The All Time Greatest Country Songs

~ Release by Various Artists (see all versions of this release, 1 available)

Tracklist

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▼CD 1
#TitleArtistRatingLength
1How Do I Live
recording of:
How Do I Live
lyricist and composer:
Diane Warren (US songwriter)
publisher:
Realsongs, ヤマハミュージックエンタテインメントホールディングス (holding company - do not use as release label) and ユニバーサル・ミュージック・パブリッシング Synch事業部
Trisha Yearwood4:00
2Ruby Don’t Take Your Love to Town
cover recording of:
Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love to Town
lyricist and composer:
Mel Tillis
publisher:
Cedarwood Publishing Company, Inc., Universal Cedarwood Publishing and Universal Music Publishing International Ltd.
Kenny Rogers22:58
3Everybody’s Talkin’
cover recording of:
Everybody’s Talkin’
lyricist and composer:
Fred Neil
publisher:
Carlin Music Corporation and Third Palm Music
Nilsson2:45
4Behind Closed Doors
engineer:
Lou Bradley (American producer, engineer, also songwriter)
background vocals:
The Nashville Edition
lead vocals:
Charlie Rich
recording of:
Behind Closed Doors
lyricist and composer:
Kenny O’Dell
Charlie Rich52:56
5Angel of the Morning
recording engineer:
Joe Chiccarelli
associate producer:
Otha Young
producer:
Richard Landis
mixer:
Michael Verdick
arranger:
Charles Calello
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Capitol Records, Inc. (not for release label use; US company behind the “Capitol Records” imprint) (in 1981)
mixed at:
Location Recorders, Inc. in New York, New York, United States
cover recording of:
Angel of the Morning (on 1980-09-04)
lyricist and composer:
Chip Taylor (US singer/songwriter)
publisher:
April Music (publisher), EMI Blackwood (1989-07-24–present), EMI Songs Ltd. and Unichappell Music
Juice Newton4.354:10
6Lay Lady Lay
producer:
Bob Johnston (American record producer)
guitar and lead vocals:
Bob Dylan (on 1969-02-14)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
CBS, Inc. (US broadcasting company; file no releases here!) (in 1969)
recording of:
Lay, Lady, Lay (on 1969-02-14)
additional lyricist:
Bob Dylan (in 1976)
lyricist and composer:
Bob Dylan (from 1968 until 1969)
publisher:
Warner Brothers Music Ltd. (UK subsidiary, so named between 1970/01/23–1971/04/26 and 1972/04/25–1988/08/23) and Big Sky Music (publisher for Bob Dylan) (from 1969 to present)
Bob Dylan43:17
7I Honestly Love You
Olivia Newton‐John4:05
8Crazy
producer:
Owen Bradley
vocals:
Patsy Cline
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
MCA Records, Inc. (do not use as a release label! a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.) (in 1961)
recording of:
Crazy (Willie Nelson song)
lyricist and composer:
Willie Nelson
publisher:
Acuff-Rose Music Limited (UK), Sony/ATV Music Publishing (UK) Ltd., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC (1995–2020) and Sony/ATV Tree Publishing
Patsy Cline2:44
9He’ll Have to Go
recording of:
He’ll Have to Go (in 1959)
writer:
Audrey Allison and Joe Allison
publisher:
Campbell Connelly & Co. Ltd. and Central Songs
Jim Reeves2:19
10Blue Bayou
recording engineer and mixer:
Val Garay
assistant engineer:
Mark Howlett
producer:
Peter Asher
acoustic guitar:
Waddy Wachtel (from 1977-05-23 until 1977-07-22)
bass guitar [bass] and mandolin:
Kenny Edwards (Bryndle/Stone Poneys/Linda Ronstadt) (from 1977-05-23 until 1977-07-22)
cowbell, drums (drum set) and electronic drum set [syn-drums]:
Rick Marotta (US drummer/percussionist) (from 1977-05-23 until 1977-07-22)
electric piano:
Don Grolnick (from 1977-05-23 until 1977-07-22)
marimba:
Steve Forman (US percussionist) (from 1977-05-23 until 1977-07-22)
steel guitar:
Dan Dugmore (from 1977-05-23 until 1977-07-22)
