Connie Smith Sings Great Sacred Songs | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | June 1966 | |||
Recorded | February 24–28, 1966 | |||
Studio | RCA Studio B | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 29:06 | |||
Label | RCA Victor | |||
Producer | Bob Ferguson | |||
Connie Smith chronology | ||||
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Connie Smith Sings Great Sacred Songs is the fourth studio album by American country singer Connie Smith. It was released in June 1966 by RCA Victor and contained 12 tracks. It was also her first collection of gospel songs. The project included covers of popular gospel selections including "Father Along" and "Just a Closer Walk with Thee". The disc reached the top 20 of Billboard country albums chart in 1966.
Connie Smith launched her career in 1964 with her debut single called "Once a Day", which topped the American country songs chart for eight weeks. [2] With three commercially-successful country music albums, Smith went into RCA Studio B in February 1966 to record her first album of gospel songs. The album was named Connie Smith Sings Great Sacred Songs because Smith wanted to avoid recording songs with gospel-style piano. "The way it turned out was country songs with sacred words and that's why it's called 'Great Sacred Songs'," she told author Colin Escott. [3] Later in her career, Smith would become more religious and record more gospel material. [2] Reflecting on her first gospel project, Smith said, "At that point I'd say I believed in God, but I was not a Christian." [3]
The project was recorded between February 24 and February 28, 1966 with producer Bob Ferguson. A total of twelve tracks comprised the album. [4] The album mainly included covers of gospel selections and hymns. Among these songs was "I Saw a Man", which originally appeared on Johnny Cash's 1959 LP Hymns by Johnny Cash . Also included was Ferguson's self-penned "Wings of a Dove". According to writer Colin Escott, Smith was "the first to sing all three verses" of the song. [3] Also included on the album were the original gospel hymns "Just a Closer Walk with Thee" and "Wayfaring Pilgrim". [4]
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Allmusic |
Connie Smith Sings Great Sacred Songs was originally released in June 1966 on RCA Victor Records. It was Smith's fourth studio album issued in her career. The disc was first issued as a vinyl LP containing six songs on either side of the record. [4] Decades later, the album was re-issued to digital and streaming sites such as Apple Music. [5] Following its original release, the disc spent 12 weeks on the Billboard magazine Country LP's and peaked at number 19 in October 1966. [6] The album was received positively by Billboard magazine who commented, "The spirit is with her when she does these sides, some of which have Jake Hess and the Imperials, big sellers in the religious field." [7] AllMusic rated the album four out of five possible stars. [1]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Satisfied" | Martha Carson | 2:12 |
2. | "When God Dips His Love in My Heart" |
| 2:19 |
3. | "Farther Along" |
| 2:45 |
4. | "Where Could I Go But to the Lord" | James B. Coats | 2:17 |
5. | "I Wouldn't Take Nothing from My Journey Now" |
| 1:51 |
6. | "I Saw a Man" | Arthur Q. Smith | 2:42 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Wayfaring Pilgrim" | Traditional | 3:19 |
2. | "In the Garden" |
| 2:41 |
3. | "Wings of a Dove" | Bob Ferguson | 1:52 |
4. | "Keep on Holding to Those Nail Scarred Hands" | Henry Slaughter | 2:21 |
5. | "He Set Me Free" | Albert E. Brumley | 2:09 |
6. | "Just a Closer Walk with Thee" | Traditional | 2:38 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Satisfied" | Carson | 2:12 |
2. | "When God Dips His Love in My Heart" |
| 2:19 |
3. | "Farther Along" |
| 2:45 |
4. | "Where Could I Go But to the Lord" | James B. Coats | 2:17 |
5. | "I Wouldn't Take Nothing from My Journey Now" |
| 1:51 |
6. | "I Saw a Man" | Arthur Q. Smith | 2:42 |
7. | "Wayfaring Pilgrim" | Traditional | 3:19 |
8. | "In the Garden" |
| 2:41 |
9. | "Wings of a Dove" | Bob Ferguson | 1:52 |
10. | "Keep on Holding to Those Nail Scarred Hands" | Henry Slaughter | 2:21 |
11. | "He Set Me Free" | Brumley | 2:09 |
12. | "Just a Closer Walk with Thee" | Traditional | 2:38 |
All credits are adapted from the liner notes of Connie Smith Sings Great Sacred Songs. [4]
Musical personnel
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|
Chart (1966) | Peak position |
---|---|
US Top Country Albums (Billboard) [8] | 19 |
Region | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
North America | June 1966 | Vinyl | RCA Victor Records | [4] |
2010s |
| Sony Music Entertainment | [5] | |
Connie Smith is an American country music singer and songwriter. Her contralto vocals have been described by music writers as significant and influential to the women of country music. A similarity has been noted between her vocal style and the stylings of country vocalist Patsy Cline. Other performers have cited Smith as influence on their own singing styles, which has been reflected in quotes and interviews over the years.
