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4 of the Best Country Songs Turning 40 This Year
This article marks the 40th anniversary of four notable country songs released in 1986, a period when the genre's mainstream shifted from the outlaw sound of the 1970s towards a more traditional, "neo-traditionalist" style favouring acoustic instruments and close vocal harmonies. The piece highlights how this stylistic shift, reminiscent of 1940s and 50s country and folk music, shaped some of the era's most enduring hits and helped define several artists' careers.
The four songs featured are "Mama's Never Seen Those Eyes" by The Forester Sisters, a No. 1 single about young love and parental disapproval; "Diggin' Up Bones" by Randy Travis, a heartbreak anthem carried by his distinctive baritone; "Cajun Moon" by Ricky Skaggs, an upbeat, imagery-rich love song; and "Rockin' With The Rhythm Of The Rain" by The Judds, a chart-topping single from their hit album Rockin' With The Rhythm that spent three months on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
In short
- Article celebrates four classic country songs turning 40 this year
- Songs by The Forester Sisters, Randy Travis, Ricky Skaggs and The Judds featured
- All reflect 1980s neo-traditionalist shift towards acoustic, harmony-driven country music
Explained simply
In the 1980s, country music’s mainstream moved from the harder-edged outlaw sound popular in the previous decade towards a style that drew on older country and folk traditions. Often called neo-traditionalist country, it made greater use of acoustic instruments and close vocal harmonies.
The four songs in this story came out in 1986 and were recorded by artists who helped bring that sound to a wide audience: The Forester Sisters, Randy Travis, Ricky Skaggs and The Judds. Their songs range from young love and heartbreak to upbeat romance, and show how the style shaped country hits and the artists’ careers.