Country Bands In The 80s
On The Acoustic

Bad Timing is track from the 1994 album Five Days In July by Blue Rodeo. This song is the anthem song for Blue Rodeo fans.

The song reached the top 20 in Canada and won a Juno Award in 1994 for the band. The song has been in several films and TV shows and has been covered by Barenaked Ladies and Sarah McLachlan.

Trashy Women was first recorded by Jerry Jeff Walker in 1989 but he failed to break into the top 40 with his version. Four years later in 1993, Confederate Railroad scored a #10 on the Billboard Country charts.

The song is from their debut album "Confederate Railroad".

The rhythm you'll need here is a down up down up down up down up in standard tuning. The chords are A, E and D with some lead required.

Norma Jean Riley was not the original title for this song. It was to be called Pretty Little Lady, but a female name won out. It was one of 5 singles from their 1992 album "Diamond Rio"

The song peaked at #2 in the US and #3 in Canada.

This one in standard tuning and a simple root down root up down up and repeat rhythm pattern. There is some lead work while playing the chords G, D, C, A#, F, C and C7.

Honky Tonk Heart this song was co-written by Russel Smith from The Amazing Rhythm Aces and was recorded by Highway 101 for their 1989 album "Highway 101".

The song peaked at #6 on the US country charts.

This one in standard tuning with some lead to learn while playing the chords C, G, F and A#. For rhythm I'm playing a down up down up with a walking bass combo.

Amy's Back In Austin was a single release back in 1994 from the album "Kick A Little"

The song reached #4 in the US and #6 in Canada on the country charts. The song also picked a Grammy nomination for best song by a group.

Play this one in standard tuning with a root up down up and repeat rhythm pattern. There is some lead in this lesson using the chords G, C, D, Am, Em and D7.

My Love is a song by the American country band Little Texas. It was written by band members Brady Seals, Porter Howell, and Tommy Barnes. Released in January 1994, it was the third single from their album "Big Time" and became their only Number One hit on the Billboard country charts.

Brady Seals, the band's keyboardist, sang the lead vocals. The song first appeared at number 72 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart on January 15, 1994. It also became popular in Brazil because it was featured in the soundtrack of the famous soap opera "A Viagem" meaning (The Journey).

You and Forever and Me is a song by the American country band Little Texas. It was released in June 1992 as the third single from their debut album, "First Time for Everything." The song was written by lead guitarist Porter Howell and Stewart Harris.

It reached number 5 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and number 18 on the Canadian RPM country chart.

This one only has a few riffs in it in standard tuning with a down down up down up down up and repeat rhythm pattern. The chords you'll need are G, Cmaj7, G6, Am7, Dsus, D, E m6 and A7.

Feed Jake was the bands highest ranking single when it came out in 1991 and reached #15 on Billboards US country chart.

The track is on their debut album "Pirates Of The Mississippi".

I play this with Drop D Tuning with a capo on the 2nd fre. The rhythm pattern for this one is 1-2-3 up down up down up  where 1-2-3 are arpeggio notes. No picking required as you play through the chords D, G, A and Bm.

Dumas Walker reached the #15 spot on the country charts for The Kentucky Headhunters in the US when it was released as a single back in 1990.

The track can be found on their album Pickin On Nashville.

Walk Softly On This Heart Of Mine was the first single from the bands 1989 album "Pickin On Nashville".

The song made it to #25 on the US country chart.

Here is another three chord song using A, D and E in standard tuning. You'll pick a little in this one while playing a down down down up down up and repeat rhythm pattern.

Baby Likes To Rock It was released back in 1994 by The Tractors and was a #11 hit in the US and a #8 in Canada.

The song can be found on the album "The Tractors".

I use Drop D Tuning here with a capo on the 3rd fret. The chords are D, G, A7 and an A with some lead work. Play a down up down up and repeat rhythm pattern with a rock and roll vibe.