This No. 1 hit sat in a basement for 12 years before it ever topped the charts. Sometimes the biggest songs just need the perfect storm.

Since the advent of commercial country music, Nashville has run as its own sealed-off, efficient machine -- a whole major local industry dedicated entirely to cranking out a specific kind of hit song.

Among these crossover hits were the title song to the Clint Eastwood film Every Which Way But Loose (No. 30, 1979), “Suspicions” (No. 13, 1979), and “Drivin’ My Life Away” (No. 5, 1980). [RELATED: On ...

After penning hits for artists like Elvis Presley and Ronnie Milsap, Eddie Rabbitt decided to switch to recording. He found success in that realm as well with rockabilly-tinged songs such as “Drivin’ ...