Number 20 on the list takes us to the honky-tonks of Texas with Urban Cowboy (1980). This one’s a weird entry for me—I first saw it at the drive-in when I was only five. My mom took me, my two brothers, and a couple of their friends. I remember the bar scenes being a blast, Debra Winger getting beat up (though I couldn’t tell you by who—I think I blocked it), and somehow already knowing the words to a few of the songs. The story itself plays out like its own country song—love found, love lost, bad decisions, and a mechanical bull in the middle of it all. It’s part romance, part rodeo, part barroom brawl—and all wrapped in a soundtrack that’s pure early-’80s country gold. It even kicked off the whole “cowboy chic” craze—suddenly everyone wanted pearl-snap shirts, a big belt buckle, and a hat that could survive a spin on the mechanical bull.
And what a soundtrack it is—packed with the era’s biggest country stars. Johnny Lee’s “Lookin’ for Love” became the movie’s signature hit, while Mickey Gilley’s “Stand by Me” gave the old Ben E. King classic a Texas two-step twist. You’ve also got Charlie Daniels Band’s “The Devil Went Down to Georgia,” Anne Murray’s “Could I Have This Dance,” and Bonnie Raitt’s “Don’t It Make You Wanna Dance.” It’s the kind of playlist that could soundtrack a Friday night at Gilley’s or a long drive down a dusty backroad. Every song fits the movie’s mix of romance, heartbreak, and honky-tonk swagger—making Urban Cowboy less of a film with a soundtrack and more of a country jukebox come to life.
I’ll be linking to each soundtrack’s Wikipedia page if you want to dig deeper, rediscover the track listings, or argue with your own memory of what played during that prom scene.
And don’t worry — this won’t be the last time we visit movie soundtracks. 🎶
20. Urban Cowboy (1980):
The Trailer:
My Soundtrack Picks:
Hello Texas – Jimmy Buffett:
Could I Have This Dance:
Eagles – Lyin’ Eyes (Official Audio):
Stand by Me:
Lookin’ for Love:
Love The World Away:
This is an open thread