Cute 'n' Country is the second studio album by American country music artist Connie Smith. It was released in October 1965 by RCA Victor and contained 12 tracks. Cute 'n' Country contained a mixture of original songs and cover versions by other country artists. Featured on the album was the top ten single "I Can't Remember". Cute 'n' Country was Smith's second album to top the Billboard country LP's chart.
Miss Smith Goes to Nashville is the third studio album by American country singer Connie Smith. It was released in March 1966 by RCA Victor and contained 12 tracks. The album contained original material including several tracks penned by Smith's mentor Bill Anderson. Miss Smith Goes to Nashville reached number two on the country LP's chart in 1966 and included the top five singles "Nobody But a Fool " and "If I Talk to Him".
Born to Sing is the fifth studio album by American country singer Connie Smith. It was released in September 1966 by RCA Victor and contained 12 tracks. The album was her first to include string instrumentation. It reached the top five of the Billboard Country LP's chart and included the single "Ain't Had No Lovin'".
Downtown Country is the sixth studio album by American country singer Connie Smith. It was released in January 1967 by RCA Victor. Downtown Country was the second of Smith's albums to include string instrumentation to help create a pop-influenced sound. The album also featured the single "The Hurtin's All Over", which reached the top five of the Billboard country chart. The album itself reached the top five of Country LP's chart following its initial release.
Connie in the Country is the seventh studio album by American country singer Connie Smith. It was released in February 1967 on RCA Camden and contained ten tracks. It was her first to be released on RCA's budget Camden label. Unlike most RCA Camden albums which often contained previously issued material, the album consisted of new recordings for Smith's catalog. This included the single, "Cry, Cry, Cry", which was a top 20 hit on the American country songs chart in 1968.
Connie Smith Sings Bill Anderson is the eighth studio album by American country singer Connie Smith. It was released in May 1967 by RCA Victor and featured 12 tracks. The album was dedicated to her mentor, Bill Anderson. It contained several songs made popular by Anderson himself, along with several tracks made popular by other performers. It also included the newly-recorded "Cincinnati, Ohio". Smith released her version as a single, which climbed into the top five of the American country songs charts. The album received favorable reviews following its release.
The Best of Connie Smith is a compilation album by American country singer Connie Smith. It was released in September 1967 by RCA Victor and featured 12 tracks. The disc was Smith's first compilation project released in her career and featured her most popular singles made commercially successful between 1964 and 1967. It also featured one new recording titled "I'll Come Runnin'". Penned by Smith herself and released as a single, the song became a top ten hit on the American country songs chart in 1967.
Soul of Country Music is the ninth studio album by American country singer Connie Smith. It was released in December 1967 by RCA Victor and contained 12 tracks. The album included mostly covers of previously-recorded songs. It received mixed reviews from critics following its release and reached the top ten of the American country albums chart.
I Love Charley Brown is the tenth studio album by American country singer Connie Smith, released in April 1968 by RCA Victor. The album reached the top 20 of the American country albums chart. It was described as a collection of pop-inspired country songs. Included were four cuts written by Smith's longtime songwriting collaborator, Dallas Frazier. Among his cuts was one of the album's three singles, "Run Away Little Tears". Along with Frazier's cut, the two additional singles included reached the top ten of the American country songs chart. The album was met with favorable reviews from critics.
Back in Baby's Arms is the thirteenth solo studio album by American country singer Connie Smith, released in October 1969 by RCA Victor. The album contained a mixture of both new recordings and cover versions of previously-recorded material. Back in Baby's Arms reached the top 20 of the American country albums chart in 1969 and received a four-star rating from AllMusic.
