The Happiest Girl in the Whole U.S.A.

Last updated
The Happiest Girl in the Whole U.S.A.
Donna Fargo-The Happiest Girl in the Whole USA.jpg
Studio album by
Donna Fargo
ReleasedMay 1972
RecordedJanuary–April 1972
Genre Country, Country pop
Label Dot
Producer Stan Silver
Donna Fargo chronology
The Happiest Girl in the Whole U.S.A.
(1972)		 My Second Album
(1973)
Singles from The Happiest Girl in the Whole U.S.A.
  1. "The Happiest Girl in the Whole U.S.A."
    Released: February 1972
  2. "Funny Face"
    Released: August 1972

The Happiest Girl in the Whole U.S.A. is the debut studio album by American country artist Donna Fargo. The album was released in May 1972 on Dot Records and was produced by Fargo's husband and manager Stan Silver. The album's title track became Fargo's first major hit and a crossover Country pop hit, reaching #1 on the Billboard country chart and the Top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100. The second single entitled "Funny Face" had similar success the same year. The Happiest Girl in the Whole U.S.A. is Donna Fargo's highest-selling album in the United States.

Contents

Background and content

The Happiest Girl in the Whole U.S.A. was recorded in both January and April 1972 in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. The January session was recorded at the RCA Victor studio and produced title track, "The Awareness of Nothing", and "How Close You Came (To Being Gone)". The April session was recorded at the Jack Clement studio and produced the rest of the album's tracks such as, "Funny Face", "Daddy Dumplin'", and "Society's Got Us". The Happiest Girl in the Whole U.S.A. contained Fargo's first recordings for the Dot label after previously recording for Challenge Records in 1969. [1] Eight of the album's ten tracks were written entirely by Fargo, except the second track "Manhattan, Kansas" (Joe Allen) and a cover of Chuck Berry's "Johnny B. Goode", which was the closing track. [2] The album was recorded in a traditional country music style whose themes were considered "cute" as well as a "biting satire of contemporary consumerism", according to Kurt Wolff of Country Music: The Rough Guide. Wolff also praised the track, "The Awareness of Nothing" for its "subtle threads of feminism". [3]

The Happiest Girl in the Whole U.S.A. was first released on an LP record, with five tracks on the first side of the record and five tracks on the other side of the record. The album has not been reissued on a compact disc since its initial release in 1972. [2]

Release

The title track of The Happiest Girl in the Whole U.S.A. was the lead single released from the album in February 1972. The single became Fargo's first charting single and a major Country pop crossover hit in the United States and Canada, peaking at #1 on the Billboard Magazine Hot Country Singles chart, #11 on the Billboard Hot 100, #7 on the Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart, [4] and #16 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks chart. [5] The fourth track entitled "Funny Face" was the album's second single in July 1972, becoming an even larger Country pop crossover hit. The song reached #1 on the Billboard Magazine Hot Country Singles chart, #5 on the Billboard Hot 100, #5 on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart, [4] #1 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks chart, and #17 on the RPM Top Singles chart. [5] The Happiest Girl in the Whole U.S.A was officially released in May 1972 on Dot Records and peaked at #1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart, as well as #47 on the Billboard 200. [6] In addition, it also reached #67 on the Canadian Top Albums chart. [5] The Happiest Girl in the Whole U.S.A. was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America on January 29, 1973 for selling over 500,000 copies. [7]

Track listing

All songs composed by Donna Fargo, except where noted.

