Over the years, various country superstars have recorded David Lee Murphy songs – including Blake Shelton, Jason Aldean, Kenny Chesney, Eric Church, Thomas Rhett, and many more. This yielded massive hits and led to more than a dozen songwriting awards for Murphy.
But did you know fame and recognition didn’t come easily to the talented singer-songwriter?
David Lee Murphy moved to Music City in 1983 with the hopes of becoming famous, only to find himself struggling to get the attention of the music industry. With every label in town turning him down, he focused more on his songwriting – until a diverse range of artists started recording his tunes.
Slowly getting known as a songwriter, Murphy started recording his songs, too. So, to celebrate his illustrious career, let’s take a look at some of David Lee Murphy’s greatest hits – from the songs he recorded to tracks made famous by other artists.
1. “Dust on the Bottle”
Murphy earned his first No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart with “Dust on the Bottle,” which was inspired by a real-life character named Creole Williams. In the song, Murphy finds himself asking the old man for some advice on how he can impress a lover – of course, he got it along with some homemade wine that gets sweeter in time.
2. “Loco”
The up-tempo ballad about the joys of being a little bit crazy was Murphy’s first entry on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 44. It also reached No. 5 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart.
3. “Party Crowd”
The third single from his debut album, “Party Crowd,” finds Murphy recounting how his lover broke up with him and how he told her not to worry about him as he’s “looking for a party crowd” to drown his problems.
4. “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright”
After more than two decades, Murphy came back on country radio’s No.1 spot with his collaboration with country superstar Kenny Chesney. “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright” delivers a positive message, something we all need during this time – when the world seems off its rocker.
5. “The Road You Leave Behind”
Murphy described “The Road You Leave Behind” as “a real good kind of ‘do the right thing’ song” that will impart life lessons that come in handy through the years. What makes the country ballad more comforting is Murphy’s vocal honesty that doesn’t sound preachy at all.
6. “Out with a Bang”
Murphy closed his debut album with its title track – an ode to the good times – by showcasing his distinctive voice and uniqueness, something that will endure the test of time.
7. “Bar at the End of the World”
According to Murphy’s co-writer J. T. Harding, the mid-tempo ballad was inspired by the bars you can only reach by boat, which Harding saw when visiting a friend in the Virgin Islands. Harding presented the idea to Murphy during a songwriting session, who then provided the opening lines.
8. “Anywhere With You”
Reaching No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Airplay, the song finds Owen singing about how happy he will be to travel anywhere as long as he is with his lover.
9. “Living in Fast Forward”
Written by Murphy and Rivers Rutherford, the song was inspired by Rutherford’s hectic life that he no longer has time to go home. So, he called his wife, asking her to meet him at the airport and bring him some clean clothes – at the same time, take home his dirty clothes. His wife took a long pause and told him, “One at a time.” Rutherford told the story to Murphy, and the song was complete within an hour.
10. “Big Green Tractor”
The idea of the song came to Murphy while he was out driving his own tractor. The next day, he collaborated with songwriter Jim Collins to write the country ballad. It turned out to be Aldean’s third No. 1 hit on the country chart.
11. “Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not”
The country love song tells the story of a man who was caught off guard when the woman he likes told him, “Are you gonna kiss me or not?” The two got married at the end of the song.
12. “Everything I Shouldn’t Be Thinking About”
With all the problems going around the world today, Thompson Square found themselves only focusing on each other at the moment.
13. “The Only Way I Know”
Aldean joined forces with Luke Bryan and Eric Church in a Murphy co-written track about hard work, integrity, small-town values, and southern work ethic.
14. “Every Time I Get Around You”
Released as the first single off his second studio album, the song became another country hit for Murphy – reaching No. 2 on both the U.S. and Canadian country charts.
15. “Just Don’t Wait Around ‘Til She’s Leavin'”
Murphy further showcased how great of a storyteller he is with his 1997 hit, which tells the story of a broken-hearted man left by his woman – whose love he took for granted.
Some More David Lee Murphy Songs That Remain Iconic Today
There are absolutely so many songs you should know from the man who defined the country’s freewheeling spirit. Check them out below!
Indeed, these David Lee Murphy songs show how influential he really is.
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