Foreign Love | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | January 1958 | |||
Recorded | December 1957 | |||
Studio | RCA Studio | |||
Genre | ||||
Label | RCA Victor | |||
Producer | Chet Atkins | |||
Hank Locklin chronology | ||||
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Singles from Foreign Love | ||||
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Foreign Love is a studio album by American country singer-songwriter Hank Locklin. It was released in January 1958 via RCA Victor Records and was produced by Chet Atkins. It was the Locklin's debut studio album in his recording career. It was also a concept album that focused around the theme of love overseas. The album would be one of many Locklin concept records issued by RCA Victor until 1972. Foreign Love featured his major hit from 1957, "Geisha Girl." It was received favorably by critics in years following its release.
In 1955, Hank Locklin signed with the RCA Victor label. Under the production of Chet Atkins he had his biggest success, beginning with his first hit on the label in 1956. Atkins helped Locklin create a new musical style, backed by lush instrumentation that helped cement him with the Nashville Sound sub-genre of country music. Among these Nashville Sound hits was 1957's "Geisha Girl." The song became the inspiration for Locklin's debut studio album. Its chosen title was Foreign Love and would be a concept record, the first of many concept LP's Locklin would record at RCA. [2] The project was recorded mostly in December 1957 at the RCA Studio, located in Nashville, Tennessee. Not only produced by Chet Atkins, many of the record's guitar work was also done by Atkins. [3]
Foreign Love was described in the liner notes as a project that "captures all the excitement and wonder of a young American far away from home." [3] Its theme was meant to be marketed towards American servicemen overseas. [4] The album contained a total of 12 tracks, all of which had a similar "foreign" concept. It included the uptempo songs "Blue Grass Skirt" and the "Foreign Love Affair." The seventh track, "Geisha Girl," was Locklin's major hit from the previous year. [1] Many of the album's tracks featured songs about love affairs with women from different countries. Examples of this included "Filipino Baby," "Mexicali Rose," and "My Wild Irish Rose." [3] The latter tune was written by Cindy Walker. [1]
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Allmusic |
The album was inspired by the track, "Geisha Girl," which was the hit single off the album. [2] The song was released as a single in July 1957. Later that year, "Geisha Girl" became a top five hit, peaking at number four on the Billboard Hot Country and Western Sides chart. It was Locklin's second major country hit for RCA. [5] It was also his first single to reach a peak position on the Billboard Hot 100, climbing to number 66 in 1957. [6] Foreign Love was then released in January 1958, shortly after the single's success. [3] It was offered as a vinyl LP, containing six songs on each side of the record. [7] In later years, Foreign Love received positive reception from Allmusic. Reviewer Greg Adams gave the album three out of five stars. Adams found that Locklin's tenor voice was "ideally suited" to the mid-tempo tracks that were part of the record. "It's a winner almost all the way around," he wrote. [1]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Fraulein" | Lawton Williams | |
2. | "Lili Marlene" | ||
3. | "Foreign Love" | Williams | |
4. | "My Wild Irish Rose" | Chauncey Scott | |
5. | "Anna Marie" | Cindy Walker | |
6. | "Mademoiselle" | Ted Edlin |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Geisha Girl" | Williams | |
2. | "Blue Hawaii" | ||
3. | "Bluegrass Skirt" | Williams | |
4. | "Filipino Baby" |
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5. | "Foreign Love Affair" | Wayne Walker | |
6. | "Mexicali Rose" |
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All credits are adapted from the liner notes of Foreign Love. [3]
Musical personnel
Technical personnel
Region | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
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Canada | January 1958 | Vinyl | RCA Victor | [8] |
United States | [7] [3] | |||
Hank Locklin was an American country music singer-songwriter. He had 70 chart singles, including two number one hits on Billboard's country chart. His biggest hits included "Send Me the Pillow You Dream On" and his signature "Please Help Me, I'm Falling". The latter also went to number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music chart. Billboard's 100th anniversary issue listed it as the second most successful country single of the rock and roll era. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc by the RIAA.
