July 12"You Win Again" Charley Pride [45]
July 19"True Love Ways" Mickey Gilley [46]
July 26"Bar Room Buddies" Merle Haggard and Clint Eastwood [47]
August 2"Dancin' Cowboys" The Bellamy Brothers [48]
August 9"Stand by Me" Mickey Gilley [49]
August 16"Tennessee River" Alabama [50]
August 23"Drivin' My Life Away" Eddie Rabbitt [51]
August 30"Cowboys and Clowns" / "Misery Loves Company" [a] Ronnie Milsap [52]
September 6"Lookin' for Love" Johnny Lee [53]
September 13 [54]
September 20 [55]
September 27"Old Flames Can't Hold a Candle to You" Dolly Parton [56]
October 4"Do You Wanna Go to Heaven" T. G. Sheppard [57]
October 11"Loving Up a Storm" Razzy Bailey [58]
October 18"I Believe in You" Don Williams [59]
October 25 [60]
November 1"Theme from The Dukes of Hazzard (Good Ol' Boys)" Waylon Jennings [61]
November 8"On the Road Again" Willie Nelson [62]
November 15"Could I Have This Dance" Anne Murray [63]
November 22"Lady" Kenny Rogers [64]
November 29"If You Ever Change Your Mind" Crystal Gayle [65]
December 6"Smoky Mountain Rain" Ronnie Milsap [66]
December 13"Why Lady Why" Alabama [67]
December 20"That's All That Matters" Mickey Gilley [68]
December 27"One in a Million" Johnny Lee [69]

a. ^ Double A-sided single

See also

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References

  1. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2005). Joel Whitburn's Top Country Songs: 1944-2005. Record Research. p. ix. ISBN   978-0-89820-165-9.
  2. 1 2 "Hot Country Songs chart for January 5, 1980". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 29, 2018. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  3. 1 2 Vinpoal, David. "Kenny Rogers Biography & History". AllMusic. Archived from the original on July 23, 2019. Retrieved September 26, 2019.
  4. ↑ Hoffmann, Frank (2006). Chronology of American Popular Music, 1900-2000. Routledge. p. 393. ISBN   978-1-135-86886-4. Archived from the original on 2018-03-14. Retrieved 2019-10-28.
  5. ↑ Campbell, Al. "20 Greatest Hits - Cristy Lane". AllMusic . Archived from the original on March 13, 2018. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
  6. ↑ Manheim, James. "Cristy Lane - Biography & History". AllMusic . Archived from the original on March 13, 2018. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
  7. ↑ "Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Clint Eastwood Remember Merle Haggard". Rolling Stone . April 6, 2016. Archived from the original on March 14, 2018. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
  8. ↑ "What to Stream: Clint Eastwood in 'Bronco Billy'". Yahoo! Entertainment . May 15, 2014. Archived from the original on September 28, 2019. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
  9. ↑ Allen, James. "Rawhide's Clint Eastwood Sings Cowboy Favorites". AllMusic . Archived from the original on March 13, 2018. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
  10. ↑ "Clint Eastwood Chart History". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 14, 2018. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
  11. ↑ "Bronco Billy - Original Soundtrack". AllMusic . Archived from the original on March 14, 2018. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
  12. ↑ Richardson, Terri (March 17, 2010). "Lee performs downtown Saturday". Marshall News Messenger . Retrieved March 14, 2018.
  13. ↑ "Johnny Lee Chart History". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 14, 2018. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
  14. ↑ Deming, Mark. "Johnny Lee - Biography & History". AllMusic . Archived from the original on March 12, 2018. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
  15. ↑ Carlin, Richard (2003). Country Music: A Biographical Dictionary. Taylor & Francis. p. 151. ISBN   978-0-415-93802-0. Archived from the original on 2018-03-14. Retrieved 2019-10-28.
  16. ↑ Guerra, Joey (January 23, 2018). "'Urban Cowboy' Tour reunites Johnny Lee and Mickey Gilley". Houston Chronicle . Archived from the original on March 14, 2018. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
  17. ↑ Roland, Tom. "Urban Cowboy – Original Soundtrack". AllMusic. Archived from the original on July 13, 2020. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  18. ↑ Ankeny, Jason. "Razzy Baily - Biography & History". AllMusic . Archived from the original on March 14, 2018. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
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  21. ↑ "Hot Country Songs chart for January 26, 1980". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 31, 2018. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  22. ↑ "Hot Country Songs chart for February 2, 1980". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 31, 2018. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
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  24. ↑ "Hot Country Songs chart for February 16, 1980". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 29, 2018. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  25. ↑ "Hot Country Songs chart for February 23, 1980". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 31, 2018. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
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  29. ↑ "Hot Country Songs chart for March 22, 1980". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 31, 2018. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  30. ↑ "Hot Country Songs chart for March 29, 1980". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 31, 2018. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  31. ↑ "Hot Country Songs chart for April 5, 1980". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 31, 2018. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  32. ↑ "Hot Country Songs chart for April 12, 1980". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 31, 2018. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  33. ↑ "Hot Country Songs chart for April 19, 1980". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 31, 2018. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  34. ↑ "Hot Country Songs chart for April 26, 1980". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 31, 2018. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  35. ↑ "Hot Country Songs chart for May 3, 1980". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 31, 2018. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  36. ↑ "Hot Country Songs chart for May 10, 1980". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 31, 2018. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  37. ↑ "Hot Country Songs chart for May 17, 1980". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 31, 2018. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  38. ↑ "Hot Country Songs chart for May 24, 1980". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 1, 2018. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  39. ↑ "Hot Country Songs chart for May 31, 1980". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 31, 2018. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  40. ↑ "Hot Country Songs chart for June 7, 1980". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 31, 2018. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  41. ↑ "Hot Country Songs chart for June 14, 1980". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 14, 2018. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  42. ↑ "Hot Country Songs chart for June 21, 1980". Billboard. 2 January 2013. Archived from the original on March 31, 2018. Retrieved March 11, 2018.
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