Texas-born songwriter Jim Collins has had his name all over the country music charts since the mid-1980s. First, as an artist with seven single releases to his credit, as well as a pair of albums, the latter of which was released via Arista Records in 1997 and charted two songs on the Billboard charts.
Soon after, Collins began a string of chart domination as a songwriter, penning hits and favorites by Jason Aldean, Kenny Chesney and George Strait, among many others. Most recently, Collins topped the charts with Scotty McCreery’s “Damn Strait” in 2022, continuing to build on a resumé that has already earned him a spot in the Texas Songwriter’s Hall of Fame.
With such an impressive catalog of songs, we asked Collins about songs he admires and wishes he had a hand in writing!
“If We Make It Through December”- Merle Haggard
I was touring with a rock band back in the mid-70s when someone turned me onto Merle Haggard. The first country album I ever bought was If We Make It Through December. Of course I loved Merle’s incredible voice, but the lyrics of the song really hit me. It was so honest and real. It was a game changer for a kid who only listened to rock and roll at the time.
“Sunday Morning Coming Down”- Kris Kristofferson
This is one of the greatest country songs ever written. “I woke up Sunday morning with no way to hold my head that didn’t hurt. And that beer I had for breakfast wasn’t bad, so I had one more for dessert.” I mean, come on! You can’t paint a better picture with words than that! 😊
My first publishing deal in Nashville was with EMI Publishing Company. The same publisher that Kristofferson had. I used to go to the old tape room after hours and listen to his original demos of songs like “Bobby McGee,” “For The Good Times” and others. In my opinion, he’s the best to ever do it.
Anything by the Beatles
But if I had to narrow it down, I’d say the song, “Yesterday” is my favorite. The melody and the lyrics are amazing and have stood the test of time.
“Mr. Bojangles”- Jerry Jeff Walker
I was born and raised in Texas, and Jerry Jeff songs used to be on every jukebox in every bar and honky tonk I played in. The first time I heard “Mr. Bojangles” by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, I thought to myself “how does someone write a song like that?” It was so original and real. Then I found out that Jerry Jeff Walker wrote it, and it blew me away. Supposedly, the story goes that Jerry Jeff got thrown in jail in New Orleans and wrote the song while sitting in his jail cell. I’m not sure if that’s true, but I hope it is [laughs].
Who could have guessed that many years later, I would have the honor of being inducted into the Texas Songwriter’s Hall of Fame in the same class as Jerry Jeff Walker. I took the opportunity to thank him for his music and for his influence on me and my career.
“The Chair”- Dean Dillon
What an incredible song! I remember exactly where I was the first time I heard it. I was driving down I-45 in Houston Texas when it came on the radio. I immediately turned it up to listen. The story line was so incredibly original that it sucked me right in. Then it had a surprise ending that I wasn’t expecting at all. That’s what a great song does: it takes you on a journey. It puts you in “that place” and makes you feel something. That’s something all songwriters should strive to do: write an original idea in a way that will live on forever.
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