Perhaps no country singer had as smooth and passionate vocals as Ronnie Milsap, making him a favorite to many country fans for over four decades. Elegantly blending country and soul, his rousing showmanship appealed to pop audiences as well. In fact, Ronnie Milsap songs were frequent crossover hits during the 1970s and 1980s.
Born blind in a poor farming community in the Appalachian town of North Carolina, Milsap learned to make music as a youngster. In 1972, he moved to Music City and decided to focus more on country ballads after playing different genres – including rock and roll.
Since then, he became a remarkable hit-maker of the genre and is considered a legend with six Grammy Awards under his belt. Now, let’s take a look at Ronnie Milsap‘s greatest hits.
1. “Pure Love”
After releasing quite a few tracks – with two of them making it to Top 15 – Milsap finally had his first No. 1 hit on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart with his career-breaking hit “Pure Love.”
2. “It Was Almost Like a Song”
This song was Milsap’s first on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, where it peaked at No. 16. But not only that, “It Was Almost Like a Song” also earned two nominations from Grammy Awards – making it one of the greatest hits of his recording career.
3. “(There’s) No Gettin’ Over Me”
Climbing all the way up to No. 5 on Billboard Hot 100, “(There’s) No Gettin’ Over Me” is the track that sings about a man who’s been dumped by his girlfriend became Milsap’s biggest pop crossover hit.
4. “Smoky Mountain Rain”
Conquering the top spot of both country and adult contemporary charts, “Smoky Mountain Rain” tells the tale of a man finding his way back to Tennessee after he’s had a change of heart about the woman he loves.
5. “What a Difference You’ve Made in My Life”
The inspirational song “What a Difference You’ve Made in My Life” was released from Milsap’s 1977 ultra-successful album and turned out to be such a fan favorite. The country legend re-recorded the song three decades later for his gospel-country album Then Sings My Soul.
6. “Lost in the Fifties Tonight (In the Still of the Night)”
What would be Milsap’s ultimate crossover hit was inspired by “In The Still Of The Nite” – a song written by Freddy Parris and recorded by Five Stains. It marked another massive success for Milsap as it stayed atop the chart for two consecutive weeks.
7. “Please Don’t Tell Me How the Story Ends”
Like many of his other singles, “Please Don’t Tell Me How the Story Ends” also fared well as a No. 1 hit on the country chart – helping Milsap earn his first Grammy award for Best Country Vocal Performance.
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8. “I Wouldn’t Have Missed It for the World”
Milsap continued showing how powerful his songs are, such as this bittersweet track in which a catchy chorus delivers the right words to help someone say goodbye in an optimistic tone.
9. “Stranger in My House”
This song immediately became a major hit after its release. It sings about a man who believes his wife is daydreaming about being with a secret lover.
10. “Make No Mistake, She’s Mine”
Put two legends in one song, and you’d expect nothing but a classic piece. Milsap recorded “Make No Mistake, She’s Mine” with Kenny Rogers, and it won a Grammy award for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals.
11. “(I’m A) Stand by My Woman Man”
If you think you’ve already heard this song from another artist, it’s because it was written as an answer to Tammy Wynette’s “Stand By Your Man.”
12. “Nobody Likes Sad Songs”
With his personal life that is anything but happy, the man in the song started singing heartbreak tunes – something his fans don’t want to hear. Eventually, nobody is coming to his shows anymore.
13. “Any Day Now”
The song has been recorded by several artists over the years, including Elvis Presley in 1969. But Milsap’s version is the most widely known one – reaching No. 1 on four different charts.
14. “A Woman in Love”
Milsap’s last No. 1 single, the song tells the story of a man who finds the way women behave whenever they’re in love to be very confusing.
15. “Prisoner of the Highway”
Featuring one of Milsap’s greatest vocal performances, the song is told from the perspective of a truck driver who seemed to be imprisoned by the highway – yet he finds freedom whenever he’s behind the wheel.
You Can Never Miss These Ronnie Milsap Songs
Indeed, Ronnie Milsap music proved that he’s one of the most successful country artists of the 1970s and the 1980s. Let’s check out more of his songs below.
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