Mel Tillis - Southern Rain (1980/2018)

After a hit-packed decade in the '70s, country superstar Mel Tillis's streak finally started to wind down in the early '80s. Southern Rain's title cut was his last Number One hit. The album finds Tillis still at the peak of his powers, turning out tracks like the great drinking song “Pyramid of Cans” (also done by George Jones) and “Forgive Me For Giving You the Blues,” which bears a Ray Price-style shuffle. The influence of Waylon Jennings is evident in the guitar sound, and “Southern Rain” and “Louisiana Lonely” sport a contemporary feel, but this is still 100% classic country.