Country Boy (Don Williams album): Difference between revisions

Country Boy
Country Boy
Studio album by Don Williams
Released	September 13, 1977
Genre	Country
Label	ABC-Dot
Producer	Don Williams
Don Williams chronology
Singles from Country Boy
	"I'm Just a Country Boy"; Released: 1977; "I've Got a Winner In You"; Released: 1978; "Rake and Ramblin' Man"; Released: 1978;

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Latest revision as of 20:20, 26 December 2024

Country Boy is the seventh LP by American country singer and songwriter Don Williams. Released on September 13, 1977 on the ABC-Dot label^[1], the album reached number nine on the US Country Albums chart.^[2] Country Boy was the second of two Don Williams albums released in 1977, along with Visions, which was released first, in January.^[3] Three singles were released from the album, and all three were top ten country chart hits: "I'm Just a Country Boy" was released first in 1977^[4], and was Williams' second consecutive number one hit (following "Some Broken Hearts Never Mend"). The following two singles released in 1978 were "I've Got a Winner In You," which reached number seven, and "Rake and Ramblin' Man," which reached number three.^[5]

Background

Don Williams spent the summer of 1977 touring in road shows with Jerry Jeff Walker, Waylon Jennings and Emmylou Harris, and splitting his time recording in the studio.^[6] Willams produced the album himself, and contributed writing on some of the songs.^[7]

The single "I'm Just a Country Boy" was released in August 1977 in advance of the album, and in the Billboard review for the single it was described as:

Beautiful, soft arrangement of the old evergreen should take Williams back to No. 1 on the Hot Country Singles chart and perhaps establish him on the Hot 100 pop chart...instrumentation kept mainly in the background, focusing attention on the flawless Williams delivery.^[4]

The prediction was correct, and by the week before the release of the album, the single went from #51 to #2 on the Billboard hot country singles chart.^[8] Williams' record label, ABC/Dot developed a strategy to cross market Williams to the US Pop market, and "I'm Just a Country Boy" was released to pop stations that played both country and rock music.^[9]

Shortly before the release of the Country Boy album, it was announced that Don Williams was a finalist for best male vocalist by the CMA Awards.^[6] In October it was announced that Williams would also perform on the 11th annual CMA Awards, hosted by Johnny Cash.^[10]

Upon release of the album in September, he embarked on a short tour of England before returning to the US to play Las Vegas in November.^[11] Williams was especially popular in England and Europe in 1977, where he collected a gold and silver album awards for Visions, Harmony and You're My Best Friend.^[12] The decision to market him to a mainstream American audience was in large part driven by his unexpected success in Europe.^[9]

Track listing

from the original vinyl^[1]

Side A

"I'm Just a Country Boy" (Fred Hellerman, Marshall Barer) - 3:01
"Louisiana Saturday Night" (Bob McDill) - 2:20
"Overlookin' and Underthinkin'" (D. Lay, Don Williams, Joe Allen) - 3:26
"Sneakin' Around" (Bob McDill) - 2:40
"Look Around You" (Bill Joor, Buck Lindsey) - 2:55

Side B

"I've Got a Winner In You" (Don Williams, Wayland Holyfield) - 2:34
"Rake and Ramblin' Man" (Bob McDill) - 2:50
"Too Many Tears (To Make Love Strong)" (Jim Rushing) - 3:18
"It's Gotta Be Magic" (Don Williams) - 2:48
"Falling In Love" (Bob McDill, Wayland Holyfield) - 2:15

Personnel^[1]

Acoustic guitar – Bob McDill
Acoustic guitar, electric guitar – Dave Kirby*, Jimmy Colvard
String arranger, accordion, organ, piano, vibraphone – Charles Cochran
Art direction – John Donegan
Bass – Joe Allen
Design – David Wright
Drums, congas, percussion – Kenny Malone
Electric piano, acoustic piano – Shane Keister
Engineer, backing vocals – Garth Fundis
Fiddle – Buddy Spicher
Harp, electric guitar – Danny Flowers
Illustration – Whole Hog Studios, LTD*
Percussion [hand claps] – Jim Jerome
Steel guitar, dobro – Lloyd Green
Strings – Carl Gorodetzky, Gary Vanosdale, George Binkley, Lennie Haight, Marvin Chantry, Roy Christensen, Sheldon Kurland, Steven Maxwell Smith*, Wilfred Lehmann*
Vocals, acoustic guitar, producer, backing vocals – Don Williams
Recorded at Jack Clement Recording Studios