Side one
  1. "The Happiest Girl in the Whole U.S.A." – 2:29
  2. "Manhattan, Kansas" – (Joe Allen) 2:38
  3. "The Awareness of Nothing" – 3:32
  4. "Funny Face" – 2:46
  5. "A Little Somethin' (To Hang on To)" – 2:25
Side two
  1. "Daddy Dumplin'" – 2:24
  2. "How Close You Came (To Being Gone)" – 3:12
  3. "Society's Got Us" – 2:43
  4. "It Would Have Been Just Perfect" – 2:55
  5. "Johnny B. Goode" – (Chuck Berry) 2:48

Chart positions

Album
Chart (1972)Peak
position
US Top Country Albums (Billboard) [6] 1
US Top LPs (Billboard) [6] 47
Australia (Kent Music Report) [8] 24
Canadian RPM Top Albums [5] 67
Singles
YearSongPeak chart positions
US Country
[4] 		US
[4] 		US AC
[4] 		AustraliaCAN Country
[5] 		CAN
[5]
1972"The Happiest Girl in the Whole U.S.A."1117316—
"Funny Face"1552117

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MacArthur Park (song)</span> Popular song written by Jimmy Webb

"MacArthur Park" is a song written by American singer-songwriter Jimmy Webb that was recorded first by Irish actor and singer Richard Harris in 1968. Harris's version peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number four on the UK Singles Chart. "MacArthur Park" was subsequently covered by numerous artists, including a 1969 Grammy-winning version by country music singer Waylon Jennings and a number one Billboard Hot 100 disco arrangement by Donna Summer in 1978.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Donna Fargo</span> American country singer-songwriter

Donna Fargo is an American country singer-songwriter known for a series of Top 10 country hits in the 1970s. These include "The Happiest Girl In The Whole U.S.A." and "Funny Face", both of which were released in 1972 and became crossover pop hits that year.

This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1972.

"The Happiest Girl in the Whole USA" is a country and pop music song written, composed, and recorded by Donna Fargo. It is written in the voice of a newlywed girl, sung to her new husband. It has since become her signature song.

"From a Jack to a King" is a country music song. Originally a crossover hit for artist Ned Miller, who also wrote "Dark Moon", "A Falling Star", and many other country songs. It has been covered extensively by country music artists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Donna Fargo discography</span>

This article presents the discography of American country music singer-songwriter, Donna Fargo. Since 1972, Fargo has released 15 studio albums, one of which was certified Gold by the RIAA. She has also released 47 singles, 6 of which went to Number One on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Funny Face (Donna Fargo song)</span> 1972 single by Donna Fargo

"Funny Face' is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Donna Fargo. It was released in August 1972 as the second single from the album The Happiest Girl in the Whole USA. The song hit number one on the country chart and was a Gold Record. "Funny Face" remained number one for three weeks and spent a total of fourteen weeks on the chart. "Funny Face" also crossed over to the pop chart, peaking at number five, making it her only top 10 hit on the Hot 100 chart.

<i>My Second Album</i> 1973 studio album by Donna Fargo

My Second Album is the second studio album released by American country artist Donna Fargo. The album was released in February 1973 on Dot Records and was produced by Fargo's husband and manager Stan Silver. The album spawned two number one singles on the Billboard country chart and was one of two albums Donna Fargo would release in 1973.

<i>All About a Feeling</i> 1973 studio album by Donna Fargo

All About a Feeling is the third studio album released by American country artist Donna Fargo. The album was released in October 1973 on Dot Records and was produced by Fargo's husband and manager Stan Silver. It was Donna Fargo's second studio released in 1973 and spawned two Top 10 hits on the Billboard country chart between 1973 and 1974. It was Fargo's first studio album not to chart among the Billboard 200 albums list.

<i>Miss Donna Fargo</i> 1974 studio album by Donna Fargo

Miss Donna Fargo is the fourth studio album released by American country artist Donna Fargo. The album was released in 1974 on Dot Records and was produced by Fargo's husband and manager Stan Silver. Unlike any of Fargo's previous releases, Miss Donna Fargo spawned three singles, all of which became Top 10 singles on the Billboard country chart, including "You Can't Be a Beacon If Your Light Don't Shine".

<i>Whatever I Say Means I Love You</i> 1975 studio album by Donna Fargo

Whatever I Say Means I Love You is the fifth studio album released by American country artist Donna Fargo. The album was released in July 1975 on Dot Records and was produced by Stan Silver. It was Fargo's final album for the Dot label and produced four singles between 1975 and 1976 that each charted on the Billboard country music chart.

