The Best of Connie Smith | ||||
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Greatest hits album by | ||||
Released | September 1967 | |||
Recorded | 1964 – 1966 | |||
Studio | ||||
Genre | ||||
Label | RCA Victor | |||
Producer | Bob Ferguson | |||
Connie Smith chronology | ||||
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Singles from The Best of Connie Smith | ||||
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The Best of Connie Smith is a compilation album by American country singer Connie Smith. It was released in September 1967 via RCA Victor and featured 12 tracks. The disc was Smith's first compilation project released in her career and featured her most popular singles made commercially successful between 1964 and 1967. It also featured one new recording titled "I'll Come Runnin'". Penned by Smith herself and released as a single, the song became a top ten hit on the American country songs chart in 1967.
Three years prior to the compilation's release, Connie Smith had reached the peak of her commercial success with 1964's "Once a Day". The song spent eight weeks at the number one spot on the country songs chart and brought a series of follow-up singles into the top ten. [2] RCA Victor had previously issued seven studio albums of her material between 1965 and 1967, sometimes releasing three studio albums per year. [3] The Best of Connie Smith would be her first compilation with the label. It consisted of 12 tracks, all recorded between 1964 and 1966. [4] [1] Nine of these tracks were previously released as singles and reached the top ten of the country chart: "Once a Day" (which topped the chart), "Then and Only Then", "I Can't Remember", "If I Talk to Him", "Nobody But a Fool (Would Love You)", "Ain't Had No Lovin'", "The Hurtin's All Over", "I'll Come Runnin'" and "Cincinnati, Ohio". [5]
The track, "I Saw a Man", was included on Smith's 1966 gospel album called Connie Smith Sings Great Sacred Songs . However, it was not originally released as a single. [6] [7] Another track titled "Darling, Are You Ever Coming Home" first appeared on Smith's eponymous debut studio album but was also not issued as a single. [8] [9] "I'll Come Runnin'" was a new track, penned by Smith. She had attempted to record the track twice with string instrumentation. On a third session done in a traditional country style (and with steel guitarist Weldon Myrick), the song was put on the compilation. [10]
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Allmusic | [1] |
The Best of Connie Smith was released in September 1967 and would mark Smith's first compilation album in her career. It was originally released as a vinyl LP, with six songs on each side of the record. [4] In 1969, RCA Victor issued the album on cassette. [11] The compilation spent 16 weeks on the American Billboard Top Country Albums chart, peaking at number 22 by December 1967. It was Smith's first LP to chart outside the top 20. [12] The album received mixed reception from reviewers. "Dealers shouldn't have any fears about stocking this one," wrote Billboard magazine in October 1967. [13] "The Best of Connie Smith is a much-too-brief sampling of Connie Smith's biggest hits," wrote Thom Owens of AllMusic. He only gave the album two out of five stars. [1] The only new single included was "I'll Come Runnin'", originally issued by RCA Victor in February 1967. [14] Spending 15 weeks on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, it peaked at number ten in May 1967. [15]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Original album | Length |
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1. | "Once a Day" | Bill Anderson | Connie Smith | 2:17 |
2. | "I Can't Remember" |
| Cute 'n' Country | 2:31 |
3. | "Tiny Blue Transistor Radio" | Bill Anderson | Connie Smith | 2:30 |
4. | "I'll Come Runnin'" | Connie Smith | — | 2:03 |
5. | "I Saw a Man" | Arthur Q. Smith | Connie Smith Sings Great Sacred Songs | 2:42 |
6. | "If I Talk to Him" |
| Miss Smith Goes to Nashville | 2:25 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Original album | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Then and Only Then" | Bill Anderson | Connie Smith | 2:23 |
2. | "Ain't Had No Lovin'" | Dallas Frazier | Born to Sing | 2:17 |
3. | "Darling, Are You Ever Coming Home" | Connie Smith | 2:10 | |
4. | "The Hurtin's All Over" | Harlan Howard | Downtown Country | 2:50 |
5. | "Cincinnati, Ohio" | Bill Anderson | Connie Smith Sings Bill Anderson | 2:10 |
