Best Always is the nineteenth studio album released by American country artist Crystal Gayle. The album was released in 1993 on Branson Entertainment and was co-produced by Gayle as well. The album was her first to be released on an independent label and contained cover versions of songs recorded by others.
| Best Always | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album (re-recording) by | ||||
| Released | July 1993 | |||
| Studio | The Music Mill, Sound Emporium, Soundshop Studios, Reflections Studio and Emerald Sound Studios (Nashville, Tennessee). | |||
| Genre | Country | |||
| Length | 33:25 | |||
| Label | Branson Entertainment | |||
| Producer |
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| Crystal Gayle chronology | ||||
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Background edit
During the early 1990s, Crystal Gayle had been recording for the major labels Capitol and Liberty Records. After 1992, she departed from these labels and began recording for smaller labels. The first independent label she recorded under was Branson Entertainment, which Best Always was released through.[1] The album contained cover versions of songs Gayle had previously recorded. Examples of this included Gayle's former hits from 1970s and 80s, "When I Dream" and "Ready for the Times to Get Better". Best Always also featured cover versions of songs Gayle had not yet recorded. Among these were "Crazy" by Patsy Cline and Irving Berlin's "Always".[2]
Critical reception and release edit
The album received 2 out of 5 stars from Allmusic.[3]
Best Always was officially released in July 1993 via Branson Entertainment. The album was released in both cassette and compact disc versions. In later editions, the album was released via Southpaw Music Productions.[4]
Track listing edit
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Original Artist | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Ready for the Times to Get Better" | Crystal Gayle | 3:24 | |
| 2. | "Crazy" | Patsy Cline | 2:47 | |
| 3. | "For the Good Times" | Ray Price | 3:21 | |
| 4. | "Silver Threads and Golden Needles" |
| Wanda Jackson | 2:14 |
| 5. | "When I Dream" | Crystal Gayle | 3:40 | |
| 6. | "Talking in Your Sleep" |
| Crystal Gayle | 2:55 |
| 7. | "Oh, Lonesome Me" | Don Gibson | 2:53 | |
| 8. | "I Fall to Pieces" | Patsy Cline | 2:58 | |
| 9. | "Beyond You" |
| Crystal Gayle | 2:16 |
| 10. | "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue" | Crystal Gayle | 2:44 | |
| 11. | "Break My Mind" | George Hamilton IV | 2:11 | |
| 12. | "Always" | Henry Burr | 2:37 | |
| Total length: | 33:25 | |||
Personnel edit
All credits are adapted from Allmusic.[5]
Musicians
- Crystal Gayle – lead vocals, backing vocals
- Charles Cochran – acoustic piano, keyboards
- Dean Slocum – acoustic piano, keyboards
- Chris Leuzinger – acoustic guitar, electric guitars
- Mike Loudermilk – acoustic guitar, electric guitars
- Jay Patten – acoustic guitar, mandolin, saxophones
- Duncan Mullins – bass
- Tony Newman – drums
- Kenny Malone – percussion
- Buddy Spicher – fiddle, viola
- Jim Ferguson – backing vocals
Creative
- Ron Keith – photography
- Kent Wells – graphic design
Technical
- John Donegan – producer
- Crystal Gayle – producer
- Jay Patten – producer
- Joe Scalfe – engineer
- David Sinko – engineer
- John "JD" Dickson – additional engineer
- Ronny Light – additional engineer
- Steve Tillisch – mixing
- Paula Montondo – mix assistant
- Glenn Meadows – mastering at Masterfonics (Nashville, Tennessee)
References edit
- ^ Wolff, Kurt (2000). Country Music: The Rough Guide. London, UK: Penguin Book LTD. p. 440.
- ^ a b Best Always Liner Notes (Cassette insert). Branson Entertainment. 1993.
- ^ a b "Best Always -- Crystal Gayle -- Songs, Reviews, Credits". Allmusic. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
- ^ "Best Always -- Crystal Gayle (Releases)". Discogs. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
- ^ "Best Always -- Crystal Gayle -- Credits". Allmusic. Retrieved 5 January 2020.