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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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         = Visions
+| name         = Country Boy
 | type         = studio
 | artist       = [[Don Williams]]
 | cover        =
 | alt          =
-| released     = January 17, 1977
+| released     = September 13, 1977
 | studio       =
 | genre        = [[country music|Country]]
@@ Line 11: / Line 11: @@
 | label        = ABC-Dot
 | producer     = [[Don Williams]]
-| prev_title   = [[Harmony_(Don_Williams_album)|Harmony]]
+| prev_title   = [[Visions_(Don_Williams_album)|Visions]]
-| prev_year    = 1976
+| prev_year    = 1977
-| next_title   = [[Country Boy (Don Williams album)|Country Boy]]
+| next_title   = Expressions
-| next_year    = 1977
+| next_year    = 1978
 | misc         = {{Singles
- | name        = Visions
+ | name        = Country Boy
  | type        = Studio
- | single1     = [[Some Broken Hearts Never Mend]]
+ | single1     = [[I'm Just a Country Boy]]
  | single1date = 1977
+ | single2     = [[I%27ve_Got_a_Winner_in_You|I've Got a Winner In You]]
+ | single2date = 1978
+ | single3     = [[Rake_and_Ramblin%27_Man|Rake and Ramblin' Man]]
+ | single3date = 1978
 }}
 }}
-'''''Visions''''' is the sixth [[LP record|LP]] by [[United States|American]] [[Country music|country]] [[Singer-songwriter|singer and songwriter]] [[Don Williams]]. Released on January 17, 1977 on the [[ABC Records|ABC]]-[[Dot Records|Dot]] label, the album reached number four 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> "[[Some Broken Hearts Never Mend]]" was released as a [[Single (music)|single]] in 1977, reaching number one on the [[Hot Country Songs|''Billboard'' country singles]] chart.<ref name="whitburn">{{cite book|title=Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008|last=Whitburn|first=Joel|publisher=Record Research, Inc|year=2008|isbn=0-89820-177-2|pages=463–464}}</ref> ''Visions'' was the first of two Don Williams albums released in 1977, along with ''Country Boy'', which was released later the same year.
+'''''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>
 == Background ==
-Don Williams had achieved his first number one country album the previous year with ''[[Harmony (Don Williams album)|Harmony]].'' For ''Visions'', Williams was again at the writing and producing helm, and brought on many of the same musicians who'd participated in all of his previous recordings, including [[Kenny Malone]] on drums and [[Danny Flowers]] on harmonica.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/visions-mw0000870433|title=Visions - Don Williams|last=|first=|date=November 24, 2019|website=AllMusic|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=November 24, 2019}}</ref> Regular writing collaborators [[Wayland Holyfield]], [[Allen Reynolds]] and [[Bob McDill]] all made contributions to this album.
+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>
-While ''Visions'' was a solid bestseller, it did not have its predecessors chart success.<ref name="Sean">{{cite web|url={{Allmusic|class=album|id=r575535|pure_url=yes}}|title=Don Williams — ''Harmony''|last=|first=|date=|work=Allmusic|accessdate=2009-10-11}}</ref> However, along with ''Harmony'' and ''Country Boy'', ''Visions'' is considered part of the trio of albums that marked the foundation of Williams' commercial and artistic success in the 1970s, both in the [[United States|US]] and in the [[United Kingdom|UK]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=d18K8QWcEo8C&ppis=_c&lpg=PA539&dq=%22Don%20Williams%20Volume%20One%22%20-wikipedia&pg=PA539#v=onepage&q=%22Don%20Williams%20Volume%20One%22%20-wikipedia&f=false|title=Country Music: The Encyclopedia|last=Stambler|first=Irwin|publisher=St. Martin's Griffin|year=1997|isbn=0312151217|location=New York, NY|pages=539}}</ref> ABC-Dot Records had made a concerted effort to market American country music abroad throughout the mid-1970's, and Williams' ''Visions'' was a notable bestseller oversees at the time, with an excess of 200,000 units moved.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Williams|first=Jean|date=March 12, 1977|title=Williams' Visions Gives Label Foresight|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XEUEAAAAMBAJ&ppis=_c&lpg=PT97&dq=don%20williams%20visions&pg=PT97#v=onepage&q=don%20williams%20visions&f=false|journal=Billboard|volume=89, No.10|pages=98|via=}}</ref>
