ARTIST SPOTLIGHT = Steve Wariner (8 songs)
This Noblesville IN-native singer-songwriter-guitarist was Dottie West’s bassist, 1971-1974. He also appeared on “American Bandstand” with Juice Newton when she performed “Old Flame”.
#1
This song debuted 04/11/1981, spent 18 weeks on the charts & peaked at #3, the 2nd of 3 straight Top 10s. This single was preceded by 1980-1’s “Your Memory” (#7, his 7th release & 1st Top 10) & followed by 1981’s “All Roads Lead To You” (#1).
#2
As much as I remember hearing this song on the radio as a kid, I’m surprised it didn’t notch better. This single hit the airwaves 03/06/1982 as the follow-up to his 1st chart topper; it spent 18 weeks on the charts & peaked at #15. Of 5 releases late 1982 through 1983, only 2 reached the Top 10: 1983’s “Midnight Fire” (#5) & 1983-4’s “Lonely Women Make Good Lovers” (#4).
#3
This song, his 1st release in 1984, debuted 04/07/1984, spent 18 weeks on the charts & peaked at #12. It is another tune that I remember hearing played more on the radio than the chart position would seem to indicate. The follow-up release, 1984’s “Don’t You Give Up On Love”, only managed #49. But, a nice long stretch was just around the corner….
#4
After 1984-5’s “What I Didn’t Do” (#3, 2 weeks) & 1985’s “Heart Trouble” (#8) were the 1st 2 songs in a string of 19 straight Top 10s, this song debuted 07/27/1985, spent 22 weeks on the charts & claimed #1. This single was the 1st of 3 straight chart toppers within that string of 19 Top 10s; it was followed by 1985-6’s “You Can Dream Of Me” & 1986’s “Life’s Highway”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVJikylwSow
#5
Following a Top 10 duet with Nicolette Larson (1986’s “That’s How You Know When Love’s Right”, #9) as well as Top 10s in 1986’s “Starting Over Again” (#4) & 1986-7’s “Small Town Girl” (#1), this song hit the airwaves 04/25/1987, spent 23 weeks on the charts & claimed #1. While I’ve never completely identified with the lyrics, it has resonated with me a few different times….
#6
This song debuted 06/18/1988 & spent 21 weeks on the charts, 2 of those at its peak position of #2. It was his 13th straight Top 10, preceded by 1987’s “The Hand That Rocks The Cradle” (#6; duet with Glen Campbell), 1987’s “Lynda” (#1) & 1988’s “Baby I’m Yours” (#2).
#7
His 14th straight Top 10 was 1988-9’s “Hold On” (#6). This song, the 15th in the stretch of 19, hit the airwaves 03/04/1989, spent 22 weeks on the charts & claimed #1. It has also resonated with me a few times…. This single was the 1st of 2 straight chart toppers, followed by 1989’s “I Got Dreams”, which has resonated with me a few times, too. The last songs in the streak were 1989-90’s “When I Could Come Home To You” (#5), 1990’s “The Domino Theory” (#7) & 1990’s “Precious Thing” (#8).
#8
Between late 1990 & early 1998, 5 of his 13 releases reached the Top 10: 1991-2’s “Leave Him Out Of This” (#6), 1992’s “The Tips Of My Fingers” (#3), 1992’s “A Woman Loves” (#9), 1993’s “If I Didn’t Love You” (#8) & 1997-8’s “What If I Said” (#1; duet with Anita Cochran). Then, this song debuted 03/07/1998 & spent 21 weeks on the charts, 2 of those at its peak position of #2. This single also won the CMA Single Of The Year & Song Of The Year awards & is oddly considered a comeback for him. His last 3 Top 10s were 1999’s “2 Teardrops” (#2), 1999’s “I’m Already Taken” (#3, 3 weeks) & 2000’s “Been There” (#5; duet with Clint Black).