Our Top 10 Brantley Gilbert songs list looks at the songs of one of the most exciting and hardest rocking country music artists to arrive on the scene in the past twenty years. There has been a trend lately among younger male country singers to rock hard while still maintaining some of their traditional county roots. Singers such as Billy Currington and Justin Moore fit right into that category with Brantley Gilbert.
Brantley Gilbert released his first album in 2009 entitled A Modern Day Prodigal Son. Gilbert would follow up that album in 2010 with the smoking album Halfway to Heaven. It would be four years before Brantley returned to the studio and released a new album. However in 2014 Brantley released the album entitled Just As I Am. Another three years will pass before Brantley Gilbert released another record. Yet in 2017 Brantley Gilbert returned with a phenomenal album entitled The Devil Don’t Sleep. Brantley Gilbert’s most recent album called Fire & Brimstone was released in 2019.
Our top 10 Brantley Gilbert songs list presents ten of Brantley Gilbert’s hardest rock country songs along with a handful of his stunning ballads.
# 10 – Hell On Wheels
We open up our top 10 Brantley Gilbert songs list with the scorching song entitled “Hell On Wheels.” The songs opening instrumental section sounds like The Allman Brothers Band. We opened this list with this one to show how Brantley Gilbert stands as one of the hardest rockers of the new breed of country music artists of the 2010s. The song was released on the album entitled Halfway to Heaven. It was the album’s opening track. It was never released as a single. It should have been because this is one rocking song.
# 9 – One Hell of an Amen
Continuing with our top 10 Brantley Gilbert songs list we take a listen to a great tender ballad entitled “One Hell of an Amen.” The song was released on the album entitled Just As I Am. The album was released in 2013. It was the third single released from the album. The song was a hit on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs Charts peaking at number five. The song also was a number one hit on the US Billboard Country Airplay Charts. The song also crossed over into the pop world hitting the number forty four spot on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song also was a hit on the Canadian Country Music Charts rising all the way to number sixteen. The song “One Hell of an Amen,” was composed by Brantley Gilbert, Mike Dekle and Brian Davis.
# 8 – Small Town Throwdown
In the number eight spot on our top 10 Brantley Gilbert songs list we present the swinging rocking song entitled “Small Town Throwdown.” The song also features Brantley Gilbert’s fellow country rockers Justin Moore and Thomas Rhett. This one is fun! The song was released on the album entitled Just as I Am. The album was released in 2013. It was the second single released from the album.
The song “Small Town Throwdown,”was a hit on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs Charts peaking at number thirteen and on the US Billboard Country Airplay Charts reaching number eight. “Small Town Throwdown,” was a crossover hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 peaking at number sixty seven. Up North, “Small Town Throwdown,” hit on the Canadian Country Music Charts rising all the way to number twenty four. The song “Small Town Throwdown,” was composed by Brantley Gilbert, Ben Hayslip, Rhett Akins and Dallas Davidson.
# 7 – More Than Miles
In the number seven position on our top 10 Brantley Gilbert songs list is one of his most popular songs entitled “More Than Miles.” The song was released on the album entitled Halfway to Heaven. The album was released in 2010. The single was not released until 2012 as it was the seventh and single released from the album. The song was a hit on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs Charts peaking at number twenty one. The song also was a hit on the US Billboard Country Airplay Charts reaching number seven. The song was a hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 peaking at number seventy three. The song also was a hit on the Canadian Country Music Charts rising all the way to number thirty three. The song was composed by Brantley Gilbert and John Eddie. Do you remember John Eddie?
# 6 – What Happens in a Small Town
Landing in the number six spot on our top 10 Brantley Gilbert songs list we present the terrific ballad “What Happens in a Small Town” The song also featured Canadian Country music singer Lindsay Ell in an exceptional performance. The song “What Happens in a Small Town” was released on the album entitled Fire & Brimstone. The album was released in 2019. It was the first single released from the album.
The song was a hit on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs Charts peaking at number seven. The song also was a hit on the US Billboard Country Airplay Charts reaching number one. The song was a hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 peaking at number fifty three. The song also was a hit on the Canadian Country Music Charts rising all the way to number fifteen. The song was composed by Brantley Gilbert, Rhett Akins, Brock Berryhill, and Josh Dunne.
