Rock Me Back to Little Rock
Rock Me Back to Little Rock | ||||
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Studio album by Jan Howard | ||||
Released | June 1970 (1970-06) | |||
Recorded | 1969 – 1970 | |||
Venue | Bradley's Barn, Mt. Juliet, Tennessee | |||
Genre | Country | |||
Label | Decca | |||
Producer | Owen Bradley | |||
Jan Howard chronology | ||||
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Singles from Rock Me Back to Little Rock | ||||
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Rock Me Back to Little Rock is the tenth studio album by American country artist Jan Howard. It was released in June 1970 on Decca Records and was produced by Owen Bradley. The album featured two singles, one of which became a top 20 hit on the Billboard country chart. Additionally, the album would reach peak positions on the Billboard country albums chart.
Background and content
Rock Me Back to Little Rock was recorded in several sessions between 1969 and 1970 at Bradley's Barn studio in Mount Juliet, Tennessee. All sessions were produced by the studio's owner, Owen Bradley, Howard's collaborator since signing with the Decca label.[1] The album consisted of 11 tracks, most of which were cover versions of songs by other artists. Of these covers was The Beatles's "Let It Be", Glen Campbell's "Try a Little Kindness" and Simon & Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water". The album also included original tracks, such as the title track and Howard's self-penned "Love Is a Sometimes Thing". The latter track would later be released as a single by Howard's friend and musical collaborator, Bill Anderson.[2] Rock Me Back to Little Rock also included two songs that were previously recorded by Connie Smith. The album's second track "You and Your Sweet Love" was a top 10 hit for Smith in 1969 and was co-written by Bill Anderson. The album's tenth track, "I Never Once Stopped Loving You", was composed by both Anderson and Howard. The song also became a top 10 hit for Smith.[1]
Release and reception
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Billboard | Favorable |
Rock Me Back to Little Rock was released in June 1970 on Decca Records via a vinyl record format. The record included six songs on the first side and five songs on the remaining side.[2] The album peaked at number 42 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart on June 23, 1970. It spent a total of 3 weeks on the chart.[3] The album also featured two singles. The first single, "We Had All the Good Things Going", reached number 20 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in November 1969. It became Howard's sixth and final top 20 hit[4] as a solo artist. The title track was released in 1970, reaching number 26 on the Billboard country songs chart on May 2.[5]
The album was reviewed positively by Billboard in 1970. In their commentary, writers called it a "pop-country product with a few mavericks that she (and produced Owen Bradley) adopted and adapted." Magazine writers praised Howard's covers of "Bridge Over Troubled Water" and "I Never Once Stopped Loving You".[6]
Track listing
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Can You Feel It" | 2:35 | |
2. | "You and Your Sweet Love" |
| 2:45 |
3. | "We Had All the Good Things Going" |
| 2:30 |
4. | "Hello Stranger" | 2:15 | |
5. | "Journey Goin' Nowhere" |
| 2:09 |
6. | "Let It Be" | 2:37 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Rock Me Back to Little Rock" |
| 2:19 |
2. | "Love Is a Sometimes Thing" | 2:53 | |
3. | "Try a Little Kindness" |
| 2:12 |
4. | "I Never Once Stopped Loving You" |
| 2:54 |
5. | "Bridge Over Troubled Water" | 4:11 |
Personnel
All credits are adapted from the liner notes of Rock Me Back to Little Rock.[1]
Musical and technical personnel
- Harold Bradley – guitar
- Owen Bradley – producer
- Kenneth Buttrey – drums
- Jimmy Capps – guitar
- Floyd Cramer – piano
- Ray Edenton – guitar
- Buddy Harman – drums
- Jan Howard – lead vocals
- Roy Huskey – bass
- Grady Martin – guitar
- Charlie McCoy – harmonica, vibes
- Hal Rugg – steel guitar
- Jerry Smith – piano
- Pete Wade – guitar
Chart performance
Chart (1970) | Peak position |
---|---|
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[7] | 42 |
Release history
Region | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
United States | June 1970 | Vinyl | Decca | [2] |
United Kingdom | 1972 | MCA | [8] |
References
- ^ a b c Howard, Jan (1970). "Rock Me Back to Little Rock liner notes (vinyl insert)". Decca Records.
- ^ a b c d e "Jan Howard -- Rock Me Back to Little Rock (1970, Vinyl)". Discogs. 1970. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
- ^ "Rock Me Back to Little Rock chart history". Billboard. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
- ^ ""We Had All the Good Things Going" chart history". Billboard. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
- ^ ""Rock Me Back to Little Rock" (single) chart history". Billboard. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
- ^ "Billboard album reviews". Billboard. Vol. 82, no. 25. June 20, 1970. p. 57.
- ^ "Jan Howard Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
- ^ "Jan Howard -- Rock Me Back to Little Rock (UK release)". Discogs. 1972. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
- v
- t
- e
- Sweet and Sentimental (with The Jordanaires) (1962)
- Jan Howard Sings Evil on Your Mind (1966)
- Bad Seed (1966)
- This Is Jan Howard Country (1967)
- For Loving You (with Bill Anderson) (1968)
- Count Your Blessings, Woman (1968)
- Jan Howard (1969)
- For God and Country (1970)
- If It's All the Same to You (with Bill Anderson) (1970)
- Rock Me Back to Little Rock (1970)
- Bill and Jan (Or Jan and Bill) (with Bill Anderson) (1972)
- Love Is Like a Spinning Wheel (1972)
- Singing His Praise (with Bill Anderson) (1972)
- Sincerely, Jan Howard (1975)
- Stars of the Grand Ole Opry (1981)
- Tainted Love (1983)
- Jan Howard (1985)
- Sweethearts of Country Music (with Wynn Stewart) (1960)
- "The One You Slip Around With"
- "Wrong Company" (with Wynn Stewart)
- "What Makes a Man Wander?"
- "Evil on Your Mind"
- "Bad Seed"
- "For Loving You" (with Bill Anderson)
- "Count Your Blessings, Woman"
- "I Still Believe in Love"
- "My Son"
- "We Had All the Good Things Going"
- "If It's All the Same to You" (with Bill Anderson)
- "Someday We'll Be Together" (with Bill Anderson)
- "Dis-Satisfied" (with Bill Anderson)
- "I Never Once Stopped Loving You"
- "Love Is a Sometimes Thing"
- "Love Is Like a Spinning Wheel"
- "I'll Hold You in My Heart (Till I Can Hold You in My Arms)"
- Harlan Howard
- Bill Anderson