The Oak Ridge Boys discography explained

Artist:The Oak Ridge Boys
Studio:31
Compilation:14
Live:1
Singles:63
Music Videos:21
2Option:17
2Option Name:No.1 Single

The Oak Ridge Boys are an American musical group. Originally a gospel quartet, The Oak Ridge Boys switched their focus to secular country music in the mid-1970s, releasing a string of hit albums and singles that lasted into the early 1990s. Their discography comprises thirty-one studio albums and fifty-six singles. Their highest-selling album is 1981's Fancy Free, which is certified double-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

Of The Oak Ridge Boys' singles, seventeen reached Number One on the Billboard country singles charts. Two of these songs, "Elvira" and "Bobbie Sue", were also Top 40 pop and Adult Contemporary hits, and the former is certified platinum as a single. Four additional singles ("Sail Away", "Dream On", "Heart of Mine", and "Fancy Free") also entered the AC charts, while "So Fine" and "American Made" both made the 70s on the pop charts.

Studio albums

1950s and 1960s

TitleAlbum details
The Oak Ridge Quartet
Sing and Shout
  • Release date: 1959
  • Label: Skylite Records
  • Formats: LP
The Oak Ridge Quartet
Master Showmen of Song
Go Out to the Program
  • Release date: 1960
  • Label: Skylite
  • Formats: LP
You'll Never Walk Alone
  • Release date: 1961
  • Label: Skylite
  • Formats: LP
He Whispers Sweet Peace to Me
  • Release date: 1962
  • Label: Skylite
  • Formats: LP
With Sounds of Nashville
Folk Minded Spirituals for Spiritual Minded Folk
  • Release date: 1963
  • Label: Warner Bros. Records
  • Formats: LP
Together
(with The Harvesters)
Sing for You
  • Release date: 1964
  • Label: Skylite Records
  • Formats: LP
Singing the Gospel
  • Release date: 1964
  • Label: Stateswood Records
  • Formats: LP
I Wouldn't Take Nothing for My Journey Now
  • Release date: 1964
  • Label: Skylite Records
  • Formats: LP
The Sensational Oak Ridge Boys
from Nashville Tennessee
  • Release date: 1965
  • Label: Starday Records
  • Formats: LP
The Solid Gospel Sound
of the Oak Ridge Quartet
  • Release date: 1965
  • Label: Skylite Records
  • Formats: LP
River of Life
  • Release date: 1966
  • Label: Skylite Records
  • Formats: LP
Sing Serve Life
(with Smitty Gatlin)
  • Release date: 1966
  • Label: Skylite Records
  • Formats: LP
Songs We Wish We'd Recorded First
Duane Allen Out Front
At Their Best
A Great Day
  • Release date: 1967
  • Label: Heart Warming Records
  • Formats: LP
New Horizons
  • Release date: 1968
  • Label: Heart Warming Records
  • Formats: LP
It's Happening
  • Release date: 1969
  • Label: Heart Warming Records
  • Formats: LP
Thanks
  • Release date: 1969
  • Label: Heart Warming Records
  • Formats: LP

1970s

TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart positions
US Country
[1]
US
[2]
CAN Country
[3]
Talk About the Good Times
  • Release date: 1970
  • Label: Heart Warming Records
  • Formats: LP
International
  • Release date: 1970
  • Label: Heart Warming Records
  • Formats: LP
Jesus Christ, What a Man
  • Release date: 1971
  • Label: Heart Warming Records
  • Formats: LP
Performance
  • Release date: 1971
  • Label: Heart Warming Records
  • Formats: LP
Light
  • Release date: 1972
  • Label: Heart Warming Records
  • Formats: LP
Street Gospel
  • Release date: 1973
  • Label: Heart Warming Records
  • Formats: LP, 8-track
The Lighthouse & Other
Gospel Hits
  • Release date: 1973
  • Label: Vista Records
  • Formats: LP, 8-track
Hymns
  • Release date: 1973
  • Label: Orb Records
  • Formats: LP, 8-track
The Oak Ridge Boys 38
Sky High
  • Release date: 1975
  • Label: Columbia Records
  • Formats: LP, 8-track
Old Fashioned, Down Home, Hand Clappin',
Foot Stompin', Southern Style,
Gospel Quartet Music
  • Release date: 1976
  • Label: Columbia Records
  • Formats: LP, 8-track
Live
  • Release date: 1977
  • Label: Rockland Road Records
  • Formats: LP, 8-track
Y'all Come Back Saloon
  • Release date: September 2, 1977
  • Label: Dot Records
  • Formats: LP, 8-track
8120
Room Service
  • Release date: May 25, 1978
  • Label: ABC Records
  • Formats: LP, 8-track
31642
The Oak Ridge Boys Have Arrived
  • Release date: March 30, 1979
  • Label: ABC Records
  • Formats: LP, 8-track
51
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

