Cute 'n' Country
Encyclopedia
Cute 'n' Country is the second studio album by American country music
artist, Connie Smith
. The album was released in October 1965 on RCA Victor Records and was produced by Bob Ferguson
. The album featured the major hit single from the year, "I Can't Remember
." The album itself peaked within the Top 10 on the Top Country Albums chart upon its release in 1965.
in 1965. The album was originally released on a 12-inch LP
album and consisted of twelve tracks, with six on each side of the record. The album was similar to that of her previous self-titled
release, containing songs produced in the Nashville Sound
style. Three of the songs on the album were written by Bill Anderson, who previously co-wrote Smith's songs on her last album, along with his wife, Bette Anderson. The album included cover versions of Ray Price
's "I'll Be There (If You Ever Want Me)" and Justin Tubb
's "Love Is No Excuse" (which was recorded by Jim Reeves
and Dottie West
). The album was reviewed by Allmusic, which gave it four in a half out of five stars. Reviewer, Richie Unterberger credited the sound of the album to be, "tasteful Nashville country-pop, neither too down-home nor too slick."
, becoming her third Top 10 hit single. In addition, the album also reached a peak position on the albums chart. Cute 'n' Country peaked at #1 on the Billboard Magazine Top Country Albums chart, becoming Smith's second consecutive album in a row to reach #1 on the Top Country Albums chart. No additional singles were ever released.
Singles
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
artist, Connie Smith
Connie Smith
Connie Smith is an American country music artist. She began her career in 1963 after winning a local talent contest near Columbus, Ohio, which attracted the attention of country songwriter Bill Anderson...
. The album was released in October 1965 on RCA Victor Records and was produced by Bob Ferguson
Bob Ferguson (music)
Robert Bruce "Bob" Ferguson Sr was an American songwriter, record producer who was instrumental in establishing Nashville, Tennessee as a center of country music; movie producer, and Choctaw Indian historian. Ferguson wrote the bestselling songs "On the Wings of a Dove" and "The Carroll County...
. The album featured the major hit single from the year, "I Can't Remember
I Can't Remember
"I Can't Remember" is a song written by Bill and Bette Anderson, and recorded as a single by American country artist, Connie Smith. It was produced by Bob Ferguson and was released on her 1965 album, Cute 'n' Country. The song was released in April 1965, reaching the Top 5 on the Billboard country...
." The album itself peaked within the Top 10 on the Top Country Albums chart upon its release in 1965.
Background
Cute 'n' Country was Connie Smith's second full studio album and was recorded in Nashville, TennesseeNashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
in 1965. The album was originally released on a 12-inch LP
LP record
The LP, or long-playing microgroove record, is a format for phonograph records, an analog sound storage medium. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry...
album and consisted of twelve tracks, with six on each side of the record. The album was similar to that of her previous self-titled
Connie Smith (album)
- Personnel :* Steve Arnold – bass* Marl Casstevens – guitar* Stuart Duncan – fiddle* Gary Hogue – steel guitar* Larry Marrs – background vocals, bass* Michael Rhodes – bass* Connie Smith – lead vocals* Gary W...
release, containing songs produced in the Nashville Sound
Nashville sound
The Nashville sound originated during the late 1950s as a sub-genre of American country music, replacing the chart dominance of honky tonk music which was most popular in the 1940s and 1950s...
style. Three of the songs on the album were written by Bill Anderson, who previously co-wrote Smith's songs on her last album, along with his wife, Bette Anderson. The album included cover versions of Ray Price
Ray Price (musician)
Ray Price is an American country music singer, songwriter and guitarist. His wide-ranging baritone has often been praised as among the best male voices of country music...
's "I'll Be There (If You Ever Want Me)" and Justin Tubb
Justin Tubb
Justin Wayne Tubb was an American country music singer and songwriter. Born in San Antonio, Texas, he was the oldest son of legendary country singer Ernest Tubb.-Biography:...
's "Love Is No Excuse" (which was recorded by Jim Reeves
Jim Reeves
James Travis Reeves , better known as Jim Reeves, was an American country and popular music singer-songwriter. With records charting from the 1950s to the 1980s, he became well-known for being a practitioner of the Nashville sound...
and Dottie West
Dottie West
Dottie West was an American country music singer and songwriter. Along with her friends and co-recording artists Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn, she is considered one of the genre's most influential and groundbreaking female artists...
). The album was reviewed by Allmusic, which gave it four in a half out of five stars. Reviewer, Richie Unterberger credited the sound of the album to be, "tasteful Nashville country-pop, neither too down-home nor too slick."
Release and aftermath
The only single from Cute 'n' Country was released in mid-1965. The single, "I Can't Remember" became a major hit, reaching a peak of #9 on the Billboard Country ChartHot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
, becoming her third Top 10 hit single. In addition, the album also reached a peak position on the albums chart. Cute 'n' Country peaked at #1 on the Billboard Magazine Top Country Albums chart, becoming Smith's second consecutive album in a row to reach #1 on the Top Country Albums chart. No additional singles were ever released.
Side one
- "Two Empty Arms" – (Bill Anderson) 2:27
- "Even Tho'" – (Willie Jones, Curt Peeples, Webb PierceWebb PierceWebb Michael Pierce was one of the most popular American honky tonk vocalists of the 1950s, charting more number one hits than any other country artist during the decade. His biggest hit was "In The Jailhouse Now," which charted for 37 weeks in 1955, 21 of them at number one...
) 2:32 - "I Thought of YouI Thought of You"I Thought of You" is a single by American country music artist Jean Shepard. It was released on the B-side of the single "Beautiful Lies". The song reached #10 on the Billboard Most Played C&W in Juke Boxes chart.- Chart performance :...
