''Blue Kentucky Girl'' is the fourth studio album by American country music singer-songwriter

Loretta Lynn Loretta Lynn (; April 14, 1932 – October 4, 2022) was an American country music singer and songwriter. In a career spanning six decades, Lynn released multiple gold albums. She had numerous hits such as "You Ain't Woman Enough (To Take My Ma ...

. It was released on June 14, 1965, by Decca Records. The album features four songs written by Lynn, "Night Girl", "Love's Been Here and Gone", "Farther to Go", and "Two Steps Forward". It also includes cover versions of previous country hits,

Connie Smith Connie Smith (born Constance June Meador; August 14, 1941) is an American country music singer and songwriter. Her contralto vocals have been described by music writers as significant and influential to the women of country music. A similarity h ...

's "

Then and Only Then "Then and Only Then" is a song written by Bill Anderson and recorded by the American country artist, Connie Smith, on her Connie Smith. It was produced by Bob Ferguson and released in January 1965, reaching the Top 5 on the '' Billboard'' country ...

" and Johnny Cash's "

I Still Miss Someone "I Still Miss Someone" is a song co-written by Johnny Cash and his nephew Roy Cash, Jr. and originally recorded by American country music singer Johnny Cash. He first recorded it in 1958 as the B-side to " Don't Take Your Guns to Town". Histor ...

Critical reception

In the June 26, 1965 issue, '' Billboard'' published a review of the album which said, "Her current hit is "Blue Kentucky Girl" and this album is a beautiful showcase for not only that tune, but the classic "Send Me the Pillow That You Dream On" and "I Still Miss Someone" sung with impact and vivaciousness by ''Grand Ole Oprys Loretta Lynn. The hit will make this a strong seller in the country music field."

Commercial performance

The album debuted at No. 18 on the US '' Billboard'' Hot Country Albums chart dated July 10, 1965. It would peak at No. 14 the following week. The album spent 8 weeks on the chart. The only single from the album, " Blue Kentucky Girl", was released in March 1965 and peaked at No. 7 on the US ''Billboard''

Hot Country Singles Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine in the United States. This 50-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly by collecting airplay data from Nielsen BDS along with digital sa ...

chart.

Recording

Recording of the album took place over three sessions on March 4, 15 and 16, 1965, at Columbia Recording Studio in Nashville, Tennessee. Two songs on the album had been recorded at sessions for previous albums. "Blue Kentucky Girl" had been recorded on October 14, 1964, at a session for 1965's '' Songs from My Heart....'', and "The Beginning of the End" was recorded during the January 9, 1963 session for 1963's '' Loretta Lynn Sings''.

Track listing

Personnel

Adapted from the Decca recording session records. * Willie Ackerman – drums *

Harold Bradley Harold Ray Bradley (January 2, 1926 – January 31, 2019) was an American guitarist and entrepreneur, who played on many country, rock and pop recordings and produced numerous TV variety shows and movie soundtracks. Having started as a session ...

– electric bass guitar, electric guitar *

Floyd Cramer Floyd Cramer (October 27, 1933 – December 31, 1997) was an American pianist who became famous for his use of melodic "half step" attacks. He was inducted into both the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. His signatu ...

– piano *

Buddy Harman Murrey Mizell "Buddy" Harman, Jr. (December 23, 1928 – August 21, 2008) was an American country music session musician. Career Born in Nashville, Tennessee, Harman played drums on over 18,000 sessions for artists such as Elvis Presley, Jerry ...

– drums *

Don Helms Donald "Don" Hugh Helms (February 28, 1927 – August 11, 2008) was a steel guitarist best known as the steel guitar player of Hank Williams's Drifting Cowboys group. He was a member of the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame (1984). Biography Helms was ...

– steel guitar * Junior Huskey – bass *

The Jordanaires The Jordanaires were an American vocal quartet that formed as a gospel group in 1948. Over the years, they recorded both sacred and secular music for recording companies such as Capitol Records, RCA Victor, Columbia Records, Decca Records, Vocal ...

– backing vocals *Loretta Lynn – lead vocals *

Grady Martin Thomas Grady Martin (January 17, 1929 – December 3, 2001) was an American session guitarist in country music and rockabilly. A member of The Nashville A-Team, he played guitar on hits such as Marty Robbins' " El Paso", Loretta Lynn's " Co ...

– guitar *

Bob Moore Bob Loyce Moore (November 30, 1932 – September 22, 2021) was an American session musician, orchestra leader, and double bassist who was a member of the Nashville A-Team during the 1950s and 1960s. He performed on over 17,000 documented recor ...

– bass * Harold Morrison – banjo *

Wayne Moss Wayne Moss (born February 9, 1938 in Charleston, West Virginia, United States) is an American guitar player, bassist, record producer and songwriter best known for his session work in Nashville. Moss was one of the founders of Area Code 615 and Bar ...

– guitar, electric guitar *Hal Rugg – steel guitar * Teddy Wilburn – guitar

Charts

Album Singles

References

{{Authority control 1965 albums Loretta Lynn albums Albums produced by Owen Bradley Decca Records albums