This week, Part 3 of Desert Island Country Albums.  The ones you would choose if you were marooned on a desert island to listen to, (ALA - Tom Hanks In Castaway).  I'll list some of mine, and I will pick one for each article from each decade starting with 1980, up until 2019, and a Wild Card album which can be from any decade. So each installment, there will be 5 to list. I'll do four parts, so 20 should about cover it. 

If your favorite doesn't make the list this week, chances are it will make future lists on this subject, so let's have some fun.  (Here's Part One) (And Part Two) if you missed them!

Desert Island Country Island Albums - Part  3

1980's – Storms Of Life - Randy Travis (1986)

Rarely does an album or artist come along that captures our attention as quickly and as well as Randy Travis and this gem of an album. This was so fresh and new at the time, it took the format by storm. This album just about single-handedly ended the pop-country phase.  It had been waning in popularity for some time, but this album was the death blow, and traditional country was now the rule.  It was his debut album and went on to sell a few million, and opened the eyes and ears of people who had been waiting for a sound like this.  His big, warm voice filled the radio and this album went on to inspire the next generation that was on the way. This was a gamble, and it really paid off.  If you've never heard this album it's worth the buy for many reasons, but also because it was pivotal in a starting an avalanche of new artists and styles that we still are riding today. Travis went on to an incredible run.

Singles  -  1982 #6   /  On The Other Hand #1  /  Diggin' Up Bones #1  /  No Place Like Home #2

Very Important Song As It Changed Our Direction

1990's - Toby Keith - How Do You Like Me Now (1999)

I like albums that have a significance and this one does. When Toby Keith recorded and released this album it was a new day.  This was his fifth album and he had moved to a new record label. The first song off this project, When Love Fades was disappointing on the charts.  But the second hit, the title track was a gigantic hit, and everything changed.  The title song, spent 5 weeks at number one, and became a more than a song, it became a catch phrase and a favorite of many for years to come.  Keith's career really was shoved into high gear with this album, and he then went on a run with a new image and a more dominant sound. He took the mantle and became the face of Country, as this album moved Keith from a star to mega star, and for the next few years he was at the top of the format.  As many great songs as he has had, How Do You Like Me Now, is the dream song every artist would love to have.

Singles  - When Love Fades #44  /  How Do You Like Me Now #1  /  Country Comes To Town #4  /  You Shouldn't Kiss Me Like That #1

 Career Changing Song And Album

2000's - Drive - Alan Jackson (2002)

Alan Jackson couldn't do a whole lot wrong at this time. He had been a hit maker for years and was at the top of the format and charts for much of it. But this album is loved and is considered maybe his best overall album. The year this was out, Jackson was nominated for ten ACM awards. This sold a ton and overall this album really resonated with fans. This became one of the most popular and best albums of the entire decade, and I think this is the album that defined him in his career. Four big songs off of it and even a song, Designated Drinker went to #44 and was not even released as a hit. Jackson had been around since 1989 of course but this album 13 years later is the crown jewel of his remarkable career. His world debut of this song below on the CMA's is one of the greatest moments in our history.  He made us all stop and take notice with this song.  We should all remember the gigantic star he was for a long time.

Singles  -  Where Were You When The World Stopped Turning #1  /  Drive #1  /  Work In Progress #3  /  That 'd Be Alright #2

 Career Moment For A Country Legend 

2010's - Speak Now - Taylor Swift (2010) 

I know Taylor Swift is a polarizing figure in our format. Of course she has left us with great success since. But we have to remember, she was ours once and was a force in popularity, sales and brought us millions of young fans. This album was a bridge for her. She had grown up a lot and there is a more mature overall sound here both in music and subject matter. This album had a bunch of hits and sold a huge amount too. In fact, this sold a over a million in its first week out, and set records at the time that she would later break with subsequent albums. Whether you like(d) her or not, her success was undeniable and her sound unique. The single Back To December on this album to me, is still the best song of her career by a mile - and was a big hit. True, she did leave us a few years later to go pop, but I have no problem with that. She did it right. She announced it, she did it, and didn't use us as a safety net. She flipped her career in a new direction without trying to fool or lie to us. I respect that -  and her insane success of her early country career to me, is culminated with this great album.

Singles   - Mine  #3  /  Back To December #6  / Mean #11  /  The Story Of Us #44 /  Sparks Fly #17 /  Ours #13 

 Incredible Song -  Vulnerable, And A New Grown Up Sound

Wild Card - Willie Nelson - Stardust (1978)

Talk about significant, this album is simply sensational.  I know it's older and very different than most country albums, but this is a work of art. This is a collection of classic standards that Willie does magnificently, and with a simplicity that is brilliant. This project was a record setter for many reasons.  It spent over a decade continuously on the all genre albums chart, (around 800 straight weeks) won Grammy's, and was named the best country album for 1978.  I think this album is mandatory owning for anyone. I feel this is one of the best albums ever recorded no matter what music you love. Classic standards, sung by an American Icon, with the help of some of the best people in the music business. Stardust is quite frankly a diamond of an album. This as much as any project propelled Willie to legendary status that he has never relinquished.  Multi platinum many times over, one of Rolling Stones Greatest Albums Ever, this should be in every collection. The singles listed below don't really tell the story of Stardust. Every single song is terrific.