The discography of American country singer-songwriter Hank Locklin contains 29 studio albums, 10 compilation albums, two box sets, 96 singles, two additionally-charting songs and one album appearance. He had his first hit with "The Same Sweet Girl" (1949) after signing with Four Star Records. The song reached the top ten of the Billboard country singles chart, peaking at number eight. A string of singles were released over the next several years that were not successful. With a leasing agreement administered by Decca Records, he had his next hit in 1953 with the number one song, "Let Me Be the One." Disappointed by label management, he switched to RCA Victor Records in 1955. Under the production of Chet Atkins, he had his biggest success. His next hit came with 1956's "Why Baby Why," which reached number nine on the country chart. Between 1957 and 1958, he had three top ten country hits: "Send Me the Pillow You Dream On," "Geisha Girl" and "It's a Little More Like Heaven." In 1958, he recorded among country music's first concept albums called Foreign Love. In 1960, Locklin released his biggest hit single, "Please Help Me, I'm Falling." Not only did it top the Billboard country singles chart, but it also reached number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 list. It was also one of several hits Locklin had in the United Kingdom, peaking at number nine on their pop chart.
Happy Journey is a studio album by American country singer–songwriter Hank Locklin. It was released in January 1962 via RCA Victor Records and was produced by Chet Atkins. Happy Journey was Locklin's third studio album released in his recording career. It contained a total of 12 tracks, three of which were hits on the country chart: "You're the Reason," "Happy Birthday to Me" and the title track. It included a combination of new recordings and cover versions of songs previously recorded by other artists.
A Tribute to Roy Acuff: The King of Country Music is a studio album by American country artist Hank Locklin. It was released in February 1962 via RCA Victor Records. It was co-was produced by Chet Atkins and Anita Kerr. The project was a tribute record to fellow country artist and Grand Ole Opry member Roy Acuff. It featured a collection of 12 songs recorded famously by Acuff up to that point in his own career. The album received positive reviews and reception from critics following its release.
Hank Locklin is a self-titled studio album by American country singer–songwriter Hank Locklin. It was released in March 1962 via RCA Camden records. It was Locklin's first album released on the RCA Camden label was co-produced by Chet Atkins and Steve Sholes. The album was Locklin's fifth proper studio effort, which compiled a handful of songs previously not released on albums. A total of 12 tracks were contained on the record. This included 1961 hit, "From Here to There to You."
This Song Is Just for You is a studio album by American country singer–songwriter Hank Locklin. It was released in May 1963 via RCA Camden records. The project was co-produced by Chet Atkins and Steve Sholes. This Song Is Just for You was Locklin's sixth studio album release and included songs recorded over the span of several years. It was also his second album to be released on the RCA Camden subsidiary label. The record featured four original singles, including the hits "One Step Ahead of My Past" and "Why Baby Why."
The Ways of Life is a studio album by American country singer–songwriter Hank Locklin. It was released in July 1963 via RCA Victor Records and was produced by Chet Atkins. The Ways of Life was Locklin's seventh studio album in his recording career and contained 12 tracks of new material. Among its songs was the song "We're Gonna Go Fishin'," which became a hit on the American country charts and abroad in the United Kingdom.
Irish Songs, Country Style is a studio album by American country singer–songwriter Hank Locklin. It was released in January 1964 via RCA Victor Records and was produced by Chet Atkins. Irish Songs, Country Style was a collection of traditional Irish songs recorded in a country fashion. It was one of several concept albums Locklin recorded during the course of his career. The album was largely inspired by his popularity in Ireland.
Hank Locklin Sings Hank Williams is a studio album by American country singer–songwriter Hank Locklin. It was released in September 1964 via RCA Victor Records. The record was co-produced by Chet Atkins and Bob Ferguson. The project was a tribute effort to Locklin's friend and fellow country artist Hank Williams. It was recorded with in an orchestral style that embodied Locklin's new Nashville Sound musical identity. It received mixed reviews from writers and critics.
