Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain 12/14/19

I spent a good portion of my radio career at country stations, and I can tell you without hesitation that some of the "Greatest Songs of the '70s" came from that genre.

In 1975, after years of songwriting success for people like Patsy Cline and Faron Young, (but very few hits of his own), Willie Nelson finally broke through with his "Red-headed Stranger" album and a song that Roy Acuff had originally made popular back in 1947. Several other country artists had also recorded it over the years, but not even the likes of Hank Williams and Conway Twitty could make a hit out of it.

Willie, however, came up with the perfect version, using an acoustic guitar, his unique voice and jazz phrasing. The song went to #1 on the Country Charts in the U.S and Canada, and rebooted Willie's career. It also went to #21 on the U.S Top 40, and Rolling Stone Magazine ranks it at #48 on their list of "Greatest Country Hits of All Time."