"I'm Not Lisa" | ||||
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Single by Jessi Colter | ||||
from the album I'm Jessi Colter | ||||
B-side | "For the First Time" | |||
Released | January 16, 1975 | |||
Recorded | 1974 | |||
Genre | Country | |||
Length | 3:19 | |||
Label | Capitol | |||
Songwriter(s) | Jessi Colter | |||
Producer(s) | Ken Mansfield Waylon Jennings | |||
Jessi Colter singles chronology | ||||
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"I'm Not Lisa" is the most successful song by American country music artist Jessi Colter. It was released on January 16, 1975, as the lead single from her album I'm Jessi Colter . The song hit number 1 on the country charts in the US and Canada, and it crossed over to number 4 on the Billboard pop chart. The plaintive love song was Colter's first major hit as a solo artist, following more than ten years of country music performances. [1] The song is Colter's only foray into the pop Top 40, technically giving her a one-hit wonder status despite her multiple country chart hits. [2]
Following this, Colter sang outlaw country duets with her husband Waylon Jennings on the compilation album Wanted! The Outlaws , and she continued her solo career with the album Jessi, both released in January 1976. [2]
"I'm Not Lisa" was written by Colter and describes the pain that comes with dating someone who has not gotten over a previous lover. The previous lover, named Lisa, was taken away by "His hand", which implies that she died and was led away by God. The song is sung from the perspective of the man's current lover named Julie who laments the fact that he cannot get over Lisa. [3]
While singing on the recording of the original version of the song, Colter also played the song's piano accompaniment. The song was produced by Ken Mansfield and Colter's husband, Waylon Jennings. Both men would also produce Colter's 1975 album, as well as her further releases for Capitol records. [4]
In 2024, Rolling Stone ranked the song at #140 on its 200 Greatest Country Songs of All Time ranking. [5]
"I'm Not Lisa" was released on Capitol Records on January 16, 1975, making its debut on the country chart February 15, 1975. The song became Colter's commercial breakthrough as a solo artist, peaking at number 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. [6] It also was a major crossover Pop hit, peaking at number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and subsequently ranking as the 40th most popular song on Billboard's Year-End chart for 1975. [7] In addition, the song also reached number 16 on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart, and was released on Colter's debut Capitol album, I'm Jessi Colter. [8] The song earned Colter a Grammy award nomination in the category of Best Female Country Vocal Performance [3] and a Country Music Association Awards nomination.
"I'm Not Lisa" became Colter's signature tune and her only number 1 single. [9]
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The song has since been covered by many artists, including Elizabeth Cook for her 2002 album Hey, Y'all. Robert L. Doerschuk of AllMusic praised Cook's cover for "affirm[ing] the power of unadulterated old-time country and Cook's complete command of this idiom". [17] The rock band Killdozer also covered "I'm Not Lisa" on their 1986 release Burl . [18]
Mirriam Johnson, known professionally as Jessi Colter, is an American country singer who is best known for her collaborations with her second husband, country musician Waylon Jennings, and for her 1975 crossover hit "I'm Not Lisa".
This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1975.
"Heartaches by the Number" is a popular country song written by Harlan Howard, and published in 1959. The sheet music was a best seller in both the US and Britain in January 1960.
The Ramblin' Man is a studio album by American country music artist Waylon Jennings, released on RCA Victor in 1974.
Wanted! The Outlaws is a compilation album by Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Jessi Colter, and Tompall Glaser, released by RCA Records in 1976. The album consists of previously released material with four new songs. Released to capitalize on the new outlaw country movement, Wanted! The Outlaws earned its place in music history by becoming the first country album to be platinum-certified, reaching sales of one million.
Leather and Lace is a duet album by Waylon Jennings and Jessi Colter, released on RCA Records in 1981.
Never Could Toe the Mark is a studio album by American country music artist Waylon Jennings, released on RCA Victor in 1984.
Ol' Waylon is a studio album by American country music artist Waylon Jennings. It was released on RCA Victor in 1977. It eventually became one of Jennings' highest-selling albums, due in no small part to the phenomenal success of the chart-topping "Luckenbach, Texas ." It was also the singer's fourth solo album in a row to reach the top of the country charts, remaining there for thirteen weeks and becoming country music's first platinum album by any single solo artist.
I'm Jessi Colter is the second studio album by American country music artist, Jessi Colter. The album was released on Capitol Records in January 1975 and was produced by Ken Mansfield. The release contained the single, "I'm Not Lisa," which peaked at #1 on the country chart and #4 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The Very Best of Jessi Colter: An Outlaw, a Lady is a compilation album released by Capitol records; the collection features Country music singer Jessi Colter's biggest hits from the 1970s and 1980s.
Jessi is the third studio album released by American country music artist Jessi Colter. It was her second release for Capitol Records and was produced by Ken Mansfield and husband, Waylon Jennings. It was recorded September–October 1975 at Woodland Sound Studios in Nashville and released in January 1976, becoming one of two albums issued by Colter in 1976.
"Leather and Lace" is a song performed by American singers Stevie Nicks and Don Henley. It was released on October 6, 1981, as the second single from Nicks' solo debut studio album Bella Donna (1981).
The discography of American country singer Jessi Colter consists of 13 studio albums, three compilation albums, 27 singles, 17 other album appearances, and one other charted song. Under her birth name Mirriam Johnson, she recorded two singles in 1961. Her first releases under the name Jessi Colter were issued by RCA Victor in 1969, beginning with A Country Star Is Born. The label also released several singles through 1972. Colter first had commercial success with the 1975 single "I'm Not Lisa". It topped the US country chart, reached number four on the US Hot 100 and number 16 on the US adult contemporary chart. It made similar positions in Canada, while also making multiple charts internationally. It was featured on the studio album I'm Jessi Colter. Released by Capitol Records, the album reached number four on the US country albums chart and number 50 on the US Billboard 200. The disc spawned the top five US country single "What's Happened to Blue Eyes".
Mirriam is the fifth studio album released by American country artist, Jessi Colter. It was issued in July 1977 on Capitol Records.
"What's Happened to Blue Eyes" is a song by American country music artist Jessi Colter. It was released on August 4, 1975, as a single from her album I'm Jessi Colter, peaking as a Top 10 hit on the Billboard Country Chart and a minor hit on the pop chart.
"It's Morning " is a song by American country music artist Jessi Colter. It was released on December 8, 1975, as the lead single from her album Jessie. The song was Colter's third consecutive hit single on the Billboard Country Chart, peaking in the Top 20 in 1976.
"I'm a Ramblin' Man" is a song written by Ray Pennington. He recorded the song in 1967 for Capitol Records and took it to number 29 on the country charts.
"All My Rowdy Friends (Have Settled Down)" is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Hank Williams Jr. It was released in September 1981 as the first single from the album The Pressure Is On. The song was Williams Jr.'s fifth number one on the country chart. The single stayed at number one for one week and spent a total of ten weeks on the country chart.
Ralph Eugene Mooney was an American steel guitar player and songwriter, he was inducted into the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame in 1983. He was the original steel guitarist in Merle Haggard's band, The Strangers and Waylon Jennings's band, The Waylors.
"No Sign of Living" is a song written by Mirriam Eddy, also known as Jessi Colter, and recorded by American country music artist Dottie West. It was released in July 1965 as the second single from the album Dottie West Sings. The song became a top 40 chart single on the US country music chart.