I'm Not Easy | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | November 1976 | |||
Recorded | July 1976 | |||
Studio | Jack Clement Recording Studio | |||
Genre | Country [1] | |||
Label | United Artists | |||
Producer | Larry Butler | |||
Billie Jo Spears chronology | ||||
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Singles from I'm Not Easy | ||||
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I'm Not Easy is a studio album by American country artist Billie Jo Spears. It was released in November 1976 via United Artists Records and contained 11 tracks. The disc featured many ballads, along with some uptempo tracks. Of its tracks, two singles were spawned: "Never Did Like Whiskey" and the title track. Both reached top 20 positions on the American country charts between 1976 and 1977. The disc itself charted on the American country albums chart and received mainly positive reviews from music publications.
Billie Jo Spears first had success with 1969's "Mr. Walker, It's All Over", but really broke through in 1975 with the chart-topping "Blanket on the Ground". The song set forth a series of top ten and top 20 singles that Spears had through 1980. [2] The United Artists label would also issue a series of studio albums of Spears's material during the decade, including 1976's I'm Not Easy. [3] The project was recorded in July 1976 at the Jack Clement Recording Studio in Nashville, Tennessee. Sessions were produced by Larry Butler. [4]
I'm Not Easy consisted of 11 tracks. Several songs on the project were both ballads and cover tunes. This included Elvis Presley's "Heartbreak Hotel" [1] and two Dottie West covers: "Here Comes My Baby Back Again" and "Every Word I Write". [5] Also featured are covers of Barbara Mandrell's single "That's What Friends Are For" [6] and a song that first appeared on an album by Tammy Wynette titled "Too Far Gone". [7] Original songs on the project included the title track, "Never Did Like Whiskey", "No Other Man" and "Is I Love You That Easy to Say". [4]
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [1] |
I'm Not Easy was released by United Artists Records in October 1976. It was originally distributed as a vinyl LP with five songs on each side of the disc. It was the eleventh studio album of Spears's career. [4] The album received mostly positive reviews from critics and music publications. Billboard commented that "Spears scores an impressive performance" with each track. They also praised the album's production: "Each selection is tackled in a fresh, powerful and heartfelt manner." [8] Cashbox positively commented, "Billie Jo makes each her own distinctive, message, with production by Larry Butler." [5]
AllMusic's Greg Adams concluded that "a lot of big names contributed to this album in one way or another, but in the end it is the performances of Spears that elevate I'm Not Easy above the fray." [1] Alan Cackett of Country Music People magazine gave the project a less favorable review in 1978: "Containing as it did three hit singles, you would think that this would have been a great album, but it featured disappointingly poor versions of songs made famous by others." [3]
I'm Not Easy debuted on America's Billboard Top Country Albums chart in December 1976. It spent a total of 13 weeks on the chart, climbing to the number 36 position in January 1977. It was among Spears's final top 40 chart entries on the Country Albums survey. [9] Two singles were spawned from I'm Not Easy. The first was "Never Did Like Whiskey", which United Artists first issued in October 1976. [10] It reached the top 20 of the American Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, peaking at number 18. [11] On Canada's RPM Country Tracks chart, it reached number 28. [12] The title track was then spawned as the second single in January 1977. [13] It later reached number 11 on the Billboard country chart and number 29 on the RPM Country Tracks chart. [11] [12]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Never Did Like Whiskey" | K. O'Dell | 2:08 |
2. | "Is I Love You That Easy to Say" |
| 3:43 |
3. | "Too Far Gone" | B. Sherrill | 3:15 |
4. | "Heartbreak Hotel" | 3:12 | |
5. | "Here Comes Those Lies Again" | 3:20 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "I'm Not Easy" |
| 3:03 |
2. | "Seeing Is Believing" | G. Martin | 2:38 |
3. | "Here Comes My Baby Back Again" |
| 2:15 |
4. | "Every Word I Write" | 2:55 | |
5. | "That's What Friends Are For" |
| 2:39 |
6. | "No Other Man" |
| 2:33 |
All credits are adapted from the liner notes of I'm Not Easy. [4]
Musical personnel
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| Technical personnel
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Chart (1976–1977) | Peak position |
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US Top Country Albums (Billboard) [14] | 36 |
Region | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
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Germany | November 1976 | Vinyl LP | United Artists Records | [15] |
Japan | Liberty Records | [16] | ||
Netherlands | United Artists Records | [17] | ||
North America | [4] | |||
Billie Jo Spears was an American country music singer. She was known for a series of singles whose characters often represented women in assertive positions. Among these recordings was a song about sexual harassment, and a song about rekindling sexual desire ".
