Praise the Lord (album)

Last updated
Praise the Lord
Wanda Jackson--Praise the Lord.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedMarch 1972 (1972-03)
RecordedJanuary 1971 (1971-01) – December 1971 (1971-12)
StudioJack Clement Studio
Genre
Label Capitol
Producer
Wanda Jackson chronology
I've Gotta Sing
(1971)
Praise the Lord
(1972)
I Wouldn't Want You Any Other Way
(1972)
Singles from Praise the Lord
  1. "People Gotta Be Loving"
    Released: February 1971

Praise the Lord is a studio album by American recording artist Wanda Jackson. It was released in March 1972 via Capitol Records and contained ten tracks. The project was Jackson's eighteenth studio recording and her first collection of gospel music. The album would be among a series of gospel recordings Jackson would make in her career following a rediscovery of religion. The album produced one single and received a positive review from Billboard in 1971.

Contents

Background and recording

Wanda Jackson made her first recordings with Capitol Records as a Rockabilly performer, which included the top 40 pop hit "Let's Have a Party". She then transitioned into country music in 1961 and had several major charting singles during the decade, including "Right or Wrong". In 1971, Jackson and her husband rediscovered Christianity and she decided to record more Gospel material following this realization. Her first Gospel release would be 1972's Praise the Lord. [3] The album was recorded between January and December 1971 at the Jack Clement Studio in Nashville, Tennessee. It was co-produced by Larry Butler and Bill Walker. [4]

Content

Praise the Lord consisted of ten tracks of gospel material. Included was a song composed by Jackson herself titled "My Testimony". [1] In her autobiography, Jackson explained that "My Testimony" was the first gospel song she ever wrote. "...I just opened up my heart and shared what happened in my life," she recalled. [5] More recordings were also included, such as "People Gotta Be Loving", which featured The Oak Ridge Boys. Other tracks on the album were covers of previously-recorded gospel songs, such as "Oh Happy Day", "How Great Thou Art" and "Battle Hymn of the Republic". [4] The album's cover was taken at Jackson's first gospel concert, which was held in Las Vegas, Nevada. [5]

Release and reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Billboard Favorable

Praise the Lord was released on Capitol Records in March 1972 and was Jackson's eighteenth studio album in her career. It was originally issued as a vinyl LP, containing five songs on either side of the record. [4] In later decades, the album was re-released on Capitol Records Nashville to digital and streaming markets, including Apple Music. [6] The original LP received a positive review from Billboard magazine in their April 1972 issue. Writers of the review highlighted tracks like "Didn't He Shine" and "Am I Not My Brother's Keeper". They also commented that the project is "a beautiful spiritual album, a very personal story by Wanda Jackson." [2] The album included on single release, which was "People Gotta Be Loving". The song was released as a single on Capitol Records in February 1971, with credit also given to The Oak Ridge Boys. [7]

Track listings

Vinyl version

Side one [4]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."The King Is Coming" William J. Gaither 3:26
2."My Testimony"Wanda Jackson2:16
3."Didn't He Shine"3:30
4."He Gives Us All His Love" Randy Newman 2:48
5."People Gotta Be Loving"Yvonne DeVaney2:06
Side two [4]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."How Great Thou Art"Stuart K. Hine3:10
2."Am I Not Brother's Keeper"2:33
3."Oh Happy Day" Edwin Hawkins 4:22
4."He's the Man"
  • Wendell Goodman
  • Walt Schultz, Jr.
2:42
5."Battle Hymn of the Republic"3:22

Digital version

Praise the Lord (Capitol Nashville) [6]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."The King Is Coming"Gaither3:29
2."My Testimony"Jackson2:19
3."Didn't He Shine"
  • McDill
  • Reynolds
3:12
4."He Gives Us All His Love"Newman2:38
5."People Gotta Be Loving"DeVaney2:01
6."How Great Thou Art"Hine3:12
7."Am I Not Brother's Keeper"
  • Henley
  • O'Dell
2:35
8."Oh Happy Day"Hawkins4:07
9."He's the Man"
  • Goodman
  • Schultz
2:43
10."Battle Hymn of the Republic (Glory, Glory, Hallelujah)"
  • Howe
  • Steffe
3:08

Personnel

All credits are adapted from the liner notes of Praise the Lord. [4]

Release history

RegionDateFormatLabelRef.
  • Canada
  • United States
March 1972Vinyl Capitol Records [4]
United States1985Cassette [8]
2010s
  • Digital
  • Streaming
Capitol Records Nashville [6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wanda Jackson</span> American singer, songwriter, and musician

Wanda LaVonne Jackson is an American singer and songwriter. Since the 1950s, she has recorded and released music in the genres of rock, country and gospel. She was among the first women to have a career in rock and roll, recording a series of 1950s singles that helped give her the nickname "The Queen of Rockabilly". She is also counted among the first female stars in the genre of country music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wanda Jackson singles discography</span>