# 5 – The Weekend
Man does this dude rock. At the halfway point on our top 10 Brantley Gilbert songs list is another killer rocking tune entitled “The Weekend.” The song was issued on the album entitled The Devil Don’t Sleep. The album was released in. 2016. It was the first single released from the album. The song was a hit on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs Charts peaking at number nine. The song also was a hit on the US Billboard Country Airplay Charts reaching number seven. The song was a hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 peaking at number sixty four. The song also was a hit on the Canadian Country Music Charts rising all the way to number eighteen. The song was composed by Brantley Gilbert and Andrew DeRoberts. This was another big time platinum selling single by Brantley Gilbert.
# 4 – Country Must Be Country Wide
At the number four spot on our top 10 Brantley Gilbert songs list we present the dark sounding lowdown country rock song “Country Must Be Country Wide.” This one has a Charlie Daniels Band feel to it.The song was released on the album entitled Halfway to Heaven. The album was released in 2010. It was the fourth single released from the album. The song was a hit on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs Charts peaking at number one. The song also was a hit on the US Billboard Country Airplay Charts reaching number one. The song was a hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 peaking at number fifty. The song also was a hit on the Canadian Country Music Charts peaking at number seven. The song was composed by Brantley Gilbert, Colt Ford and Mike Dekle. This was Brantley Gilbert’s first platinum selling single.
# 3 – You Don’t Know Her Like I Do
Moving along on our top 10 Brantley Gilbert songs list we present the lively rocking song entitled “You Don’t Know Her Like I Do” The song was released on the album entitled Halfway to Heaven. The album was released in 2010. It was the fifth single released from the album. The song was a hit on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs Charts peaking at number one. The song also was a hit on the US Billboard Country Airplay Charts reaching number one. The song was a hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 peaking at number forty nine. The song also was a hit on the Canadian Country Music Charts rising all the way to number six. The song was composed by Brantley Gilbert and Jim McCormick
# 2 – Kick It in the Sticks
Just of the top spot on our top 10 Brantley Gilbert songs list we celebrate the song entitled “Kick It in the Sticks” This was Brantley Gilbert’s first single release of his career and it remains one of his signature songs. This song showed the world that Brantley Gilbert was not your traditional country artist. He sounded more like a cross between Molly Hatchet and Lynyrd Skynyrd than a George Strait or Billy Ray Cyrus.
The song “Kick It in the Sticks” was released on the album entitled Halfway to Heaven. The album was released in 2010. It was the first single released from the album. When the song was first release has failed to break into any of the music charts. However after Brantley Gilbert celebrated two number one singles from the album, his record company re-released the song and it broke into the top 30 of both the Billboard Hot Country Songs Charts and US Billboard Country Airplay Charts. The song was composed by Brantley Gilbert Rhett Akins and Ben Hayslip.
# 1 – Bottoms Up
We close out our top 10 Brantley Gilbert songs list with the song entitled “Bottoms Up.” This song sounds like it was released in the mid 1970s. It’s a spectacular classic rock sounding tune. “Bottoms Up” was released on the album entitled Just as I Am. The album was released in 2013. It was the first single released from the album. The song was a hit on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs Charts peaking at number one.
The song also was a hit on the US Billboard Country Airplay Charts reaching number one. “Bottoms Up,” would become Brantley Gilbert’s first and only top 20 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 where it peaked at number twenty. The song also was a hit on the Canadian Country Music Charts rising all the way to number three. The song was composed by Brantley Gilbert, Justin Weaver and Brett James.
