Once a Day
Encyclopedia
"Once a Day" is a song written by Bill Anderson and recorded as the debut single by American country
artist Connie Smith
. It was produced by Bob Ferguson
for her self-titled debut album
. The song was released in August 1964, topping the Billboard country music chart for eight weeks between late 1964 and early 1965. It was the first debut single by a female country artist to reach number one, and to date holds the record for the most weeks spent at number one by a female country artist.
This song peaked at #1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart for the week of November 28, 1964, and it stayed at #1 for eight consecutive weeks.
. Produced by Bob Ferguson
, the session was accompanied by Nashville's "A-Team" of musicians, which included members of Anderson's touring band, The Po' Boys. The song itself describes a woman who has not gotten over her previous lover. Although the woman explains that she has limited her grieving to "once a day," it is later found out that she is grieving, "once a day, every day, all day long." The song's chorus is repeated twice throughout the song and goes as follows:
While also singing lead vocals on "Once a Day," Smith was also featured playing the song's guitar
accompaniment. The song was re-recorded by Smith in French
and was re-titled, "Pas Souvent." That year the song was released as a single to France
, and was released seven years later on Smith's compilation, Love Is the Look You're Looking for
in 1973. It was re-recorded for a third time for her 1976 studio album, The Song We Fell in Love To
on Columbia Records
.
recorded a cover of the song for her 1965 album, Songs from My Heart
. The same year, David Houston
recorded "Once a Day" for his studio album, Twelve Great Country Hits. In 1966, R&B
vocalist, Timi Yuro
released her version as single, which peaked at #67 on the Billboard Pop Chart
. Chicano
artist, Trini Lopez
recorded the song in 1968 for his country album, Welcome to Trini Country
. In November 1969, country artist, Lynn Anderson
released an album of country cover versions entitled, Songs That Made Country Girls Famous, which included a version of "Once a Day." Dean Martin
recorded a Traditional Pop version of the song, which was released on his 1970 album, My Woman, My Woman, My Wife. In 1986, Australian Rock
band, The Triffids
recorded "Once a Day" for their album, In the Pines
. Punk Rock
artist, Mike Ness
recorded a version for his 1999 solo album, Under the Influences
. In 2005, Martina McBride
's album of country classics, Timeless included a cover of the song. In 2006 Van Morrison
included a cover on his Pay The Devil
release.
chart the week of November 28, and remaining at the top spot for eight weeks until January 16, 1965. To date, "Once a Day" still holds the record for the most weeks spent at #1 by a female country artist, and previously held the record of being the first debut single by a female to reach #1, until Trisha Yearwood
broke Smith's record in 1991 with, "She's in Love with the Boy
." After it reached #1, "Once a Day" became one of the year's biggest songs and was nominated for Best Country Song from the Grammy Awards.
"Once a Day" made Smith a major star in country music
, nominating her for a series of Grammy Awards, including Best Female Country Vocal Performance and Best New Country Artist. It was released on Smith's self-titled debut album
in March 1965, which also reached #1. The single helped gain Smith a series of major hits under RCA Victor in the 1960s. Her follow-up single, "Then and Only Then
" (released in 1965) reached #4 on the Billboard Country Chart, and a series of unbated Top 10 hits continued until mid-1968, including "If I Talk to Him," "Ain't Had No Lovin'," and "The Hurtin's All Over." Smith would continue on to have nineteen more Top 10 singles during her career.
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...
. It 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...
for her self-titled debut album
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...
. The song was released in August 1964, topping the Billboard country music chart for eight weeks between late 1964 and early 1965. It was the first debut single by a female country artist to reach number one, and to date holds the record for the most weeks spent at number one by a female country artist.
This song peaked at #1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart for the week of November 28, 1964, and it stayed at #1 for eight consecutive weeks.
Background and content
"Once a Day" was written by American country artist, Bill Anderson, especially for Connie Smith. Originally recorded by Smith as a demo, the song was officially recorded at her first session with RCA Victor Records on July 16, 1964 at Studio B 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...
