4 Country Albums That Changed the Course of Music History

Country music as a genre doesn’t get enough credit for the incredible albums and artists that shaped music history as a whole. We think these four classic country albums and musicians changed music history in their own ways, and they’re still powerful pieces of work that aged pretty well.

1. ‘Come On Over’ by Shania Twain

Quite a few country music traditionalists would scoff at this entry on our list of country albums that changed music history. And that’s precisely why it’s listed here.

Country pop and other crossovers were already happening before Shania Twain released Come On Over in 1997, but nothing had quite scratched the itch that mainstream audiences had at the time. It was an enormous success that inspired a whole generation of country singers to play around in pop territory. Realistically, most of the newer country stars around today wouldn’t have enjoyed so much success if Twain hadn’t paved the way with this breakthrough album.

2. ‘Coat Of Many Colors’ by Dolly Parton

This 1971 album came about when Dolly Parton was already on her way to stardom. Before this album, Parton was more or less “stuck” in the role as a singing partner and variety show fodder for Porter Wagoner. Coat Of Many Colors was the first release in which Parton was starting to take control of her own image and sound. And she did so quite brilliantly.

Coat Of Many Colors was so successful upon its release because of how relatable it was to audiences at the time. On this record, Parton croons about poverty, nature, family, and love in a way that few have been able to master.

3. ‘Red Headed Stranger’ by Willie Nelson

The concept album was already very much a thing before Willie Nelson released Red Headed Stranger in 1975. However, few songwriters in any genre had mastered the art of narrative storytelling in their respective concept albums at that point. This is one of Nelson’s greatest achievements as an artist; and some would say it is his greatest work, period.

4. ‘Dreaming My Dreams’ by Waylon Jennings

Another stellar outlaw country release from 1975, Waylon Jennings’ Dreaming My Dreams changed country culture at the time by debuting a new, soft, and vulnerable side of a man otherwise known for his machismo.

The macho, outlaw tough-guy image was still very much there. However, Jennings was a bit more fearless in his fondness and affection for the one he loved on this album. Quite a few male artists followed suit, and country music was made all the more poetic for it.

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