1980s

TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart positionsCertifications
(sales threshold)
US Country
US
CAN Country
CAN
[4]
Together
  • Release date: March 30, 1980
  • Label: MCA Records
  • Formats: LP, cassette, 8 Track
101541
Fancy Free
  • Release date: March 26, 1981
  • Label: MCA Records
  • Formats: LP, cassette, 8 Track
11446
Bobbie Sue
  • Release date: February 10, 1982
  • Label: MCA Records
  • Formats: LP, cassette, 8 Track
12027
  • CAN: Gold[7]
  • US: Gold
American Made
  • Release date: January 20, 1983
  • Label: MCA Records
  • Formats: LP, cassette, CD, 8 Track
251
  • US: Gold
Deliver
  • Release date: October 20, 1983
  • Label: MCA Records
  • Formats: LP, cassette, CD, 8 Track
1121
  • US: Gold
Step On Out
  • Release date: March 6, 1985
  • Label: MCA Records
  • Formats: LP, cassette, CD, 8 Track
3156
Seasons
  • Release date: March 25, 1986
  • Label: MCA Records
  • Formats: LP, cassette, CD, 8 Track
8
Where the Fast Lane Ends
  • Release date: February 10, 1987
  • Label: MCA Records
  • Formats: LP, cassette, CD, 8 Track
14
Heartbeat
  • Release date: September 30, 1987
  • Label: MCA Records
  • Formats: LP, cassette, CD, 8 Track
20
Monongahela
  • Release date: August 10, 1988
  • Label: MCA Records
  • Formats: LP, cassette, CD, 8 Track
9
American Dreams
  • Release date: August 30, 1989
  • Label: MCA Records
  • Formats: LP, cassette, CD
24
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

1990s

TitleAlbum detailsPeak positions
US Country
Unstoppable
  • Release date: April 9, 1991
  • Label: RCA Records
  • Formats: CD, cassette
41
The Long Haul
  • Release date: June 23, 1992
  • Label: RCA Records
  • Formats: CD, cassette
Revival
  • Release date: 1997
  • Label: Halsey Records
  • Formats: CD, cassette
Voices
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

2000s

TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart positions
US Country
US
US
Christ

[8]
From the Heart
  • Release date: May 22, 2001
  • Label: Spring Hill Records
  • Formats: CD, cassette
49
Colors
  • Release date: May 20, 2003
  • Label: Spring Hill Records
  • Formats: CD
53
The Journey
  • Release date: July 27, 2004
  • Label: Spring Hill Records
  • Formats: CD, music download
Common Thread
  • Release date: May 24, 2005
  • Label: Spring Hill Records
  • Formats: CD, music download
Front Row Seats
  • Release date: September 26, 2006
  • Label: Spring Hill Records
  • Formats: CD, music download
A Gospel Journey
  • Release date: April 21, 2009
  • Label: Gaither Music
  • Formats: CD, music download
2815614
The Boys Are Back
  • Release date: May 19, 2009
  • Label: Spring Hill Records
  • Formats: CD, music download
16774
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

2010s and 2020s

TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart positionsSales
US Country
US
US
Indie

[9]
US
Christ

It's Only Natural
  • Release date: September 19, 2011
  • Label: Cracker Barrel Music
  • Formats: CD
167011
Back Home Again: Gospel Favorites
  • Release date: May 22, 2012
  • Label: Gaither Music Group
  • Formats: CD, music download
2911
Rock of Ages, Hymns and Gospel Favorites
  • Release date: May 26, 2015
  • Label: Gaither Music Group
  • Formats: CD, music download
268
17th Avenue Revival[11]
  • Release date: March 16, 2018
  • Label: Lightning Rod Records
  • Formats: CD, digital download, LP
4410
Front Porch Singin
  • Release date: June 11, 2021
  • Label: Lightning Rod Records
  • Formats: CD, digital download, LP
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Compilation albums

TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart positionsCertifications /
Sales
US Country
US
CAN Country
The Sensational Oak Ridge Boys
  • Release date: 1975
  • Label: Gusto Records
  • Formats: LP, 8-track
The Best of The Oak Ridge Boys
  • Release date: 1978
  • Label: Columbia Records
  • Formats: LP, 8-track, cassette
22
Sing for Him
  • Release date: 1979
  • Label: Columbia Records
  • Formats: LP, 8-track
Greatest Hits
  • Release date: October 30, 1980
  • Label: MCA Records
  • Formats: LP, 8-track, cassette
59913
  • CAN: Gold[13]
  • US: Platinum
Greatest Hits 2
  • Release date: July 7, 1984
  • Label: MCA Records
  • Formats: LP, cassette
271
  • US: Platinum
Greatest Hits 3
  • Release date: April 28, 1989
  • Label: MCA Records
  • Formats: LP, cassette
22
The Oak Ridge Boys Collection
  • Release date: April 21, 1992
  • Label: MCA Records
  • Formats: CD, cassette
  • US: Gold
The Best of The Oak Ridge Boys
  • Release date: June 22, 1993
  • Label: RCA Records
  • Formats: CD, cassette
20th Century Masters:
The Millennium Collection
  • Release date: August 15, 2000
  • Label: MCA Records
  • Formats: CD, cassette
The Definitive Collection
  • Release date: August 15, 2006
  • Label: MCA Records
  • Formats: CD, music download
Gold
  • Release date: January 30, 2007
  • Label: MCA Records
  • Formats: CD, music download
40th Anniversary: 1973–2013
  • Release date: July 30, 2013
  • Label: Gaither Music Group
  • Formats: CD, music download
38
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Holiday albums

TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart positionsCertifications/
Sales
US Country
US
US
Indie

US
Christ

Christmas
  • Release date: September 23, 1982
  • Label: MCA Records
  • Formats: LP, cassette
973
  • US: Gold
Christmas Again
  • Release date: September 20, 1986
  • Label: MCA Records
  • Formats: LP, cassette
50
Country Christmas Eve
  • Release date: September 26, 1995
  • Label: Liberty Records
  • Formats: CD, cassette
An Inconvenient Christmas
  • Release date: October 15, 2002
  • Label: Spring Hill Records
  • Formats: CD
5827
Christmas Cookies
  • Release date: October 11, 2005
  • Label: Spring Hill Records
  • Formats: CD, music download
73
Christmas Time's A-Coming
  • Release date: September 25, 2012
  • Label: Gaither Music Group
  • Formats: CD, music download
5040
Celebrate Christmas[15]
  • Release date: October 21, 2016
  • Label: Gaither Music Group
  • Formats: CD, music download
4334
Down Home Christmas[17]
  • Release date: October 25, 2019
  • Label: Lightning Rod Records
  • Formats: CD, music download, LP
32
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Singles

1970s

YearSinglePeak chart positionsAlbum
US
Country

[19]
US
[20]
US
AC

CAN
Country

[21]
CAN
AC

[22]
AUS
1973"The Baptism of Jesse Taylor"The Oak Ridge Boys
1974"He's Gonna Smile on Me"
"Loves Me Like a Rock"
1975"Rhythm Guitar"Sky High
"Heaven Bound"The Best of the Oak Ridge Boys
1976"Where the Soul Never Dies"Old Fashioned, Down Home, Hand Clappin', Foot Stompin', Southern Style, Gospel Quartet Music
"Family Reunion"83The Best of the Oak Ridge Boys
"Whoever Finds This, I Love You"
1977"Y'all Come Back Saloon"32Y'all Come Back Saloon
"You're the One"21
1978"I'll Be True to You"11028
"Easy"28
"Cryin' Again"31071Room Service
"Come On In"33
1979"Sail Away"2291894The Oak Ridge Boys Have Arrived
"Dream On"745123
"Leaving Louisiana in the Broad Daylight"11
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