References

^ ^a ^b ^c "Country Boy: Don Williams". Internet Archive. 2022-02-26. Retrieved 2024-12-24.
^ "Artist Chart History – Don Williams". Billboard. Retrieved 2010-12-02.
^ Stambler, Irwin (2000). Country Music: The Encyclopedia. New York: St. Martins. p. 539. ISBN 0312151217.
^ ^a ^b "Billboard's Top Single Picks" (PDF). Billboard. 1977-08-20.
^ Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. pp. 463–464. ISBN 978-0-89820-177-2.
^ ^a ^b Wood, Gerry (1977-09-03). "Finalists Tabbed for CMA Awards" (PDF). Billboard. pp. 82–83.
^ "Billboard's Top Album Picks" (PDF). Billboard. 1977-10-01.
^ "Billboard Hot Country Singles" (PDF). Billboard. 1977-09-10.
^ ^a ^b "Crossover? ABC/Dot Devises Campaign to Popularize Don Williams" (PDF). Billboard. 1977-09-24.
^ "Cash Heads CMA Talent" (PDF). Billboard. 1977-10-08. p. 74.
^ Nelson, Pat (1977-08-27). "Nashville Scene" (PDF). Billboard. p. 66.
^ "Williams Clicks" (PDF). Billboard. 1977-09-17 – via World Radio History.

Category:1977 albums Category:Don Williams albums Category:ABC Records albums Category: Dot Records albums

[:0-1] "Country Boy: Don Williams". Internet Archive. 2022-02-26. Retrieved 2024-12-24.

[US-2] "Artist Chart History – Don Williams". Billboard. Retrieved 2010-12-02.

[3] Stambler, Irwin (2000). Country Music: The Encyclopedia. New York: St. Martins. p. 539. ISBN 0312151217.

[:1-4] "Billboard's Top Single Picks" (PDF). Billboard. 1977-08-20.

[whitburn-5] Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. pp. 463–464. ISBN 978-0-89820-177-2.

[:2-6] Wood, Gerry (1977-09-03). "Finalists Tabbed for CMA Awards" (PDF). Billboard. pp. 82–83.

[7] "Billboard's Top Album Picks" (PDF). Billboard. 1977-10-01.

[8] "Billboard Hot Country Singles" (PDF). Billboard. 1977-09-10.

[:3-9] "Crossover? ABC/Dot Devises Campaign to Popularize Don Williams" (PDF). Billboard. 1977-09-24.

[10] "Cash Heads CMA Talent" (PDF). Billboard. 1977-10-08. p. 74.

[11] Nelson, Pat (1977-08-27). "Nashville Scene" (PDF). Billboard. p. 66.

[12] "Williams Clicks" (PDF). Billboard. 1977-09-17 – via World Radio History.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{Infobox album
-| name         = Short Stories
+| name         = Country Boy
 | type         = studio
-| artist       = [[Bob McDill]]
+| artist       = [[Don Williams]]
 | cover        =
 | alt          =
-| released     = 1972
+| released     = September 13, 1977
-| recorded     = [[Nashville, Tennessee]]
+| studio       =
-| studio       = [[Jack Clement]] Recording Studio
 | genre        = [[country music|Country]]
 | length       =
-| label        = [[JMI Records]]
+| label        = ABC-Dot
-| producer     = [[Allen Reynolds]]
+| producer     = [[Don Williams]]
-| prev_title   =
+| prev_title   = [[Visions_(Don_Williams_album)|Visions]]
-| prev_year    =
+| prev_year    = 1977
-| next_title   =
+| next_title   = Expressions
-| next_year    =
+| next_year    = 1978
 | misc         = {{Singles
- | name        = Short Stories
+ | name        = Country Boy
  | type        = Studio
- | single1     = Song For Nan
+ | single1     = [[I'm Just a Country Boy]]
- | single1date = 1972
+ | single1date = 1977
- | single2     = Stainless Steel
+ | single2     = [[I%27ve_Got_a_Winner_in_You|I've Got a Winner In You]]
- | single2date = 1972
+ | single2date = 1978
+ | single3     = [[Rake_and_Ramblin%27_Man|Rake and Ramblin' Man]]
+ | single3date = 1978
 }}
 }}
+'''''Country Boy''''' is the seventh [[LP record|LP]] by [[United States|American]] [[Country music|country]] [[Singer-songwriter|singer and songwriter]] [[Don Williams]]. Released on September 13, [[1977 in country music|1977]] on the [[ABC Records|ABC]]-[[Dot Records|Dot]] label<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2022-02-26 |title=Country Boy: Don Williams |url=https://archive.org/details/lp_country-boy_don-williams/page/n3/mode/1up |access-date=2024-12-24 |website=Internet Archive}}</ref>, the album reached number nine on the [[Billboard Country Albums|US Country Albums chart]].<ref name="US">{{cite magazine|title=Artist Chart History – Don Williams|url=http://www.billboard.com/|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|accessdate=2010-12-02}}</ref> ''Country Boy'' was the second of two Don Williams albums released in 1977, along with ''[[Visions (Don Williams album)|Visions]]'', which was released first, in January.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Stambler|first=Irwin|title=Country Music: The Encyclopedia|publisher=St. Martins|year=2000|isbn=0312151217|location=New York|pages=539}}</ref> Three singles were released from the album, and all three were top ten country chart hits: "[[I'm Just a Country Boy]]" was released first in 1977<ref name=":1">{{Cite magazine |date=1977-08-20 |title=Billboard's Top Single Picks |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/70s/1977/Billboard%201977-08-20.pdf |magazine=Billboard}}</ref>, and was Williams' second consecutive number one hit (following "[[Some Broken Hearts Never Mend]]"). The following two singles released in 1978 were "[[I've Got a Winner in You|I've Got a Winner In You]]," which reached number seven, and "[[Rake and Ramblin' Man]]," which reached number three.<ref name="whitburn">{{cite book|last=Whitburn|first=Joel|title=Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008|publisher=Record Research, Inc|year=2008|isbn=978-0-89820-177-2|pages=463–464}}</ref>
-'''''Short Stories''''' is the first LP album by the noted [[United States|American]] [[songwriter]] [[Bob McDill]] released in [[1972]] on the [[JMI Records|J-M-I Records]] label.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/short-stories-mw0002702296|title=Short Stories - Bob McDill|last=|first=|date=November 23, 2019|website=AllMusic|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=November 23, 2019}}</ref> It is notable for being the only known album recorded by the successful [[country music]] writer. It is also notable as being the first full length album released on the short lived J-M-I Records label.<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal|last=Bottstein|first=Dan|date=May 20, 1972|title=New York|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6icEAAAAMBAJ&ppis=_c&lpg=PA18&dq=bob%20mcdill%20short%20stories&pg=PA18#v=onepage&q=bob%20mcdill%20short%20stories&f=false|journal=Billboard|volume=84, No. 21|pages=18|via=}}</ref> Several of the songs from the album, including "[[Catfish John]]" and "Come Early Morning" would go on to have chart success covered by other artists, including [[Don Williams|Don William]]<nowiki/>s and [[Johnny Russell (singer)|Johnny Russell]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.cmt.com/news/1590445/songwriter-bob-mcdill-talks-about-his-many-hits/|title=Songwriter Bob McDill Talks About His Many Hits|last=Morris|first=Edward|date=July 3, 2008|website=CMT|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=November 19, 2019}}</ref>
 == Background ==
-Bob McDill came to initial professional recognition in 1967 with "The Happy Man", recorded by [[Perry Como]].<ref name="journal2">{{cite web|url=http://www.bluegrassjournal.com/2008/02/13/bob-mcdill-poet-and-prophet/|title=Bob McDill next honoree as "Poet and Prophet" at the Country Music Hall of Fame|last=Tackett|first=Travis|date=February 13, 2008|work=Bluegrass Journal|accessdate=April 12, 2008}}</ref> Songwriting duo Dickey Lee and Allen Reynolds were credited with helping to land the gig, and McDill would remain professionally involved with them throughout the 1970's.<ref name="journal2" /> Reynolds went to work for [[Jack Clement]] as vice president of his new record label, J-M-I, and Reynolds brought along McDill to be a writer for the publishing division, Jack Music, Inc.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tLZz02EzmBYC&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&lpg=PA338&dq=bob%20mcdill%20short%20stories&pg=PA338#v=onepage&q=bob%20mcdill%20short%20stories&f=false|title=The Encyclopedia of Country Music|last=McCall|first=Michael|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2012|isbn=9780199920839|location=|pages=338}}</ref> Reynolds would also go on to produce and co-write much of the material on ''Short Stories'' with McDill.
+Don Williams spent the summer of 1977 touring in road shows with [[Jerry Jeff Walker]], [[Waylon Jennings]] and [[Emmylou Harris]], and splitting his time recording in the studio.<ref name=":2">{{Cite magazine |last=Wood |first=Gerry |date=1977-09-03 |title=Finalists Tabbed for CMA Awards |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/70s/1977/Billboard%201977-09-03.pdf |magazine=Billboard |pages=82–83}}</ref> Willams produced the album himself, and contributed writing on some of the songs.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=1977-10-01 |title=Billboard's Top Album Picks |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/70s/1977/Billboard%201977-10-01.pdf |magazine=Billboard}}</ref>
-== Content ==
-<br />
-== Track Listing ==
-from the original [[LP record|LP]].<ref name=":3" />
+The single "[[I'm Just a Country Boy]]" was released in August 1977 in advance of the album, and in the ''Billboard'' review for the single it was described as:<blockquote>
-'''Side A'''
+Beautiful, soft arrangement of the old evergreen should take Williams back to No. 1 on the Hot Country Singles chart and perhaps establish him on the Hot 100 pop chart...instrumentation kept mainly in the background, focusing attention on the flawless Williams delivery.<ref name=":1" /></blockquote>The prediction was correct, and by the week before the release of the album, the single went from #51 to #2 on the Billboard hot country singles chart.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=1977-09-10 |title=Billboard Hot Country Singles |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/70s/1977/Billboard%201977-09-10.pdf |magazine=Billboard}}</ref> Williams' record label, ABC/Dot developed a strategy to cross market Williams to the US Pop market, and "I'm Just a Country Boy" was released to pop stations that played both country and rock music.<ref name=":3">{{Cite magazine |date=1977-09-24 |title=Crossover? ABC/Dot Devises Campaign to Popularize Don Williams |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/70s/1977/Billboard%201977-09-24.pdf |magazine=Billboard}}</ref>
+Shortly before the release of the ''Country Boy'' album, it was announced that Don Williams was a finalist for best male vocalist by the [[Country Music Association Awards|CMA Awards]].<ref name=":2" /> In October it was announced that Williams would also perform on the 11th annual CMA Awards, hosted by Johnny Cash.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=1977-10-08 |title=Cash Heads CMA Talent |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/70s/1977/Billboard%201977-10-08.pdf |magazine=Billboard |pages=74}}</ref>
-# "Song For Nan (What A <nowiki/>Feeling)" (Bob McDill) 3:09
-# "Weather Report" (Kenneth Lau<nowiki/>ber) 3:15
-# "Stainless Steel"<nowiki/> (Allen Reynolds, Bob McDill) 3:11
-# "I've Been Thinking Of You Lately" ([[Gove Scrivenor]]) 2:11
-# "[[Catfish John]]" (Allen Reynolds, Bob McDill) 3:21
+Upon release of the album in September, he embarked on a short tour of England before returning to the US to play Las Vegas in November.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Nelson |first=Pat |date=1977-08-27 |title=Nashville Scene |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/70s/1977/Billboard%201977-08-27.pdf |magazine=Billboard |pages=66}}</ref> Williams was especially popular in England and Europe in 1977, where he collected a gold and silver album awards for ''Visions'', ''Harmony'' and ''You're My Best Friend.''<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=1977-09-17 |title=Williams Clicks |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/70s/1977/Billboard%201977-09-17.pdf |magazine=Billboard |via=World Radio History}}</ref> The decision to market him to a mainstream American audience was in large part driven by his unexpected success in Europe.<ref name=":3" />
-'''Side B'''
+== Track listing ==
-# "Sugar Kane" (Allen Reynolds, Bob McDill, Susan Taylor) 4:14
+from the original [[Phonograph record|vinyl]]<ref name=":0" />
-# "Come Early Morning" (Bob McDill) 3:29
-# "Goodbye Jim Crow" (Allen Reynolds, Bob McDill) 3:02
-# "God Love Her" (Bob McDill) 2:17
-# "Help Yourselves To Each Other" (Allen Reynolds, Bob McDill) 2:56
+'''Side A'''
-== Musicians ==
+# "[[I'm Just a Country Boy]]" ([[Fred Hellerman]], [[Marshall Barer]]) - 3:01
+# "[[Louisiana Saturday Night]]" ([[Bob McDill]]) - 2:20
+# "Overlookin' and Underthinkin'" (D. Lay, Don Williams, Joe Allen) - 3:26
+# "Sneakin' Around" (Bob McDill) - 2:40
+# "Look Around You" (Bill Joor, Buck Lindsey) - 2:55
+'''Side B'''
+# "I've Got a Winner In You" (Don Williams, Wayland Holyfield) - 2:34
-* Acoustic Guitar, Banjo, Drums, Guitar [Bottleneck] – Bob McDill
+# "Rake and Ramblin' Man" (Bob McDill) - 2:50
-* Bass – Tommy McClure
+# "Too Many Tears (To Make Love Strong)" (Jim Rushing) - 3:18
-* Drums, Congas, Triangle – Sammy Creason
+# "It's Gotta Be Magic" (Don Williams) - 2:48
-* Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar – Charlie Freeman
+# "Falling In Love" (Bob McDill, Wayland Holyfield) - 2:15
-* Guitar [Tenor], Harmonica, Marimba – Allen Reynolds
-* Harmonica, Electric Guitar – Danny Flowers
-* Mandolin – [[Taylor Pie|Susan Taylor]]
-* Organ, Piano, Vibraphone [Vibes] – Mike Utley*
-* Piano, Organ, Bass – Ken Lauber
-* Trombone – Garth Fundis
+== Personnel<ref name=":0" /> ==
-== Production ==
-* Mixed By [Remix] – Bob McDill, Ronnie Dean
+* Acoustic guitar – Bob McDill
+* Acoustic guitar, electric guitar – Dave Kirby*, Jimmy Colvard
-* Engineer – Ronnie Dean
+* String arranger, accordion, organ, piano, vibraphone – Charles Cochran
-* Photography By [Cover Photo] – John Donegan
+* Art direction – John Donegan
-*Graphics – Pinwheel Studios
+* Bass – Joe Allen
+* Design – David Wright
+* Drums, congas, percussion – Kenny Malone
+* Electric piano, acoustic piano – Shane Keister
+* Engineer, backing vocals – Garth Fundis
+* Fiddle – Buddy Spicher
+* Harp, electric guitar – Danny Flowers
+* Illustration – Whole Hog Studios, LTD*
+* Percussion [hand claps] – Jim Jerome
+* Steel guitar, dobro – Lloyd Green
+* Strings – Carl Gorodetzky, Gary Vanosdale, George Binkley, Lennie Haight, Marvin Chantry, Roy Christensen, Sheldon Kurland, Steven Maxwell Smith*, Wilfred Lehmann*
+* Vocals, acoustic guitar, producer, backing vocals – Don Williams
+* Recorded at Jack Clement Recording Studios
 == References ==
-<references />
+<references responsive="1"></references>{{Don Williams}}
-[[Category:1972 Albums]]
+[[:Category:1977 albums]]
+[[:Category:Don Williams albums]]
+[[:Category:ABC Records albums]]
+[[:Category: Dot Records albums]]

