This article recommends four 1970s country songs as especially suited to a dive-bar or honky-tonk atmosphere. The selections centre on heartbreak, drinking and country-music heritage, illustrating the enduring appeal of emotionally direct, barroom-style country.

– ‘Whiskey River’ by Willie Nelson: a heartbreak song in which whiskey offers relief from painful memories.
– ‘You Never Even Called Me By My Name’ by David Allan Coe: written by John Prine and Steve Goodman after a drinking session in Las Vegas.
– ‘Family Tradition’ by Hank Williams Jr.: a defence of his own musical identity while acknowledging his father’s legacy.
– ‘Drinkin’ Thing’ by Gary Stewart: a Top 10 hit about drinking to avoid dwelling on personal troubles.