background vocals:
Kenny Edwards (Bryndle/Stone Poneys/Linda Ronstadt) (from 1977-05-23 until 1977-07-22) and Don Henley (from 1977-05-23 until 1977-07-22)
lead vocals:
Linda Ronstadt (from 1977-05-23 until 1977-07-22)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Asylum Records (Warner Music subsidiary) (in 1977), WEA International Inc. (not for release label use! copyrights holder, distributor for the world outside of the US) (in 1978) and Elektra/Asylum Records (not for release label use! copyrights holder, distributor within the US) (in 2017)
recorded at:
Sound Factory, LA (1969–1980) in Los Angeles, California, United States (from 1977-05-23 until 1977-07-22)
cover recording of:
Blue Bayou (from 1977-05-23 until 1977-07-22)
lyricist:
Joe Melson (in 1963) and Roy Orbison (in 1963)
composer:
Joe Melson and Roy Orbison
publisher:
Acuff-Rose Publications, Inc. (BMI) (in 1961)
Linda Ronstadt4.253:54
11Silver Threads and Golden Needles
vocals:
Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton and Tammy Wynette
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Sony Music Entertainment (not for release label use! company owned by Sony Corporation of America since Oct 1, 2008; operates worldwide except in JP) (in 1993)
cover recording of:
Silver Threads and Golden Needles
writer:
Dick Reynolds (country songwriter) and Jack Rhodes
publisher:
Central Songs, Fort Knox Music Co, Fort Knox Music Inc. and Trio Music Co., Inc.
Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn & Tammy Wynette42:25
12I Will Survive
cover recording of:
I Will Survive
writer:
Dino Fekaris and Freddie Perren
publisher:
ATV Music, Perren‐Vibes Music, Inc., PolyGram International Publishing, Inc. (renamed Universal PolyGram International Publishing, Inc. circa 1998), Universal Music Publishing (use ONLY if no country-specific information is available), Universal Music Publishing Ltd. (UK subsidiary of Universal Music Publishing Group), Universal Music Publishing Pty Ltd. (AU subsidiary of Universal Music Publishing Group) and Universal PolyGram International Publishing, Inc. (existed only since ca. 1998)
music quoted on:
After LIKE (Korean version)
music quoted on:
Supreme
Billie Jo Spears3:19
13Bye Bye Love
recorded in:
Nashville, Tennessee, United States (in 1957)
bass:
Floyd D. 'Lightnin'' Chance (in 1957)
drums (drum set):
Murrey Harman (in 1957)
electric guitar:
Chet Atkins (in 1957)
guitar:
Don Everly (in 1957), Phil Everly (in 1957) and Hank Garland (in 1957)
piano:
Floyd Cramer (in 1957)
vocals:
Don Everly (in 1957) and Phil Everly (in 1957)
recording of:
Bye Bye Love (in 1957)
writer:
Boudleaux Bryant and Felice Bryant
publisher:
House of Bryant Publications (publisher; do NOT use as release label), Sony ATV Acuff Rose Ltd., Sony/ATV Music Publishing (UK) Ltd. and Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC (1995–2020)
The Everly Brothers42:20
14Cathy’s Clown
Reba McEntire3:03
15Language of Love
recording of:
Language of Love
lyricist and composer:
John D. Loudermilk
John D. Loudermilk1:46
16Honey, I’m Home
additional programming:
Bjorn Thornsrud
assistant programming:
Jay Alvarez and James Somberg
programming and editor:
Olle Romo
producer:
Robert John “Mutt” Lange
mixer:
Mike Shipley
fiddle:
Glen Duncan (bluegrass multi-instrument musician), Rob Hajacos, Aubrey Haynie and Joe Spivey
arranger:
Robert John “Mutt” Lange
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Mercury Records (or just “Mercury.” A UMG imprint, do not use it for ©/℗ credits) and Mercury Records (The Holding. Use for ©/℗ credits only!) (in 2022)
recording of:
Honey, I’m Home
writer:
Robert John “Mutt” Lange and Shania Twain
publisher:
Imagem London Ltd.