6. | "Nobody But a Fool (Would Love You)" | Bill Anderson | Miss Smith Goes to Nashville | 2:28 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Original album | Length |
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1. | "Once a Day" | Bill Anderson | Connie Smith | 2:17 |
2. | "I Can't Remember" |
| Cute 'n' Country | 2:31 |
3. | "Cincinnati, Ohio" | Bill Anderson | Connie Smith Sings Bill Anderson | 2:10 |
4. | "Tiny Blue Transistor Radio" | Bill Anderson | Connie Smith | 2:30 |
5. | "I'll Come Runnin'" | C. Smith | — | 2:03 |
6. | "I Saw a Man" | A. Smith | Connie Smith Sings Great Sacred Songs | 2:42 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Original album | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "If I Talk to Him" |
| Miss Smith Goes to Nashville | 2:25 |
2. | "Then and Only Then" | Bill Anderson | Connie Smith | 2:23 |
3. | "Nobody But a Fool (Would Love You)" | Bill Anderson | Miss Smith Goes to Nashville | 2:28 |
4. | "Ain't Had No Lovin'" | Frazier | Born to Sing | 2:17 |
5. | "Darling, Are You Ever Coming Home" |
| Connie Smith | 2:17 |
6. | "The Hurtin's All Over" | Howard | Downtown Country | 2:50 |
Chart (1967) | Peak position |
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US Top Country Albums (Billboard) [16] | 22 |
Region | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
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North America | September 1967 | Vinyl | RCA Victor Records | [4] |
1969 | Cassette | [11] | ||
Japan | Vinyl | RCA Records | [17] | |
United Kingdom | 1972 | Vinyl | RCA Victor Records | [18] |
Cute 'n' Country is the second studio album by American country music artist Connie Smith. It was released in October 1965 via RCA Victor Records and contained 12 tracks. Cute 'n' Country contained a mixture of original songs and cover versions by other country artists. Featured on the album was the top ten single "I Can't Remember". Cute 'n' Country was Smith's second album to top the Billboard country LP's chart.
Connie Smith is the debut studio album by American country music artist Connie Smith. It was released in March 1965 on RCA Victor Records and was produced by Bob Ferguson. The album included Smith's debut single, "Once a Day". The song became her signature recording and biggest hit, reaching number one on the Billboard country songs chart.
Miss Smith Goes to Nashville is the third studio album by American country singer Connie Smith. It was released in March 1966 via RCA Victor Records and contained 12 tracks. The album contained original material including several tracks penned by Smith's mentor Bill Anderson. Miss Smith Goes to Nashville reached number two on the country LP's chart in 1966 and included the top five singles "Nobody But a Fool " and "If I Talk to Him".
Born to Sing is the fifth studio album by American country singer Connie Smith. It was released in September 1966 via RCA Victor Records and contained 12 tracks. The album was her first to include string instrumentation. It reached the top five of the Billboard Country LP's chart and included the single "Ain't Had No Lovin'".
Connie Smith Sings Great Sacred Songs is the fourth studio album by American country singer Connie Smith. It was released in June 1966 via RCA Victor Records and contained 12 tracks. It was also her first collection of gospel songs. The project included covers of popular gospel selections including "Father Along" and "Just a Closer Walk with Thee". The disc reached the top 20 of Billboard country albums chart in 1966.
Downtown Country is the sixth studio album by American country singer Connie Smith. It was released in January 1967 via RCA Victor Records. Downtown Country was the second of Smith's albums to include string instrumentation to help create a pop-influenced sound. The album also featured the single "The Hurtin's All Over", which reached the top five of the Billboard country chart. The album itself reached the top five of Country LP's chart following its initial release.
Connie in the Country is the seventh studio album by American country singer Connie Smith. It was released in February 1967 via the RCA Camden label and contained ten of tracks of material. It was her first to be released on RCA's budget Camden label. Unlike other RCA Camden albums, the project consisted of new recordings for Smith's catalog. This included the single, "Cry, Cry, Cry", which was a top 20 hit on the American country songs chart in 1968.
