On the Way Up

On the Way Up
Studio album by Ann-Margret
Released	1962
Venue	RCA Studio B, Nashville
Genre	Jazz pop Rockabilly
Label	RCA Victor
Producer	Dick Peirce, Chet Atkins
Ann-Margret chronology
And Here She Is ... Ann-Margret (1961) On the Way Up (1962) The Vivacious One (1962)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Billboard	[2]

On the Way Up is the second album by Swedish-American actress and singer Ann-Margret released by RCA Victor in 1962. The album was partly produced by Chet Atkins and recorded in Nashville, Tennessee.

The album contains the single "I Just Don't Understand", an American top 20 hit. The follow-up single, "What Am I Supposed to Do" peaked at No. 82 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 19 on the Easy Listening chart. ^[3]

Billboard Magazine rated the album as 4 stars, noting "the bright canary is in sprightly, sexy vocal form on this package...she scores highest with "Oh Lonesome Me", "His Ring", "Slowly" and "My Last Date". Solid teen appeal item." ^[4] In their review of the album, Cashbox noted that "for her second album for Victor, Ann-Margret gives an excellent demonstration of the original, warm, vibrant style that is quickly taking her to the upper reaches of stardom." ^[5]

Track listing

Side one

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Oh, Lonesome Me"	Don Gibson	2:34
2.	"Slowly"	Otis Blackwell	2:05
3.	"Fever"	Eddie Cooley, Otis Blackwell	2:50
4.	"What Do You Want From Me"	Mike Cain	2:25
5.	"Heartbreak Hotel"	Mae Boren Axton, Tommy Durden, Elvis Presley	2:27
6.	"I Just Don't Understand"	Marijohn Wilkin, Kent Westberry	2:37

Side two

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"His Ring"	Bill Katz, Ruth Roberts	2:21
2.	"Could It Be"	Barry De Vorzon, Patti Ferguson	2:10
3.	"What Am I Supposed to Do"	Helen Carter	2:45
4.	"Let Me Go, Lover!"	Jenny Lou Carson, Fred Wise, Kathleen Twomey, Ben Weisman	2:58
5.	"Moon River"	Henry Mancini, Johnny Mercer	2:28
6.	"My Last Date (with You)"	Boudleaux Bryant, Floyd Cramer, Skeeter Davis	2:36

Personnel

• Ann-Margret – vocals
• Chet Atkins – producer
• Dick Peirce – producer
• Don Robertson – conductor

Charts

Title	Chart	Peak position
"I Just Don't Understand"	U.S Billboard Hot 100 [6]	17
"I Just Don't Understand"	Cash Box Charts [7]	15
"I Just Don't Understand"	Record World Charts [8]	10
"What Am I Supposed to Do"	U.S Billboard Hot 100 [9]	82
"What Am I Supposed to Do"	U.S Billboard Adult Contemporary [10]	19
"What Am I Supposed to Do"	Cash Box Charts [11]	89
"What Am I Supposed to Do"	Record World Charts [12]	86

References

1. Ruhlmann, William. Ann-Margret – On the Way Up: Review at AllMusic. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
2. "Billboard Music Week" (PDF). March 17, 1962. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 21, 2021.
3. "Ann-Margret Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
4. "Reviews of New Albums" (PDF). Billboard Music Week. No. 17 Mar, 1962. p. 29. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
5. "Album Reviews: Popular Picks of the Week" (PDF). Cash Box. No. 14 April 1962. p. 30. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
6. "Ann-Margret | Biography, Music & News | Billboard". www.billboard.com. Retrieved December 6, 2025.
7. "Cashbox" (PDF). September 16, 1961. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 11, 2020.
8. "Hit Records 1954-1982". Recordresearch. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
9. "Ann-Margret | Biography, Music & News | Billboard". www.billboard.com. Retrieved December 6, 2025.
10. "Ann-Margret | Biography, Music & News | Billboard". www.billboard.com. Retrieved December 6, 2025.
11. "Cashbox" (PDF). April 14, 1962. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 17, 2020.
12. "Hit Records 1954-1982". Recordresearch. Retrieved June 8, 2024.

External links

• "Ann Margret – On The Way Up" – via www.discogs.com.