Wonderful Wanda | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | August 1962 | |||
Recorded | April 1961 – February 1962 | |||
Studio | Bradley Studios, Nashville, Tennessee | |||
Genre | ||||
Label | Capitol | |||
Producer | Ken Nelson | |||
Wanda Jackson chronology | ||||
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Singles from Wonderful Wanda | ||||
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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.
In the 1950s, Wanda Jackson became one of the United States' first female Rockabilly performers. During this era she recorded singles like "Fujiyama Mama" and "Let's Have a Party". In 1961, Jackson returned to the country market with the single "Right or Wrong". [3] After the song's country success, Jackson traveled to Nashville, Tennessee to record more country sides with producer Ken Nelson. According to Jackson and fellow-writer/historian Scott Bomar, it was the first Nashville sessions to feature musician Roy Clark on guitar. It was also among her first sessions to feature orchestra and string arrangements. [4]
The sessions for Wonderful Wanda were held at the Bradley Studios in Nashville between April 1961 and February 1962. [5] The album was a collection of 12 songs. [1] Both "I'd Be Ashamed" and "In the Middle of a Heartache" were penned by Jackson herself. Also included were cover versions of songs first made successful by other artists. "Is It Wrong (For Loving You)", which was first made popular by Warner Mack, while "Seven Lonely Days" was first made successful by Georgia Gibbs. Other songwriters included on the album project were Hank Cochran and Harlan Howard. [5]
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Billboard | Favorable |
Wonderful Wanda was released in August 1962 on Capitol Records and was the fourth proper studio release of Jackson's career. The album was originally distributed as a vinyl LP containing six songs on either side of the record. [5] In later years, it was distributed to digital and streaming sites, including Apple Music, which issued the album on Capitol Records Nashville. [6] Wonderful Wanda received a positive review from Billboard magazine following its original release. "In all moods she's in fine form here and the fans will quickly dig," staff writers noted. [2]
Prior to the album's release, Jackson had reached success with its first single, "In the Middle of a Heartache". [4] The song spent 15 weeks on the Billboard Hot Country Songs and peaked at number six in January 1962, becoming her highest-charting disc on the survey. [7] It also became her third single to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 27 in December 1961. [8] It was followed by Jackson's version of "A Little Bitty Tear", which was released as a single in December 1961 [9] and peaked at number 84 on the Hot 100 in January 1962. [10] In March 1962, "If I Cried Every Time You Hurt Me" was issued as the project's final single. [11] Not only did it peak at number 58 on the Billboard Hot 100, [12] it also climbed to number 28 on the country songs chart [13] and number 16 on the adult contemporary singles chart. [14] In addition, both "A Little Bitty Tear" and "In the Middle of a Heartache" reached lower-charting positions in Australia in 1962. [15]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "In the Middle of a Heartache" |
| 2:34 |
2. | "Seven Lonely Days" |
| 2:08 |
3. | "If I Cried Every Time You Hurt Me" | Harlan Howard | 2:32 |
4. | "Is It Wrong" | Warner MacPherson | 2:16 |
5. | "Don't Ask Me Why" | 2:30 | |
6. | "Let My Love Walk In" | Dick Glasser | 2:15 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "A Little Bitty Tear" | Hank Cochran | 2:16 |
2. | "I Need You Now" |
| 2:17 |
3. | "I Don't Wanta Go" | Glasser | 2:14 |
4. | "We Could" | Felice Bryant | 3:01 |
5. | "You Don't Know, Baby" | Walter Spriggs | 2:45 |
6. | "I'd Be Ashamed" | Jackson | 2:39 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "In the Middle of a Heartache" |
| 2:34 |
2. | "Seven Lonely Days" |
| 2:08 |
3. | "If I Cried Every Time You Hurt Me" | Howard | 2:32 |
4. | "Is It Wrong" | MacPherson | 2:16 |
5. | "Don't Ask Me Why" |
| 2:30 |
6. | "Let My Love Walk In" | Glasser | 2:15 |
7. | "A Little Bitty Tear" | Cochran | 2:16 |
8. | "I Need You Now" |
| 2:17 |
9. | "I Don't Wanta Go" | Glasser | 2:14 |
10. | "We Could" | Bryant | 3:01 |
11. | "You Don't Know, Baby" | Spriggs | 2:45 |
12. | "I'd Be Ashamed" | Jackson | 2:39 |
Region | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
United Kingdom | August 1962 | Vinyl | Jasmine Records | [16] |
United States | Capitol Records | [5] | ||
2010s |
| Capitol Records Nashville | [6] | |
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.
"A Little Bitty Tear" is a song written by the American country songwriter Hank Cochran. It has been recorded by many musical acts, the first being American recording artist Burl Ives. It has since been recorded by others, including Wanda Jackson, Bing Crosby, Chet Atkins, The Shadows and Cochran himself.
Heartaches and Tears is a studio album by American country singer Jean Shepard. It was released by Capitol Records in March 1962 with a total of 12 tracks. The tracks mixed both new material and cover tunes. Among its new tracks was the single "How Long Does It Hurt ". It was the fourth studio album of her career and fifth overall. The album was met with positive reviews from publications.
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.
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.
"In the Middle of a Heartache"' is a song written by Laurie Christenson, Pat Franzese, and Wanda Jackson. The song was recorded by Wanda Jackson, an American country, rock, and Christian artist.
"If I Cried Every Time You Hurt Me" is a song written by Harlan Howard that was originally recorded by American Rockabilly and Country artist Wanda Jackson. It was released as a single in 1962 via Capitol Records and was issued on her album titled Wonderful Wanda. The song reached chart positions on the American country, pop and adult contemporary charts following its release.
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.
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.
Reckless Love Affair is a studio album by American recording artist Wanda Jackson. It was released in March 1967 via Capitol Records and included 12 tracks. It was Jackson's tenth studio album release and was a collection of songs tailored towards the country music market. Reckless Love Affair included four singles that reached charting positions on the American country chart, including the top 20 hit "Tears Will Be the Chaser for Your Wine". The album itself reached charting positions in the United States and received a positive review following its initial release.
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.
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.
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.
The Happy Side of Wanda is a studio album by American recording artist Wanda Jackson. It was released in July 1969 via Capitol Records and contained 11 tracks. It was Jackson's fourteenth studio record released in her career and the fourteenth released on the Capitol label. The project included one single release titled "Your Tender Love".
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".
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.
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.
I Wouldn't Want You Any Other Way is a studio album by American recording artist, Wanda Jackson. It was released in September 1972 by Capitol Records and contained ten tracks of country music. The album was Jackson's 19th release in her career. Four singles were spawned from the album including the title track.
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.
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.