Hank Locklin Sings Eddy Arnold is a studio album by American country singer–songwriter Hank Locklin. It was released in June 1965 via RCA Victor Records and was produced by Chet Atkins. The project was Locklin's tenth studio album and one of several concept albums he made during his career. The album was a collection of cover songs first recorded by Locklin's musical inspiration, Eddy Arnold. It included some of his biggest hits and most well-known songs. The collection received mixed reviews from critics and publications.
The Girls Get Prettier is a studio album by American country singer–songwriter Hank Locklin. It was released in May 1966 via RCA Victor Records and was produced by Chet Atkins. It was Locklin's thirteenth studio recording in his music career and contained two singles, one of which became a top forty hit in 1966. The album consisted of 12 tracks and received mixed reviews from music publications.
The Gloryland Way is a studio album by American country music singer–songwriter Hank Locklin. It was released in August 1966 via RCA Victor Records and was produced by Chet Atkins. It was Locklin's first studio release to contain entirely religious music, specifically gospel music. The project was also Locklin's fourteenth studio album. After its release, the album received positive reception from critics.
Send Me the Pillow You Dream On and Other Great Country Hits is a studio album by American country singer–songwriter Hank Locklin. It was released in March 1967 via RCA Victor Records and was produced by Chet Atkins. The project was Locklin's fifteenth studio recording released in his career and contained twelve tracks. This included a re-recording of the title track, which was among Locklin's biggest hits. The album received positive reception from critics following its release.
Nashville Women is a studio album by American country singer–songwriter Hank Locklin. It was released in August 1967 via RCA Victor Records and was produced by Chet Atkins. Nashville Women was Locklin's sixteenth studio recording and contained 12 tracks. Three of the album's tracks were singles that became minor hits on the country chart in 1967. The album itself would also chart following its release. Nashville Women would receive positive reviews from critics and music publications.
Country Hall of Fame is a studio album by American country singer–songwriter Hank Locklin. It was released in February 1968 via RCA Victor Records and contained 12 tracks. The album was co-produced by Chet Atkins and Felton Jarvis. The album's name was derived from its single of the same, which became Locklin's first major hit in several years. It would also be his seventeenth studio recording released in his career and one of many to be produced by Chet Atkins. Country Hall of Fame received positive reviews from writers and publications.
My Love Song for You is a studio album by American country singer–songwriter Hank Locklin. It was released in August 1968 via RCA Victor Records and contained 12 tracks. It was co-produced by Chet Atkins and Danny Davis. My Love Song for You was Locklin's eighteenth studio album released in his career and his second album to be released in 1968. The record included two singles, which became charting singles on the Billboard country chart. The album itself would also chart and receive positive reviews from music publications.
Softly is a studio album by American country singer–songwriter Hank Locklin. It was released in December 1968 via RCA Victor Records and contained 11 tracks. The album was co-produced by Chet Atkins and Danny Davis. Softly was Locklin's nineteenth studio album released in his career and third to be released in 1968. It contained one single, "Where the Blue of the Night Meets the Gold of the Day." The song became a charting single in 1969. The album itself would also reach a charting position following its original release.
Hank Locklin & Danny Davis & the Nashville Brass is a studio album by American country music artist Hank Locklin, American record producer Danny Davis and session band named the Nashville Brass. It was released in March 1970 via RCA Victor Records and was produced by Davis as well. Consisting of 11 tracks, the album featured re-recordings of former hits and songs by other artists. It included brass instrumentation by the Nashville Brass session group. It also spawned two singles between 1969 and 1970.
Bless Her Heart...I Love Her is a studio album by American country music singer–songwriter Hank Locklin. It was released in August 1970 and was produced by Danny Davis. It was Locklin's twenty second studio release in his music career and contained a total of ten tracks.
The Mayor of McLellan, Florida is a studio album by American country music singer–songwriter Hank Locklin. It was released in November 1972 via RCA Victor Records. Consisting of ten tracks, the album was co-produced by Chet Atkins, Jerry Bradley, Danny Davis and Ronny Light. It was Locklin's final studio release for the RCA Victor label and contained among his final single releases.