1980s

YearSinglePeak chart positionsCertifications
(sales threshold)
Album
US
Country

US
US
AC

CAN
Country

CAN
[23]
CAN
AC

AUSNZ
[24]
1980"Trying to Love Two Women"11Together
"Heart of Mine"3105493
"Beautiful You"327
1981"Elvira"158126138713
  • US: Platinum
Fancy Free
"(I'm Settin') Fancy Free"1104172
1982"Bobbie Sue"112191201Bobbie Sue
"So Fine"227616
"I Wish You Could Have Turned My Head (And Left My Heart Alone)"24
1983"American Made"17212American Made
"Love Song"11
"Ozark Mountain Jubilee"51Deliver
1984"I Guess It Never Hurts to Hurt Sometimes"1131
"Everyday"11Greatest Hits Volume 2
"Make My Life with You"11
1985"Little Things"11Step On Out
"Touch a Hand, Make a Friend"11
"Come On In (You Did the Best You Could Do)"31
1986"Juliet"1516Seasons
"You Made a Rock of a Rolling Stone"2420
1987"It Takes a Little Rain (To Make Love Grow)"11Where the Fast Lane Ends
"This Crazy Love"12
"Time In"1735Heartbeat
1988"True Heart"521
"Gonna Take a Lot of River"11Monongahela
"Bridges and Walls"1010
1989"Beyond Those Years"710
"An American Family"432American Dreams
"No Matter How High"11
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

1990s

YearSinglePeak chart
positions
Album
US Country
[25]
CAN Country
1990"Baby, You'll Be My Baby"7134American Dreams
"(You're My) Soul and Inspiration"3125My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys (soundtrack)
"Lucky Moon"62Unstoppable
1991"Change My Mind"70
"Baby on Board"4463
1992"Fall"6988The Long Haul
1999"Baby When Your Heart Breaks Down"Voices
"Ain't No Short Way Home"71
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

2000s

YearSingleAlbum
2001"Write Your Name Across My Heart"From the Heart
2003"Colors"Colors
"Glory Bound"
2004"Bad Case of Missing You"[26] The Journey
2005"Someplace Green"
2006"It's Hard to Be Cool (In a Minivan)"Front Row Seats
2007"Closer to Home"
"Did I Make a Difference"
2009"Seven Nation Army"The Boys Are Back
"Mama's Table"
2011"Whatcha Gonna Do"It's Only Natural
2015"Sweet Jesus"Rock of Ages, Hymns and Gospel Favorites
2018"Brand New Star"17th Avenue Revival
2018"Pray to Jesus"17th Avenue Revival
2019"Reindeer on the Roof"Down Home Christmas
2019 "Don't Go Pulling on Santa Claus' Beard"Down Home Christmas
2020"Amazing Grace"Down Home Christmas
2021"Love, Light & Healing"Front Porch Singin'
2021 "Life is Beautiful"Front Porch Singin'

Other singles

Christmas singles

YearSinglePeak chart
positions
Album
US Country
CAN Country
1982"Thank God for Kids"324Christmas
"Christmas Is Paintin' the Town"
2002"The Most Inconvenient Christmas"An Inconvenient Christmas
2005"Ordinary Days"Christmas Cookies
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Featured singles

YearSingleArtist(s)Peak chart
positions
Album
US Country
CAN Country
1973"Praise the Lord and Pass the Soup"Johnny Cash
(with Carter Family)
5765
1982"Same Ole Me"George Jones51Still the Same Ole Me
1986"When You Get to the Heart"Barbara Mandrell2033Get to the Heart

Promotional singles

YearSinglePeak chart
positions
Album
US Country
CAN Country
1979"Rhythm Guitar" (re-release)9472The Best of The Oak Ridge Boys
1987"Take Pride in America"Greatest Hits, Volume Three
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Music videos

