Rediscover Mel McDaniel Songs

What Makes A Country Music Artist Timeless?

In every music library, whether it be in a personal music collection or at a radio station, there are core artists. These are the artists that have abundant, memorable hits that are so familiar, the majority of the genre’s audience knows them instantly. There are several factors involved in an artist becoming part of a core library. One ingredient is how popular the artist was at the peak of their career. Another is how long of a career in the spotlight the artist was able to achieve. And finally, how many of their songs, propelled by the previous two factors and their appeal, topped the charts. It’s quite a recipe that only a handful have achieved.

An obvious example of a country artist with all of the aforementioned factors is George Strait. He has 60 number one hits to his name. In our library at Bull Classic Country, others to mention would be Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Merle Haggard, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Conway Twitty and George Jones, just to name a few.

Then, there are the artists who have incredible careers, but sometimes aren’t considered a core artist in playlists in the years and decades after their commercial success faded. These singers are important though. Their songs can hold just as much appeal as any song from a core artist. They also can provide variety and texture to any format or personal playlist.

If you are looking for new music and feel caught in a loop of the same songs over and over, a good way to rediscover very good singers and groups from the past, that seem to have faded away with time, just Google the charts of a particular year and check the top 25 songs. You might be surprised by how many songs you haven’t heard in years that bring back memories and revive a very talented artist in your mind. Another way is listening to Bull Classic Country. We have them in spades.

Mel McDaniel

One such artist is Mel McDaniel. He began his career in the late 1970s, but didn’t really achieve stardom until the early to middle 1980s. He arrived on the country music scene at a time when pop had a heavy influence on country. In lieu of a slower traditional sound, many of the recordings of the time were very upbeat. He also had the benefit, like many of his contemporaries, of the launch of CMT. Country Music Television, at launch, was a country music channel dedicated to music videos like its counterpart MTV, which had just launched two years earlier in 1981.

Mel was able to bring the right sound, at the right time, and put his music into these new, three minute movies. But, while others were standing in front of the camera and singing, as if performing in concert, Mel was making the most of the new video platform. His videos illustrated the stories of his songs. Examples that come to mind are the videos for “Stand Up” and “Real Good Feel Good Song.” I have a feeling as I am writing this, if you scroll down in a minute, you can watch Mel perform in these short masterpieces of their time.

We play many of Mel McDaniel’s songs on Bull Classic Country. They bring joy and those “hey, remember that song?” moments to our stream. Probably the most notable is “Baby’s Got Her Blue Jeans On.” A song about a lady who receives a lot of attention when she wears her blue jeans. It reached number 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Chart in February of 1985, and was his only number one hit. For a place to start down memory lane with Mel McDaniel, here is a list of a few Mel McDaniel songs that we play. Rediscover them or listen for the first time, and prepare to be joyous. Call it what you want. I call it love for Mel McDaniel. In fact, a commenter on YouTube said, “If I were a doctor, I would prescribe Mel McDaniel for depression.” My sentiments exactly.

1. Baby’s Got Her Blue Jeans On
2. Louisiana Saturday Night
3. Stand Up
4. Big Ole Brew
5. Let It Roll (Let It Rock)
6. I Call It Love
7. Real Good Feel Good Song
8. Stand On It

Sadly, Mel McDaniel is no longer with us, but he is with me and Bull Classic Country every day. Mel passed away in Nashville in March of 2011, having risen to fame as a country boy, born in 1942, in Oklahoma. In all of our shared love for country music, musicians, like Mel McDaniel, deserve to move forward with us just as much as the superstars of the genre.

He also gave some great life advice. No matter what is going on in your life, keep going and “Stand On It!” You’ll discover other pearls of wisdom as you listen.

Mel McDaniel Videos

Stand Up from 1985

Real Good Feel Good Song from 1988

And finally, Mel McDaniel’s #1 Hit from 1984, Baby’s Got Her Blue Jeans On