Top 30 90s Country Countdown: 30-21

     #30:  "The Devil Comes Back to Georgia" by Charlie Daniels and Mark O'Connor (feat. Johnny Cash, Marty Stuart, and Travis Tritt) 

The sequel to the celebrated hit from 1979.  The highlight for me would have to be Travis, who was very convincing in his role as the menacing and maniacal Devil.  Johnny Cash also nailed his role as the narrator, and made it seem like he had spent over 50 years preaching behind a pulpit.

   

  #29:  "Nobody Knows" by Kevin Sharp

Kevin made his debut in late 1996 with this tearjerker, which is also a cover of the Tony Rich debut single.  It stayed on top of the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts for four weeks and was his only #1.  Kevin is no longer with us, having passed away last year due to digestive issues and complications from past stomach surgeries.

     

#28:  "My Heart Has a History" by Paul Brandt

I'm curious as to how many of you would expect "I Do" to make the cut if any 90s hit by Brandt was going to make the countdown.  I opted for his 1996 debut single that reached #5 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts and is referred to by some as a "warning with a wink."  Likewise for "I Do," this one of the only songs that many country fans in the US recognize him for, but as previously mentioned, he's still going strong in his home country of Canada.  Both this song and "I Do" were re-recorded for his 2011 album, Give It Away.

     

#27:  "Summer's Comin'" by Clint Black

  
I'm ready for fall to start comin.  This summer has just been too brutal...oh yeah, about the song.  It was the third single from his 1994 album, One Emotion, and has a classic music video.  Aren't Jay Leno and Charlie Chase oh so hot?

    

 #26:  "That Ain't My Truck" by Rhett Akins

  
Once upon a time, before Thomas Rhett entered the scene, his dad was a hit throughout the mid-90s, and this was the song he became most famous for.  It was the third single from his debut album, A Thousand Memories, and peaked at #3 on the U.S Billboard Hot Country Songs charts.  An acoustic version was recorded for his 2002 release, Friday Night In Dixie.  Since then, Rhett Akins has been behind numerous hits from the past few years, like "If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away" by Justin Moore, and "Honey Bee" by Blake Shelton.

  
     

     #25:  "Drink, Swear, Steal, and Lie" by Michael Peterson

I've always thought this one had a gorgeous music video to it.  It was released in 1997 as his "debut single," but he's actually been in the business a lot longer.  His archive at  http://www.michaelpetersononline.com/music/home_main.php?pg=jukebox   has a good amount of older material, dating back as far as 1983.

  
     

    

 #24:  "Commitment" by LeAnn Rimes

LeAnn was part of a wave of teenage females who came onto the scene throughout the late 90s, making her debut with "Blue" in 1996.  This slightly underrated number is the leadoff
single from her third album from 1998, Sittin' on Top of the World.

     

#23:  "Running Out of Reasons to Run" by Rick Trevino

Back when I couldn't stop watching GAC, this song introduced me to Trevino's greatness.  It's from his third English album, Learning as You Go, and was his only #1 hit.  It also was released near the end of the run he maintained throughout the mid-90s.  

  

      

#22:  "Money in the Bank" by John Anderson

  
This is the leadoff single from my favorite album of his, 1993's Solid Ground, and my all-time favorite song by him.  I never get enough of him singing "honey your love's better than money in the bayayayayank."  Even still, it should not have been his last #1.  He had more to offer, including "I Wish I Could've Been There," "I've Got It Made," and "I Fell in the Water."

 

#21:  "She's Got It All" by Kenny Chesney

Once upon a time, Kenny was pretty underrated.  If you haven't already, you should check out his first few albums.  His style was a lot different than what we've come to know him for.  He was a big favorite of mine, and this song was the reason.  It was his first #1 and is from his fourth album, 1997's I Will Stand.

Next week, we shall see what 20-11 have to offer.  We still have a lot of big names that have yet to be covered!  Do any of you remember old faces like David Kersh and James Bonamy? Will Billy Ray Cyrus and his achy breaky heart make the cut?  What about David Ball and his thinkin problem?  Stay tuned to find out!