Shania Twain53:35
17Me and Bobby McGee
recording of:
Me and Bobby McGee
lyricist and composer:
Fred Foster and Kris Kristofferson
publisher:
Combine Music Corp.
Kris Kristofferson4:06
18Take Me Home, Country Roads
recording engineer:
Ray Hall (engineer)
assistant producer:
Jean Kaplow
producer:
Milt Okun
acoustic guitar [6-string guitar] and lead vocals:
John Denver
banjo and pedal steel guitar:
Eric Weissberg
double bass:
Dick Kniss
guitar:
Bill Danoff and Michael Taylor (Guitarist & former member of the John Denver Band)
membranophone:
Gary Chester (studio drummer and educator)
piano:
Frank Owens (American pianist)
background vocals:
Bill Danoff, Taffy Nivert and Starland Vocal Band
vocals:
John Denver
recording of:
Take Me Home, Country Roads (on 1971-02-04)
writer:
Bill Danoff, John Denver and Taffy Nivert
publisher:
BMG Ruby Songs, Dino Park Publishing, JD Legacy Publishing, My Pop’s Songs, Reservoir Media Music, ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング A事業部, フジパシフィックミュージック BMG事業部 and Cherry Lane Music Publishing Company Inc. (in 1971)
John Denver4.43:13
19Rose Garden
cover recording of:
Rose Garden (in 1970)
lyricist and composer:
Joe South
publisher:
BMG Music Publishing Ltd. and Sony/ATV Songs LLC
Lynn Anderson4.52:56
20By the Time I Get to Phoenix
part of:
Rolling Stone Magazine’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 450)
cover recording of:
By the Time I Get to Phoenix (on 1967-08-17)
lyricist and composer:
Jimmy Webb (US songwriter, composer, producer, pianist & singer)
publisher:
Charles Koppelman Music, Jonathan Three Music Co. and Martin Bandier Music
Glen Campbell32:40
21Crying
producer:
Fred Foster (on 1961-06-26)
double bass [bass]:
Bob Moore (U.S. bassist and bandleader) (on 1961-06-26)
drums (drum set) [drums]:
Buddy Harman (on 1961-06-26)
guitar:
Boudleaux Bryant (on 1961-06-26), Harold Bradley (on 1961-06-26) and Scotty Moore (American guitarist and recording engineer) (on 1961-06-26)
piano:
Floyd Cramer (on 1961-06-26)
vocals:
Roy Orbison
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Monument Record Corp. (not for release label use!) (in 1961)
part of:
Rolling Stone Magazine’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 69) and The Rolling Stone Magazine’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 461)
recording of:
Crying (on 1961-06-26)
lyricist:
Joe Melson (in 1961) and Roy Orbison (in 1961)
composer:
Joe Melson and Roy Orbison
publisher:
Acuff-Rose Publications, Inc. (BMI) (on 1961-08-16)
part of:
50/50
Roy Orbison4.652:47
22Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Capitol Nashville (in 1977)
cover recording of:
Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue
lyricist and composer:
Richard Leigh (American country music songwriter and singer)
publisher:
EMI U Catalog Inc. (publisher; do NOT use as release label) and EMI United Partnership Ltd.
