Miss Donna Fargo

Last updated
Miss Donna Fargo
Miss Donna Fargo.jpg
Studio album by
Released1974
RecordedFebruary – April 1974
Genre Country, Country pop
Label Dot, ABC (UK)
Producer Stan Silver
Donna Fargo chronology
All About a Feeling
(1973)
Miss Donna Fargo
(1974)
Whatever I Say Means I Love You
(1975)
Singles from Miss Donna Fargo
  1. "You Can't Be a Beacon If Your Light Don't Shine"
    Released: May 1974
  2. "US of A"
    Released: October 1974
  3. "It Do Feel Good"
    Released: February 1975
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1]

Miss Donna Fargo is the fourth studio album released by American country artist Donna Fargo. The album was released in 1974 on Dot Records (ABC Records in the UK) and was produced by Fargo's husband and manager Stan Silver. Unlike any of Fargo's previous releases, Miss Donna Fargo spawned three singles, all of which became Top 10 singles on the Billboard country chart, including "You Can't Be a Beacon If Your Light Don't Shine".

Contents

Background

Miss Donna Fargo was recorded at the Jack Clement Recording Studio in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. The first session took place in February 1974 and recorded the song, "You Can't Be a Beacon If Your Light Don't Shine". The album's other tracks were recorded during an unknown time between February and April 1974. [2] The album consisted of eleven tracks of material, mainly all written by Fargo herself. The tenth track entitled "Heartbreak Hotel" was a cover of the single by Elvis Presley. The opening track "US of A" referred to patriotism in the United States. Miss Donna Fargo was originally released on an LP record. It contained six songs on the "A" side of the album and five songs on the "B" side of the album. It has never been reissued on a compact disc since its original 1974 release. [3]

Release

The first track on the album "You Can't Be a Beacon If Your Light Don't Shine" was released in May 1974 as the album's lead single. The song became Fargo's first #1 single on the Billboard Magazine Hot Country Singles chart since 1972, while also peaking at #57 on the Billboard Hot 100, and #14 on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart. [4] On the Canadian RPM Country Singles chart, the song also reached #1, while also peaking at #41 on the RPM Top Singles Chart, and #15 on the RPM Adult Contemporary Singles chart. [5] "US of A" was released as the album's second single in October 1974, peaking at #9 on the Billboard Magazine Hot Country Singles chart and #86 on the Billboard Hot 100. The third and final single spawned from the album was "It Do Feel Good" in February 1974, which peaked at #7 on the Billboard country chart and #98 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. [4] Both singles did not enter any Canadian chart lists. Miss Donna Fargo was officially released in 1974, and peaked at #4 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart, becoming Fargo's final studio release to chart in the Top 10. [6]

Track listing

Side one
  1. "You Can't Be a Beacon If Your Light Don't Shine" (Marty Cooper) – 3:15
  2. "U.S. of A." (Donna Fargo) – 3:40
  3. "If You're Somewhere Listening" (Donna Fargo) – 2:46
  4. "Words" (Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, Maurice Gibb) – 3:02
  5. "Go Straight to Her" (Donna Fargo) – 2:52
  6. "It Do Feel Good" (Donna Fargo) – 2:35
Side two
  1. "Honeychild" (Donna Fargo) – 3:10
  2. "Only the Strong" (Donna Fargo) – 2:56
  3. "A Woman's Prayer" (Donna Fargo) – 2:32
  4. "Send Me Home" (Donna Fargo) – 2:00
  5. "Heartbreak Hotel" (Mae Boren Axton, Tommy Durden, Elvis Presley) – 3:34

Sales chart positions

Album
Chart (1974)Peak
position
U.S. Top Country Albums [6] 4
Singles
YearSongPeak chart positions
US Country
[4]
US
[4]
US AC
[4]
CAN Country
[5]
CAN
[5]
CAN AC
[5]
1974"You Can't Be a Beacon If Your Light Don't Shine"1571414115
"U.S. of A."986
1975"It Do Feel Good"798
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Related Research Articles

Donna Fargo American country singer-songwriter

Donna Fargo is an American country singer-songwriter known for a series of Top 10 country hits in the 1970s. These include "The Happiest Girl in the Whole USA" (1972) and "Funny Face (1972)," both of which became crossover pop hits.

