Connie Smith announces new CD

This will be the country singer's second release since 1978. The sound is similar to Smith's recordings during the 1960's and '70s.

"And that," said Smith, 69. "is exactly what I wanted to accomplish. I've had people ask me what this album was going to be like, since it's been a long time since they've heard me on record, but my musical tastes have remained the same. I wanted this to be traditional country, and it is."

"One of the reasons that I wanted to do this recording, and it's a personal reason, is that I have such a deep love for traditional country music. We can talk about the music slipping away, or we can do something about it. The only way I know to do something about it is to keep singing what I've always loved."

The album's dozen new tracks was recorded at Nashville's RCA Victor Studio B, where Smith recorded most of her chart-topping hits in her first years as a recording artist, include five new traditional country songs co-written by Smith and husband Marty Stuart, the project's producer. Songs come from long favored Smith sources such as Harlan Howard, Foster & Rice, Kostas, Johnny Russell and Smith's longtime collaborator Dallas Frazier. Frazier's song A Heart Like You becomes the 69th Frazier composition that Smith has recorded - breaking his 30 years of songwriting silence.

The disc features her band The Sundowners and, for the first time, her three daughters, Julie, Jeanne and Jodi who add family harmonies on the contemporary hymn Take My Hand.

"I still love to sing as much as I ever did. I could sing at the kitchen sink, and I'd be happy. I feel it is my destiny to sing."

Having become an overnight country sensation in 1964 when her first single, Once a Day became a number 1 hit, the first time a female country singer's debut single accomplished that, Smith enjoyed a string of hits in the following years that have become country standards, including Ain't Had No Lovin', Just One Time, Run Away Little Tears, I Never Once Stopped Loving You and The Hurtin's All Over. Smith had a long career on RCA and Columbia. Her last solo disc was Connie Smith, out in 1998 on Warner. Smith also released four gospel albums and three collaborative discs including "Love Never Fails" in 2003 with Sharon White and Barbara Fairchild.