"Old Flame," Alabama (1981)

The essential sound of a wildly popular band

This song was requested by TLSP reader Matt H. Paid subscribers can request songs on this post right here!

Peak: #1 on the country chart
Streams: 5.8 million

Alabama has their very own museum in their hometown of Fort Payne. Down the street from the central complex, which includes both a robust collection of memorabilia and a gift shop bursting with dozens of t-shirt styles, there’s a park named after the band. It features bronze statues of each member, along with plaques detailing their history.

And honestly? It’s all pretty nice. My parents and I went to Fort Payne earlier this year, and we had a good time visiting the Alabama-adjacent attractions, not to mention a cute coffee shop that almost certainly wouldn't exist without the tourism the band still brings through town.

If you were born after 1995, then you might not realize just how popular Alabama was, but if you were even vaguely aware of country music from 1980 - 1999, then you definitely know their name.