New Horizons (Connie Smith album)

Last updated
New Horizons
Connie Smith-New Horizons.jpg
Studio album by
Connie Smith
ReleasedMarch 1978
RecordedSeptember 1977 – February 1978
StudioColumbia Studio
Genre Country pop [1]
Label Monument
Producer Ray Baker
Connie Smith chronology
Pure Connie Smith
(1977)		New Horizons
(1978)		 The Best of Connie Smith
(1989)
Singles from New Horizons
  1. "I Just Want to Be Your Everything"
    Released: September 1977
  2. "Lovin' You Baby"
    Released: February 1978
  3. "There'll Never Be Another for Me"
    Released: June 1978

New Horizons is the thirtieth solo studio album by American country singer Connie Smith. It was released in March 1978 and contained ten tracks. She had recently switched to Monument after several years with Columbia Records. The album was cut in a country pop production style that Smith felt pressured into. Yet three singles made the American country songs chart between 1977 and 1978, including the top 20 "I Just Want to Be Your Everything".

Contents

Background, recording and content

Connie Smith has 18 top ten Billboard country singles at the RCA Victor label before moving to Columbia Records in the 1970s. At Columbia, only two of her singles reached the country top ten, while a majority reached the top 20. [2] [3] Smith left Columbia's roster in 1977, [1] theorizing that her music lacked the promotion that more popular Columbia acts received like George Jones or Tammy Wynette. [4] Smith signed with Monument Records in 1977, which was owned by Fred Foster. According to Smith, Foster told her that he wanted to craft her into "another Roy Orbison." [1]

New Horizons was the second studio project Smith recorded for the Monument label. It was recorded at the Columbia Studio, located in Nashville, Tennessee. Sessions were held between September 1977 and February 1978. It was produced by Ray Baker. [5] Baker had been serving as Smith's producer since 1973 and he moved forward with her to Monument. [6] The material for New Horizons was cut in a country pop style, that was pressured into Smith by the label. Baker himself later remarked to biographer Barry Mazor that he also disliked the production of the album. [1] A total of ten tracks comprised New Horizons. [7] It featured several covers of pop singles. Among them was Andy Gibb's "I Just Want to Be Your Everything", Gogi Grant's "The Wayward Wind", Debby Boone's "You Light Up My Life" and James Taylor's "Your Smiling Face". [5] [1] Original material penned by Dallas Frazier, Steve Collum and Dewayne Ordender was also part of the project. [5]

Release, singles and reception

New Horizons was released in March 1978 on Monument Records. It was the thirty second studio album of Smith's career. It was distributed as both a vinyl LP and a cassette, containing five songs on each side of the discs. Both had identical track listings. [5] [8] Three singles were part of the album. The first released single was Smith's cover of "I Just Want to Be Your Everything", which Monument issued in September 1977. [9] It was the most commercially-successful single off the album and a top 20 song on the Billboard country songs chart, climbing to number 14 in January 1978. [10] Its next single was "Lovin' You Baby", issued by Monument in February 1978. [11] The single became Smith's last top 40 single on the Billboard country chart, peaking at number 34. [10]

One final single was issued from the project. In June 1978, "They'll Never Be Another For Me" was issued by Monument and peaked at number 68 on the Billboard country chart. [12] [10] Although no official review was given of New Horizons, six of its tracks later appeared on Smith's 1993 compilation, Greatest Hits on Monument . Critic, Stephen Thomas Erlewine found "the songs simply aren't good enough to make this interesting to anybody outside of hardcore fans of soft soft pop". Erlewine also explained why he thought the songs were not more successful: "This is commercial music that doesn't really work. It has a state-of-the-art production that dates instantly, walks the line between crossover pop and country-pop rather clumsly, and lacks good material." [13]

Track listing

Side one [5] [8]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."I Just Want to Be Your Everything" Barry Gibb 3:17
2."All of a Sudden"Steve Collom2:35
3."There'll Never Be Another for Me"
2:44
4."Too Good to Be True" Dallas Frazier 2:17
5."The Wayward Wind"
2:41
Side one [5] [8]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Your Smiling Face" James Taylor 2:09
2."Lovin' You Baby"
2:34
3."You Light Up My Life" Joe Brooks 3:29
4."Loving You Has Sure Been Good to Me"
2:34
5."It's Not Easy to Say Goodbye"Dewayne Orender2:40

Personnel

All credits are adapted from the liner notes of New Horizons. [5] [8]

Musical and technical personnel

Release history

RegionDateFormatLabelRef.
North AmericaNovember 1977
  • Vinyl
  • cassette
Monument Records [5] [8]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Connie Smith</span> American country music artist (born 1941)

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Just Want to Be Your Everything</span> 1977 single by Andy Gibb

"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.

