You're My Jamaica (album) explained

You're My Jamaica
Type:studio
Artist:Charley Pride
Cover:Charley Pride--You're My Jamaica.jpg
Recorded:May 1979
Studio:Music City Music Hall, Nashville, Tennessee
Label:RCA Victor
Prev Title:Burgers and Fries/When I Stop Leaving (I'll Be Gone)
Prev Year:1978
Next Title:There's a Little Bit of Hank in Me
Next Year:1980

You're My Jamaica is a studio album by American country music artist Charley Pride. It was released in August 1979 via RCA Victor Records and contained ten tracks. It was co-produced by Pride and Jerry Bradley. You're My Jamaica was the twenty sixth studio project released in his music career. Both its singles became major hits on the country charts in the United States and Canada: "Missin' You" and the title track. The record would receive positive reviews from music publications following its release.

Background and content

As Charley Pride's career progressed, he developed a smoother country pop style. This became more evident in the latter half of the 1970s decade with several hits that promoted this image, such as "She's Just an Old Love Turned Memory" and "Where Do I Put Her Memory."[1] You're My Jamaica also exemplified a country pop sound. The album was recorded at the Music City Hall studio, which was located in Nashville, Tennessee. Sessions took place in May 1979 under the co-production of Pride and his recent collaborator, Jerry Bradley.[2] All of the album's ten titles were new tracks. Two of its tracks were cuts composed by Gary McCray: "Heartbreak Mountain" and "Let Me Have a Chance to Love You." It also featured two songs composed by Kent Robbins, including the single "Missin' You."[2]

Release and reception

You're My Jamaica was released in August on RCA Victor Records. The project would make it Pride's twenty sixth studio album release in his recording career.[2] The album was originally distributed as both a vinyl LP and a cassette. The album would peak at number 11 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart in the fall of 1979.[3] It also reached number six on the Canadian RPM Country Albums chart, becoming his third LP to reach a position on the list.[4] It also was Pride's first studio release to chart in New Zealand, reaching number 33 on their albums chart in 1979.[5] Following its release, You're My Jamaica would receive a positive response from Billboard magazine. Writers called Pride's vocal performance to be "better than ever" and found the album's material to be top of top quality.[6] The San Bernardino Sun noted that Pride "is laid back on this album... His voice is particularly well suited for the echo effect used on many of the cuts."[7]

Two singles would be spawned from You're My Jamaica. The title track was the project's first single release, which occurred in May 1979.[8] It spent 15 weeks on the Billboard Hot Country Songs list and eventually reached the number one spot by September 1979.[9] "Missin' You" was issued in October 1979 as the album's second single.[8] The song also spent 15 weeks on the Billboard country chart and peaked at number two by January 1980.[10] Both singles would reach identical chart positions on the RPM Country Singles chart in Canada.[11]

Track listing

Vinyl and cassette versions

Personnel

All credits are adapted from the liner notes of You're My Jamaica.[2]

Musical personnel

Technical personnel

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1979)Peak
position
Canada Country Albums/CD's (RPM)6
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)33

Year-end charts

Release history

RegionDateFormatLabelRef.
AustraliaAugust 1979VinylRCA Victor Records
Canada
New Zealand
United Kingdom
United States
Cassette

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Vinopal . David . Charley Pride: Biography & History . . 9 January 2021.
  2. Pride . Charley . You're My Jamaica (LP Liner Notes & Album Information) . . August 1979.
  3. You're My Jamaica chart history . . January 9, 2021.
  4. Web site: Search results for "Charley Pride" (Country Albums/CD's) . . 17 July 2013 . December 29, 2020.
  5. Web site: New Zealand charts portal: Charley Pride . charts.nz.org . December 29, 2020.
  6. Top Album Picks: Country . . August 18, 1979 . 91 . 33 . 62 . January 9, 2021.
  7. News: Palmer . Chuck . Pride takes a voyage to new sounds . The San Bernardino Sun . 19 Aug 1979 . C6.
  8. Book: Whitburn, Joel . The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944–2006, Second edition. Joel Whitburn . 2004 . Record Research.
  9. "You're My Jamaica" (single) chart history . . January 9, 2021.
  10. "Missin' You" chart history . . January 9, 2021.
  11. Web site: Search results for "Charley Pride" under Country Singles . . 17 July 2013 . December 24, 2020.
  12. Top Country Albums – Year-End 1980. Billboard. January 31, 2021.