''Entertainer of the Year'' is the twenty-second solo studio album by American country music singer-songwriter Loretta Lynn. It was released on February 26, 1973, by

MCA Records MCA Records was an American record label owned by MCA Inc., which later became part of Universal Music Group. Pre-history MCA Inc., a powerful talent agency and a television production company, entered the recorded music business in 1962 wit ...

. This was Lynn's first album with MCA following

Decca Decca may refer to: Music * Decca Records or Decca Music Group, a record label * Decca Gold, a classical music record label owned by Universal Music Group * Decca Broadway, a musical theater record label * Decca Studios, a recording facility in We ...

's consolidation into the MCA label. This album was titled ''Entertainer of the Year'' after Lynn received the Entertainer of the Year award from the

Country Music Association The Country Music Association (CMA) was founded in 1958 in Nashville, Tennessee. It originally consisted of 233 members and was the first trade organization formed to promote a music genre. The objectives of the organization are to guide and enha ...

the previous year, becoming the first woman to win that award.

Critical reception

In the March 10, 1973 issue, ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...

'' published a review that said, "One of the more remarkable things about this album is its ability to demonstrate Miss Lynn as a blues singer. On a few of the cuts, her blues are superb. There are more sides of Loretta here than we're used to, and they're good." The review also noted "Hanky Panky Woman", "I'm All He's Got", and "Possessions" as the best cuts on the album. '' Cashbox'' published a review in the March 17 issue which said, "Although Loretta's latest is titled after her recent country music award, it would not be overstating matters to claim that she is the entertainer of any year. This album continues her already established fine tradition of recording the best country material available and delivering it with the style and grace that only she can. Included are her current hit, "Rated "X"", "Legend in My Mind", "Hanky Panky Woman", and "Possessions". A sure fire winner in, and for, the Entertainer of the Year."

Commercial performance

The album peaked at No. 1 on the US ''Billboard'' Hot Country LP's chart. The album's only single, "

Rated "X" "Rated "X"" is a 1972 single written and recorded by Loretta Lynn. "Rated "X"" was Lynn's sixth number one country single as a solo artist. The single spent one week at number one and a total of fourteen weeks on the chart. The song dealt with th ...

", was released in November 1972 and peaked atop the US ''Billboard'' Hot Country Singles chart. The single also peaked at No. 1 in Canada on the ''

RPM Revolutions per minute (abbreviated rpm, RPM, rev/min, r/min, or with the notation min−1) is a unit of rotational speed or rotational frequency for rotating machines. Standards ISO 80000-3:2019 defines a unit of rotation as the dimensionl ...

'' Country Singles chart.

Recording

Recording sessions for the album took place on August 21 and December 12, 1972, at Bradley's Barn in Mount Juliet, TN. Three songs on the album were recorded during previous sessions. "Hanky Panky Woman" was recorded during the August 19, 1970 session for 1970's '' Coal Miner's Daughter''. "Rated "X"" is the only song ever released of the three songs recorded during the session on August 24, 1971. "Legend in My Mind" was recorded on April 25, 1972, during a session for 1972's ''

Here I Am Again ''Here I Am Again'' is the twenty-first solo studio album by American country music singer-songwriter Loretta Lynn. It was released on October 2, 1972, by Decca Records. The album features liner notes written by Lynn's mother, Clara Butcher, who ...

''.

Track listing

Personnel

Adapted from the album liner notes and MCA recording session records. *Harold Bradley – bass guitar *Owen Bradley – producer *Ray Edenton – acoustic guitar *Buddy Harman – drums *Darrell Johnson - mastering *The Jordanaires – background vocals *Loretta Lynn – lead vocals *Grady Martin – guitar *Charlie McCoy – harmonica, vibes *Bob Moore – bass *Doctor Elkin L. Rippy – liner notes *Hargus Robbins – piano *Hal Rugg – steel, dobro *Jerry Shook – guitar *Jerry Smith – piano *Herman Wade – guitar *Pete Wade – guitar

Charts

Album Singles

References

{{Authority control 1973 albums Loretta Lynn albums Albums produced by Owen Bradley MCA Records albums