If You Dont Know Me by Now 1972 single by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes

"If You Don't Know Me by Now" is a song written by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, and recorded by the Philadelphia soul musical group Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes. It became their first hit after being released as a single in September 1972, topping the US R&B chart and peaking at number 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

I Just Want to Be Your Everything

"I Just Want to Be Your Everything" is a song recorded by Andy Gibb, initially released in April 1977 as the first single from his debut album Flowing Rivers. It reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks, starting on the week ending 30 July 1977, and again for the week ending 17 September 1977. It was Gibb's first single released in the United Kingdom and United States. His previous single, "Words and Music" was only released in Australia. It is ranked number 26 on Billboard's 55th anniversary All Time Top 100 list.

Barbara Mandrell discography

The discography of Barbara Mandrell, an American country music artist, consists of 27 studio albums, one live album, seven compilation albums and 62 singles. She moved to Nashville, Tennessee after high school and signed a recording contract with Columbia Records in 1969.

Point of Light 1991 single by Randy Travis

"Point of Light" is a song written by Don Schlitz and Thom Schuyler, and recorded by American country music artist Randy Travis. It was released in May 1991 as the lead-off single from his album High Lonesome. It was his twenty-first single overall. It charted at #3 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks and hit #1 on the Canadian RPM country Tracks chart.

<i>Just One Time</i> (album) 1971 studio album by Connie Smith

Just One Time is the sixteenth studio album by American country music artist, Connie Smith. The album was released in June 1971 by RCA Records and was produced by Bob Ferguson. The album's title track became a Top 5 country hit in 1971 in the United States and Canada.

<i>I Got a Lot of Hurtin Done Today/Ive Got My Baby On My Mind</i> 1975 studio album by Connie Smith

I Got a Lot of Hurtin' Done Today/I've Got My Baby On My Mind is the twenty fifth studio album by American country music artist, Connie Smith. The album was released in January 1975 on Columbia Records and was produced by Ray Baker. The album spawned three singles between 1974 and 1975, which included two Top 20 hits.

"You Can't Be a Beacon If Your Light Don't Shine" is a song written by Marty Cooper, and recorded by American country music artist Donna Fargo. It was released in May 1974 as the first single from the album Miss Donna Fargo. The song was Fargo's fifth number one on the U.S. country singles chart. The single spent a single week at number one and a total of eleven weeks on the chart.

<i>Greatest Hits</i> (Barbara Mandrell album) 1985 greatest hits album by Barbara Mandrell

Greatest Hits is the fourth compilation album released by American country artist Barbara Mandrell. The album was released in March 1985 on MCA Records and was produced by Tom Collins. The album was her first compilation for MCA Records.

<i>The Happiest Girl in the Whole U.S.A.</i> 1972 studio album by Donna Fargo

The Happiest Girl in the Whole U.S.A. is the debut studio album by American country artist Donna Fargo. The album was released in May 1972 on Dot Records and was produced by Fargo's husband and manager Stan Silver. The album's title track became Fargo's first major hit and a crossover Country pop hit, reaching #1 on the Billboard country chart and the Top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100. The second single entitled "Funny Face" had similar success the same year. The Happiest Girl in the Whole U.S.A. is Donna Fargo's highest-selling album in the United States.

<i>My Second Album</i> 1973 studio album by Donna Fargo

My Second Album is the second studio album released by American country artist Donna Fargo. The album was released in February 1973 on Dot Records and was produced by Fargo's husband and manager Stan Silver. The album spawned two number one singles on the Billboard country chart and was one of two albums Donna Fargo would release in 1973.

<i>All About a Feeling</i> 1973 studio album by Donna Fargo

All About a Feeling is the third studio album released by American country artist Donna Fargo. The album was released in October 1973 on Dot Records and was produced by Fargo's husband and manager Stan Silver. It was Donna Fargo's second studio released in 1973 and spawned two Top 10 hits on the Billboard country chart between 1973 and 1974. It was Fargo's first studio album not to chart among the Billboard 200 albums list.

<i>Whatever I Say Means I Love You</i> 1975 studio album by Donna Fargo

Whatever I Say Means I Love You is the fifth studio album released by American country artist Donna Fargo. The album was released in July 1975 on Dot Records and was produced by Stan Silver. It was Fargo's final album for the Dot label and produced four singles between 1975 and 1976 that each charted on the Billboard country music chart.