The discography of American country artist, Billie Jo Spears, contains 24 studio albums, 14 compilation albums, one video album, 53 singles, one charting song and has appeared on one album. Spears's first singles were issued at United Artists Records before switching to Capitol Records. The 1969 single, "Mr. Walker, It's All Over", reached the top ten on the American and Canadian country songs charts. An album of the same name followed that reached the top 30 on the American country albums chart. Her remaining years with Capitol Records failed to prove any further commercial success. The label issued four more studio albums by Spears through 1971, along with four more top 40 singles.
Billie Jo is a studio album by American country artist, Billie Jo Spears. It was released in October 1975 via United Artists Records and contained ten tracks. A mixture of new recordings and cover tunes were featured on the disc. Among them were the singles, "Stay Away from the Apple Tree" and "Silver Wings and Golden Rings". Both singles reached the top 20 of the North American country charts in 1975. The album itself reached the top 50 of the American country albums chart. It was the eighth studio album of Spears's career and her second with the United Artists label.
I Will Survive is a studio album by American country artist Billie Jo Spears. It was released in May 1979 via United Artists Records and contained ten tracks. It was the fifteenth studio album of her career. The album project was contained new recordings, along with several cover tunes. Among these covers was Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive". Spears's version was released as the album's lead single, reaching the top 50 of the UK pop chart, the top 30 of the American country chart and the top ten of the Canadian country chart. It was followed by two more singles that year. The album was given positive reviews by critics.
Stand by Your Man is a studio album by American country artist Tammy Wynette. It was released in January 1969 via Epic Records and contained 11 tracks. It was the fifth studio album of Wynette's career and was named for its title track. The title track became Wynette's signature song and most successful single of her career.
Bedtime Story is a studio album by American country artist, Tammy Wynette. It was released in March 1972 via Epic Records and contained 11 tracks. The disc featured both new recordings and cover tunes. Two singles were included: title track and "Reach Out Your Hand". Both made top positions on the North American country charts in 1972. The album itself reached the top ten of the American country albums chart following its release.
"I Stayed Long Enough" is a song written and originally recorded by American country artist, Tammy Wynette. It first appeared as an album track on Wynette's 1969 album, Stand by Your Man. It was then recorded and released as a single by American country artist, Billie Jo Spears. Her version reached the top 40 of the American country chart in 1970.
Mr. Walker, It's All Over! is a studio album by American country artist, Billie Jo Spears. It was released in May 1969 on Capitol Records. It was the second studio album of Spears's career and her second with Capitol. The disc contained 11 tracks that mixed both original material with cover tunes. The title track was the only single featured on the disc. The song reached the top ten of the North American country charts, while also climbing to minor chart positions on the pop charts. The album itself reached charting positions on the American country survey. AllMusic gave the disc four of five stars in its review of the album.
Miss Sincerity is a studio album by American country artist, Billie Jo Spears. It was released in November 1969 via Capitol Records and contained ten tracks. The disc featured several covers of popular songs of the era, along with several songs about social issues. Among the latter was the track "Stepchild", which was the only single included. Miss Sincerity was Spears's second to make the American country albums chart and was reviewed favorably by critics.
Country Girl is a studio album by American country artist, Billie Jo Spears. It was released on Capitol Records in August 1970 and contained ten tracks. It was the fifth studio album of Spears's career and featured original material along with cover tunes. Among its new recordings was the top 20 country single, "Marty Gray". The album received positive reviews from critics following its release.
Just Singin is a studio album by American country artist, Billie Jo Spears. It was released in February 1971 via Capitol Records and contained ten tracks. The album featured mostly cover recordings of popular country songs from the time period. Just Singin' was met with mixed reviews from critics following its release. It was her final album with the Capitol label.
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"Never Did Like Whiskey" is a song written by Kenny O'Dell that was originally recorded by American country artist Billie Jo Spears. It was released as a single in 1976 and reached the top 20 of the American country chart and the top 30 of the Canadian country chart. The song was included on Spears's 1976 studio album titled I'm Not Easy.
"I'm Not Easy" is a song first recorded by American country artist Billie Jo Spears. Written by David Chamberlain and Jim Vest, it was released as a single in 1977 and became top 20 charting country single in the United States. The song also served as the title track to Spears's 1976 studio album.
The Voice of Billie Jo Spears is a studio album by American country artist Billie Jo Spears. It was released in November 1968 via Capitol Records and contained 11 tracks. The disc mixed both new recordings with original material and featured her first charting single: "He's Got More Love on His Little Finger". It was the debut studio album of Spears's career and received positive reviews from critics.
"If You Want Me" is a song written by Ben Peters that was originally recorded by American country artist Billie Jo Spears. It was released as a single in 1977 and reached the top ten of the American country chart, among other positions. It was the lead single of Spears's 1977 album of the same name. It was the final top ten single of Spears's career.
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