<i>I Love Charley Brown</i> 1968 studio album by Connie Smith

I Love Charley Brown is the tenth studio album by American country singer Connie Smith. It was released in April 1968 via RCA Victor and featured 12 tracks. 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.

<i>Connies Country</i> 1969 studio album by Connie Smith

Connie's Country is the twelfth studio album by American country singer Connie Smith. It was released in April 1969 via RCA Victor and contained 12 tracks. The pop-inspired project included a mixture of original and cover songs. The album 'Connie's Country' was a hit, with a cover of Gordon Lightfoot's 'Ribbon of Darkness' reaching the top 20 on the American country songs chart. The album itself was also successful, placing in the top 20 on the American country albums chart. Critics praised the album for its quality and song selection.

<i>I Never Once Stopped Loving You</i> 1970 studio album by Connie Smith

I Never Once Stopped Loving You is the fourteenth solo studio album by American country singer Connie Smith. It was released in September 1970 on RCA Victor and contained ten tracks. 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.

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

Just One Time is the sixteenth solo studio album by American country singer Connie Smith. It was released in June 1971 via RCA Victor and contained ten tracks. 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.

<i>Dream Painter</i> 1973 compilation album by Connie Smith

Dream Painter is a compilation album by American country singer Connie Smith. It was released in July 1973 via RCA Victor and contained ten tracks. The album was released following Smith's departure from RCA Victor and contained previously-released material. Two new recordings were also featured, including the title track. Released as a single, the title track would reach the top 30 of American country songs chart. The album itself would chart the American country LP's chart in 1973.

<i>A Lady Named Smith</i> 1973 studio album by Connie Smith

A Lady Named Smith is the twentieth solo studio album by American country singer Connie Smith. It was released in May 1973 via Columbia Records and contained 11 tracks. The album was her first with the Columbia label. Its production and style featured a string instrumentation to help market Smith in the pop field. Included were a mix of new material and covers of previously-recorded songs by other artists. The album's only single was the original tune, "You've Got Me ", which reached the American country songs chart in 1973. A Lady Named Smith would also chart on the American country albums chart in 1973.

<i>God Is Abundant</i> 1973 studio album by Connie Smith

God Is Abundant is the twenty-first solo studio album by American country singer Connie Smith. It was released in November 1973 on Columbia Records and contained 11 tracks. The project was a collection of gospel recordings, chosen by Smith herself. Several of the songs included on the project were written by other country artists including Larry Gatlin, Kris Kristofferson and Dolly Parton. The album reached the top 20 of the American country LP's chart following its release.

<i>Thats the Way Love Goes</i> (Connie Smith album) 1974 studio album by Connie Smith

That's the Way Love Goes is the twenty-second solo studio album by American country singer Connie Smith. It was released in March 1974 on Columbia Records and contained 11 tracks. The album included both original material and covers of songs first recorded by other music artists. Two singles were released from the album. "Ain't Love a Good Thing" reached the top ten of the American country songs chart and became her nineteenth top ten single in her career.

<i>I Never Knew</i> (What That Song Meant Before) 1974 studio album by Connie Smith

I Never Knew (What That Song Meant Before) is the twenty-third solo studio album by American country singer Connie Smith. It was released in August 1974 on Columbia Records and contained 11 tracks. The album was a mix of original material and covers of songs by other artists. The project was described as a set of traditional songs. Its title track was a single that reached the top 20 of the American country songs chart. The album itself charted the American country LP's chart following its release. The project was met with a favorable review from Billboard magazine.

<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-fourth solo studio album by American country singer Connie Smith. It was released in January 1975 and contained 11 tracks. It was also considered to be one of her "most commercially-successful" discs of the decade, according to biographer Barry Mazor. Three singles were included on the project. Both "I've Got My Baby on My Mind" and her cover of "Why Don't You Love Me" reached the top 15 of the American country songs chart. "I Got a Lot of Hurtin' Done Today" would chart in the top 30. The album itself reached the American country LP's chart in early 1975. Billboard gave the album a positive review following its release.

<i>Connie Smith Sings Hank Williams Gospel</i> 1975 studio album by Connie Smith

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.

<i>Joy to the World</i> (Connie Smith album) 1975 studio album by Connie Smith

Joy to the World is the twenty-sixth solo studio album by American country singer Connie Smith. It was released in October 1975 via Columbia Records and originally contained ten tracks. It was re-released decades later by Real Gone Music to digital sites and featured one new track. The album was Smith's first album of Christmas music.