Feature Photo: joncallas, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
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![Rob De Luca of Spread Eagle, Sebastian Bach & UFO: 10 Albums That Changed My Life From humble East Coast origins to grandest stages worldwide, veteran bassist Rob De Luca has seen and done it all. De Luca first hit the local Boston rock and metal scene in the late 80s after meeting guitarist Paul DiBartolo, bonding over Van Halen before forming Bang. Regional success came quickly, but eventually, the members of Bang went their separate ways, with De Luca and drummer Tommi Gallo heading to NYC and hooking up with Ray West and, later, DiBartolo to form Spread Eagle. By 1990, Spread Eagle was on the fast track, with a contract through MCA Records and a self-titled debut album poised to crush skulls. But poor timing and MCA's sad indifference left Spead Eagle out in the cold despite being a hard-boiled answer to Guns N' Roses's West Coast sleaze. Spread Eagle's first chapter came to an end in '95. As for Rob De Luca, his nimble fingers and gift for melody and songwriting kept him moving forward. Soon, he found a gig with former Skid Row frontman Sebastian Bach and the legendary outfit UFO. And in 2010, after coupling up with Ray West and his cousin Rik De Luca, Spread Eagle retook flight. During a break from Spread Eagle's increasingly busy touring schedule, Rob De Luca dialed in with ClassicRockHistory.com to run through the ten albums that changed his life. But only after adding, "I made a playlist of these songs, including some I've written or co-written. Do you hear any of these albums' influence on me?" Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3LWJuhDrE8JmzhsmTeIDUq 10) Gentlemen by Afghan Whigs (1993) Here's an entry that was so important to me. This may be the darkest break-up album of all time. Greg Dulli has been in many projects, but I feel Gentlemen is his zenith. Somewhat undefinable at times but always profound and honest. Listen to "Gentlemen," "Fountain and Fairfax," and "What Jail Is Like." 9) In on the Kill Taker by Fugazi (1993) By this time, I had been sucked in and spit out by the major-label record industry. Glam came and went; grunge was history, too. I was searching for new sounds. When I heard Fugazi's twin guitar approach, I knew this was what was missing. Fugazi may be considered a less polished sound than the albums above; however, once you "get it," it hits you like a ton of bricks, and there's no going back. From the moment I heard Fugazi, I went to every NYC show after. It's easily some of the best concerts of my life, and possibly my favorite bassist in Joe Lally. And their DIY ethics refused to charge us more than $5 a show! In on the Kill Taker is a powerful album demonstrated in songs such as "Smallpox Champion," "Great Cop," and "Public Witness Program." 8) Appetite for Destruction by Guns N' Roses (1987) I discovered many of these albums (sometimes long) after they were released. However, I was at the right place at the right time for this one. Steve Ostromogilsky had a Berklee College of Music lunch card and used to sneak out sandwiches for me. One day, he invited me to hang out at his place and listen to music. As we got off the train, he put Sony Walkman headphones on my ears and said, "Hey, check out this brand-new group." A song like "It's So Easy" was so different from the popular Sunset Strip sound at that time. Me and about 499 other informed rockers were lucky enough to see them on their first East Coast tour at the sold-out Paradise on Commonwealth Avenue, Boston (the same street Aerosmith started on). I saw Gn'R every tour after until I took a break when Buckethead joined. Gn'R is the band I've been lucky enough to see the most times live, almost 100! Everyone on this album is just stellar. Axl [Rose] had the tones, power, melodic sensibilities, and foresight to do what no other singer did then. Slash's playing was beyond memorable. Duff [McKagan] is one of the most underrated bassists in rock history, and learning his Appetite basslines is a masterclass. Steven [Adler] had the natural swing, and Izzy [Stradlin] was the secret weapon songwriter. Everything that's been heralded about this gem is deserved and true. Check out "It's So Easy," "Out Ta Get Me," and "Mr. Brownstone.' 7) Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd (1975) Another contender for my favorite album and band of all time. Using The Beatles machine (same recording studio, engineer, record label), Pink Floyd made what I feel is their strongest, most cohesive album (my second favorite of theirs would be Animals). This list mainly consists of bands with an instantly recognizable sound. Floyd is certainly no exception to that! This album included a solid handful of undeniable rock radio classics, bookended by two halves of the mind-blowing song "Shine on You Crazy Diamond.' That song was written about former band member and founder Syd Barrett. It would be hard to live in a world without this album. Check out "Welcome to The Machine," "Shine on You Crazy Diamond (parts 6-9),' or even better yet, listen to the whole thing in one sitting! 