The singles discography of Wanda Jackson, an American recording artist, consists of 81 singles, nine international singles, one other charted song, and three music videos. In 1954 at age 16, she signed as a country artist with Decca Records. Her debut single was a duet recording with Billy Gray which reached the eighth spot on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart, also in 1954. Refusing to tour until completing high school, Jackson's further singles for Decca failed gaining success. She signed with Capitol Records in 1956 and began incorporating rock and roll into her musical style. Jackson's first Capitol single exemplified this format and became a national top-20 country hit. Follow-up rock singles between 1957 and 1959 failed gaining enough attention to become hits including, "Hot Dog! That Made Him Mad", "Fujiyama Mama", and "Honey Bop". In 1960 however, the rock and roll-themed, "Let's Have a Party", became Jackson's first Billboard top-40 pop hit after it was picked up by an Iowa disc jockey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wanda Jackson albums discography</span>

The albums discography of Wanda Jackson, an American recording artist, consists of 44 studio albums, 37 compilation albums, four live albums, one video album, two box sets and has appeared on 26 albums. In 1954 at age sixteen, Jackson signed with Decca Records as a country music artist. The label did not issue a record until the 1962 compilation Lovin' Country Style, six years after Jackson left Decca. She signed with Capitol Records in 1956, and her self-titled debut studio album was released three years later. Although Jackson had recently been identifying herself as a rock-and-roll performer, the album consisted of country music recordings. However, it did contain Jackson's future rock-and-roll hit "Let's Have a Party", which was a hit in 1960, reaching the Top 40 on the Billboard Pop chart. The success of her rock-and-roll recordings led to the release of two more rock-and-roll studio LPs: Rockin' with Wanda (1960) and There's a Party Goin' On (1961). Additionally, Capitol issued two "split" studio albums which contained rock and roll on one side and country music on the other.

<i>Wonderful Wanda</i> 1962 studio album by Wanda Jackson

Wonderful Wanda is a studio album by American recording artist Wanda Jackson. It was released in August 1962 via Capitol Records and contained 12 tracks. It was the fourth studio album in Jackson's music career and her first to consist entirely of country music songs. Wonderful Wanda included the songs "In the Middle of a Heartache", "A Little Bitty Tear" and "If I Cried Every Time You Hurt Me". All three recordings became commercially-successful singles on both the country and pop charts respectively.

<i>Love Me Forever</i> (album) 1963 studio album by Wanda Jackson

Love Me Forever is a studio album by American recording artist Wanda Jackson. It was released in May 1963 via Capitol Records and contained 12 tracks. It was Jackson's fifth studio album of her career and the second to included orchestrated production. Love Me Forever was a collection of country and pop music standards composed by other artists. The album received positive reviews from critics following its release.

<i>Blues in My Heart</i> (album) 1965 studio album by Wanda Jackson

Blues in My Heart is a studio album by American recording artist Wanda Jackson. It was released in April 1965 via Capitol Records and contained 12 tracks. It was the seventh studio album released in Jackson's career and the first to reach the Billboard country chart. The record was a collection of traditional country songs centered around themes of having the blues. It received a positive review from Billboard magazine following its release.

<i>Wanda Jackson Sings Country Songs</i> 1965 studio album by Wanda Jackson

Wanda Jackson Sings Country Songs is a studio album by American recording artist Wanda Jackson. It was released in December 1965 via Capitol Records and contained 12 tracks. The album was Jackson's eighth studio record of her career and consisted of traditional country songs. Seven of these songs were released as singles between 1961 and 1965. Both "Slippin'" and "The Violet and the Rose" reached charting positions on the American country songs survey. The album received a positive review following its original release.

<i>Youll Always Have My Love</i> 1967 studio album by Wanda Jackson and the Party Timers

You'll Always Have My Love is a studio album by American recording artist Wanda Jackson, along with her band The Party Timers. It included a total of 12 tracks and was Jackson's eleventh studio album release in her career. It was Jackson's first album that gave credit to The Party Timers. Two singles were included on the album: "Both Sides of the Line" and the title track. The recordings both reached chart positions on the American country chart in 1967, along with the album as well.

<i>Cream of the Crop</i> (Wanda Jackson album) 1968 studio album by Wanda Jackson and The Party Timers

Cream of the Crop is a studio album by American recording artist Wanda Jackson and her band The Party Timers. It was released in August 1968 via Capitol Records and contained 12 tracks. It was the twelfth studio album of Jackson's career and her second to give equal billing to The Party Timers. The project included three single releases, all of which reached charting positions on the North American country music sales chart. The album itself also reached charting positions in North America. Cream of the Crop received a positive review following its original release.

<i>The Many Moods of Wanda Jackson</i> 1968 studio album by Wanda Jackson

The Many Moods of Wanda Jackson is a studio album by American recording artist Wanda Jackson. It was released in December 1968 via Capitol Records and contained 11 tracks. The project was Jackson's thirteenth studio album in her career and spawned two singles. Both "I Wish I Was Your Friend" and "If I Had a Hammer" reached charting positions on the American country chart. The album itself also reached charting positions in the United States.

