Top 10 Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Songs

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With 23 studio albums released over fifty years, including 41 singles, composing a Top 10 Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Songs list seems ridiculous. And, in essence, it is. Nonetheless, it’s what we do, and we have an enjoyable time doing it. The point is to turn people on to a band they might not know. The real fans will hate us because we will undoubtedly miss their favorites when only picking 10. But what’s more important is that we spread the music of a great band that a young audience is probably unaware of.

The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band was first formed in 1966 by Bruce Kunkel and Jeff Hanna. Like many bands together for over 50 years, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band has undergone many personnel changes. The band’s earliest incarnation actually had Jackson Browne playing guitar in it for a few months. The two constant members of the band have been Jeff Hanna and Jimmy Fadden. Other longtime members have also been Bob Carpenter and John McEuen.

Our Top 10 Nitty Gritty Dirt Band songs list will present music from every decade the band has been together and recorded. The band’s most successful commercial period was in the 1980s when they were constantly in the top 10 on the country’s music charts. They are one of classic rock history’s most loved country rock bands. We hope you enjoy this top 10 Nitty Gritty Dirt Band songs list

# 10 – Buy For Me The Rain

We open up our top 10 Nitty Gritty Dirt Band songs list appropriately with the band’s first single they ever released. The great song “Buy For Me The Rain” was released in 1967 on the band’s first album entitled The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. Steve Noonan and Greg Copeland wrote the song. It was the opening song on the record. The song’s message of hope and appreciation of being alive every day instantly captivated that late 1960s audience in the wake of the Vietnam War.

# 9 – Brand New Heartache

In defining the band’s brilliance and longevity, we jump fifty years between 10 and 9 spots on this top 10 Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Songs list. The great Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Song “Brand New Heartache” was released on the band’s twenty-fifth studio album entitled Speed Of Life. The album was released in 2009. The song “Brand New Heartache” was written by founding members Jeff Hanna and Donny Lowery.

# 8 – And So It Goes

This beautiful duet with country rock pop music legend John Denver was released on the Will The Circle Be Broken album Vol 2. It doesn’t get more beautiful than this. The haunting, wonderful song showcases John Denver’s voice and spirit. The pairing of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band with John Denver was a match made in heaven while John Denver was still here with us on earth.

# 7 – House at Pooh Corner

The classic Kenny Loggins song “House at Pooh Corner” was first recorded by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band in 1970 and released on the album Uncle Charlie & His Dog Teddy. It was also released a year later on the Loggins and Messina album Sittin’ In, issued in 1971.

# 6 – Long Hard Road (The Sharecropper’s Dream)

This great Nitty Gritty Dirt Band song, “Long Hard Road (The Sharecropper’s Dream),” was the band’s first number-one single on the US Billboard Top 100 country music charts. The song hit number two on the Canadian music charts. “Long Hard Road (The Sharecropper’s Dream),” was released in 1984. The song was issued on the album Plain Dirt Fashion. “Long Hard Road (The Sharecropper’s Dream)” was written by Rodney Crowell.

# 5 – Ooh Po Pe Do Girl

The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band rocks pretty hard on this classic tune, “Ooh Po Pe Do Girl.” The song was released on the band’s second album entitled Ricochet. “Ooh Po Pe Do Girl.” Jeff Hanna wrote the song. It’s one of those lost gems that many music fans, including Nitty Gritty Dirt Band fans, are unaware of. Nonetheless, it’s a tremendous rocking blues tune that showcases the band’s earlier sound.

# 4 – Hey Good Lookin’

If you have a Nitty Gritty Dirt Band album in your collection, chances are it’s the classic record Symphonion Dream. This legendary album was released in 1975. The album featured guest appearances by rock and roll music legends Linda Ronstadt and Leon Russell. Actor Gary Busey also performs on the album. “Hey Good Lookin'” was a killer duet with Linda Ronstadt that is one of the all-time great Nitty Gritty Dirt Band songs.

# 3 – Battle Of New Orleans

The “Battle Of New Orleans” was a number-one single in 1959 for singer Johnny Horton. Jimmy Driftwood wrote the song. The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band recorded a great version of the song for their album Symphonion Dream.

# 2 – Mr. Bojangles

Many music fans might claim they do not know any Nitty Gritty Dirt Band songs. Well, we would argue that you at least heard this one. “Mr. Bojangles” was a massive hit for the band. Another country music artist wrote the song by Jerry Jeff Walker. However, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band version became a big hit. Just listen to the sound of those beautiful guitars and that iconic vocal. It’s one of the best moments in classic rock history. The song was released on the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band album Uncle Charlie & His Dog Teddy. The album was released in 1970.

# 1 -Fishin’ In the Dark

It’s amazing how what we always categorized as soft rock or country rock songs in the early 1970s was re-categorized as country music in the 80s and 90s. As Hip Hop, rap, grunge, and even metal dominated music charts and radio airwaves in the post-70s rock and roll period, artists like the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and so many other classic rock artists turned to the country world in which well-written songs still mattered. In 1987, the band released an album entitled Hold On.

Their single “Fishin’ In The Dark,” went straight to number one. If the song had been released in 1971, it would have been number one on the pop music charts. For that simple reason, it’s an amazing song, regardless of genre or style. That is why we have it listed at number one on our Top 10 Nitty Gritty Dirt Band songs list.

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