<i>On the Move</i> (Donna Fargo album) 1976 studio album by Donna Fargo

On the Move is the sixth studio album released by American country artist Donna Fargo. The album was released in 1976 on Warner Bros. Records and was produced by Fargo's husband and manager Stan Silver. It was Fargo's first album released on the Warner Bros. label, after recording five studio albums for Dot Records between 1972 and 1975.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Do I Love You (Yes in Every Way)</span>

"Do I Love You" is a song co-written and recorded by Paul Anka, from his 1972 eponymous LP. Released as an advance single in late 1971, "Do I Love You" reached number 14 on the Easy Listening Singles charts of both the U.S. and Canada, number 16 on the Canadian Pop chart, and was a modest hit on the U.S. Hot 100 as well. As with the earlier "My Way", it was adapted from a French-language song popularized by Claude François, and Anka composed the English lyrics.

"Bonaparte's Retreat" is the name of two related songs. The original was a wordless melody that existed as various fiddle tunes dating back to at least the late 1800s and probably well before that. In 1950, American country music artist Pee Wee King recorded a modified version of the song, with lyrics added, which he also called "Bonaparte's Retreat". This latter song has been covered by many country artists.

"Manhattan, Kansas" is a song written by Joe Allen, and recorded by American country music artist Glen Campbell and released in March 1972 as a single. The song peaked at number 6 on both the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles chart and the RPM Country Tracks chart in Canada.

<i>My Man</i> (album) 1972 studio album by Tammy Wynette

My Man is a studio album by American country artist, Tammy Wynette. It was released on September 25, 1972 via Epic Records and was the fifteenth studio album of her career. The disc was a collection of 11 tracks whose themes centered around spousal loyalty and heartache. Two singles were spawned from the album: "My Man (Understands)" and "'Til I Get It Right". Both topped the country charts in 1972 while the album itself reached a top position on the American country albums chart.

<i>Love Me</i> (Jeanne Pruett album) 1972 studio album by Jeanne Pruett

Love Me is a studio album by American country music artist Jeanne Pruett. It was released in October 1972 on Decca Records and was produced by Walter Haynes. Love Me was the debut studio recording in Pruett's music career and the first of several albums she issued with the Decca label. The album contained 11 tracks, four of which were released as a singles and became charting hits on the national country music charts.

<i>When Its Time to Fall in Love Again</i> 1974 studio album by Wanda Jackson

When It's Time to Fall in Love Again is a studio album by American recording artist Wanda Jackson. It was released in 1974 via Myrrh Records and contained ten tracks. It was the first collection of country music recordings released following Jackson's departure from Capitol Records in 1973 and was her twenty-second album in her career. The project included two singles. The second single, "Come on Home ", made chart positions on the American country songs survey in 1974.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tonight (Barbara Mandrell song)</span> 1978 single by Barbara Mandrell

"Tonight" is a song written by Don Cook and Rafe Van Hoy, and recorded by American country music artist Barbara Mandrell. It was released in May 1978 as the second single from the album Love's Ups and Downs. It reached the top ten of the American country songs chart.

References

  1. ↑ "Donna Fargo session discography". Praguefrank's Country Music Discographies. Archived from the original on 3 July 2012. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
  2. 1 2 "The Happiest Girl in the Whole U.S.A. by Donna Fargo". Rate Your Music . Retrieved 28 March 2010.
  3. ↑ Wolff, Kurt (2000). Country Music: The Rough Guide. London: Penguin Books. p. 437. ISBN   1-85828-534-8.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Billboard chart positions - singles". Allmusic . Retrieved 28 March 2010.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Search results for "Donna Fargo"". RPM . Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
  6. 1 2 3 "Billboard chart positions > albums". Allmusic. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
  7. ↑ "RIAA Gold & Platinum - Search for "Donna Fargo" under "ALBUM"". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved 28 March 2010.
  8. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 108. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
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.