+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>
-Williams' was also becoming well known during this time for his intimate live performances, which featured his regular collaborators, Danny Flowers on [[Harmonica]] and [[Guitar|Guitars]], and David Williamson on [[Bass guitar|Bass]].<ref name=":1" />
+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>
+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" />
 == Track listing ==
@@ Line 36: / Line 44: @@
 '''Side A'''
+# "[[I'm Just a Country Boy]]" ([[Fred Hellerman]], [[Marshall Barer]]) - 3:01
-# "Time On My Hands" (Layng Martine) - 2:31
-# "I'll Never Forget" (Don Williams) - 2:59
+# "[[Louisiana Saturday Night]]" ([[Bob McDill]]) - 2:20
+# "Overlookin' and Underthinkin'" (D. Lay, Don Williams, Joe Allen) - 3:26
-# "I'm Getting Good At Missing You" (Wayland Holyfield) - 2:51
-# "In The Mornin'" (Don Williams) - 2:16
+# "Sneakin' Around" (Bob McDill) - 2:40
-# "Missing You, Missing Me" (Allen Reynolds, Don Williams) - 3:00
+# "Look Around You" (Bill Joor, Buck Lindsey) - 2:55
-#
-#
-#
-#
 '''Side B'''
-# "Some Broken Hearts Never Mend" (Wayland Holyfield) - 2:43
+# "I've Got a Winner In You" (Don Williams, Wayland Holyfield) - 2:34
-# "Fallin' In Love Again" (David Williamson) - 2:41
+# "Rake and Ramblin' Man" (Bob McDill) - 2:50
-# "We Can Sing" (Don Williams) - 2:30
+# "Too Many Tears (To Make Love Strong)" (Jim Rushing) - 3:18
+# "It's Gotta Be Magic" (Don Williams) - 2:48
-# "I'll Need Someone To Hold Me (When I Cry)" (Bob McDill, Wayland Holyfield) - 3:06
-# "Expert At Everything" (Deoin Elijah Lay, Joseph Paul Allen) - 2:41
+# "Falling In Love" (Bob McDill, Wayland Holyfield) - 2:15
-# "Cup O'Tea" (Harlan "HS" White) - 3:06
+== Personnel<ref name=":0" /> ==
-== Musicians ==
-from the original release:<ref name=":0" />
+* Acoustic guitar – Bob McDill
-* Accordion, Organ, Piano, Vibraphone, and string arrangements – Charles Cochran
-* Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar – Jimmy Colvard
+* Acoustic guitar, electric guitar – Dave Kirby*, Jimmy Colvard
+* String arranger, accordion, organ, piano, vibraphone – Charles Cochran
-* Backing Vocals – Don Williams, Garth Fundis
+* Art direction – John Donegan
 * Bass – Joe Allen
+* Design – David Wright
-* Drums, Congas, Percussion – Kenny Malone
+* Drums, congas, percussion – Kenny Malone
-* Electric Piano, Acoustic Piano – [[Shane Keister]]
+* Electric piano, acoustic piano – Shane Keister
-* Fiddle – [[Buddy Spicher]]
-* Harmonica, Electric Guitar – Danny Flowers
+* Engineer, backing vocals – Garth Fundis
+* Fiddle – Buddy Spicher
-* Steel Guitar, Dobro – [[Lloyd Green]]
-* Vocals, Acoustic Guitar – Don Williams
+* 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
-== Production ==
+== References ==
+<references responsive="1"></references>{{Don Williams}}
-from the album liner notes:<ref name=":0" />
+[[:Category:1977 albums]]
-* Producer – Don Williams
+[[:Category:Don Williams albums]]
-* Engineer [Recording] – [[Garth Fundis]]
+[[:Category:ABC Records albums]]
-* Design [Album] – David Wright
+[[:Category: Dot Records albums]]
-* Art Direction, Photography By – John Donegan
-#
-#
-#
-#
-#
-== References ==
-<references group="" responsive="1"></references>{{Don Williams}}

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]