A Woman | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | February 1979 | |||
Recorded | January – December 1978 | |||
Studio | Columbia Recording Studio | |||
Genre | ||||
Label | Warner Bros. | |||
Producer | Norro Wilson | |||
Margo Smith chronology | ||||
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Singles from A Woman | ||||
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A Woman is a studio album by American country music artist Margo Smith. It was released in February 1979 via Warner Bros. Records and contained ten tracks. It was the sixth studio release of Smith's music career and spawned two singles: "Still a Woman" and "If I Give My Heart to You." Both songs became major hits on the country charts in 1979. The album itself also reached charting positions following its release. A Woman received mixed reviews from music writers and journalists.
By 1979, Margo Smith had several major hits on the Billboard country chart, including the number one songs "Don't Break the Heart That Loves You" and "It Only Hurts for a Little While." [2] However, she was beginning to feel unsure of musical identity. In a 1979 interview with Billboard magazine, Smith explained that she had not found a song that set her apart from other female country artists: "Song like 'Little Things Mean a Lot,' 'Don't Break the Heart That Loves You' and 'It Only Hurts for a Little While' are really my kind of songs, my style, but people can't remember you by that. You almost have to have a 'Coal Miner's Daughter' or Divorce-type song before you can establish yourself to the people." [3]
Smith recorded the tracks for A Woman between January and December 1978. Sessions were held at the Columbia Recording Studio in Nashville, Tennessee. The sessions were produced by Norro Wilson, Smith's long-time producer at Warner Bros. Records. The album contained ten tracks. [4] The album's concept was built off the title track, "Still a Woman," which Smith co-wrote with Mack David and Norro Wilson. The song (and album) was meant to marketed towards middle-aged women and mothers, according to Smith. [3] She also wrote three additional tracks for the project. This included "You're the Song," which is a recitation. Also included on the album are cover versions of pop hits, such as Doris Day's "If I Give My Heart to You" and Classics IV's "Traces." [1]
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
A Woman was released in February 1979 on Warner Bros. Records. Its release marked the sixth studio album of Smith's music career and her fourth for the Warner label. [4] [3] The album was distributed as a vinyl LP with five songs on either side of the record. [4] A Woman later reached number 36 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart, becoming her third-highest LP to peak there. [5] In Canada, it became Smith's first album to reach the RPM Country Albums chart In 1979, the LP reached number 20 on the survey. [6]
The project also spawned two singles that were released in 1979 and became major hits. [7] Its first single was "Still a Woman," which was released on Warner Bros. in January 1979. [8] The song reached the top ten of the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, climbing to number seven later that year. [7] In May 1979, "If I Give My Heart to You" was released as the album's second single. [9] The song peaked at number ten on the Billboard country singles chart, becoming her final top ten in her career. [7] Both singles also charted on the RPM Country Singles chart in Canada, with "Still a Woman" becoming the highest-charting hit there, climbing to number 17. [10]
A Woman received mixed reviews from writers and critics following its release. Sally Hinkle of Billboard magazine gave the record a favorable response in an article discussing the album. In her write-up, Hinkle observed a change in Smith's musical persona, which she noted in the album itself: "With the release of Margo Smith's latest Warner Bros. album, A Woman, some dramatic changes are in the making for the singer/songwriter. [3] Greg Adams of AllMusic compared songs like "Still a Woman" to that of Lou Reed's "Walk on the Wild Side," calling the bass riff "oddly borrowed." However, he concluded in a positive way, stating, "A Woman is slick but not sterile, has a cast of well-known players, and displays a mildly adventurous spirit." [1]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Still a Woman" |
| 3:25 |
2. | "If I Give My Heart to You" | 2:36 | |
3. | "The Belle of Buttercup Lane" |
| 3:32 |
4. | "Don't You Love Me Anymore" |
| 2:17 |
5. | "My Greatest Sin" |
| 3:17 |
All credits are adapted from the liner notes of A Woman. [4]
Musical personnel
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Technical personnel
Chart (1979) | Peak position |
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Canada Country Albums/CDs ( RPM ) [6] | 20 |
US Top Country Albums ( Billboard ) [5] | 36 |
Region | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
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United States | February 1979 | Vinyl | Warner Bros. Records | [4] |
"Save Your Kisses for Me" was the winning song of the Eurovision Song Contest 1976, performed for the United Kingdom by Brotherhood of Man in The Hague, Netherlands. The lyrics and music were written by Tony Hiller, Lee Sheriden, and Martin Lee, the latter two being members of the band. The song became a worldwide hit, reaching No. 1 in many countries, including the UK, where it became the biggest-selling song of the year. Overall, it remains one of the biggest-selling Eurovision winners ever, and the biggest such seller in the UK.
Margo Smith was an American country and Christian music singer–songwriter. She had several years of country success during the 1970s, which included two number one hits on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. In the 1990s, she transitioned towards the Christian market and issued two successful albums. She is also known for her yodeling vocal skills and is often referred to as "The Tennessee Yodeler".
American country music artist Margo Smith has released 18 studio albums, two compilation albums, 37 singles and appeared on three albums. She signed her first recording contract with 20th Century Fox Records in 1975. That year, she had her first major hit with "There I Said It." The song reached the top ten of the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and was followed by her self-titled album. The label closed its doors and she signed to Warner Bros. Records in 1976. She had several more hits, including the top ten "Take My Breath Away." She released two more albums, including Song Bird (1976), which reached the top 40 of the Billboard Top Country Albums list. In 1978, Smith had her biggest commercial success with the number one hits "Don't Break the Heart That Loves You" and "It Only Hurts for a Little While." The hits were included on a 1977 studio album that reached the top 30.
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"Still a Woman" is a song co-written and released as a single by American country artist Margo Smith. It was one of several top ten country hits Smith would enjoy during the late 1970s. The song was the first single released from her 1979 album entitled A Woman. "Still a Woman" signified Smith's transition towards a sexually-charged persona. It has also been considered one of country music's first songs to characterize the point of view of a middle-aged woman.
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