<i>On the Move</i> (Donna Fargo album) 1976 studio album by Donna Fargo

On the Move is the sixth studio album released by American country artist Donna Fargo. The album was released in 1976 on Warner Bros. Records and was produced by Fargo's husband and manager Stan Silver. It was Fargo's first album released on the Warner Bros. label, after recording five studio albums for Dot Records between 1972 and 1975.

"Lovin' Her Was Easier " is a song written, composed, first recorded, and first released by Kris Kristofferson. It was also recorded and released by Roger Miller, who included it on his album The Best of Roger Miller and released it as a single in July 1971. Ten years later, it was recorded by Tompall & the Glaser Brothers for the album Lovin' Her Was Easier.

Do I Love You (Yes in Every Way)

"Do I Love You" is a song co-written and recorded by Paul Anka, from his 1972 eponymous LP. Released as an advance single in late 1971, "Do I Love You" reached number 14 on the Easy Listening Singles charts of both the U.S. and Canada, number 16 on the Canadian Pop chart, and was a modest hit on the U.S. Hot 100 as well. As with the earlier "My Way", it was adapted from a French-language song popularized by Claude François, and Anka composed the English lyrics.

Crystal Gayle singles discography

American country music artist Crystal Gayle has released 15 music videos and 68 singles, including six as a collaborative artist, four as a featured artist, and six promos. Gayle's debut single was 1970's "I've Cried " via Decca Records, which reached number 23 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. Encouraged by her sister to develop her own musical style, Gayle signed with United Artists Records where she began recording country pop material. That year "Wrong Road Again" reached number 6 on the country chart, launching several major hits including "I'll Do It All Over Again" and her first #1 hit, "I'll Get Over You". She released "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue" in 1977 which became her signature song and brought her crossover pop success. It topped the country chart, reached number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, and became an international hit. Its success elevated her career and was followed by three more number-one country singles: "Ready for the Times to Get Better", "Why Have You Left the One You Left Me For", and the top-twenty pop hit "Talking in Your Sleep".

"Manhattan, Kansas" is a song written by Joe Allen, and recorded by American country music artist Glen Campbell and released in March 1972 as a single. The song peaked at number 6 on both the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles chart and the RPM Country Tracks chart in Canada.

Loretta Lynn singles discography

American country artist Loretta Lynn has released 86 singles, two B-sides and 14 music videos. Her debut single was "I'm a Honky Tonk Girl" (1960) via Zero Records. Promoting the song with her husband by driving to each radio station, the effort paid off when it peaked at number fourteen on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. Arriving in Nashville, Tennessee, that year, she signed a recording contract with Decca Records. In 1962, "Success" reached the sixth position on the country songs chart, starting a series of top ten hits including "Wine Women and Song" and "Blue Kentucky Girl". She began collaborating with Ernest Tubb in 1964 and recorded four hit singles with him, including "Mr. and Mrs. Used to Be". Lynn's popularity greatly increased in 1966 when she began releasing her own compositions as singles. Among the first was "You Ain't Woman Enough " which reached the second position on the country songs list. She then reached the number one spot with "Don't Come Home A-Drinkin' " (1967). This was followed by "Fist City" (1968) and "Woman of the World " (1969).

<i>Jeanne Pruett</i> (1974 album) 1974 studio album by Jeanne Pruett

Jeanne Pruett is a studio album by American country music artist Jeanne Pruett. It was released in June 1974 on MCA Records and was produced by Walter Haynes. It was Pruett's third studio album issued in her recording career. The project was also one of two eponymous studio albums she released in her career.

References

  1. "Miss Donna Fargo > Overview". Allmusic . Retrieved 29 March 2010.
  2. "Donna Fargo session discography". Praguefrank's Country Music Discographies. Archived from the original on 3 July 2012. Retrieved 29 March 2010.
  3. "Donna Fargo - Miss Donna Fargo". Discogs.com . Retrieved 29 March 2010.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Billboard chart positions > singles". Allmusic. Retrieved 29 March 2010.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Search results for "Donna Fargo"". RPM . Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 29 March 2010.
  6. 1 2 "Miss Donna Fargo charts and awards". Allmusic. Retrieved 29 March 2010.