<i>Wanda Jackson Country!</i> 1970 studio album by Wanda Jackson

Wanda Jackson Country! is a studio album by American recording artist Wanda Jackson. It was released in February 1970 via Capitol Records and contained ten tracks. It was Jackson's fifteenth studio album released in her recording career and her fifteen with the Capitol label. The album included four single releases that made chart positions on the American country music survey: "By the Time You Get to Phoenix", "Everything's Leaving", "My Big Iron Skillet" and "Two Separate Bar Stools".

<i>A Woman Lives for Love</i> (album) 1970 studio album by Wanda Jackson

A Woman Lives for Love is a studio album by American recording artist Wanda Jackson. It was released in August 1970 via Capitol Records and contained ten tracks. It was the sixteenth studio album released in Jackson's career and the first to be solely-produced by George Richey. The album's title track, became a top 20 charting single on the American country chart prior to the album's original release. A Woman Lives for Love received a positive review from Billboard magazine in 1970.

<i>Ive Gotta Sing</i> 1971 studio album by Wanda Jackson

I've Gotta Sing is a studio album by American recording artist Wanda Jackson. It was released in February 1971 via Capitol Records and contained ten tracks. It was the seventeenth studio record released in Jackson's career and the seventeen released with the Capitol label. The project included one single release titled "Fancy Satin Pillows", which became a top 20 charting song on the American country music chart. I've Gotta Sing received a positive review from Billboard magazine following its original release.

<i>I Wouldnt Want You Any Other Way</i> 1972 studio album by Wanda Jackson

I Wouldn't Want You Any Other Way is a studio album by American recording artist Wanda Jackson. It was released in September 1972 via Capitol Records and contained ten tracks of country music. The album was Jackson's nineteenth released in her career. Four singles were spawned from the album, including the title track. However, only "Back Then", "I Already Know " and "I'll Be Whatever You Say" placed on the American country music chart. The album would later re-released to digital markets several decades later.

<i>Country Gospel</i> (album) 1973 studio album by Wanda Jackson

Country Gospel is a studio album by American recording artist Wanda Jackson. It was released in January 1973 via Word Records and contained 11 tracks. The album was Jackson's twentieth released in her career and her second collection of gospel music. It was also her first album issued on the Word record label, after nearly twenty years recording for Capitol Records.

<i>Country Keepsakes</i> 1973 studio album by Wanda Jackson

Country Keepsakes is a studio album by American recording artist Wanda Jackson. It was released in March 1973 via Capitol Records and contained ten tracks. The album was Jackson's twenty first studio recording and her final recording issued on the Capitol label. The record was a collection of country songs she made with Capitol to fulfill requirements in her contract before signing with Word Records.

<i>Now I Have Everything</i> 1975 studio album by Wanda Jackson

Now I Have Everything is a studio album by American recording artist Wanda Jackson. It was released in March 1975 on Myrrh Records and contained 12 tracks. It was the twenty third studio collection in Jackson's career and her third disc of gospel recordings. The album spawned one single release as well.

<i>Make Me Like a Child Again</i> 1976 studio album by Wanda Jackson

Make Me Like a Child Again is a studio album by American recording artist Wanda Jackson. It was released in March 1976 via Myrrh Records and contained ten tracks. The disc was Jackson's twenty fourth studio album and her fourth to consist entirely of gospel songs. One single was issued from the album in 1975 titled "Touring That City".

<i>Lets Have a Party</i> (1982 Wanda Jackson album) 1982 studio album (re-recording) by Wanda Jackson

Let's Have a Party is a studio album by American recording artist Wanda Jackson. It was released in 1982 via K-tel and contained 18 tracks. It was the twenty eighth studio album released in Jackson's music career. Half of the album consisted of re-recordings, including the former singles like the title track and "Right or Wrong". Additional material was new cuts by Jackson previously not included in her discography.

<i>Encore</i> (1988 Wanda Jackson album) 1988 studio album by Wanda Jackson

Encore is a studio album by American recording artist Wanda Jackson. It was released in 1988 via Amethyst Records and contained 11 tracks. The album was a collection of gospel selections and her second album with the Amethyst label. It was re-released on the Tab label in 1989 and was sold exclusively in Europe. It was the thirty fourth studio album of Jackson's career.

References

  1. 1 2 "Praise the Lord: Wanda Jackson: Songs, reviews, credits". AllMusic . Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  2. 1 2 "Billboard Album Reviews: Country". Billboard . Vol. 84, no. 15. April 8, 1972. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  3. Wolff, Kurt. "Wanda Jackson: Biography & History". AllMusic . Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Jackson, Wanda (March 1972). "Praise the Lord (LP Liner Notes and Album Information)". Capitol Records . ST-11023.
  5. 1 2 Bomar, Scott; Jackson, Wanda (2017). Every night is Saturday night : a country girl's journey to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. United States: BMG. ISBN   9781947026070.
  6. 1 2 3 "Praise the Lord by Wanda Jackson". Apple Music . Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  7. Jackson, Wanda; Boys, Oak Ridge (February 1971). ""People Gotta Be Loving"/"Glory Hallelujah (Battle Hymn of the Republic)" (7" vinyl single)". Capitol Records . 3070.
  8. Jackson, Wanda (March 1972). "Praise the Lord (LP Liner Notes and Album Information)". Capitol Records . 4XL-9273.