| Long Hard Climb | |
| Type: | Album |
| Artist: | Helen Reddy |
| Cover: | Reddy-Climb.jpg |
| Released: | July 23, 1973 |
| Recorded: | 1973 |
| Genre: | Vocal, pop rock[1] |
| Length: | 29:28 |
| Label: | Capitol |
| Producer: | Tom Catalano |
| Prev Title: | I Am Woman |
| Prev Year: | 1972 |
| Next Title: | Love Song for Jeffrey |
| Next Year: | 1974 |
Long Hard Climb is the fourth studio album by Australian-American pop singer Helen Reddy, released on July 23, 1973, by Capitol Records[2] and, aside from its primary focus on Top 40-friendly material, had her trying out New Orleans jazz ("Lovin' You") and the English-language version of a recent Charles Aznavour standard ("The Old Fashioned Way"). It debuted on Billboards Top LP's & Tapes chart in the issue dated August 11, 1973, and reached number eight during its 43 weeks there,[3] and in Canada's RPM magazine it peaked at number 14.[4] On September 19 of that year, the Recording Industry Association of America awarded the album with Gold certification for sales of 500,000 copies in the United States.[5] On July 22, 2003, it was released for the first time on compact disc as one of two albums on one CD, the other album being her 1972 release I Am Woman.[6]
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"Delta Dawn" was released as the first single from the album on June 11, 1973,[7] debuted on Billboards Hot 100 later that month, in the issue of the magazine dated June 23, and enjoyed 20 weeks there, one of which was at number one.[8] That same issue also marked its first appearance on the magazine's Easy Listening chart, where it lasted for 16 weeks, with two of those being in the top spot.[9] On August 30 of that year the song earned Gold certification from the RIAA for sales of the one million copies that was the requirement for singles at that time.[5] It also had three weeks at number one on RPM's singles chart in Canada.[10] The single was certified Gold in Australia in March 1974.
"Leave Me Alone (Ruby Red Dress)" was released as a single on October 29 of that year[7] and had 16 weeks on the pop chart that began in the November 3 issue and eventually included two weeks at number three.[8] It also spent 16 weeks on the Easy Listening chart that started in the November 10 issue and included four weeks at number one.[9] On January 8, 1974, it received Gold certification,[5] and it peaked at number five in Canada in the issue of RPM dated January 12.[11]
Side 1
Side 2
In 2009 EMI Music Special Markets released Rarities from the Capitol Vaults, a 12-track CD of mostly what were previously unreleased Reddy recordings, which included an alternate version of "Don't Mess with a Woman".[12]
| Chart (1973) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[13] | 16 |
| Canada Albums (RPM)[14] | 14 |