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On This Day in 1985, Randy Travis Released His Debut Single, a Commercial Disappointment That Became a No. 1 Hit
On 29 July 1985, Randy Travis released his debut single "On the Other Hand," which initially flopped, failing to crack the country chart's top 40. Warner Bros. re-released it in April 1986, and this time it shot to number one, launching the career of an artist who had struggled for nearly a decade to break into country music.
Before signing with Warner Bros. in early 1985, Travis had recorded under his real name, Randy Traywick, with little success, including a No. 91 peak in 1978. His debut single first peaked at just No. 67, and his label only reissued it after his second single, "1982," reached No. 6. The re-released version topped the chart by late July 1986, becoming the first of 16 chart-topping singles for Travis, and won Song of the Year at both the CMA and ACM Awards for songwriters Don Schlitz and Paul Overstreet, with Travis also winning Single of the Year at the ACM Awards.
In short
- Randy Travis's 1985 debut single initially flopped, peaking at just No. 67.
- Warner Bros. re-released it in 1986; it became his first No. 1 hit.
- It won Song of the Year at the 1986 CMA and ACM Awards.
Explained simply
Randy Travis is an American country music artist who spent nearly a decade trying to break through in the industry. Before his eventual success, he recorded under his real name, Randy Traywick, with only modest chart results and had failed to achieve a significant commercial breakthrough.
In July 1985, Travis released his debut single "On the Other Hand" through Warner Bros., but the song initially disappointed, failing to reach the top 40 of the country music chart. The label re-released it nine months later in April 1986, and this time the song climbed to number one, finally providing the breakthrough Travis had long sought.
The success of "On the Other Hand" proved transformative for Travis's career trajectory. The single went on to win major awards and established him as a major force in country music, leading to 16 subsequent number-one hits over his career.