Connie Smith announces new CD
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Connie Smith announces new CD

Wednesday, May 18, 2011 – Connie Smith is coming out with her first disc in 13 years in late August. "Long Line of Heartaches" is set for release on Aug. 23 on Sugar Hill.

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.


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CD reviews for Connie Smith

CD review - The Latest Shade of Blue: The Columbia Recordings 1973-1976 Perhaps no artist in any genre has been more consistent than arguably the greatest, though not necessarily the most famous or flashiest female country singer of our time, Connie Smith. Put this box set, "The Latest Shade of Blue: The Columbia Recordings 1973-1976" right next to 2021's "The Cry of the Heart," her 54th album, and it's immediately apparent that Smith continues her emotive, classic country sound almost half a century later. Consider also that this is the ...
CD review - The Cry of the Heart Many would argue that Connie Smith is the greatest living female country singer. The opening sentence in her liner notes to "Long Line of Heartaches" is "I believe that country music is the cry of the heart." A decade later, it's as if she hasn't missed a beat, coincidentally or more likely intentionally, entitling this effort, "Cry of the Heart." According to her husband and producer, Marty Stuart, Smith is content to take her time and only make a record ...
CD review - Long Line of Heartaches Upon first impression, Connie Smith sounds every bit the 70-plus year old singer she is. She doesn't have the lung power she once did. However, it's the voice of experience, rather than the voice of strength that makes "Long Line of Heartaches" into a winner. Smith is at her best on Johnny Russell's Ain't You Even Gonna Cry, which features little more than Smith's heartbroken voice over an acoustic guitar. It's just such a great song, and the kind of lyric ...


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