Especially for You (Don Williams album)
Encyclopedia
Especially for You is the title of the eleventh studio album released by country music
artist Don Williams
. It was released in 1981 (see 1981 in country music
). Three singles were released from the album which all reached the top ten. These were "Miracles" (#4), "If I Needed You" (with Emmylou Harris
) (#3) and "Lord, I Hope This Day Is Good" (#1). The album peaked at #5 in the U.S. and reached #109 on the Billboard 200
. This album, paired with his previous album, I Believe in You, were re-released on one Cassette in 1990. It was never released on compact disc
and is currently out of print.
His name is embossed on the upper part of the cover and is not visible on scans.
in 1982 on his album, The Adventures of Johnny Cash
. "Years from now" was previously recorded by Bobbi Humphrey
in 1977 and would later be made famous by Dr. Hook. "Lord, I Hope This Day is Good" has been covered by Anne Murray
and by Lee Ann Womack
on her 2000 album, I Hope You Dance
. The duet with Emmylou Harris
, "If I Needed You", was first recorded by Townes Van Zandt
on his 1972 album, The Late Great Townes Van Zandt
.
Arrangements for violin
s, viola
s and cello
s by Charles Cochran. Performed by The Sheldon Kurland Strings.
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 Don Williams
Don Williams
Don Williams , is an American country singer, songwriter and a 2010 inductee to the Country Music Hall of Fame. He grew up in Portland, Texas, and graduated in 1958 from Gregory-Portland High School. After seven years with the folk-pop group Pozo-Seco Singers, he began his solo career in 1971,...
. It was released in 1981 (see 1981 in country music
1981 in country music
This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1981.-Events:*March 14 — The final showing of Live From The Grand Ole Opry on the Public Broadcasting System occurs on this night...
). Three singles were released from the album which all reached the top ten. These were "Miracles" (#4), "If I Needed You" (with Emmylou Harris
Emmylou Harris
Emmylou Harris is an American singer-songwriter and musician. In addition to her work as a solo artist and bandleader, both as an interpreter of other composers' works and as a singer-songwriter, she is a sought-after backing vocalist and duet partner, working with numerous other artists including...
) (#3) and "Lord, I Hope This Day Is Good" (#1). The album peaked at #5 in the U.S. and reached #109 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
. This album, paired with his previous album, I Believe in You, were re-released on one Cassette in 1990. It was never released on compact disc
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
and is currently out of print.
His name is embossed on the upper part of the cover and is not visible on scans.
Content
Many songs on this album are covers of earlier songs or would later be covered by other artists. "Fair-weather Friends" was released by its co-writer, Johnny CashJohnny Cash
John R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
in 1982 on his album, The Adventures of Johnny Cash
The Adventures of Johnny Cash
The Adventures of Johnny Cash is an album by American country singer Johnny Cash, released on Columbia Records in 1982...
. "Years from now" was previously recorded by Bobbi Humphrey
Bobbi Humphrey
Barbara Ann Humphrey is an American jazz flautist and singer who plays fusion, jazz-funk and soul-jazz styles. Bobbi Humphrey has performed for audiences around the world....
in 1977 and would later be made famous by Dr. Hook. "Lord, I Hope This Day is Good" has been covered by Anne Murray
Anne Murray
Morna Anne Murray CC, ONS is a Canadian singer in pop, country and adult contemporary styles whose albums have sold over 54 million copies....
and by Lee Ann Womack
Lee Ann Womack
Lee Ann Womack is an American country music singer and songwriter, who is best known for her old fashioned-styled country music songs that often discuss subjects such as cheating and lost love....
on her 2000 album, I Hope You Dance
I Hope You Dance
I Hope You Dance is the title of the third studio release by American country music singer Lee Ann Womack. It was released on May 23, 2000 as her first album for MCA Nashville...
. The duet with Emmylou Harris
Emmylou Harris
Emmylou Harris is an American singer-songwriter and musician. In addition to her work as a solo artist and bandleader, both as an interpreter of other composers' works and as a singer-songwriter, she is a sought-after backing vocalist and duet partner, working with numerous other artists including...
, "If I Needed You", was first recorded by Townes Van Zandt
Townes Van Zandt
John Townes Van Zandt , best known as Townes Van Zandt, was an American Texas Country-folk music singer-songwriter, performer, and poet...
on his 1972 album, The Late Great Townes Van Zandt
The Late Great Townes Van Zandt
The Late Great Townes Van Zandt is a 1972 studio album by Texas singer-songwriter Townes Van Zandt. It was the second album that he recorded in 1972, and a follow-up to High, Low and In Between. The album includes the earliest recorded version of two of his best-known songs, "Pancho and Lefty" and...
.
Side one
- "Fair-weather Friends" (Joe Allen, Johnny CashJohnny CashJohn R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
) - 4:14 - "I Don't Want to Love You" (Bob McDillBob McDillRobert Lee "Bob" McDill is an American country music songwriter. Active from the 1960s until 2000, he has written several songs for country music artists, including more than thirty Number One hits...
