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I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool

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"I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool"
Song
B-side"A Woman's Got a Right (To Change His Mind)"

"I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool" is a song written by Kye Fleming and Dennis Morgan. It was recorded by American country artist Barbara Mandrell as a live version for her 1981 live album, Barbara Mandrell Live. It featured a guest appearance by country artist George Jones who was not credited on the record charts. It was the lead single released from the live album, reaching number one on the Billboard country singles chart in mid 1981.

Background and content

"I Was Country Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool" was a series of songs produced by Tom Collins. Mandrell recorded the song as a live performance for her Live album recorded in Nashville, Tennessee June 1981; however the actual track was recorded in the studio with an audience applause track inserted over various sections of the song. The song also featured a guest appearance on part of the chorus by country vocalist, George Jones.[1] The song describes a woman who is trying to get in touch with their traditional roots and explained she was proud of the music she listened to, even when her peers were listening to Rock and R&B music. The song's chorus further explains the storyline:

I was country when country wasn't cool
I was country from head down to my boots
I still act and look the same
What you see ain't nothing new
I was country when country wasn't cool

The song was released as the tenth track on Mandrell's 1981 live album. Applause from the audience can be heard in the beginning and end of the song, as well as when Jones makes his guest performance.[2]

Chart performance

"I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool" was released as Mandrell's second single of the year in mid 1981. The song became a major hit shortly after its release, reaching number one on the Billboard Magazine Hot Country Songs chart on July 4 of that year. George Jones was never credited as a featured vocalist on the recording charts at the time of its release. It has since been considered to be one of Mandrell's signature recordings during her career. The single helped her 1981 live album, Barbara Mandrell Live certify gold by the Recording Industry Association of America and also helped her win the Country Music Association's "Entertainer of the Year" award in 1981.[3]

Charts

Chart (1981) Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs 1
Canadian RPM Country Tracks 14
Preceded by Billboard Hot Country Singles number one single
by Barbara Mandrell
July 4, 1981 		Succeeded by

References

  1. ^ "Country Music Discographies - Barbara Mandrell". Country Discography. Retrieved 4 January 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  2. ^ "Barbara Mandrell > Live". Allmusic. Retrieved 5 January 2010.
  3. ^ Coyne, Kevin John. "100 Greatest Women - #14: Barbara Mandrell". Country Universe. Retrieved 5 January 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
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