My 100 Favorite Charted Country Songs: Then I Turned and Walked Slowly Away

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Welcome to the “dang, that’s a long title!” portion of the list. Look at the bright side, “Jeremiah Peabody’s Polyunsaturated Fast-Dissolving, Quick-Acting, Pleasant-Tasting Green and Purple Pills” ISN’T on the list! But this is, and it’s a guaranteed thumbs-down from most of you…and a “nope” from everyone else. But that’s okay, I like it! Then I Turned and Walked Slowly Away - Eddy Arnold The Tennessee Plowboy is back! He was also on the list with “Just Call Me Lonesome.” That was later in his career, way up in 1955! This goes back to 1948, when he almost literally owned the charts. From early1947 until early1949 there was only ONE person other than Eddy Arnold to have a #1 song (the streak breaker was Jimmy Wakely). That is some major success. Believe me, he had plenty of success to spare. I haven’t checked the most recent Whitburn to see if George Strait has overtaken him, but Eddy Arnold has always been the #1 singles artist in country music. He was also the first person to win “Entertainer of the Year” after being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame (Garth Brooks and Strait have both since accomplished that). Just to emphasize the point: this was the B-side of the single “A Heart Full of Love.” The A-side went to #1. This “only” managed to struggle to #2. This is pure heartbreak, so grab a beer to cry in. Then I Turned and Walked Slowly Away Written by Red Fortner Recorded by Eddy Arnold Released as a single, 1948 Peak chart position: #2 Today’s rock song: “Steppin’ Out” I watched through a mist in my eyes: