''Showcase'' is a studio album by American country singer-songwriter Bill Anderson. It was released in November 1964 on

Decca Records Decca Records is a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis (Decca), Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934 by Lewis, Jack Kapp, American Decca's first president, and Milton Rackmil, who later became American ...

and was produced by

Owen Bradley William Owen Bradley (October 21, 1915 – January 7, 1998) was an American musician and record producer who, along with Chet Atkins, Bob Ferguson, Bill Porter, and Don Law, was one of the chief architects of the 1950s and 1960s Nashville sou ...

. The album was Anderson's third studio release as a recording artist and second to be released in 1964. It included two singles that became major hits on the ''

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 ...

'' country chart along with subsequent B-sides.

Background and content

''Showcase'' was produced at the Columbia Recording Studio between 1963 and 1964. The venue itself was located in Nashville, Tennessee. All recording sessions were produced by

, whom Anderson had previously collaborated with on his two previous album releases. The album consisted of 12 tracks. Four of the album's tracks were composed entirely by Anderson. These songs were " Then and Only Then", " Cincinnati, Ohio" and "In Case You Ever Change Your Mind". Both "Then and Only Then" and "Cincinnati, Ohio" would later become country hits for Connie Smith. "Then and Only Then" would be featured on Smith's 1965 eponymous album while "Cincinnati, Ohio" was included on her 1967 album ''

Connie Smith Sings Bill Anderson ''Connie Smith Sings Bill Anderson'' is the eighth studio album by American country singer Connie Smith. It was released in May 1967 via RCA Victor and featured 12 tracks. The album was dedicated to her mentor, Bill Anderson. It contained severa ...

''.

Release and reception

''Showcase'' was officially released in November 1964 on

. It was issued as a vinyl record, with six songs contained on each side of the record. Upon its release ''Showcase'' did not reach positions on any ''

'' album publications. It was Anderson's first studio release to not enter such charts. The album also included three singles that were released and became major hits. Its first single was the second track, "Me". Released in June 1964, it peaked at number eight on the ''Billboard'' Hot Country Singles chart in September. The second single issued was the album's seventh track, "Three A.M." Released in October 1964, it also peaked at number eight on the country chart, reaching this position in February 1965. The single's

B-side The A-side and B-side are the two sides of phonograph records and cassettes; these terms have often been printed on the labels of two-sided music recordings. The A-side usually features a recording that its artist, producer, or record compan ...

also became a charting single, "In Case You Ever Change Your Mind". Becoming a minor hit, the song reached number 38 on the country singles chart. Following its release, the album received ratings and reviews by music publishers. In 1964, ''Billboard'' positively reviewed the album in their December issue of the publication. "A powerful set of performances of material written by Bill Anderson (four songs)," writers commented. In a later review by Allmusic, the album was given a rating of two out of five stars.

Track listing

Personnel

All credits are adapted from the liner notes of ''Showcase''. Musical personnel * Bill Anderson – lead vocals * Harold Bradley – guitar,

banjo The banjo is a stringed instrument with a thin membrane stretched over a frame or cavity to form a resonator. The membrane is typically circular, and usually made of plastic, or occasionally animal skin. Early forms of the instrument were fashi ...

* Floyd Cramer – piano, vibes * Jimmy Day –

steel guitar A steel guitar ( haw, kīkākila) is any guitar played while moving a steel bar or similar hard object against plucked strings. The bar itself is called a "steel" and is the source of the name "steel guitar". The instrument differs from a conve ...

* Pete Drake – steel guitar *

Buddy Emmons Buddy Gene Emmons (January 27, 1937 – July 21, 2015) was an American musician who is widely regarded as the world's foremost pedal steel guitarist of his day. He was inducted into the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame in 1981. Affectionately known by ...

– steel guitar * Hank Garland – guitar * Buddy Harman – drums * Tommy Jackson –

fiddle A fiddle is a bowed string musical instrument, most often a violin. It is a colloquial term for the violin, used by players in all genres, including classical music. Although in many cases violins and fiddles are essentially synonymous, th ...

* Grady Martin – guitar * Bob Moore –

bass Bass or Basses may refer to: Fish * Bass (fish), various saltwater and freshwater species Music * Bass (sound), describing low-frequency sound or one of several instruments in the bass range: ** Bass (instrument), including: ** Acoustic bass gui ...

* Morris Palmer – drums * Jimmy Riddle – harmonica * Joe Zinkan – bass Technical personnel * Owen Bradley – record producer * Hal Buksbaum – photography

Release history

References

{{Authority control 1964 albums Albums produced by Owen Bradley Bill Anderson (singer) albums Decca Records albums