YearTitleDirector
1977"Easy"
1982"So Fine"Sherman Halsey
"Thank God For Kids"Kenny Meyers
1983"Love Song"Paul Henman
"Ozark Mountain Jubilee" (Live)Mark Dice
1984"I Guess It Never Hurts to Hurt Sometimes"Dominic Orlando
"Everyday"Ken Walz
1985"Little Things"Patricia Birch
1986"Juliet"Scott Hello/Martha Holmes
1987"Take Pride in America"Dick Heard
1988"Gonna Take a Lot of River"Larry Boothby/Ken Walz
1989"Beyond Those Years"Larry Boothby
"No Matter How High"
1991"(You're My) Soul and Inspiration"Dean Lent
"Change My Mind"Larry Boothby
1992"Fall"Wayne Miller
1999"Ain't No Short Way Home"Tom Bevins
2001"Write Your Name Across My Heart"Eric Welch
2002"Winter Wonderland"Sherman Halsey
"The Most Inconvenient Christmas"
2004"Someplace Green"
2006"Hard to Be Cool (In a Minivan)"Steven L. Weaver
2009"Mama's Table"
2011"What'cha Gonna Do"Sherman Halsey
2012"Sacrifice For Me"
2015"Elvira" (with Home Free)
2017"Family Bible" (With Bradley Walker (singer))
2018"Brand New Star"Brandon Wood
"Pray To Jesus"
2019"Reindeer on the Roof"
"Elvira" (with Buck 22)
"Amazing Grace"Brandon Wood
2021"Love, Light, and Healing"

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Oak Ridge Boys : Chart History : Country Albums. Billboard.
  2. Web site: The Oak Ridge Boys : Chart History : Billboard 200. Billboard.
  3. Web site: Results - RPM - Library and Archives Canada - Country Albums/CDs. RPM. August 6, 2011.
  4. Web site: Results - RPM - Library and Archives Canada - Top Albums/CDs. RPM. August 6, 2011.
  5. Web site: Gold & Platinum Search - Music Canada - Fancy Free. Music Canada. August 6, 2011.
  6. Web site: RIAA - Recording Industry Association - Searchable Database. Recording Industry Association of America. August 6, 2011.
  7. Web site: Gold & Platinum Search - Music Canada - Bobbie Sue. Music Canada. August 6, 2011.
  8. Web site: The Oak Ridge Boys : Chart History : Top Christian Albums. Billboard.
  9. Web site: The Oak Ridge Boys : Chart History : Independent Albums. Billboard.
  10. News: Top 10 Country Albums Chart: February 16, 2016 . Matt . Bjorke . February 16, 2016 . Roughstock .
  11. Web site: 17th Avenue Revival - The Oak Ridge Boys . iTunes .
  12. News: Top 10 Country Albums Chart: February 20, 2019. Matt. Bjorke. February 20, 2019. Roughstock. March 1, 2019.
  13. Web site: Gold & Platinum Search - Music Canada - Greatest Hits. Music Canada. August 6, 2011.
  14. News: Special Report: Catalog Country Album Sales: October 2, 2016 . Matt . Bjorke . November 2, 2016 . Roughstock .
  15. Web site: Celebrate Christmas . iTunes.
  16. News: Top 10 Country Albums Chart: December 7, 2016 . Matt . Bjorke . December 7, 2016 . Roughstock.
  17. Web site: Down Home Christmas by The Oak Ridge Boys. NewReleaseToday. October 11, 2019.
  18. News: Top 10 Country Albums in Pure Sales: December 9, 2019 . December 9, 2019 . Matt . Bjorke. Roughstock . December 26, 2019.
  19. Web site: The Oak Ridge Boys : Allmusic : Billboard Singles. Allmusic. August 6, 2011.
  20. [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=the oak ridge boys|chart=all}} The Oak Ridge Boys Album & Song Chart History - Hot 100]. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. August 6, 2011.
  21. Web site: Results - RPM - Library and Archives Canada - Country Singles. RPM. August 6, 2011.
  22. Web site: Results - RPM - Library and Archives Canada - Adult Contemporary. RPM. August 6, 2011.
  23. Web site: Results - RPM - Library and Archives Canada - Top Singles. RPM. August 6, 2011.
  24. Web site: charts.nz - New Zealand charts portal. Hung Medien. August 6, 2011.
  25. [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=the oak ridge boys|chart=Country Songs}} The Oak Ridge Boys Album & Song Chart History - Country Songs]. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. August 6, 2011.
  26. Web site: Country - Going for Adds. Radio & Records. July 23, 2004.