Vince Gill's Best Songs: The 20 Most Important Country Songs (2023)

Vince GillHis talent was for peers such as Rodney Crowell, Guy Clark,Rosanne Cash,and Emmylou Harris - he played with all of them before (and after) his breakthrough in the late '80s. It took a little longer for audiences to grasp his weightless tenor with an almost R&B elasticity. However, when they did, he quickly became your favorite artist's go-to singer-guitarist not only in country superstardom, but also in the rise of genre-pop crossover -- all while earning critical acclaim and more Grammy Awards than any other country collaborator. the contractorAlison Krauss.

Appreciated for his technical musical talent, Gill is loved by fans for his ability to draw every emotion out of a ballad. He has spent decades perfecting and revamping his particular brand of neo-traditional country. Below are 20 of Vince Gill's best songs - not even enough to represent all 21 of his Grammys, but at least it's a start.

Listen to the best songs of Vince GillApple-MusicISpotify.

20: I will always love you,Something special(1995)

When Dolly Parton decided to re-record some of her old songs in the mid-'90s, it made sense to hire country music's most popular vocal ballad singer to add something new to her most famous song. Vince Gill reinvigorated the tried-and-true composition with his light-hearted interpretation and simple harmonizing with Parton - and returned the song back to the country charts, where it reached No. 1. 15

19: Cowgirls died,When love finds you(1994)

Vince Gill unashamedly played it for the Texas two-steppers, but there's no harm in a dancehall hit -- especially when, like this one, it tapers into a groove that's delicately infused with funk (and like many of them, yelling "Bangor", Maine?) . This song, which also highlights Gill's guitar work with a ringing solo, reached #2 on the Billboard Country chart and became one of the biggest country hits of the year.

18: Whenever you stop by,When love finds you(1994)

There's a pretty compelling backstory to this song, which became Vince Gill's biggest pop hit when it peaked at No. 72 on the Billboard Hot 100. It's Trisha Yearwood who sings the harmonies on the soaring love song, but as Gill later explained, Around was inspired by meeting with his future wife, Amy Grant (who also appears on the album). The only tricky thing? When he got out, Gill was still married to his first wife, Janis Oliver.

17: I can't tell you why,The common thread: Songs of eagles(1993)

This one-off contribution to the Eagles country all-star tribute album hit the country and adult charts. It sounds a lot more R&B, complete with Hammond B-3 organ, soprano sax and Vince Gill at his Michael McDonald best. However, it is refreshing to hear Gil's sophisticated vocal riffs over different materials. The album won the CMA for Album of the Year, and that song is considered the standout song.

16: I still believe in youi still believe in you(1992)

The title track of Vince Gil's greatest hits album was also his debut single, a smooth, pop-oriented ballad produced to capitalize on the increasing overlap of country with the adult contemporary format. It was successful and not only became Gill's first Billboard Country number one, but also reached number 30 on the Adult Contemporary chart; Its genre-agnostic appeal meant it received numerous covers, including a smooth jazz rendition and a Bad Company recording. It also earned Gill his third and fourth Grammy Awards, as well as the CMA's Song of the Year Award in 1993 for the third (!) year in a row.

15: Beautiful words,i still believe in you(1992)

Yes, it's an album cut, but it's an album cut from Vince Gil's greatest LP — plus, it's not every day you get co-writer Don Schlitz. Fresh and sunny, modern bluegrass allows Gill's superb backing band to flex their muscles and Gill to stretch out a bit with his guitar solo. Who can resist a Monkees quote?

14: If you ever think of eternity,Key(1998)

The song, a slow-dance special, earned Vince Gill a Grammy for Best Male Country Vocal Performance — a category that might as well be renamed the Vince Gill Award: He's won it nine times, including five consecutive years from 1995 to '99. the category was abolished in 2012). The wedding "Forever" features Gil's vocals in their traditional, simple form; The string section and chorus drown out most of the country, but not quite, making it an all-time favorite.

13: High lonely sound,A high lonely sound(1996)

Vince Gill has always been an expert at harmonizing, and here he finds common ground with fellow Grammy winner Alison Krauss - so it's no surprise they took home the trophy for this collaboration. The single Gil-penned version of the song focuses on her two bonafide bluegrass roots in an almost funky, textured arrangement; The album also features a more traditional bluegrass approach, backed by Krauss' featured band, Union Station.

12: Let's do somethingWay back home(1987)

Vince Gill's pre-MCA work is often overlooked, but there are plenty of gems — like this cheerful collaboration with the uncredited but iconicBonnie Raitt.Gill's bluesy touch on "Something" became harder to find as he moved mid-state, but he does it (especially when he's allowed to play his falsetto). The song was a Top 20 hit on the Billboard charts, but more importantly, it showcased some of the roots rock that defined Gill's music career before he went solo.

11: Please keep him in the country,Key(1998)

A few years later, Vince Gil's appearedKeyIt could be called an all-star duets album: Sara Evans, Shelby Lynne, Alison Krauss and, on "Country," early-career Lee Ann Womack all provided the foundation for the neo-traditional release. "Country" was not a chart hit and is more or less a sad version of "Don't Rock The Jukebox" - but Hughey's inimitable pedal steel work and the perfect blend of Gill and Womack's voices make this album hard to close.