" – (Jimmy Rollins) 2:19 - "More to Love Than This" – (Hank MillsHank MillsHank Mills was the pen name taken by country songwriter Samuel Garrett. Mills authored a number of country and western hits of the 1960s and 70's, including 3 BMI award winners: "Girl on the Billboard" was a #1 hit for Grand Ole Opry singer Del Reeves in 1965; "Little Ole Wine Drinker Me" , as...
) 2:25 - "Not Till You Come Back to Me" – (Anderson) 1:52
- "Senses" – (Glen CampbellGlen CampbellGlen Travis Campbell is an American country music singer, guitarist, television host and occasional actor. He is best known for a series of hits in the 1960s and 1970s, as well as for hosting a variety show called The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour on CBS television.During his 50 years in show...
, Jeannie SeelyJeannie SeelyJeannie Seely is an American country music singer and Grand Ole Opry star. She is best-known for her 1966 Grammy award-winning Country hit, "Don't Touch Me", which peaked at No...
) 2:18
Side two
- "I'll Be There (If You Ever Want Me" – (Rusty Gabbard, Ray PriceRay Price (musician)Ray Price is an American country music singer, songwriter and guitarist. His wide-ranging baritone has often been praised as among the best male voices of country music...
) 2:00 - "Love Is No Excuse" – (Justin TubbJustin TubbJustin Wayne Tubb was an American country music singer and songwriter. Born in San Antonio, Texas, he was the oldest son of legendary country singer Ernest Tubb.-Biography:...
) 2:55 - "I Can Stand It (As Long as He Can)" – (Ramona Redd, Mitchell TorokMitchell TorokMitchell Torok is an American country music singer, songwriter and guitarist, best known for his 1953 hit, "Caribbean".-Biography:...
) 2:05 - "House Divided" – (Bobby BareBobby BareRobert Joseph Bare is an American country music singer and songwriter. He is the father of Bobby Bare, Jr., also a musician.-Early career:...
) 2:12 - "I Can't RememberI Can't Remember"I Can't Remember" is a song written by Bill and Bette Anderson, and recorded as a single by American country artist, Connie Smith. It was produced by Bob Ferguson and was released on her 1965 album, Cute 'n' Country. The song was released in April 1965, reaching the Top 5 on the Billboard country...
" – (Anderson, Bette Anderson) 2:28 - "I Can Turn Your World Around" – (Harry Ebner, Jack RhodesJack RhodesAndrew Jackson Rhodes was an American country music producer and songwriter, penning such hits as "A Satisfied Mind", "Silver Threads and Golden Needles", "Conscience I'm Guilty", "The Waltz of the Angels", "Beautiful Lies", and "Till the Last Leaf Shall Fall"...
, Billie Jo SpearsBillie Jo SpearsBillie Jo Spears is an American country music singer. She reached the top-10 of the Country music charts five times between 1969 and 1977, her biggest hit being "Blanket on the Ground", which, in 1975, became her only number one...
) 2:20
Personnel
- Kenneth Buttrey – drums
- Anita CarterAnita CarterIna Anita Carter , the youngest daughter of Ezra and Mother Maybelle Carter, was a versatile American singer who experimented with several different types of music and played stand-up bass with her sisters Helen Carter and June Carter Cash as The Carter Sisters...
– background vocals - Floyd Chance – bassBass (instrument)Bass describes musical instruments that produce tones in the low-pitched range. They belong to different families of instruments and can cover a wide range of musical roles...
- Ray Edenton – guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
- Dorothy Dillard – background vocals
- Bobby Dyson – electric bass guitar
- Jan HowardJan HowardLula Grace Johnson , known professionally as Jan Howard, is an American country music singer and Grand Ole Opry star. She attained moderate success as a country female vocalist during the 1960s and early 1970s...
– background vocals - Ron Huskey – bass
- Anita KerrAnita KerrAnita Jean Grilli , known profesioanlly as Anita Kerr, is an American singer, arranger, composer, conductor, pianist, and music producer. She recorded and performed successfully with her vocal harmony groups in Nashville, Los Angeles, and Europe.-Nashville:Kerr was born in Memphis, Tennessee...
– background vocals - Jimmy Lance – guitar
- Charlie McCoyCharlie McCoyCharles "Charlie" Ray McCoy is an American musician noted for his harmonica playing. In his career, McCoy has backed several notable musicians including Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Tom Astor, Elvis Presley and Ween. He has also recorded thirty-seven studio albums, including fourteen for Monument Records...
– bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Leonard Miller – drums
- Weldon Myrick – steel guitarSteel guitarSteel guitar is a type of guitar or the method of playing the instrument. Developed in Hawaii in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a steel guitar is usually positioned horizontally; strings are plucked with one hand, while the other hand changes the pitch of one or more strings with the use...
- Louis Nunley – background vocals
- Jerry ReedJerry ReedJerry Reed Hubbard , known professionally as Jerry Reed, was an American country music singer, innovative guitarist, songwriter, and actor who appeared in more than a dozen films...
– guitar - Hargus "Pig" Robbins – pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
- Hal Rugg – steel guitar
- Connie Smith – lead vocals
- Velma Smith – guitar
- Gordon Stoker – background vocals
- Pete Wade – guitar
- Ray Walker – background vocals
- James Wilkerson – bass guitar
- William Wright – background vocals
Sales chart positions
Album| Chart (1965) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Top Country Albums | 1 |
Singles
| Year | Song | Chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Country Hot Country Songs Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales... |
US Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
||
| 1965 | "I Can't Remember" | 9 | 130 |