I've Gotta Sing is a studio album by American recording artist Wanda Jackson. It was released in February 1971 via Capitol Records and contained ten tracks. It was the seventeenth studio record released in Jackson's career and the seventeen released with the Capitol label. The project included one single release titled "Fancy Satin Pillows", which became a top 20 charting song on the American country music chart. I've Gotta Sing received a positive review from Billboard magazine following its original release.

I've Gotta Sing
Studio album by
ReleasedFebruary 1971 (1971-02)
RecordedFebruary 1970 (1970-02) – June 1970 (1970-06)
StudioJack Clement Studio
GenreCountry[1]
LabelCapitol
ProducerLarry Butler
Wanda Jackson chronology
A Woman Lives for Love
(1970)
I've Gotta Sing
(1971)
Praise the Lord
(1972)
Singles from I've Gotta Sing
  1. "Fancy Satin Pillows"
    Released: November 1970

Background and content

edit

When first signed to Capitol Records in the 1950s, Wanda Jackson became known to audiences through a series of Rockabilly releases, including the top 40 pop single "Let's Have a Party". In 1961, she made the transition to country music and had two top ten charting singles that year. She continued releasing a series of country albums and singles during the decade, remaining popular in the field as well.[2] In the early 1970s, Capitol continually changed producers on her recording sessions, according to Jackson. She was assigned to producer Larry Butler for I've Gotta Sing after having production disagreements with her prior producer, George Richey.[3]

I've Gotta Sing contained a total of ten tracks.[1] The album comprised a selection of country tracks. The album's liner notes explain the reason for its title: "A girl who has everything's just gotta sing...and Wanda Jackson's got all the talent there is," it explains. Both the title track and "I'm Gonna Walk Out of Your Life" were the album's only new tracks. The remaining songs were covers. Covers on the project include Conway Twitty's "Hello Darlin'", Simon and Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water", The Four Preps' "Love of the Common People" and George Hamilton IV's "Break My Mind". The record was recorded between February and June 1970 at the Jack Clement Studio in Nashville, Tennessee.[4]

Release and reception

edit
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
BillboardFavorable

I've Gotta Sing was first released in February 1971 on Capitol Records, making it Jackson's seventeen studio album. It was also her seventeen album with Capitol. The album was originally issued as a vinyl LP, containing five songs on either side of the record.[4] In later years, it was re-released to digital and streaming markets.[5] The LP spent seven weeks on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart, peaking at number 19 in March 1971.[6] It was her first album since 1968 to reach a charting position on the country albums survey.[7] I've Gotta Sing received a positive review from Billboard magazine in their February issue of the magazine: "...this whole LP is packed with power sales power," writers concluded.[8] The LP's only single release was "Fancy Satin Pillows", which was first issued in November 1970.[9] The song became a top 20 charting single, peaking at number 13 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in January 1971.[10] It also charted at number 26 on the Canadian RPM Country Singles chart.[11]

Track listings

edit

Vinyl version

edit
Side one[4]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."I've Gotta Sing"
  • Milton Blackford
  • Dan Wilson
2:36
2."Hello Darlin'"Conway Twitty2:24
3."Everything Is Beautiful"Ray Stevens3:32
4."Wonder Could I Live There Anymore"Bill Rice2:37
5."Bridge Over Troubled Water"Paul Simon3:46
Side two[4]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Fancy Satin Pillows"
2:23
2."Break My Mind"John D. Loudermilk2:24
3."I'm Gonna Walk Out of Your Life"
2:19
4."Those Were the Days"Gene Raskin3:04
5."Love of the Common People"John Hurley and Ronnie Wilkins3:22

Digital version

edit
I've Gotta Sing (Capitol Nashville)[5]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."I've Gotta Sing"
  • Blackford
  • Wilson
2:39
2."Hello Darlin'"Twitty2:26
3."Everything Is Beautiful"Stevens3:32
4."Wonder Could I Live There Anymore"Rice2:39
5."Bridge Over Troubled Water"Simon3:49
6."Fancy Satin Pillows"
  • Crutchfield
  • Moeller
2:24
7."Break My Mind"Loudermilk2:27
8."I'm Gonna Walk Out of Your Life"
  • Downing
  • Sandusky
2:21
9."Those Were the Days"Raskin3:05
10."Love of the Common People"
  • Hurley
  • Wilkins
3:24

Personnel

edit

All credits are adapted from the liner notes of I've Gotta Sing.[4]

Chart performance

edit
Chart (1971) Peak
position
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[12] 19

Release history

edit
Region Date Format Label Ref.
  • Canada
  • United States
February 1971 Vinyl Capitol Records [4]
United States 2010s
  • Digital
  • Streaming
Capitol Records Nashville [5]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "I've Gotta Sing: Wanda Jackson: Songs, reviews, credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  2. ^ Wolff, Kurt. "Wanda Jackson: Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  3. ^ Bomar, Scott; Jackson, Wanda (2017). Every night is Saturday night : a country girl's journey to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. United States: BMG. ISBN 9781947026070.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Jackson, Wanda (February 1971). "I've Gotta Sing (LP Liner Notes and Album Information)". Capitol Records. ST-669.
  5. ^ a b c "I've Gotta Sing by Wanda Jackson". Apple Music. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  6. ^ "I've Gotta Sing chart history". Billboard. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  7. ^ Whitburn, Joel (1997). Joel Whitburn's Top Country Albums: 1967-1997. Record Research Inc. ISBN 0898201241.
  8. ^ "Album Reviews: Country". Billboard. February 13, 1971. p. 43. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  9. ^ Jackson, Wanda (November 1970). ""Fancy Satin Pillows"/"Why Don't We Love Like That Anymore?" (7" vinyl single)". Capitol Records. 2986.
  10. ^ ""Fancy Satin Pillows" chart history". Billboard. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  11. ^ "Search results for "Wanda Jackson" under Country Singles". RPM. Retrieved 29 November 2013.
  12. ^ "Wanda Jackson Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 27, 2021.