. 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 session was accompanied by Nashville's "A-Team" of musicians, which included members of Anderson's touring band, The Po' Boys. The song itself describes a woman who has not gotten over her previous lover. Although the woman explains that she has limited her grieving to "once a day," it is later found out that she is grieving, "once a day, every day, all day long." The song's chorus is repeated twice throughout the song and goes as follows:
- Once a day, all day long
- And once a night, from dusk till dawn
- The only time I wish you weren't gone
- Is once a day, every day, all day long
While also singing lead vocals on "Once a Day," Smith was also featured playing the song's guitar
Guitar
The 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...
accompaniment. The song was re-recorded by Smith in French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
and was re-titled, "Pas Souvent." That year the song was released as a single to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, and was released seven years later on Smith's compilation, Love Is the Look You're Looking for
Love Is the Look You're Looking for
Love Is the Look You're Looking for is the fifth compilation by American country music artist, Connie Smith. The album was released in February 1973 on RCA Victor Records and was produced by Bob Ferguson...
in 1973. It was re-recorded for a third time for her 1976 studio album, The Song We Fell in Love To
The Song We Fell in Love To
The Song We Fell in Love To is the twenty eighth studio album by American country music artist, Connie Smith. The album was released in March 1976 on Columbia Records and was produced by Ray Baker...
on Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
.
Cover versions
Since the song's release, "Once a Day" has been recorded by over 50 different artists. Such artists as country artist, Loretta LynnLoretta Lynn
Loretta Lynn is an American country music singer-songwriter, author and philanthropist. Born in Butcher Hollow, Kentucky to a coal miner father, Lynn married at 13 years old, was a mother soon after, and moved to Washington with her husband, Oliver Lynn. Their marriage was sometimes tumultuous; he...
recorded a cover of the song for her 1965 album, Songs from My Heart
Songs from My Heart
Songs from My Heart is a studio album by American country singer, Loretta Lynn.Songs from My Heart was released in 1965 on Decca Records and was the first solo album of Lynn's for 1965 . The album's one single, "Happy Birthday" was a Top 10 Country hit that year. Like Lynn's previous albums, this...
. The same year, David Houston
David Houston (singer)
Charles David Houston was an American country music singer. His peak in popularity came between the mid-1960s through the early 1970s.-Biography:...
recorded "Once a Day" for his studio album, Twelve Great Country Hits. In 1966, R&B
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
vocalist, Timi Yuro
Timi Yuro
Timi Yuro was an American soul and R&B singer. She is considered to be one of the first blue-eyed soul stylists of the rock era.-Early years:...
released her version as single, which peaked at #67 on the Billboard Pop Chart
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...
. Chicano
Chicano
The terms "Chicano" and "Chicana" are used in reference to U.S. citizens of Mexican descent. However, those terms have a wide range of meanings in various parts of the world. The term began to be widely used during the Chicano Movement, mainly among Mexican Americans, especially in the movement's...
artist, Trini Lopez
Trini Lopez
Trini Lopez is an American singer, guitarist and actor.-Career:Lopez was born in Dallas, Texas, on Ashland Street in the Little Mexico neighborhood. He began his entertainment career in Dallas playing at the Vegas Club, a nightclub owned by Jack Ruby...
recorded the song in 1968 for his country album, Welcome to Trini Country
Welcome to Trini Country
Welcolm To Trini Country is an album by country musician Trini Lopez. Released in 1968 by Reprise Records .-Track listing:#Gentle on My Mind #Crazy Arms #Devil Woman #Once a Day...
. In November 1969, country artist, Lynn Anderson
Lynn Anderson
Lynn Rene Anderson is an American country music singer and equestrian known for a string of hits throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, most notably her Grammy Award-winning, worldwide mega-hit, " Rose Garden." Helped by her regular exposure on national television, Anderson was one of the most...
released an album of country cover versions entitled, Songs That Made Country Girls Famous, which included a version of "Once a Day." Dean Martin
Dean Martin
Dean Martin was an American singer, film actor, television star and comedian. Martin's hit singles included "Memories Are Made of This", "That's Amore", "Everybody Loves Somebody", "You're Nobody till Somebody Loves You", "Sway", "Volare" and "Ain't That a Kick in the Head?"...
