John Anderson Songs That Made Him Stay in The Industry for 40 Years

John Anderson songs have touched many people. It’s quite hard not to be when more than 40 of Anderson’s tracks have found success on the Billboard country music charts multiple times. He is a living definition of walking art himself, in addition to him being an excellent performer. On his 2007 album Easy Money, he worked with a number of other great individuals, including John Rich of Big & Rich. He is also known to collaborate with other well-known writers to create his greatest songs.

In light of this, we have made the decision to produce a list of some of John Anderson’s songs that are well-known for you guys to scroll on. And if you haven’t heard of them yet, you might be interested in learning more about them.

1. Swingin’

The song “Swingin’,” which spent one week at the top of the Hot Country Songs charts, was the second of John Anderson‘s five number-one songs. It also won a Single of the Year award from the Country Music Association and a gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America.

2. Money in The Bank

Writers Bob DiPiero, John Jarrard, and Mark D. Sanders helped create the backbone of the song. “Money in The Bank” served as the album’s lead single when it was released in April 1993. Jim Shea was the director of the music video, which debuted in 1993.

3. Straight Tequila Night

“Straight Tequila Night” is a mid-tempo song in which the narrator is a person giving advice to a man at a pub about a regular female customer who is seated by herself at a table. Except for “straight tequila,” which will have the effect of making the woman think about her ex-lover and make her upset and agitated, it is implied or assumed that she is typically much more open and outgoing when any other type of alcohol is consumed.

4. Black Sheep 

Danny Darst and Robert Altman wrote the song, which John Anderson recorded. As the lead single from the album All the People Are Talkin’, it was made available in September 1983. The song became Anderson’s third country chart-topper. “Black Sheep” lasted a total of 14 weeks inside the top 40, peaking at number one for one week.

5. Wild and Blue

The song was penned by John Scott Sherrill. “Wild and Blue” served as the album’s first single and title tune when it was released in September 1982. The song was Anderson’s eleventh hit on the country charts and the first of his five number-one singles. Wild and Blue lasted a total of eleven weeks in the top 40, peaking at number one for two weeks. And for a fun fact, Donna Kay Anderson, John’s sister, sings in the background.

6. Seminole Wind

Both renowned folk musicians James Taylor and Donna the Buffalo covered “Seminole Wind” in 1998 and 2008, respectively. On 2022, Luke Combs also made a cover of the song in his tribute album for John Anderson called Something Borrowed, Something New.

7. Would You Catch a Falling Star

The song revolves around the storyline of a former celebrity whose fan base is dwindling and is used to poke fun at the drawbacks of fame and glory.

8. I Just Came Home to Count the Memories

Glenn Ray is the author of the song. The song has peaked in three different versions. Bobby Wright issued the first on ABC Records in 1975. The 1977 rendition by Cal Smith peaked at number 15 on the same list. The version by John Anderson that peaked at number seven on the country charts in early 1982 was released in late 1981 and had the highest charting performance. The song was recorded by Gillian Welch and David Rawlings on the tribute album Something Borrowed, Something New of John Anderson, released in 2022.

9. Let Go of the Stone

Max D. Barnes and Max T. Barnes composed the song. It is the sixth single from John Anderson’s album Seminole Wind, and it was made available in November 1992. In 1993, the song peaked at number 7 on Billboard’s Hot Country Singles & Tracks list.

10. She Sure Got Away with My Heart

Walt Aldridge and Tom Brasfield wrote the song. It was made available as the follow-up single to the album Eye of a Hurricane in August 1984. On the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart, the song peaked at number three.

11. I’ve Got It Made

Max D. Barnes composed the song. It was made available as the third single from his album Solid Ground in November 1993. On the Canadian RPM Country Tracks list, the song peaked at number 19, while it peaked at number 3 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.

12. Bend it Until It Breaks

For a change, on this song, John Anderson co-wrote and recorded the song himself. It was made available as the follow-up single to his album Country ’til I Die in November 1994. The song peaked at position three on the U.S. Number 28 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks list and the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart for country music. Together with Lionel Delmore, Anderson penned the song. It is Anderson’s last Top 10 success to date.

13. When It Comes to You

The song is about a failing marriage, as seen through the eyes of the husband, who thinks that his wife criticizes him for everything he does and wishes the marriage would end rather than continue to feel hopeless. Anderson’s rendition’s music video was made under the direction of Steve Boyle.

14. I Wish I Could Have Been There

The song is the fourth and last single from his album Solid Ground, released in April 1994. In the United States, it peaked at number 4, and in Canada, at number 21. Anderson and Kent Robbins co-wrote this song. The song is about the regret of not being able to be with family more frequently for various reasons.

15. I’m Just an Old Chunk of Coal (But I’m Gonna Be a Diamond Someday)

Billy Joe Shaver wrote the lyrics for the song, which he also first recorded. John Anderson made the song available in March 1981 as the lead single from his album John Anderson 2. The song peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.

John Anderson became one of the most recognizable performers in country music history. Throughout his career, he has opened up a whole new realm for the country music genre. And now for more of them.

Here are some more worthy-to-be-known John Anderson songs. 

• Nashville Tears
• Honky Tonk Crowd
• Chicken Truck
• Haunted House
• Red Georgia Clay
• I Fell in The Water
• Tuesday I’ll Be Gone
• Down in Tennessee
• Mississippi Moon
• When It Comes to You
• 1959
• Years

Now, if you’re short on ideas on what music to listen to today, any of the John Anderson songs on the list above is a sure bet, and you won’t regret it.