Connie Smith Sings Bill Anderson is the eighth studio album by American country singer Connie Smith. It was released in May 1967 via RCA Victor and featured 12 tracks. The album was dedicated to her mentor, Bill Anderson. It contained several songs made popular by Anderson himself, along with several tracks made popular by other performers. It also included the newly-recorded "Cincinnati, Ohio". Smith released her version as a single, which climbed into the top five of the American country songs charts. The album received favorable reviews following its release.
Soul of Country Music is the ninth studio album by American country singer Connie Smith. It was released in December 1967 via RCA Victor and contained 12 tracks. The album included mostly covers of previously-recorded songs. It received mixed reviews from critics following its release and reached the top ten of the American country albums chart.
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.
The Best of Connie Smith Volume II is a compilation album by American country singer Connie Smith. It was released in March 1970 via RCA Victor and contained ten tracks. It was the second "Best Of" compilation released by the RCA Victor label that featured Smith's musical output. The disc compiled Smith's most popular singles between 1967 and 1969. The album reached the top 30 of the American country albums chart following its release. Also included was two new recordings. Of these new recordings, one was released as a single in 1969. Titled "You and Your Sweet Love", it reached the top ten of the country singles chart.
I Never Once Stopped Loving You is a 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.
Where Is My Castle is fifteenth solo studio album by American country singer Connie Smith. It was released in January 1971 via RCA Victor and contained ten tracks. The album was described as a set of a traditional country songs and were considered to be autobiographical of Smith's life at the time. The disc's title track was released as a single in 1970 and reached the top 20 of the North American country charts. The album itself would chart in the top 40 of the American country LP's chart. Following its release, Billboard magazine gave it a positive review.
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.
"If It Ain't Love" and Other Great Dallas Frazier Songs is nineteenth solo studio album by American country singer Connie Smith. It was released in July 1972 via RCA Victor and contained ten tracks. The album is a collection of songs composed by songwriter Dallas Frazier. Three of these songs were duets between Smith and Frazier himself. The album's title track was spawned as a single in 1972 and reached the top ten of the American country chart. The album itself reached the top 20 of the American country LP's chart and it received a positive review from Billboard magazine.
Love Is the Look You're Looking for is a compilation album by American country singer Connie Smith. It was released in February 1973 via RCA Victor and contained ten tracks. It was Smith's third compilation released by the RCA Victor label and mostly included previously-recorded material. The album was issued following Smith's exit from RCA's roster. It was named for its title track, which became a top ten single on the North American country singles charts. The album itself would chart on the American country LP's chart in 1973.
Connie Smith's Greatest Hits, Vol. I is a compilation album by American country singer Connie Smith. It was released in October 1973 via RCA Victor and contained ten tracks. The disc was one of several compilations released following Smith's departure from the RCA label. It included ten of Smith's most popular singles from her career, such as the number one single, "Once a Day", and top ten single, "The Hurtin's All Over". The album charted on the American country LP's chart in 1973 and received a positive review from Billboard magazine.
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 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 20 of the American country songs chart. "I Got a Lot of Hurtin' Done Today" would chart in the top 40. The album itself reached the American country LP's chart in early 1975. Billboard gave the album a positive review following its release.
The albums discography of Connie Smith, an American country artist, consists of 39 studio albums, one live album, 14 compilation albums, three box sets, and 26 other appearances. After the success of her 1964 single "Once a Day", Smith's self-titled debut album was released in March 1965 on RCA Victor Records. The album reached number one on the Billboard Top Country Albums, spending thirty weeks on the chart, while also becoming her only album to reach the Billboard 200 list (#105). Smith's next two secular albums, Cute 'n' Country and Miss Smith Goes to Nashville went to number one and number two respectively between 1965 and 1966. In September 1966 Smith released her fifth studio album, Born to Sing, which was her third album to reach the top spot on the Billboard country albums chart. Due to Smith's popularity, RCA Victor issued five albums between 1967 and 1968 including Downtown Country (1967), Connie Smith Sings Bill Anderson (1967), and I Love Charley Brown (1968). In 1969, Smith collaborated with country artist Nat Stuckey on the album Young Love.