Take Me Back is a studio album by American singer, Brenda Lee. It was released in October 1980 and was her twenty ninth studio album. The ten-track disc featured production by Ron Chancey and featured songs written by Elton John and Kim Carnes. Of its two singles, "Broken Trust" (featuring The Oak Ridge Boys) reached the top ten of the US country chart. Take Me Back received positive reviews from writers and music publications.
During the 1960s, Brenda Lee was one of the best-selling pop music artists, with a string of top ten and number one singles. Her commercial success waned in the early 1970s until Lee re-emerged as a country music artist, having several US top ten songs on the country charts. Most of her recordings up to this point were produced by Owen Bradley,[2] until he retired in the late 1970s.[3] Lee was then paired with Ron Chancey, who helped reinvent her sound to match the late 1970s country pop recordings of the time. The first Chancey-produced album, Even Better,[4] spawned two US top ten country hits[2] and MCA pressured Lee to re-enter the studio to make her next Chancey-produced project.[5]
Recording and content
Take Me Back was recorded in sessions held at Sound Stage Studios, Creative Workshop and Woodland Sound Studios all located in Nashville, Tennessee.[6] The Woodland sessions were held in July 1980. According to Billboard, MCA's A&R and Vice President was also present at the recording session. The publication also wrote that the session had "a relaxed, laidback feeling" as Lee was recording the song "Staring Each Other Down".[7] The song was one of ten tracks on the album.[1] Its opening track, "Broken Trust", featured country vocal group, The Oak Ridge Boys. In Lee's autobiography, Chancey was quoted in saying that the song was owned by the group's publishing company. In an effort to get the track for Lee, Chancey offered The Oak Ridge Boys to appear on the recording and they agreed to it.[5] The album's title tune was co-written by Elton John and was first recorded by him for his album, 21 at 33.[8] Another track, "What Am I Gonna Do", was written by Kim Carnes.[9]
Critical reception
Take Me Back received a positive response from writers and publications at the time of its release. Billboard placed in its "Top Album Picks" in October 1980, calling it a "superb package" with "artful strings, subtle keyboards and steady percussion".[9]Cash Box praised Lee's voice throughout the album, writing, "Lee turns in a fine performance on this number, as well as every tune on the package. That hefty voice in a little girl's frame hasn't lost one drop of the magic that catapulted her to fame when she was barely 12 years old."[8] Canadian newspaper, the Windsor Star positively compared Lee's ability to individualize her performances to that of Anne Murray and believed the album would provide "good listening for years to come".[10]
Release, chart performance and singles
Take Me Back was released by MCA Records in October 1980 as a vinyl LP and was Lee's twenty ninth studio album.[6] It became Lee's sixth disc to make the US BillboardTop Country Albums chart. Debuting on November 22, 1980, it spent ten weeks on the chart and peaked at the number 30 position on December 13. Take Me Back also became Lee's first album to make the chart since 1976's L. A. Sessions.[11] Two singles were included on the album, with its earliest being "Broken Trust" (issued by MCA in September 1980).[12] It became a top ten single on the US Hot Country Songs chart, rising to the number nine position[13] and a top 20 song on Canada's Country Tracks chart, peaking at number 14.[14] The second single issued from Take Me Back was "Every Now and Then" (released by MCA in January 1981).[15] It made the top 40 of the US country chart, peaking at number 26[13] and reached number 43 on the Canadian Country Tracks chart.[14]
↑ Lee, Brenda (January 1981). ""Every Now and Then"/"He'll Play The Music (But You Can't Make Him Dance)" (7" vinyl single)". MCA Records. United States. MCA-51047.
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