Our top 10 Phil Vassar songs list looks at the body of work of a legendary contemporary country music singer. Before venturing into his solo music career, Phil Vassar established himself as a force to reckon with in songwriting. Phil Vassar is credited to have penned several chart-topping country hits. The country singer would later use his songwriting skills for his solo music career pursuits. His music career started shining after signing a recording deal with Arista Nashville.
Phil Vassar’s Career Beginnings and Breakthrough
After signing to Arista Nashville in 1999, Phil Vassar released his debut single “Carlene.” Thanks to his outstanding songwriting skills that the country singer landed success with his debut single. “Carlene” was Phil Vassar’s breakthrough song having it catapult him to the top of the Canadian Country Tracks chart. The song also peaked at number forty-five on the Billboard Hot 100.
Eventually, Phil Vassar released his eponymous debut solo LP in 2000. Phil Vassar was lauded by critics thanks to Phil Vassar’s awe-inspiring vocals and magical skills on the piano. Most of the songs from the LP received critical acclaim pushing the album to number twenty-three on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart.
“Carlene” served as the lead single to the LP. “Just Another Day in Paradise,” a track featured on the LP, saw Phil Vassar receive his first number one hit on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. Some of the other best Phil Vassar songs from the LP include “Six-Pack Summer,” “That’s When I Love You,” and “Rose Bouquet.”
Phil Vassar’s Album Releases over the Years
The success of Phil Vassar’s debut LP prompted him to continue releasing music as a solo artist. His next LP release effort was American Child, issued in 2002. American Child catapulted Phil Vassar to greater success, peaking at number four on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart.
The LP was Phil Vassar’s first release to make it to the Billboard 200, peaking at number forty-four. American Child featured some of the best Phil Vassar songs, including “This is God,” “American Child,” and “Ultimate Love.” The LP also featured a cover of Huey Lewis and the News’ track “Workin’ for a Livin.”
In 2004, Phil Vassar released his third studio album Shaken Not Stirred. The LP was a success, peaking at number ten on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart. Shaken Not Stirred also managed to rise to the Billboard 200, peaking at number sixty-nine. Some of the musical gems from the LP include “Good Ole Days,” “In a Real Love,” and “I’ll Take That as a Yes.”
Phil Vassar came back in 2006 with the compilation LP Greatest Hits, Vol. 1. The LP combined both previously released and unreleased songs by Phil Vassar. Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 is one of the best performing LPs by Phil Vassar, peaking at number two on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart. It also managed number ten on the Billboard 200. Some of the best Phil Vassar songs featured on the LP include “Last Day of My Life” and “The Woman in My Life.”
Two years after the release of Greatest Hits, Vol. 1, Phil Vassar released his LP Prayer of a Common Man. Unlike his previous LPs, which were released under Arista Nashville, Prayer of a Common was issued under Universal South Records. The LP featured several hits, including “I Would,” “Love Is a Beautiful Thing,” and “This Is My Life.” Prayer of a Common Man peaked at number three on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. The LP also managed the tenth spot on the Billboard 200.
Travelling Circus, issued in 2009, was Phil Vassar’s last charting LP. The album is home to some of the best Phil Vassar songs, including “Everywhere I Go” and “Bobbi with an I.” The album charted at number twenty-nine on the Billboard Top Country Albums. On the Billboard 200, Travelling Circus managed to rise to the one hundred and ninety-eighth spot. After Travelling Circus, Phil Vassar released three other LPs, including Noel in 2011, American Soul in 2016, and Stripped Down in 2020.
Phil Vassar’s Other Musical Pursuits
Besides having a successful solo music career, Phil Vassar has established himself as a reputable songwriter. Phil Vassar is credited to have penned the lyrics to the country chart-topping hits “I’m Alright” and “Bye, Bye” by Jo Dee Messina and “Right on the Money” by Alan Jackson. The country singer has also penned several songs for other reputable musicians, including Tim McGraw, Collin Raye, Kenny Chesney, Mindy McCready, and Neal McCoy.
Phil Vassar’s Accolades and Legacy
Over more than two decades, Phil Vassar remains one of the reputable figures in the contemporary country scene. His greatest achievement has been in the songwriting business, which also helped catapult his solo career to success. As a result of his inspirational songwriting skills, Phil Vassar received the ASCAP Country Songwriter of the Year Award.
Phil Vassar has penned several Country chart-topping hits throughout his career, including songs “In a Real Love” and “Just Another Day in Paradise.” The country singer also won the Top New Male Vocalist accolade in the 2004 Academy of Country Music Awards. His song “Love is a Beautiful Thing” was nominated for the Mainstream Inspirational Song of the Year and Video of the Year accolades in the Inspirational Country Music Awards ceremony in 2008.
While his recent LPs might not have created massive shockwaves in the country music scene, Phil Vassar remains one of the most iconic country singers and performers of all time. Here are the ten best Phil Vassar songs of all time.
#10 – The Woman in My Life
Ushering us to the top 10 Phil Vassar songs list is the alluring hit “The Woman in My Life.” Phil Vassar penned the song alongside his then-lover Julie Wood (divorced in 2007). “The Woman in My Life” has been lauded for its sentimental lyrics in praise of a lady the singer is in love with. The song brings out the best virtues of a woman, which are equal to the task of becoming a wife. Phil Vassar shows his gratitude to God for gifting him such a special gem during the song’s release. “The Woman in My Life” peaked at number twenty on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
#9 – Six-Pack Summer
“Six-Pack Summer” is among the musical gems that take us back to Phil Vassar’s magnificent career beginnings. The song was released as the fourth track on Phil Vassar’s eponymous debut LP. Phil Vassar collaborated with country music songwriter and record producer Charlie Black and Tommy Rocco in penning the lyrics to this brilliant country ballad.