Sunday Morning with Nat Stuckey and Connie Smith is the second collaborative studio album by American country artists Nat Stuckey and Connie Smith, released in January 1970 by RCA Victor. The album was a collection of country gospel songs performed as duets by both artists and the pair's first album of religious music. Included was the song "If God Is Dead ". Released as a single, the song charted in the top 60 of the American country chart in 1970. The album received a positive review from Billboard magazine following its release. In 2002, the album was re-released under the title God Will and included a twelfth track.
I Never Once Stopped Loving You is the fourteenth solo studio album by American country singer Connie Smith, released in September 1970 by RCA Victor. The collection mixed original material with covers of previously-recorded songs. Three singles were included on the album: "You and Your Sweet Love", the title track and "Louisiana Man". Both "You and Your Sweet Love" and the title track reached the top ten on the American country songs chart in 1970. The album itself charted in the top 20 of the American country LP's survey. Billboard magazine gave the LP a positive response following its original release.
Where Is My Castle is the fifteenth solo studio album by American country singer Connie Smith, released in January 1971 by RCA Victor. The album was described as a set of a traditional country songs and were considered to be autobiographical of Smith's life at the time. The disc's title track was released as a single in 1970 and reached the top 20 of the North American country charts. The album itself would chart in the top 40 of the American country LP's chart. Following its release, Billboard magazine gave it a positive review.
Just One Time is the sixteenth solo studio album by American country singer Connie Smith, released in June 1971 by RCA Victor. The album was named for the lead single of the same name, which reached the top five of the North American country charts in 1971. The album itself would chart in the top 20 of the American country LP's chart following its release. Additionally, Billboard magazine gave the project a positive reception when reviewing it in 1971.
Come Along and Walk with Me is seventeenth solo studio album by American country singer Connie Smith, released in October 1971 by RCA Victor. The album was Smith’s third collection of gospel songs. The disc included original songs and covers of songs first cut by other artists. Among the song included on the project were three by gospel performer Dottie Rambo. Following its release, Billboard gave the album a positive review.
"If It Ain't Love" and Other Great Dallas Frazier Songs is nineteenth solo studio album by American country singer Connie Smith, released in July 1972 by RCA Victor. The album is a collection of songs composed by songwriter Dallas Frazier. Three of these songs were duets between Smith and Frazier himself. The album's title track was spawned as a single in 1972 and reached the top ten of the American country chart. The album itself reached the top 20 of the American country LP's chart and it received a positive review from Billboard magazine.
Connie Smith Sings Hank Williams Gospel is the twenty-fifth solo studio album by American country singer Connie Smith. It was released in May 1975 via Columbia Records and contained 11 tracks. The project was a tribute to Hank Williams and was considered the first tribute gospel album of his material. Smith had found over half of the album's material through previously-unreleased recordings. The album would make a brief chart appearance on the American Country LP's survey in 1975.
The albums discography of Connie Smith, an American country artist, consists of 40 studio albums, one live album, 14 compilation albums, three box sets, and 26 other appearances. After the success of her 1964 single "Once a Day", Smith's self-titled debut album was released in March 1965 on RCA Victor Records. The album reached number one on the Billboard Top Country Albums, spending thirty weeks on the chart, while also becoming her only album to reach the Billboard 200 list (#105). Smith's next two secular albums, Cute 'n' Country and Miss Smith Goes to Nashville went to number one and number two respectively between 1965 and 1966. In September 1966 Smith released her fifth studio album, Born to Sing, which was her third album to reach the top spot on the Billboard country albums chart. Due to Smith's popularity, RCA Victor issued five albums between 1967 and 1968 including Downtown Country (1967), Connie Smith Sings Bill Anderson (1967), and I Love Charley Brown (1968). In 1969, Smith collaborated with country artist Nat Stuckey on the album Young Love.
"Tiny Blue Transistor Radio" is a song written by Bill Anderson that was originally recorded by American country music singer Connie Smith. It was released as the B-side to her 1965 single, "Then and Only Then". "Tiny Blue Transistor Radio" also became a charting country single, peaking within the top 40 of the national country survey in 1965.