Jeannie Seely (1969 album) explained

Jeannie Seely
Type:studio
Artist:Jeannie Seely
Cover:Jeannie Seely--1969 album.jpg
Genre:Country[1]
Label:Decca
Producer:Owen Bradley
Prev Title:Little Things
Prev Year:1969
Next Title:Jack Greene, Jeannie Seely
Next Year:1970

Jeannie Seely is an eponymous studio album by American country artist Jeannie Seely. It was released by Decca Records in April 1969 and was her fifth studio album. The 11-track collection featured songs written by Hank Cochran and others. Many of the songs were cover tunes, with some exceptions such as "Just Enough to Start Me Dreamin'". The latter was the album's only single and made an appearance on the US country chart in 1969. The eponymous release was Seely's first for the Decca label and received reviews from Billboard, Cash Box and Record World magazines.

Background, recording and content

Jeannie Seely first reached commercial success in the country field with 1966's "Don't Touch Me". The song went to number two on the country chart and was followed by several more top 20 singles on Monument Records.[2] Record World magazine announced in February 1969 that Seely had then signed with Decca Records and was recording her first-label album project with producer Owen Bradley.[3] The eponymous studio album consisted of 11 tracks with songwriting credits from Hank Cochran, Dallas Frazier, Harlan Howard and Jim Webb.[4] The songs "Just Enough to Start Me Dreamin'", "So Was He", "How Big a Fire" and "I'd Be Better Off" were credited to Cochran. Many of the album's tracks were cover tunes such as "Wichita Lineman", "Walkin' After Midnight" and "Until My Dreams Come True". Howard wrote the project's liner notes.[5]

Release, critical reception and singles

Jeannie Seely was released by Decca Records in April 1969 and was the fifth studio album of her career. The label distributed the album as a vinyl LP, featuring six songs on "side 1" and five songs on "side 2" of the disc.[5] The album received reviews from music magazines in April 1969. Billboard called the LP "highly salable", writing that "Miss Seely delivers" with her performances on Cochran-penned material.[1] Cash Box called the LP "a tempting package" and praised Seely's singing, writing that she "turns in a powerful performance with her feelingful style".[4] Record World found all of the songs on the project to be "well-chosen" and called Seely "a top-notch country songstress".[6] The album's only single was "Just Enough to Start Me Dreamin'", which was first issued by Decca in March 1969.[7] It entered the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart on March 22, 1969 and spent 11 weeks on there, peaking at the number 43 position in May 1969. It was the second single of Seely's to chart outside the Billboard country top 40.[8]

Personnel

All credits are adapted from the liner notes of Jeannie Seely[5] and an article from Record World magazine.[3]

Notes and References

  1. Billboard Album Reviews: Country . . April 26, 1969 . 81 . 17 .
  2. Web site: Erlewine . Stephen Thomas . Jeannie Seely Biography . . 27 July 2024.
  3. Country and Western: Decca Signs Jeannie Seely . . February 15, 1969 . 50 . 26 July 2024.
  4. Country LP Reviews . . April 12, 1969 . 44 . 27 July 2024.
  5. Seely . Jeannie . Jeannie Seely (Liner Notes) . . April 1969 . DL-75093 (LP Stereo).
  6. Country LP Reviews . . April 19, 1969 . 57 . 27 July 2024.
  7. Seely . Jeannie . "Just Enough to Start Me Dreamin'"/"How Big a Fire" (7" vinyl single) . . March 1969 . 32452.
  8. Jeannie Seely Chart History: Country Songs . . 30 March 2020.