With “Six-Pack Summer,” Phil Vassar wished to bring out a perfect depiction of what fun in summer entails. In his perspective, great summer holidays are all about parties, char-grilling, and sunbathing. “Six-Pack Summer” peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. It also managed to rise to number fifty-five on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
#8 – This is God
Phil Vassar’s faith in God has been evidenced in several of his releases, including our number eight track, “This is God.” The song is featured on Phil Vassar’s sophomore LP American Child. Phil Vassar wrote the lyrics to this song while on a short plane trip.
“This is God” has its lyrics alluding to the perspective of God. The lyrics also bring out God’s repugnance towards how the human race hates each other, an act whose culmination is protests, wars, and terrorism. Through this song, Phil Vassar calls for the world’s peace and collective responsibility by its inhabitants to uphold humane virtues. “This is God” peaked at number seventeen on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
#7- I’ll Take That as a Yes (The Hot Tub Song)
“I’ll Take That as a Yes (The Hot Tub Song)” is one of the best Phil Vassar songs from the LP Shaken Not Stirred. The song is a rowdy anthemic track that has been a concert staple for most Phil Vassar’s live performances. Unlike most of the best Phil Vassar songs, “I’ll Take That as a Yes “The Hot Tub Song)” was not penned by Phil Vassar.
Instead, Jon McElroy and songwriter Vince Melamed penned this track. Vince Melamed is a reputable songwriter credited for penning songs for Trisha Yearwood, Restless Heart, Neal McCoy, Boy Howdy, The Shake, and Ty Herndon. “I’ll Take That as a Yes (The Hot Tub Song)” is one of his most romantic songs to a significant other by Phil Vassar. The song managed to rise to number eighty-nine on the Billboard Hot 100.
#6 – Don’t Miss Your Life
Number six on our top 10 Phil Vassar songs list is the stunning hit “Don’t Miss Your Life.” The song is penned by Phil Vassar and songwriter/record producer Charlie Black. “Don’t Miss Your Life” was born out of a conversation the singer had with a man who sat next to him on a flight.
The song finds Phil Vassar sharing his greatest takeaway from the conversation- “Don’t Miss Your Life!” These are the words of the retired guy who had taken much time on his financial pursuits. Instead, he feels that he should have spent a little more time with his family. “Don’t Miss Your Life” is delivered in a slightly emotional tune, majorly composed of gentle piano riffs. The song managed number thirty-two on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
#5 – In a Real Love
Our fifth track on the top 10 Phil Vassar songs list is the fantastic hit “In a Real Love.” The song is Phil Vassar’s second number one hit to make it to the top of the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. This came four years after his first number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, “Just Another Day in Paradise.”
Phil Vassar collaborated with Craig Wiseman in penning the lyrics to the songs. Craig Wiseman has also penned several hits for Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton, and the legendary Dolly Parton. Phil Vassar revealed that his then-wife Julie Wood inspired the song’s lyrics. “In a Real Love” rose to number thirty-eight on the Billboard Hot 100.
#4- American Child
“American Child” is the title track of Phil Vassar’s sophomore studio album. Phil Vassar penned the lyrics to this three-minute track with Craig Wiseman. “American Child” has its lyrics allude to a narrative of a guy who rose from just a mediocre American guy to a reputable icon and a contented dad.
The song is one of the most alluring releases by Phil Vassar. “American Child” peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. The song also managed to rise to the forty-eighth spot on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2002.
#3 – Carlene
The third track on our top 10 Phil Vassar songs list goes to his debut single “Carlene.” Later, “Carlene” was featured as the lead single to Phil Vassar’s eponymous first LP. Phil Vassar collaborated with country music songwriters Rory Bourke and Charlie Black in penning the lyrics to this song.
“Carlene” alludes to a girl that Phil Vassar remembers from high school. In the song, Phil Vassar showcases how much of a successful scholar the girl was compared to him. Phil Vassar reveals that the lady already holds her Ph. D and models for the Vogue fashion and lifestyle magazine. Once more, her success is way too huge at this time compared to Phil Vassar’s musical career, which only had a few hits getting to the radio. “Carlene” peaked at number one on the Canada Country Tracks chart. On the Billboard Hot 100, “Carlene” managed a peak position of number forty-five.
#2 – Love Is a Beautiful Thing
“Love Is a Beautiful Thing” is a four-minute dazzling country ballad by Phil Vassar. The song is featured on Phil Vassar’s LP, Prayer of a Common Man. Originally, the song was released by Paul Brandt in 1999 under the title “It’s a Beautiful Thing.” The lyrics to the song allude to some of the events that take place at a wedding.
Phil Vassar covered the song naming his version “Love Is a Beautiful Thing.” His version performed better than Paul Brandt’s, peaking at number two on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. “Love Is a Beautiful Thing” also managed to rise to number forty-eight on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was nominated for the Mainstream Inspirational Song of the Year and Video of the Year accolades in the Inspirational Country Music Awards ceremony in 2008.
#1 – Just Another Day in Paradise
Number one on the top 10 Phil Vassar songs list is the charming country hit “Just Another Day in Paradise.” The song is featured on Phil Vassar’s eponymous debut LP. Its lyrics were penned by Phil Vassar and his longtime songwriting collaborator Craig Wiseman.
“Just Another Day in Paradise” finds Phil Vassar singing about a couple nurturing a family. The lyrics to the song showcase how the two parents handle routine responsibilities. Critics have lauded the song as the perfect depiction of the tears and joy of an American home. “Just Another Day in Paradise” was Phil Vassar’s first number one solo hit on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. The song also managed to rise to number thirty-five on the Billboard Hot 100.
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