Crystal Gayle4.42:33
23Always on My Mind
producer:
Chips Moman
bass:
Mike Leech (on 1981-10-11)
drums (drum set):
Gene Chrisman (on 1981-10-11)
guitar:
Johnny Christopher (Guitarist, lyricist, composer, singer, session musician) (on 1981-10-11), Willie Nelson (on 1981-10-11) and Reggie Young (guitarist and songwriter) (on 1981-10-11)
harmonica:
Mickey Raphael (on 1981-10-11)
keyboard:
Bobby Woods (American pianist, keyboard player and songwriter) (on 1981-10-11) and Bobby Emmons (on 1981-10-11)
vocals:
Willie Nelson (on 1981-10-11)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Sony Music Entertainment Inc. (company owned by Sony Corporation of America from 1991–2004, operated worldwide except in JP; normally not a release label) (in 1982, in 2003)
recorded at:
Moman's Recording Studio in Nashville, Tennessee, United States (on 1981-10-11)
live cover recording of:
Always on My Mind (on 1981-10-11)
writer:
Johnny Christopher (Guitarist, lyricist, composer, singer, session musician), Mark James (Francis Rodney Zambon, composer of “Suspicious Minds”) and Wayne Carson Thompson
publisher:
Bike Music, Budde Songs Inc., Chelsea Music Publishing Co., Ltd., Copyright Control (not for release label use! this is only for copyrights and publishing relationships), EMI Music Publishing (Hong Kong) Ltd., Lovolar Music, Peermusic (S.E. Asia) Ltd., Rose Bridge Music, Screen Gems, Screen Gems–EMI Music Ltd., Screen Gems–EMI Music, Inc. (USA, affiliated with BMI) and Sebanine Music
Willie Nelson4.753:30
▼CD 2
#TitleArtistRatingLength
1Islands in the Stream
vocals:
Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers (US country singer, songwriter, actor, record producer & entrepreneur)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Sony Music Entertainment (not for release label use! company owned by Sony Corporation of America since Oct 1, 2008; operates worldwide except in JP) (in 1983)
recording of:
Islands in the Stream
writer:
Barry Gibb, Maurice Gibb and Robin Gibb
publisher:
BMG Music, Careers Music, Inc., Careers‐BMG Music Publishing, Inc., Crompton Songs, Gibb Brothers Music, Screen Gems–EMI Music, Summerhill Songs, Universal Music Publishing International MGB Ltd., シンコーミュージック・エンタテイメント and ユニバーサル・ミュージック・パブリッシング Synch事業部
Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton4.354:12
2Jolene
engineer:
Tom Pick
producer:
Bob Ferguson
banjo:
Bobby Thompson (guitar & banjo player) (on 1972-05-03) and Buck Trent (on 1972-05-03)
bass:
Bobby Dyson (on 1972-05-03)
drums (drum set):
Kenny Malone (session drummer/percussion) (on 1972-05-03)
electric guitar:
Jimmy Colvard (American session guitarist) (on 1972-05-03)
fiddle:
Johnny Gimble (on 1972-05-03) and Mack Magaha (Bluegrass Fiddler) (on 1972-05-03)
guitar:
Dolly Parton (on 1972-05-03)
guitar [rhythm guitar]:
Dave Kirby (US country singer/songwriter) (on 1972-05-03)
piano:
Hargus "Pig" Robbins (on 1972-05-03)
steel guitar:
Stu Basore (on 1972-05-03)
background vocals:
Joe Babcock (on 1972-05-03), Dolores Edgin (on 1972-05-03), June Page (on 1972-05-03) and Hurshel Wiginton (on 1972-05-03)
vocals:
Dolly Parton (on 1972-05-03)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
BMG Entertainment (in 1973) and Sony Music Entertainment (not for release label use! company owned by Sony Corporation of America since Oct 1, 2008; operates worldwide except in JP) (in 1973)
recorded at:
RCA Studio B (Nashville, TN) in Nashville, Tennessee, United States (on 1972-05-03)
part of:
Helsingin Sanomat: 100 maailman parasta laulua (2022-1-15) (number: 28), The Rolling Stone Magazine’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 63) and Rolling Stone Magazine’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 217)
