It’s no secret that the Turnpike Troubadours are one of the best bands in country music. As one of the forefathers of the red dirt revival that we are currently experiencing in the indie scene, the Oklahoma band has reached legend status despite not having the mainstream success that others have. From Zach Bryan to Flatland Cavalry to Wyatt Flores, Turnpike has influenced some of the most popular acts in the alt-country world.
I should preface this ranking by saying that I don’t think Turnpike has released a bad or even mediocre song; this list aims to rank them moreso by least to most memorable given that the quality of their music doesn’t warrant a song being listed as the “worst.”
It should also be noted that I decided not to include their 2005 album, Bossier City, given that it is not available to stream. Without further ado, let’s get into the ranking.
57. Black Sky
56. 7 Oaks
55. Call a Spade a Spade
54. Long Drive Home
53. Lucille
52. Leaving & Lonely
51. A Cat in the Rain
50. Time of Day
49. The Winding Stair Mountain Blues
48. Easton & Main
47. Wrecked
46. Won’t You Give Me One More Chance
45. The Hard Way
44. Blue Star
43. Quit While I’m Ahead
42. Down Here
41. Oklahoma Stars
40. Mean Old Sun
39. Come as You Are
38. Long Hot Summer Day
(fully aware this position may ruffle some feathers)
37. Chipping Mill
36. Pipe Bomb Dream
35. The Rut
34. Something to Hold on To
33. Brought Me
32. Southeastern Son
31. East Side Love Song (Bottoms Up)
30. Sunday Morning Paper
29. Bossier City
28. Whole Damn Town
27. Gin, Smoke, Lies
26. Down on Washington
25. Three More Days
24. Doreen
23. The Housefire
22. Morgan Street
21. Every Girl
20. Gone Gone Gone
19. The Bird Hunters
18. 1968
17. Fall out of Love
16. Evangeline
15. Kansas City Southern
14. Shreveport
13. Unrung
12. The Funeral
11. A Little Song
10. Before The Devil Knows We’re Dead
“Before The Devil Knows We’re Dead” is one of those songs that capture everything that makes Turnpike special. The first thing that obviously stands out on a first listen is the production. Every member of the band is firing on all cylinders from Kyle Nix’s fiddle to Ryan Engleman on electric guitar.
From a lyrical standpoint, it’s often one of their most underrated tracks. Using a variation of the old Irish saying in the chorus, Felker celebrates living life to its fullest despite using some macabre imagery in the verses. The way he balances three separate storylines in the aforementioned verses while simultaneously connecting them back to the chorus is brilliant.
9. Old Time Feeling (Like Before)
Between the mellow, twangy production and Evan Felker, RC Edwards and Johnny Burke’s lyrics, “Old Time Feeling (Like Before)” does an incredible job painting a scene of melancholy. Despite its subject matter being fairly common to the genre, the track captures a feeling of longing for a past love better than nearly any song before it.
8. The Mercury
An absolute barn-burner from start to finish, “The Mercury” is one of the most fun songs in Turnpike’s discography. Between the rockin’ production and the expertly crafted description of the titular Mercury Lounge, the track is simply infectious. It also gets bonus points for continuing the story of Lorrie in another song.
7. Good Lord Lorrie
Easily one of the most popular tracks in their discography, “Good Lord Lorrie” is undoubtedly one of their finest songs to date. The amount of subtle world-building present in this song, from introducing the character of Lorrie who will reappear in many songs throughout the following albums to providing details like having to go to the next town over to buy liquor, is top-notch.
6. Ringing in the Year
For anyone who has gone through a breakup during the holidays, “Ringing in the Year” will probably feel like it was written just for you (I know it did for me last year). Personally, I feel the track contains one of Felker’s most quotable lyrics, “Cheap champagne don’t dull the pain of ringing in the year, wondering if you think of me at all.” I’d be lying if I haven’t quoted that a time or two.
“Ringing in the Year” also contains one of the most underrated vocal performances from Felker. It’s not one of the most impressive vocal performances of all time; however, but the subtle inflections he has throughout the song, especially in the bridge where he sings, “Two Roman candles cut across a January sky,” are filled with such passion.
5. Diamonds & Gasoline
Is it a stretch to say that “Diamonds & Gasoline” is one of the greatest country love songs ever? Maybe. However, there is no denying just how gorgeous the track is. Like many great love songs before it, “Diamonds & Gasoline” does a brilliant job of balancing longing and loving. It feels equally as passionate as it does self-critical with lyrics such as “If I can’t afford you, darling, then I can’t afford to dream” bringing this sense of confliction together beautifully.
4. Empty As a Drum
Often overlooked, “Empty As a Drum” is one of Felkers best-written songs. He does such a wonderful job subtly creating suspense in this song. The way he sets the scene at the bar, describing the bartender, patrons and the woman he’s waiting on puts you directly into his shoes. Like him, you begin to anxiously wait for her to show up.
He wraps this song up brilliantly by quickly and unceremoniously depicting her walking in like nothing happened. The juxtaposition between Felker’s overthinking and her casualness in the situation serves as a great depiction of how anxiety and passion manifest in even the most mundane settings.
3. A Tornado Warning
Though comparing love to the weather has been done time and time before, “A Tornado Warning” really sets the bar high for this type of metaphor. Felker’s use of concrete imagery, whether it’s tan legs checkered from a folding chair, hailstone hitting tin or country music playing in the kitchen, sets the scene beautifully and makes it feel like you’re sitting on the front porch while the titular tornado rolls in.
2. 7 & 7
On paper, “7 & 7” is as perfect as a country song can get, filled to the brim with everything that makes the genre what it is. From the iconic electric guitar intro to Felker’s beautifully penned lyrics to Kyle Nix’s fiddle running throughout the track, “7 & 7” is everything you want from a country song. The contrast between the production and Felker’s lyrics full of nostalgia and regret pair beautifully.
1. Pay No Rent
Coming in at #1 is none other than Turnpike’s sleeper hit, “Pay No Rent.” Though it might not be as iconic as “7 & 7” and “Diamonds & Gasoline,” I’ve always found the track to be one of the most honest songs Evan Felker has ever written. It’s the perfect post-breakup track and ultimately says what a lot of us feel about our past loves.