Alabama

"My Home's in Alabama" was the first new single Alabama released after signing to RCA, and it was sort of a group manifesto. It was also one of the rare times during the '80s that a single of theirs didn't go to #1: the next eight in a row did. Also of note is their duet with *NSYNC, "God Must Have Spent a Little More Time On You." Oddly enough, it works — their harmonies are outstanding.

Two of Alabama's 1989 #1 hits, "Southern Star" and "If I Had You," exemplify the rockin' and the lovin' sides of the band, while "Jukebox In My Mind" (also #1, in 1990) splits the difference with a mid-tempo honky-tonker. "Born Country" (yet again a #1, from 1991) retraces some of the territory covered by "My Home's In Alabama," whose Farewell Tour version is also featured here.

"Christmas In Dixie" is most notable for the fact that, by not going to #1, it prevented Alabama from having the all-time win streak of consecutive #1 Country singles (they would have had 21, as opposed to Sonny James' 16). Also worth hearing is their duet with Alabama native Lionel Richie, "Deep River Woman." Finally, "The Fans" is a touching tribute from their Farewell Tour.

In 1980, when Alabama signed to RCA, it was the singer/songwriter, rather than the group, that dominated the country charts. The Oak Ridge Boys, of course, had significant commercial success previously, but they had come from a gospel background, whereas Alabama derived its sound more from the intersection of country and rock. Originally known as Wildcountry, Alabama had early legal problems with a bankrupt label, but when they solved them it was a wild country ride: 21 gold, platinum, and multiplatinum albums, 33 #1 singles, and more than 65 million albums sold. They were also named the RIAA Country Group of the 20th Century. They disbanded in 2004.