recording of:
Jolene (on 1972-05-03)
lyricist and composer:
Dolly Parton
publisher:
Carlin Music Corporation, Owepar Publishing Inc. and Velvet Apple Music
Dolly Parton4.252:41
3Down to My Last Teardrop
recording of:
Down to My Last Teardrop
writer:
Paul Davis (American singer)
Tanya Tucker3:29
4Dance the Night Away
The Mavericks4:23
5Let Me Into Your Heart
Mary Chapin Carpenter2:54
6Love Can Build a Bridge
recording of:
Love Can Build a Bridge
writer:
John Barlow Jarvis, Naomi Judd and Paul Overstreet
publisher:
Leosong (publisher) and Zomba Music Publishers Ltd. (UK subsidiary of Zomba Music Publishing)
The Judds3:56
7A Good Year for the Roses
producer:
Billy Sherrill (US songwriter/producer/arranger)
lead vocals:
Elvis Costello
cover recording of:
A Good Year for the Roses
lyricist and composer:
Jerry Chesnut
Elvis Costello & The Attractions43:08
8I’m Just a Country Boy
cover recording of:
I’m Just a Country Boy
writer:
Marshall Barer and Fred Brooks
Don Williams3:04
9From a Distance
vocals:
Nanci Griffith
recording of:
From a Distance
lyricist and composer:
Julie Gold (in 1985)
publisher:
Grow Your Own Music, Winged Wheel, ビクターミュージックアーツ 第四事業部, ヤマハミュージックEH(CM) and ユニバーサル・ミュージック・パブリッシング Synch事業部
Nanci Griffith44:12
10Detroit City
producer:
Chet Atkins
cover recording of:
Detroit City (on 1963-04-18)
writer:
Danny Dill and Mel Tillis
Bobby Bare52:50
11Ode to Billy Joe
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Capitol Records Nashville (in 1967)
part of:
The Rolling Stone Magazine’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 191) and Rolling Stone Magazine’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 412)
recording of:
Ode to Billie Joe
lyricist and composer:
Bobbie Gentry
publisher:
Larry Shayne Music, Inc.
Bobbie Gentry54:14
12If I Said You Had a Beautiful Body (Would You Hold It Against Me)
engineer:
Jim Crosby (engineer) (in 1978) and Michael Lloyd (US guitarist/singer producer) (in 1978)
producer:
Michael Lloyd (US guitarist/singer producer) (in 1978)
acoustic guitar and lead vocals:
David Bellamy (Bellamy Brothers) (in 1978) and Howard Bellamy (Bellamy Brothers) (in 1978)
bass guitar:
Jesse Chambers (in 1978)
drums (drum set):
Rodney Price (drummer) (in 1978)
electric guitar:
Carl Chambers (in 1978)
keyboard:
Joe LaFrandre (in 1978)
steel guitar:
Danny Jones (US steel guitarist) (in 1978)
recording of:
If I Said You Had a Beautiful Body Would You Hold It Against Me (in 1978)
lyricist and composer:
David Bellamy (Bellamy Brothers)
The Bellamy Brothers23:14
13I Will Always Love You
cover recording of:
I Will Always Love You
writer:
Barry Gibb and Maurice Gibb
Kenny Rogers3:00
14Stand by Your Man
producer:
Billy Sherrill (US songwriter/producer/arranger)
lead vocals:
Tammy Wynette
part of:
The Rolling Stone Magazine’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 473)
recording of:
Stand by Your Man (in 1968)
writer:
Billy Sherrill (US songwriter/producer/arranger) and Tammy Wynette
publisher:
Al Gallico Music Corp., EMI Al Gallico Music Corp., EMI Blackwood Music Inc. (1989-07-24–present) and EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS-affiliated)
Tammy Wynette42:40
15Kentucky Woman
engineer:
Brooks Arthur and Phil Ramone
producer:
Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich
recording of:
Kentucky Woman (in 1967-09)
lyricist:
Neil Diamond
composer:
Neil Diamond (in 1967)
Neil Diamond2:26
16King of the Road
recording of:
King of the Road
lyricist:
Roger Miller (US singer/songwriter/actor, “King of the Road”)
composer:
Roger Miller (US singer/songwriter/actor, “King of the Road”) (in 1964)
publisher:
Burlington Music Co., Ltd.
