We Sure Can Love Each Other (album) explained

We Sure Can Love Each Other
Type:studio
Artist:Tammy Wynette
Cover:TammyWynetteWeSureCanLoveEachOther.jpg
Released:May 3, 1971
Recorded:February 1970 – February 1971
Studio:Columbia Studio B, Nashville
Label:Epic
Producer:Billy Sherrill
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We Sure Can Love Each Other is a studio album by American country artist, Tammy Wynette. It was released on May 3, 1971 via Epic Records and was the eleventh studio album released in her career. The disc contained a total of 11 tracks, mixing new material with cover tunes. The title track was the only singles included and became a chart-topping country song in North America. The album itself also charted in the top ten of the American country albums chart and received positive reviews by critics.

Background, recording and content

Tammy Wynette had become among country music's most popular artists during the sixties and seventies. She had a string of chart-topping and top ten country songs, including her signature recording of "Stand by Your Man" (1969).[1] Between 1971 and 1973 alone, Wynette had five number one singles on the country charts. Among these recordings was 1971's "We Sure Can Love Each Other". Co-written by Wynette, she was inspired to write the track after hearing Johnny Cash say "we sure can hurt each other" on a talk show.[2] Wynette's eleventh studio album was named for the single. Material for the project was recorded between February 1970 and February 1971. Sessions were held at Columbia Studio B, located in Nashville, Tennessee. The project was produced by Billy Sherrill.[3]

We Sure Can Love Each Other consisted of 11 tracks. Several cover tunes were included on the album. The track "If You I Love You Now (I've Just Started)" was first a top 20 country single by Jody Miller in 1970. "Bring Him Safely Home to Me" was recorded around the same time by Sandy Posey, whose version was a top 20 country single in 1971. Another recording, "Have a Little Faith", was a chart-topping country song for David Houston in 1968.[4] Remaining tracks were new material such as "He Knows All the Ways to Love", "Make Me Your Kind of Woman" and "Don't Liberate Me (Love Me)".[3] The latter recording was considered a protest song against the Equal Rights Amendment in the United States. Its lyrics describe how a housewife enjoys being a homemaker and wants to "remain a woman".[5]

Release, chart performance, singles and reception

We Sure Can Love Each Other was originally released on May 3, 1971 on Epic Records. It was originally distributed as a vinyl LP and a cassette. Five tracks were included on the first side while six tracks were included on the second side.[3] Decades later it was reissued digitally by Sony Music Entertainment during the 2010s, however a specific date is not known.[6] Following its initial release, the album received a positive review by Billboard in May 1971. Critics found it to include "some of her best performances", while concluding, "Heart and soul performances, a top chart item."[7] Years later, it was given three out of stars by AllMusic. The disc peaked at number eight on the American Billboard Top Country Albums chart in July 1971.[8] It also reached number 115 on the Billboard 200 and charted at number 11 on the Canadian RPM Top Tape Sellers chart. It was Wynette's only chart entry on the Tape Sellers list.[9] [10] The title track was the only single included. It was originally released by Epic in February 1971.[11] By April 1971, the song reached number two on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart[12] while also topping the RPM Country Tracks chart.[13]

Personnel

All credits are adapted from the liner notes of We Sure Can Love Each Other.[3]

Release history

RegionDateFormatLabelRef.
AustraliaMay 3, 1971VinylEpic Records[14]
Europe[15]
Japan[16]
North America
2010sSony Music Entertainment

Notes and References

  1. Book: Wolff . Kurt . Country Music: The Rough Guide . 2000 . Penguin Books Ltd. . 978-1858285344 . 334–337.
  2. Book: McDonough . Jimmy . Tammy Wynette: Tragic Country Queen . 168–171 . 2010 . Penguin Publishing Group . 9781101189955.
  3. Wynette . Tammy . We Sure Can Love Each Other (Original Liner Notes and Information) . . May 3, 1971 . E-30658 (LP); ET-30658 (Cassette).
  4. Book: Whitburn, Joel . The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Joel Whitburn . 2004 . Record Research.
  5. Book: Perlstein . Rick . Reaganland: America's Right Turn 1976-1980 . 2021 . . 978-1476793061 . 156.
  6. Web site: We Can Sure Love Each Other by Tammy Wynette . . 26 December 2022.
  7. Album Reviews . . May 8, 1971 . 56 . 26 December 2022.
  8. Web site: Billboard Magazine - June 26, 1971. American Radio History. Billboard Magazine. 25 September 2017.
  9. Web site: Search results for "Tammy Wynette" under Top Albums/CDs . . 17 July 2013 . 8 December 2019.
  10. Tammy Wynette Chart History: Billboard 200 . . 8 December 2019.
  11. Wynette . Tammy . "We Sure Can Love Each Other"/"Fun" (7" vinyl single) . . February 1971 . 5-10707.
  12. Web site: Billboard Magazine - April 10, 1971. American Radio History. Billboard Magazine. 25 September 2017.
  13. Web site: Search results for "Tammy Wynette" under Country Singles . . 17 July 2013 . 8 December 2019.
  14. Wynette . Tammy . We Sure Can Love Each Other (Disc Information) . . May 3, 1971 . ELPS-3606 (Australia).
  15. Wynette . Tammy . We Sure Can Love Each Other (Disc Information) . . May 3, 1971 . EPC-S-64502 (Europe).
  16. Wynette . Tammy . We Sure Can Love Each Other (Disc Information) . . May 3, 1971 . ECPL-54002 (Japan).