6) Decade by Neil Young (1977) About this time, I started playing guitar. As a beginner, it was comfortable jamming to this album because the chord changes were simple—a great "first ten years" retrospective of Neil's stunning, unique songwriting. Neil is a treasure who always writes from the heart and stands up for what's right. Check out "Southern Man," "A Man Needs a Maid," "Down by The River," and "After the Goldrush." 5) Highway to Hell by AC/DC (1979) When I heard this album, I was firmly "me." My life would be 100% focused on hard rock music forever. AC/DC are like air; they're ubiquitous. Everyone knows them and their incredible songs. However, as a young teen in Wilmington, Delaware, I only had WMMR 93.3 FM Philadelphia and a few friends to inform me about the world of Rock outside my bedroom. AC/DC had not gone mainstream, and their albums were available primarily in the USA as imports. To put things more in perspective, I only knew two people in the world who had heard of AC/DC. A friend had an import that we played in Steve Buckley's basement, which sounded ripping. When Highway to Hell was released, WMMR started spinning the title track, and I immediately bought the album, listening to it every single day after school. Then WMMR announced AC/DC was coming to the Spectrum in Philly, supporting Ted Nugent! I liked Ted but loved AC/DC, so my good friend Mick Cummins and I bought tickets, and he drove us up to the Spectrum (where we saw most of our concerts). Bon Scott was in fine form, and the band went over great. Although the crowd knew Ted better, Angus [Young] wouldn't let anyone upstage him. I'll never forget it! Unfortunately, Bon would be gone in 6 months. Check out "Walk All Over You," "Touch Too Much," "Shot Down in Flames," and "If You Want Blood (You Got It)." 4) Toys in the Attic by Aerosmith (1975) By the time I heard this, I was now in my teens. I had a childhood friend up the street, Jim Linberg (we're still good buddies). His older sister had a great album collection, including Toys in The Attic. Once I heard that groove, my taste changed. I lost interest in rock music that didn't have some sort of "swing" feel to it. I think Rocks is a slightly better Aerosmith album (and possibly my favorite album of all time), but both are perfect or very close. Check out "Uncle Salty," "Adam's Apple," "No More No More," "Round and Round," and "You See Me Crying." 3) Alive! by Kiss (1975) When I was still a little kid, I asked for Cheech and Chong's Up in Smoke album for Christmas. The entire family came over for an enormous feast, and I dropped the needle. When my mother heard the content, she turned off the album and said I had to exchange it. My mom was cool, but I was young and knew much more about life than she suspected. Anyway, the next day, she drove me back to the store. In the music section, promoted on an "endcap" was a Kiss Alive! display. I had never heard of Kiss, but that cover picture told me I had to have it! My first foray into hard rock. Check out “Strutter.” I went through my Kiss phase very quickly, I believe in a matter of months because I discovered the previous entry, Aerosmith's Toys in the Attic. 2) Honky Chateau by Elton John (1972) When I was a wee lad, my parents bought a used Volkswagen camper van from my uncle Ozzie. My favorite Elton John album is Yellow Brick Road, but Honky Chateau is great and easily one of his best. It sent me down a lifelong rabbit hole of loving everything about the 1970s partnership between Elton and lyricist Bernie Taupin. The simple beauty of voice, the master songwriting, the perfect backing band, the clear, unobtrusive recordings, and always Bernie's incredible lyrics. The day this album was released, Elton became an unstoppable force that conquered the music industry. Check out "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters" and "Rocket Man." 1) Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles (1967) Another tape that was included in the VW Camper. The van had a bunch of music tapes, and one was Sgt Pepper. I was too young to understand the sophistication of the music, but that was one of the many skills of The Beatles. They attracted listeners at every level, even little kids. I still feel that immediate connection to Sgt Pepper; now, I hear so much more. It's an album that changed the world and the world of music. Check out "Lucy in The Sky with Diamonds," "A Day In The Life," and "Fixing a Hole."](http://www.classicrockhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Shutterstock_1815495569-1-300x200.jpg)
