Connie Smith Now is a compilation album by American country singer Connie Smith, released in July 1974. The album was one of several compilations released after Smith departed RCA Victor. The album's material was previously released, including the singles, "Louisiana Man" and "I'm Sorry If My Love Got in Your Way". The album charted on the American country LP's chart and received a review from Billboard magazine following its release.

Connie Smith Now
Compilation album by
ReleasedJuly 1974
Recorded1966 – 1972
StudioRCA Victor Studios
GenreCountry[1]
LabelRCA Victor
ProducerBob Ferguson
Connie Smith chronology
That's the Way Love Goes
(1974)
Connie Smith Now
(1974)
I Never Knew (What That Song Meant Before)
(1974)

Background, content and recording

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Connie Smith was signed to the RCA Victor label between 1964 and 1973. With the label, she had 18 top ten Billboard country singles including the eight week number one, "Once a Day". In 1973, she signed with Columbia Records.[2][3] This prompted RCA to issue a series of compilation albums of Smith's material. The label issued many of these discs between 1973 and 1974. One of its final compilations from this period was Connie Smith Now.[4] The album contained ten tracks, eight of which were previously released as album cuts or singles. Included were two top 20 country singles: "Louisiana Man" (1970) and "I'm Sorry If My Love Got in Your Way" (1971).[3]

Other selections appeared on previously-released albums, such as Smith's cover of "Seattle". The eight previously-released tracks were recorded in sessions held between 1966 and 1971.Two songs were previously recorded but never-before released: "Someone to Give My Love To" and "I'm So Glad". These selections were recorded in 1972. Bob Ferguson served as producer on all of the album's tracks and all sessions were held at RCA Victor Studios in Nashville, Tennessee.[5]

Release and reception

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Connie Smith Now was released by the RCA Victor label in July 1974. It was the sixth compilation of Smith's music released by the label. It was distributed as a vinyl LP, containing five songs on each side of the record.[5] The compilation was reviewed by Billboard magazine in 1974, which gave it a positive reception: "Although it's titled 'Now', the album contains some previously released material. Nonetheless, it's all great material, and contains some new things which are bound to result in singles."[6] Connie Smith Now entered the American Billboard Country LP's chart on August 31, 1974. It spent five weeks on the chart, peaking at the number 40 position on September 21, 1974. It was Smith's second-lowest charting album in her career on the publication survey.[7]

Track listing

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Side one[5]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Someone to Give My Love To"
2:54
2."Seattle"2:56
3."Back in Baby's Arms"Bob Montgomery2:05
4."I'm So Glad"
2:15
5."Now"
  • Paul Parnes
  • Herb Strizik
3:36
Side two[5]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."I'm Sorry If My Love Got in Your Way"2:14
2."Louisiana Man"Doug Kershaw2:23
3."You Are Gone"Johnny Carver2:14
4."Born to Sing"Cy Coben2:06
5."Plenty of Time"Clay McLean3:04

Chart performance

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Chart (1974) Peak
position
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[8] 40

Release history

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Region Date Format Label Ref.
North America July 1974 Vinyl RCA Victor Records [5]

References

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Footnotes

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  1. ^ "Connie Smith Now: Connie Smith: Songs, reviews, credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  2. ^ Bush, John. "Connie Smith: Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  3. ^ a b Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. ISBN 978-0-89820-177-2.
  4. ^ Mazor 2012, p. 69.
  5. ^ a b c d e Smith, Connie (July 1974). "Connie Smith Now (LP Liner Notes and Album Information)". RCA Victor. APL1-0607.
  6. ^ "Billboard's Top Album Picks: Country". Billboard. Vol. 85, no. 28. July 13, 1974. p. 46. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  7. ^ "Connie Smith chart history (Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  8. ^ "Connie Smith Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 21, 2022.

Books

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