) - 4:04 - "Years from Now" (Roger Cook, Charles Cochran) - 2:41
- "Lord, I Hope This Day Is GoodLord, I Hope This Day Is Good"Lord I Hope This Day is Good" is a 1981 single written by Dave Hanner and recorded by Don Williams. "Lord I Hope This Day is Good" would be Don Williams' twelfth number one on the country chart. The single stayed at number one for one week and spent a total of twenty weeks on the country music...
" (Dave Hanner) - 4:06 - "Especially You" (Rick Beresford) - 2:30
Side two
- "If I Needed YouIf I Needed You"If I Needed You" is a single written by Townes Van Zandt, most famously performed by American country music artists Emmylou Harris and Don Williams. Released in September 1981, it was the first single from Harris' album Cimarron. The song reached #3 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart and...
" (Townes Van ZandtTownes Van ZandtJohn Townes Van Zandt , best known as Townes Van Zandt, was an American Texas Country-folk music singer-songwriter, performer, and poet...
) - 3:25- Duet with Emmylou HarrisEmmylou HarrisEmmylou Harris is an American singer-songwriter and musician. In addition to her work as a solo artist and bandleader, both as an interpreter of other composers' works and as a singer-songwriter, she is a sought-after backing vocalist and duet partner, working with numerous other artists including...
- Duet with Emmylou Harris
- "Now and Then" (Wayland HolyfieldWayland HolyfieldWayland D. Holyfield, , is a prominent American songwriter and leader in the songwriting community.-Early life:Wayland Holyfield was born in Mallettown, Arkansas. He was educated in Arkansas public schools and attended Hendrix College at Conway, Arkansas before graduating from the University of...
) - 3:21 - "Smooth Talking Baby" (David Kirby, Red Lane) - 3:07
- "I've Got You to Thank for That" (Blake Mevis, Don Pfrimmer) - 2:32
- "Miracles" (Cook) - 3:01
Production
- All tracks produced by Don Williams and Garth Fundis except for "If I Needed You", which was co-produced with Brian Ahern.
- Recorded at Sound Emporium Studios by Garth Fundis and Gary Laney
- Remixed by Garth Fundis and Don Williams
- Mastered by Glenn Meadows at Masterfonics, Nashville
Personnel
from liner notes- Joe Allen - electricBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
and upright bass - Charles Cochran - 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...
, organ, Prophet SynthesizerSynthesizerA synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones... - Roger Cook - ukelele and harmony vocals on "Miracles"
- Garth FundisGarth FundisGarth Fundis is an American country music record producer. Active since the 1970s, Fundis has produced albums for several country artists, including Alabama, Don Williams, Trisha Yearwood, Sugarland, and Keith Whitley. Fundis has also served as a judge on the Colgate Country Showdown.-References:...
- harmony and background vocals - Lloyd GreenLloyd GreenLloyd Green is an American steel guitarist. Green is most notable for his session work, having played on records with artists such as Johnny Cash, Alan Jackson, Lynn Anderson, Don Williams, Paul McCartney, Charley Pride and many others.-Early life:Lloyd Green was born on October 4, 1937 in Leaf,...
- 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... - David Kirby - acoustic guitar, electric guitar
- Shelley Kurland - violinViolinThe violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
solo on "Now and Then" - Pat McLaughlinPat McLaughlinPat McLaughlin is a singer/songwriter based in Nashville, TN.He was raised in Waterloo, Iowa, but moved to San Francisco, California in the early 1970s. There McLaughlin began to write songs, playing alone at open mic nights and in the streets near the bay. After a brief stint in Boston, he moved...
- mandolinMandolinA mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single... - Kenny MaloneKenny MaloneKenny Malone is an American drummer/percussionist from Nashville, Tennessee. He has been, since the 1970s, and continues to be a prominent session musician in folk, country and many other acoustic-based genres.-References:...
- congaCongaThe conga, or more properly the tumbadora, is a tall, narrow, single-headed Cuban drum with African antecedents. It is thought to be derived from the Makuta drums or similar drums associated with Afro-Cubans of Central African descent. A person who plays conga is called a conguero...
, bongos, tambourineTambourineThe tambourine or marine is a musical instrument of the percussion family consisting of a frame, often of wood or plastic, with pairs of small metal jingles, called "zils". Classically the term tambourine denotes an instrument with a drumhead, though some variants may not have a head at all....
, shakersShakersThe United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing, known as the Shakers, is a religious sect originally thought to be a development of the Religious Society of Friends...
, drums - Billy Sanford - acoustic guitar
- Biff Watson - synthesizer, gut string guitar
- Don Williams - lead and background vocals, acoustic guitar
Arrangements for violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
s, viola
Viola
The viola is a bowed string instrument. It is the middle voice of the violin family, between the violin and the cello.- Form :The viola is similar in material and construction to the violin. A full-size viola's body is between and longer than the body of a full-size violin , with an average...
s and cello
Cello
The cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
s by Charles Cochran. Performed by The Sheldon Kurland Strings.
Chart performance
| Chart (1981) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums | 5 |
| U.S. Billboard 200 | 109 |