10: Try to get over yourselfi still believe in you(1994)

Vince Gil's latest solo country chart no. 1 is also a self-penned, melancholic, heartbreaking song that plays on some of the same somber themes as "He Stopped Loving Her Today." The song's anthemic chorus ends just before the power ballad, putting his elastic voice and smooth vibrato and John Hughey's pedal steel front and center – while providing the perfect opportunity for the then-reigning country entertainer of the year to get his audience into it. lighters for igniting air.

9: Liza Jane,A pocket full of gold(1991)

Vince Gill puts his own rockabilly twist on a New Orleans folk favorite with this fun, danceable single that reached #7 on the Billboard Country chart. Retro but not heated, it's about as sultry as Gill was in his prime - come for the Vince Gets Here version, stay for his virtuoso guitar solo and Andrea Zonna's violin playing.

8: Oklahoma boundary line,Things that matter(1985)

Vince Gill started out as one of the most in-demand session singers and guitarists in the business and has easily attracted high-profile collaborators throughout his career. Gill's collaborators on the debut were Rosanne Cash, and "Borderline" was written by Rodney Crowell and Guy Clark. Gill previously played in both bands, so it makes sense that they'd reciprocate - the result is a light, upbeat and funny homage to Gill's Oklahoma roots, replacing his preferred sentimentality with wit and wit.

7: a bag full of gold,A pocket full of gold(1991)

This song puts Vince Gill right where you want him to be: alongside Patty Loveless in a sad country waltz. Stripped and traditional, it's also one of Gil's few singles that relies on the wordplay at the heart of many country classics; You can probably guess which is the titular "gold," but that doesn't make the success of the chorus any less satisfying.

6: Last chancei still believe in you(1993)

Vince Gill contributed to the two-step revival with this fast roadhouse walker, featuring Delbert McClinton on harmonica and a taste of Gill's exceptional guitar playing. The music video features an episode of George Jones, whose beer lawnmower run to avoid the wrath of his (future) wife, Tammy Wynette, has become legendary - and part of the inspiration for this song, co-written with the prolific Gill Gary Nicholson. It also begins and ends on the golf course, alluding to Gill's path he didn't take - he almost became a professional golfer instead of a country singer.

5: Which bridge to cross (Which bridge to burn),When love finds you(1994)

There is nothing innovative about this timeless country waltz, and therein lies its beauty. Vince Gill co-wrote this single with iconic Nashville songwriter Bill Anderson (literally, he's one of only a handful of artists to receive this BMI award), and when it reached #4 on the Billboard Country Hitting chart, it sparked a renaissance in Anderson's career . The harmonies show Gil at his best; The song as a whole is simple and beautiful as can be.

4: look at us,A pocket full of gold(1991)

Part of Vince Gill's back-to-back CMA Song of the Year hat-trick, this tear-jerking love song seems made for anniversaries. However, instead of sinking into the dross, Gill actually duets with John Hughey's metal guitar, giving the track a lively vintage feel. Gill has become a favorite country singer with some ballads that have aged much worse than this one, and they have enough room for the country instrumentation to really show.

3: don't let our love fade away,i still believe in you(1992)

A funny, dancehall-ready critique of the fading spark of a relationship, the song topped the Billboard Country chart for three weeks - making it Vince Gil's biggest hit to date. This gave the ballad-filled sound the necessary amount of lightnessi still believe in you, which was eventually certified five times platinum by the RIAA. His all-star music video, which sadly didn't make it into the internet era, featured Michael McDonald andLeon RussellDoReba McEntireand Pam Tillis and was in heavy rotation on CMT for weeks.

2: Rest high on this mountainWhen love finds you(1995)

One of Vince Gil's signature songs is also among his saddest -Rolling stonehe even named it the 17th saddest country song of all time, a category with some pretty stiff competition. "Mountain" is a beautiful hymn-like eulogy that, although written by Gill specifically to honor Keith Whitely and his late brother Bob, was released in the midst of the AIDS pandemic and the onslaught of elegiac pop hits that followed. He dominated the 1996 awards season, winning two Grammys (Best Country Song and Best Male Country Vocal Performance), a CMA for Song of the Year, and a BMI for Most Performed Song. But with Ricky Skaggs and Patty Loveless, a frequent singer, on backing vocals and Stuart Duncan's wistful violin complementing her soaring harmonies, the song has long since outgrown its hardware and remained a dirge: Gill performed it at George Jones' funeral in 2013 and every year since. i couldn't get the lyrics out.

1: When I call your nameWhen I call your name(1990)

It may not have been Vince Gill's first country hit, and ultimately not his biggest, but "When I Call Your Name" marked the singer-songwriter's major breakthrough (and his first Grammy and CMA awards, though Garth Brooks took the stage in same year). Listening three decades later, it's easy to see whyThewas the title that finally caught Nashville's eye. This slow-burning waltz is transformed into an absolutely stunning display of Gil's flawless tenor. Gill-penned "Name" is as classic as country gets, with Muscle Shoals legend Barry Beckett's piano solo and Nashville session star Paul Franklin's pedal steel — but it's the key change that gives you goosebumps every time.

Think we missed one of Vince Gil's best songs? Let us know in the comments section below.