This piece revisits four country hits from 1981 that became crossover staples on both country and pop charts, arguing they remain instantly recognisable to anyone who grew up in the 1980s. It highlights tracks by Alabama, Ronnie Milsap, Barbara Mandrell and The Oak Ridge Boys, noting the songwriters behind each and their chart success at the time.

– "Love In The First Degree" by Alabama, from Feels So Right, written by Tim DuBois and Jim Hurt, reached the Top 5 on the pop chart.
– "I Wouldn't Have Missed It For The World" by Ronnie Milsap, from There's No Gettin' Over Me, written by Kye Fleming, Dennis Morgan and Charles Quillen, hit No. 1 and crossed over to pop.
– "I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool" by Barbara Mandrell, written by Fleming and Morgan, an autobiographical song about her early love of country music.
– "(I'm Settin') Fancy Free" by The Oak Ridge Boys, from Fancy Free, written by Jimbeau Hinson and Roy August, one of the band's many No. 1 hits.