American Songwriter has revisited three country songs from the 1980s that were commercially successful at the time but have since faded from classic country radio rotation. The feature highlights tracks that combined strong chart performance with production or songwriting qualities the author feels still hold up, arguing they deserve renewed attention from modern listeners.

Each song reached the top of the US country charts on release and involved notable Nashville songwriters, including Rodney Crowell, who co-wrote two of the three. One track also earned its performer, Rosanne Cash, her first Grammy Award and crossed over onto the US Adult Contemporary chart.

– "Give Me Wings" by Michael Johnson (1986) — hit No. 1 on Hot Country Songs; written by Kye Fleming and Don Schlitz
– "Somewhere Tonight" by Highway 101 (1987) — spent two weeks at No. 1 on Hot Country Songs; written by Rodney Crowell and Harlan Howard
– "I Don't Know Why You Don't Want Me" by Rosanne Cash (1985) — reached No. 1 in the US and Canada, No. 16 on Adult Contemporary, and won Cash her first Grammy