recorded a Traditional Pop version of the song, which was released on his 1970 album, My Woman, My Woman, My Wife. In 1986, Australian Rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band, The Triffids
The Triffids
The Triffids were a seminal Australian alternative rock and pop band formed in Perth, Western Australia, in May 1978 with charismatic, David McComb as singer-songwriter, guitarist, bass guitarist and keyboardist. They achieved negligible success in Australia, but greater success in the U.K...
recorded "Once a Day" for their album, In the Pines
In the Pines (album)
In The Pines is an album by The Triffids, released in August, 1986 and reached No. 69 on the Australian Album Charts.The album was recorded in a woolshed on a remote Western Australian farming property, owned by the McCombs' parents, on an eight-track machine for a grand total of $1190 In The Pines...
. Punk Rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
artist, Mike Ness
Mike Ness
Mike Ness is an American guitarist, vocalist, and chief songwriter for the punk rock band Social Distortion, which was formed in 1978. As of Dennis Danell's death in 2000, he is now the only original member of the band...
recorded a version for his 1999 solo album, Under the Influences
Under the Influences
Under the Influences, the second solo album from Social Distortion's Mike Ness, is a compilation of country, rock, and bluegrass covers released just six months after his first solo effort, Cheating at Solitaire. As the title implies, Ness intends the album to be an illustration of the music that...
. In 2005, Martina McBride
Martina McBride
Martina McBride is an American country music singer and songwriter. McBride has been called the "Céline Dion of Country Music" for her big-voiced ballads and soprano range....
's album of country classics, Timeless included a cover of the song. In 2006 Van Morrison
Van Morrison
Van Morrison, OBE is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and musician. His live performances at their best are regarded as transcendental and inspired; while some of his recordings, such as the studio albums Astral Weeks and Moondance, and the live album It's Too Late to Stop Now, are widely...
included a cover on his Pay The Devil
Pay the Devil
Pay the Devil is the thirty-second album by Northern Irish singer/songwriter Van Morrison, featuring twelve cover versions of American country and western tunes and three original compositions...
release.
Chart performance
"Once a Day" was released as Connie Smith's debut single under RCA Victor Records. It was rush-released as a single August 1, 1964, and moved quickly up the country music chart. The song became Smith's commercial breakthrough recording, reaching #1 on the Billboard Magazine Hot Country SongsHot 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...
chart the week of November 28, and remaining at the top spot for eight weeks until January 16, 1965. To date, "Once a Day" still holds the record for the most weeks spent at #1 by a female country artist, and previously held the record of being the first debut single by a female to reach #1, until Trisha Yearwood
Trisha Yearwood
Patricia Lynn Yearwood, professionally known as Trisha Yearwood , is an American country music artist. She is best known for her ballads about vulnerable young women from a female perspective that have been described by some music critics as "strong" and "confident."Trisha Yearwood signed with MCA...
broke Smith's record in 1991 with, "She's in Love with the Boy
She's in Love with the Boy
"She's in Love with the Boy" is the 1991 debut single of American country music artist Trisha Yearwood. "She's in Love with the Boy" reached number one on the Billboard U.S. Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart and was the first of five number ones on the country chart for Trisha...
." After it reached #1, "Once a Day" became one of the year's biggest songs and was nominated for Best Country Song from the Grammy Awards.
"Once a Day" made Smith a major star in country music
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...
, nominating her for a series of Grammy Awards, including Best Female Country Vocal Performance and Best New Country Artist. It was released on Smith's self-titled debut album
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...
in March 1965, which also reached #1. The single helped gain Smith a series of major hits under RCA Victor in the 1960s. Her follow-up single, "Then and Only Then
Then and Only Then
"Then and Only Then" is a song written by Bill Anderson and recorded by American country artist, Connie Smith. It was produced by Bob Ferguson and released on her self-titled debut album that year. The song was released in January 1965, reaching the Top 5 on the Billboard country music chart in...
" (released in 1965) reached #4 on the Billboard Country Chart, and a series of unbated Top 10 hits continued until mid-1968, including "If I Talk to Him," "Ain't Had No Lovin'," and "The Hurtin's All Over." Smith would continue on to have nineteen more Top 10 singles during her career.
Charts
| Chart (1964-1965) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs 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... |
1 |
| U.S. Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 | 1 |