Roger Miller2:25
17Jackson
recorded in:
Nashville, Tennessee, United States (on 1967-01-11)
producer:
Frank Jones (producer for Columbia, often with Don Law; also singer/songwiter) and Don Law
instruments:
Johnny Cash (country music legend)
vocals:
June Carter Cash (American Country singer and songwriter) and Johnny Cash (country music legend)
performer:
June Carter Cash (American Country singer and songwriter)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Sony Music Entertainment Inc. (company owned by Sony Corporation of America from 1991–2004, operated worldwide except in JP; normally not a release label) (in 1967)
live cover recording of:
Jackson (on 1967-01-11)
lyricist and composer:
Jerry Leiber and Billy Edd Wheeler
publisher:
Sony/ATV Songs LLC
Johnny Cash & June Carter Cash42:46
18Riders in the Sky
producer:
Brian Ahern
banjo [banjo-lute] and mandocello:
Bob Johnson (American banjo player from Chattanooga, Tennessee) (from 1979-02 until 1979-04)
drums (drum set):
W.S. Holland (from 1979-02 until 1979-04)
electric bass guitar:
Marshall Grant (from 1979-02 until 1979-04)
electric guitar:
Bob Wootton (from 1979-02 until 1979-04)
fiddle:
Ricky Skaggs (from 1979-02 until 1979-04)
French horn:
Jack Hale (trombone) (from 1979-02 until 1979-04) and Bob Lewin (from 1979-02 until 1979-04)
guitar:
Johnny Cash (country music legend) (from 1979-02 until 1979-04), Jack Clement (from 1979-02 until 1979-04), Jerry Hensley (from 1979-02 until 1979-04) and Jack Routh (from 1979-02 until 1979-04)
hammered dulcimer:
Alisa Jones (US hammered dulcimer player) (from 1979-02 until 1979-04)
percussion:
Mark Morris (drummer & percussionist) (from 1979-02 until 1979-04)
piano:
Earl Poole Ball (US country pianist) (from 1979-02 until 1979-04)
trumpet:
Jack Hale (trombone) (from 1979-02 until 1979-04), Wayne Jackson (trumpet/trombone (Memphis Horns/Mar-Keys)) (from 1979-02 until 1979-04) and Bob Lewin (from 1979-02 until 1979-04)
vocals:
The Carter Family (later generations of the family after 1943) (from 1979-02 until 1979-04), Johnny Cash (country music legend) (from 1979-02 until 1979-04) and Jan Howard (from 1979-02 until 1979-04)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Sony Music Entertainment Inc. (company owned by Sony Corporation of America from 1991–2004, operated worldwide except in JP; normally not a release label) (in 1979)
cover recording of:
(Ghost) Riders in the Sky: A Cowboy Legend (from 1979-02 until 1979-04)
lyricist and composer:
Stan Jones (US songwriter and actor "(Ghost) Riders in the Sky") (on 1948-06-05)
publisher:
Revega Music and WB Music Corp. (1929–2019)
Johnny Cash4.353:47
19Polk Salad Annie
recording of:
Polk Salad Annie
lyricist and composer:
Tony Joe White
publisher:
Combine Music Corp. and EMI Blackwood Music Inc. (1989-07-24–present)
Tony Joe White3:44
20Achy Breaky Heart
producer:
Jim Cotton and Joe Scaife
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Mercury Records (or just “Mercury.” A UMG imprint, do not use it for ©/℗ credits) (in 2011)
cover recording of:
Achy Breaky Heart
lyricist and composer:
Donald L. Tress
Billy Ray Cyrus2.653:25
21The Devil Went Down to Georgia
The Charlie Daniels Band3:36
22Dueling Banjos
Eric Weissberg & Steve Mandell3:16