''Who Says God Is Dead!'' is the eleventh solo studio album and second Gospel 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 "Hey Loretta", "The Pill (song), The P ...

. It was released on January 29, 1968, by

Decca Records Decca Records is a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis (Decca), Edward Lewis after his acquisition of a gramophone manufacturer, The Decca Gramophone Company. It set up an American subsidiary under the Decca name, which bec ...

Critical reception

In the issue dated February 17, 1968, ''

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 advertis ...

'' published a review of the album, saying, "The darling of the country music field has produced another beautiful religious LP. Her understanding and perception on "Who Says God Is Dead" is convincing. She's also great on "I Believe", "In the Garden", and "The Old Rugged Cross"." '' Cashbox'' published a review in the February 10, 1968 issue that said, "Consistently riding high as country's champion gal disk seller, Loretta Lynn offers another collection of inspirational tunes done up with her inimitable styling. Country 'soul' is the keynote in this set as Loretta combines hymn-like spirituals ("I Believe") with rousing gospel numbers ("He's Got the Whole World in His Hands"), all of which adds up to one heck of a catalog piece. No doubt about the saleability of this one."

Commercial performance

There were no singles released from the album, so initial sales of the album were low. The album peaked at No. 44 on the US ''

'' Hot Country LPs chart, Lynn's lowest position on the chart until the mid-1980s.

Recording

Recording sessions for the album began on June 28, 1967, at

Bradley's Barn Bradley's Barn was a music recording studio founded in the mid-1960s by Owen Bradley. The studio was built in a converted barn on farmland in the Nashville suburb of Mount Juliet, and was the site of numerous notable recordings by artists includ ...

studio in Mount Juliet, Tennessee. Two additional sessions followed on December 18 and 19.

Track listing

Personnel

Adapted from the album liner notes and Decca recording session records. *The Anita Kerr Singers – background vocals *Owen Bradley – producer *Floyd Cramer – piano *Larry Estes – drums *Lloyd Green – steel guitar *Junior Huskey – bass *The Jordanaires – background vocals *Ernest Ray Lynn – duet vocals on "Mama, Why?" *Loretta Lynn – lead vocals *Grady Martin – lead electric guitar *Billy Sanford – guitar *Jerry Stembridge – guitar

Charts

References

{{Authority control 1968 albums Albums produced by Owen Bradley Decca Records albums Gospel albums by American artists Loretta Lynn albums