v t e Don Williams
Studio albums	Don Williams Volume One Don Williams Volume Two Don Williams Vol. 3 You're My Best Friend Harmony Visions Country Boy I Believe in You Especially for You Listen to the Radio Yellow Moon Cafe Carolina New Moves One Good Well True Love And So It Goes
Singles	"The Shelter of Your Eyes" "Come Early Morning" "Atta Way to Go" "We Should Be Together" "I Wouldn't Want to Live If You Didn't Love Me" "The Ties That Bind" "You're My Best Friend" "(Turn Out the Light And) Love Me Tonight" "'Til the Rivers All Run Dry" "Say It Again" "I Recall a Gypsy Woman" "She Never Knew Me" "Some Broken Hearts Never Mend" "I'm Just a Country Boy" "I've Got a Winner in You" "Rake and Ramblin' Man" "Tulsa Time" "Lay Down Beside Me" "It Must Be Love" "Love Me Over Again" "Good Ole Boys Like Me" "I Believe In You" "Falling Again" "Miracles" "If I Needed You" (with Emmylou Harris) "Lord, I Hope This Day Is Good" "Listen to the Radio" "Mistakes" "If Hollywood Don't Need You (Honey I Still Do)" "Love Is on a Roll" "Nobody but You" "Stay Young" "That's the Thing About Love" "Maggie's Dream" "Walkin' a Broken Heart" "It's Time for Love" "We've Got a Good Fire Goin''" "Heartbeat in the Darkness" "Then It's Love" "Señorita" "I'll Never Be in Love Again" "I Wouldn't Be a Man" "Another Place, Another Time" "Desperately" "Old Coyote Town" "One Good Well" "I've Been Loved by the Best" "Just as Long as I Have You" "Maybe That's All It Takes" "Back in My Younger Days" "True Love" "Lord Have Mercy on a Country Boy"
Related articles	Discography List of songs written by Don Williams "Amanda" Pozo Seco Singers Bob McDill Allen Reynolds

Latest revision as of 20:20, 26 December 2024

Background

Track listing

Personnel[1]

References

Personnel^[1]