
Photo: Canadian Forces PO 1 Aaron Peterson, Navy Visual News Service, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Our Top 10 Diamond Rio Songs list looks at a band who became the first country band to ever debut their first single at number one on the Country Music Charts. The group was originally formed in the early 1980s under the name the Grizzly River Boys. The name was eventually changed to the Tennessee River Boys. In order to appeal to a wider audience the group finally settled on the name Diamond Rio. After ten years, the group finally scored a record deal with Arista Records. Diamond Rio’s first single release was the song called “Meet in the Middle.” The single release shocked the country music world as the song went straight to number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. No country music band had ever had their debut single go straight to number one. This was big news in the country music industry, turning heads and giving the band instant credibility among their peers.
Diamond Rio would go on to have a very successful country music career. The band has so far released nine studio albums. Diamond Rio has also issued over 30 singles with multiple number ones hits. The group has also released a handful of Greatest Hits albums. They are also a Grammy award-winning band. The music crosses the genres of country, bluegrass and some rock and roll. Our top 10 Diamond Rio songs list presents 10 of our favorite Diamond Rio songs that we hope will turn you on to this great musical act.
# 10 – Love a Little Stronger
We open up our top 10 Diamond Rio songs list with the dynamic song entitled “Love a Little Stronger.” The song was released on the album entitled Love a Little Stronger. It was the first single released from the album. The album was released in 1994. The song was a hit on the US Billboard Country Music Charts peaking at number two. The song also was a hit on the Canadian Country Music Charts reaching all the way up to number six. The song was composed by Chuck Jones, Billy Crittenden and Gregory Swint.
# 9 – In a Week or Two
Continuing with our top 10 Diamond Rio songs list we take a listen to the captivating song entitled “In a Week or Two.” A great song about missed chances and hesitating. The song was released on the album entitled Close to the Edge. The album was released in 1995. It was the first single released from the album. The song was a hit on the US Billboard Country Music Charts peaking at number two. The song also was a hit on the Canadian Country Music Charts reaching all the way up to number three. The song was composed by James House and Gary Burr.
# 8 – Bubba Hyde
How could you not love a song called “Bubba Hyde.”In the number eight spot on our top 10 Diamond Rio songs list we present the great track “Bubba Hyde.” This is such a cool song about a character named “Bubba Hyde,” who changes his personality completely on the weekends from the straight laced daily worker character into his Elvis Presley party style weekend character. The song was released on the album entitled Love a Little Stronger. The album was released in 1995. It was the third single released from the album. The song was composed by Gene Nelson and Craig Wiseman.
# 7 -Beautiful Mess
In the number seven position on our top 10 Diamond Rio songs list is the song entitled “Beautiful Mess.” The great Chris Isaak guitar sound seems to grace the song’s intro giving it a bit of a film noir quality country style. Love the line about putting salt in my coffee. Ouch! The song was released on the album entitled Completely. The album was released in 2002. This was an album that spawned two straight number one singles including this one. “Beautiful Mess” was the first single released from the album. The song was a hit on the US Billboard Country Music Charts peaking at number one. The song also crossed over onto the US Billboard Hot 100 where it hit number twenty eight. The song was composed by Shane Minor, Clay Mills and Sonny LeMaire.
# 6 – One More Day
Landing in the number six spot on our top 10 Diamond Rio songs list we present the heartfelt ballad “One More Day.” The song was released on the album entitled One More Day. The album was released in 2002. It was the first single released from the album. The band did it again as they scored another number one single on the US Billboard Country Music Charts. The song was so popular it also broke onto the US Billboard Hot 100 where it hit number twenty nine. The song also was a hit on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary Charts peaking at number six. This is such a beautiful song, but its sense of yearning can be difficult and painful to listen too for some people. The song was composed by Bobby Tomberlin and Steven Dale Jones.
# 5 – I Believe
At the halfway point on our top 10 Diamond Rio songs list is the gorgeous ballad entitled “I Believe.” The song was issued on the album entitled Completely. The album was released in 2002. It was the second single released from the album. The song crossed over onto the US Billboard Hot 100 where it hit number thirty one. The song was a number one hit on the US Billboard Country Music Charts. It was the group’s fifth number one single on the Billboard Country Music Charts which is a pretty impressive feat when one thinks about all the competition the band faces from so many great country music artists like Patty Loveless, Dolly Parton, George Strait and so many others.
# 4 – Unbelievable
At the number four spot on our top 10 Diamond Rio songs list we present the rocking song entitled “Unbelievable.” This was the band’s first song to break into the US Billboard Hot 100 where it peaked at number thirty six. The song was released on the album also entitled Unbelievable. The album was released in 1998. It was the second single released from the album. The song was a hit on the US Billboard Country Music Charts peaking at number two. The song also was a hit on the Canadian Country Music Charts reaching all the way up to number one. The upbeat song “Unbelievable” was composed by Jeffrey Steele and Al Anderson.
# 3 – Walkin’ Away
Moving along on our top 10 Diamond Rio songs list we present the lively song entitled “Walkin’ Away.” The group sounds a little bit like Firefall on this one. The song was released on the album entitled IV. The album was released in 1995. It was the first single released from the album. The song was a hit on the US Billboard Country Music Charts peaking at number two. The song also was a hit on the Canadian Country Music Charts reaching all the way up to number two. The song was composed by Annie Roboff and Craig Wiseman.
# 2 – How Your Love Makes Me Feel
Just of the number one spot on our top 10 Diamond Rio songs list we present the dazzling song entitled “How Your Love Makes Me Feel.” This one has a very heavy 1970s feel sounding close to The Eagles. The song was released on the band Greatest Hits album. The album was released in 1997. It was the first and only single released from the album. The song was a huge hit on the US Billboard Country Music Charts peaking at number one. The song also was a hit on the Canadian Country Music Charts reaching all the way up to number one. We dig the guitar riff on this one and the key change at the end. The song was composed by Trey Bruce and Max T. Barnes.
# 1 – Meet In The Middle
We close out our top 10 Diamond Rio songs list with the marvellous song entitled “Meet In The Middle.” The guitar work on this one in between the verses and in the intro is captivating. The vocals are excellent as always and above all the song is just brilliant. You can hum this one all the time. It’s just one of those great sing along songs. The song was released on the album entitled Diamond Rio. The album was released in 1991. It was the first single released from the album.
The song was a hit on the US Billboard Country Music Charts peaking at number one. The song also was a hit on the Canadian Country Music Charts reaching all the way up to number one The song was composed by Don Pfrimmer, Chapin Hartford and Jim Foster. It was the band’s first single and it still remains our favorite Diamond Rio song.
Top 10 Diamond Rio Songs article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2021
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