Singles   -   Georgia On My Mind #1  /  Blue Skies #1  /  All Of Me #3  / September Song #15

 Grammy Winner!

A wise man named Ed Manning told me years ago that the only three things you needed to fix about anything around the house was, duct tape, vise grips and WD-40.

He may not be literally right, but he may be technically right. Read this link about the things you can actually do with WD-40. Some you know, like we most of us do, but many were news to me as a long time home owner.

WD-40 Actual Uses!

Who Knew??

I won't lie, I love pizza!  OK, I'm eating this! 

When it comes to pizza there is pizza, and then there is very good pizza.  There is more not so good than good pie, than really good pie, and that's OK. 

Thick crust, thin, medium all good.  But check this out for an incredible thin crust to make at home!

Gotta Try THIS!

BTW - Get serious, do what we did and double the recipe!  Not eating like a bird!

About Half – Of us feel good about returning to a movie theater (Cinamasafe)

Box Office Results - OLD (about 17 Million)

Space Jam 2 – Dropped to 4^th Place from #1

New This Week - Jungle Cruise  / Stillwater

Lena Waithe’s - Is producing Being Mary: The Mary Tyler Moore Documentary. The first authorized biography of MTM who died in 2017, will be released in 2022   (Story)

Check out my Song Of The Week - (Link)

I'm off for a few days, we will have a new article next Thursday.  Let's get caught up on some of my recent ones in case you missed them he first time.

Thanks for reading and listening! And check out the BONUS at the bottom!

Desert Island Albums Part 1

Desert Island Albums Part 2

1989

Best Debut Songs Part 1

Best Debut Songs Part 2

Earl Thomas Conley

Great Country Women

Truckin' Songs

BONUS - Joe, Michael And The Coliseum

We would like to invite you to our first ever WQMX Charity Golf Outing!

It's August 16th  (A Monday)  and it's at Rain Tree between Akron and Canton. Proceeds benefit WQMX Charities -  Bosom Buddies and The WQMX Tree Of Lights.  VERY AFFORDABLE and you get three meals!

Sign Up Here!

For the last 12 years I have been the Honorary Chair for the Habitat For Humanity of Summit County golf outing.  The annual Home In One Golf Outing is a big fundraiser for them and it is a great time.  This is a first class operation and outing, as it was at the incredible Gleneagles in Twinsburg.

WQMX Team This Year

Make plans next year to play and support Habitat.

Habitat - These are people worth supporting.  Very proud to have my name next to theirs.

Gleneagles - GREAT Course!  Play there!

Country has a long history of songs that are so incredibly unique and so off the beaten path, they cut through and are instant smashes.  Enter Fancy Like by Walker Hayes, which is an instant favorite on WQMX.  It is reminiscent of really fun songs from years past, going back decades.

Also, in Country, many times these songs go on to be big chart hits, and drum up a ton of requests and calls. This song right how is quite popular, and has a ridiculous amount of internet hits

Very Fun New Song - And YOU Love It!

Some others on that list  (But there are many more)

Elvira - Oak Ridge Boys

Bobby Sue - Oak Ridge Boys

Red Solo Cup - Toby Keith

I Wanna Talk About Me - Toby Keith

Rednecker - Hardy

Achy Breaky Heart - Billy Ray Cyrus

Gonna Hire A Wino To Decorate Our Home - David Frizzell

She Got The Goldmine, I Got The Shaft - Jerry Reed

About Half – Of us feel good about returning to a movie theater (Cinamasafe)

Box Office Results - Space Jam 2 (32 MILLION)   Bad reviews -  but kids like it!

New This Week - Joe Bell / Old / Snake Eyes

Next Week -  Stillwater  (Matt Damon) 

Black Widow – Has the biggest box office loss ever- for Disney down 67% in a week!  (Story)

HBO Max - Is making a Batgirl movie – casting is underway  (Story)

Antonio Bandaras - Has Joined the cast of Indiana Jones 5  (Story)

Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies - Prequel series officially ordered by Paramount+.  (Story)

This Weekend – Check out my Country Music Memory Lane (link)

Check out my Song Of The Week - (Link)

New Song / New Artist

Smart move - Debut song with good energy, direct and to the point, and nice and tidy at about 2:38.  I always think that's a good move for debut songs. Leave us wanting more.  This is pretty fun!

Walker Country  - Bits And Pieces