<i>The Song We Fell in Love To</i> 1976 studio album by Connie Smith

The Song We Fell in Love To is the twenty-seventh solo studio album by American country singer Connie Smith. It was released in March 1976 on Columbia Records. The album contained ten tracks of material crafted in a country pop style that featured overdubbed vocal harmonies by Smith herself. Two singles were included on the project: the title track and a cover of The Everly Brothers's "(Till) I Kissed You". The latter single became Smith's first top ten American single in several years. The album itself peaked in the top 40 of the American Country LP's chart in 1976.

<i>I Dont Wanna Talk It Over Anymore</i> 1976 studio album by Connie Smith

I Don't Wanna Talk It Over Anymore is the twenty-eight solo studio album by American country singer Connie Smith. It was released in October 1976 and contained ten tracks. The project's name was derived from the title track, which was one of three singles included. Its other single releases included a cover The Everly Brothers's "So Sad " and an original tune called "The Latest Shade of Blue". The title track was the album's most successful single, placing in the top 20 of the American country songs chart. The album received a positive response from Billboard magazine following its release. It was also Smith's final studio project released with the Columbia label.

<i>Pure Connie Smith</i> 1977 studio album by Connie Smith

Pure Connie Smith is the twenty-ninth solo studio album by American country singer Connie Smith. It was released in November 1977 via Monument Records and contained ten tracks. The album was Smith's first with the Monument label. The album was recorded in a country pop production style featuring mostly new recordings. One single was released from the album, "Coming Around". The song charted the American country songs chart in 1977.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Connie Smith singles discography</span>

The singles discography of Connie Smith, an American country artist, consists of 48 singles, one music video and one additional charting song. After signing with RCA Victor Records in 1964, Smith released her debut single in August entitled "Once a Day". The song topped the Billboard Magazine Hot Country Singles chart by November and held the position for eight weeks, to date being the longest running song at number one by a female country artist. The single's success launched Smith into stardom, making Smith one of the decade's most successful female artists. The follow-up single "Then and Only Then" reached #4 on the country singles chart, while its flip side went to #25 on the same chart. All of Smith's singles released between 1965 and 1968 reached the top 10 on the Billboard country songs chart, including "If I Talk to Him", "Ain't Had No Lovin'", and "Cincinnati, Ohio". By 1969 Smith felt highly pressured from her career and cut back on promoting singles. Smith's chart success slightly declined because of this, with songs like "Ribbon of Darkness" (1969) and "Louisiana Man" (1970) only reaching the top 20. Other singles continued to peak within the top 10 including "I Never Once Stopped Loving You" (1970) and "Just One Time" (1971).

<i>Greatest Hits on Monument</i> (Connie Smith album) 1993 greatest hits album by Connie Smith

Greatest Hits on Monument is a compilation album by American country artist, Connie Smith. The album was released March 9, 1993, on Sony Music Entertainment and was produced by Ray Baker. The album was collection Smith's singles and other tracks recorded during her three years at Monument Records (1977–1979).

"Lovin' You Baby" is a song by American country music singer Connie Smith. It was composed by Troy Seals and Jo Ann Campbell Seals and was released as a single in 1978 via Monument Records. The song became a top 40 hit single on the American country chart that year and was later released on 1978 album, New Horizons.

References

Footnotes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Mazor 2021, p. 24.
  2. ↑ Bush, John. "Connie Smith: Biography". AllMusic . Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  3. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. ISBN   978-0-89820-177-2.
  4. ↑ Mazor 2021, p. 23.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Smith, Connie (March 1978). "New Horizons (LP Liner Notes and Album Information)". Monument Records . MG-7624.
  6. ↑ Mazor 2021, p. 13-24.
  7. ↑ "New Horizons: Connie Smith: Songs, reviews, credits". AllMusic . Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 Smith, Connie (March 1978). "New Horizons (Cassette Liner Notes and Album Information)". Monument Records . MGC-7624.
  9. ↑ Smith, Connie (September 1977). ""I Just Want to Be Your Everything"/"Scrapbook" (7" vinyl single)". Monument Records . 45-231.
  10. 1 2 3 "Connie Smith chart history (Country Songs)". Billboard . Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  11. ↑ Smith, Connie (February 1978). ""Lovin' You Baby"/"All of a Sudden" (7" vinyl single)". Monument Records . 45-241.
  12. ↑ Smith, Connie (June 1978). ""They'll Never Be Another for Me"/"The Wayward Wind" (7" vinyl single)". Monument Records . 45-252.
  13. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Greatest Hits on Monument: Connie Smith: Songs, reviews, credits". AllMusic . Retrieved 30 June 2022.

Books

  • Mazor, Barry (November 5, 2021). The Latest Shade of Blue: The Columbia Recordings 1973 – 1976 (Box Set Biography). Bear Family Records. BCD-17609.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.