Joy to the World is the twenty-sixth solo studio album by American country singer Connie Smith. It was released in October 1975 via Columbia Records and originally contained ten tracks. It was re-released decades later by Real Gone Music to digital sites and featured one new track. The album was Smith's first album of Christmas music.
In the 1970s, Connie Smith moved from RCA Victor to Columbia Records after 18 top ten Billboardcountry singles. She had discovered Christianity during this period, which prompted Columbia to let her record one gospel album per year.[3][4][5] Despite the contract terms, the only gospel collection released was 1973's God Is Abundant. No gospel collection was issued by Columbia in 1974 due to the label's lack of interest and Smith's unexpected time devoted to her pregnancy. Columbia instead issued two gospel albums of Smith's material in 1975, beginning in May with Connie Smith Sings Hank Williams Gospel. It would be followed by her first Christmas album, which would be titled Joy to the World.[6]
Smith had wanted to record a religious set of Christmas material for several years. In her initial contract with Columbia, executive Clive Davis noted that Smith would have the opportunity to record one Christmas collection.[7] According to biographer Barry Mazor, Smith "was not pressured" into cutting pop Christmas tunes. "I wanted a real Christmas album, about the real Christmas. And I wanted the old songs," Smith said. "I can't say I did this for mama, but I knew she would love it!"[6]
Recording and contentedit
Smith recorded Joy to the World one year prior to the album's release. The album was cut over three sessions at Columbia Studio B, located in Nashville, Tennessee: August 20, August 21 and August 22, 1974. All three sessions were produced by Ray Baker, who had recorded Smith's previous three studio albums at Columbia.[8] Three overdub sessions were also added, however, production credits were unknown, according to biographer Barry Mazor.[9] Most of the project's material was dated and in the public domain. Therefore, Smith was credited as an arranger for most of the project's tracks.[6]
A total of ten tracks comprised the original collection.[10] As with previous albums, Smith chose the music. Among the tracks handpicked by her was "O Holy Night" and "What Child Is This?". "There are no better Christmas songs than 'O Holy Night' or 'What Child Is This'," she told Barry Mazor. Another chosen track was "Sweet Little Jesus Boy", which was notably done by gospel performer, Mahalia Jackson. "I wanted to do that one because I was a huge fan of hers, and that she'd done it impressed me so much," recalled Smith in 2021. She initially wanted to record "Little Drummer Boy" in the ballad style of a similar version cut by Ray Price. However, Smith was pressured into making an up-tempo version of the track. "I wound up doing what they [Columbia] wanted, but I've always regretted that I didn't cut it more my way," she told Mazor.[6] A duet version of "Silent Night, Holy Night" was added to the 2017 re-release of Joy to the World. The duet version included Willie Nelson and was first issued on a Christmas compilation in 1986.[1][11]
Release and receptionedit
Joy to the World was originally released by Columbia Records in October 1975. It was originally distributed as a vinyl LP, containing five songs on either side of the record. It was the twenty eighth studio album of Smith's career and her sixth with Columbia.[10] Upon its initial release, the album attracted little commercial attention. According to biographer Barry Mazor, the album "did not see much circulation either". Smith later theorized, "I don't think they even released it everywhere, and it became one of the rarest ones to find."[12] The only known promotion was done by Billboard, which featured an advertisement of the album and announced its release under the headline of "New LP/Tape Releases".[2] The album was re-released by Real Gone Music on November 3, 2017 as both a compact disc and in a digital format.[13][14] It was the first Columbia album of Smith's music to be re-released.[11]
^ abcSmith, Connie (November 3, 2017). "Joy to the World (CD Liner Notes and Album Information)". Real Gone Music. RGM-0644.
^ abc"Joy to the World (Expanded Edition) by Connie Smith". Apple Music. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
Booksedit
Mazor, Barry (November 5, 2021). The Latest Shade of Blue: The Columbia Recordings 1973 – 1976 (Box Set Biography). Bear Family Records. BCD-17609.
January 01, 1970
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Joy to the World is the twenty sixth solo studio album by American country singer Connie Smith It was released in October 1975 via Columbia Records and originally contained ten tracks It was re released decades later by Real Gone Music to digital sites and featured one new track The album was Smith s first album of Christmas music Joy to the WorldStudio album by Connie SmithReleasedOctober 1975RecordedAugust 20 22 1974StudioColumbia Studio BGenreCountry 1 Christmas 2 religious 1 LabelColumbiaProducerRay BakerConnie Smith chronologyConnie Smith Sings Hank Williams Gospel 1975 Joy to the World 1975 The Song We Fell in Love To 1976 Contents 1 Background 2 Recording and content 3 Release and reception 4 Track listings 4 1 Vinyl version 4 2 Compact disc and digital versions 5 Personnel 6 Release history 7 References 7 1 Footnotes 7 2 BooksBackground editIn the 1970s Connie Smith moved from RCA Victor to Columbia Records after 18 top ten Billboard country singles She had discovered Christianity during this period which prompted Columbia to let her record one gospel album per year 3 4 5 Despite the contract terms the only gospel collection released was 1973 s God Is Abundant No gospel collection was issued by Columbia in 1974 due to the label s lack of interest and Smith s unexpected time devoted to her pregnancy Columbia instead issued two gospel albums of Smith s material in 1975 beginning in May with Connie Smith Sings Hank Williams Gospel It would be followed by her first Christmas album which would be titled Joy to the World 6 Smith had wanted to record a religious set of Christmas material for several years In her initial contract with Columbia executive Clive Davis noted that Smith would have the opportunity to record one Christmas collection 7 According to biographer Barry Mazor Smith was not pressured into cutting pop Christmas tunes I wanted a real Christmas album about the real Christmas And I wanted the old songs Smith said I can t say I did this for mama but I knew she would love it 6 Recording and content editSmith recorded Joy to the World one year prior to the album s release The album was cut over three sessions at Columbia Studio B located in Nashville Tennessee August 20 August 21 and August 22 1974 All three sessions were produced by Ray Baker who had recorded Smith s previous three studio albums at Columbia 8 Three overdub sessions were also added however production credits were unknown according to biographer Barry Mazor 9 Most of the project s material was dated and in the public domain Therefore Smith was credited as an arranger for most of the project s tracks 6 A total of ten tracks comprised the original collection 10 As with previous albums Smith chose the music Among the tracks handpicked by her was O Holy Night and What Child Is This There are no better Christmas songs than O Holy Night or What Child Is This she told Barry Mazor Another chosen track was Sweet Little Jesus Boy which was notably done by gospel performer Mahalia Jackson I wanted to do that one because I was a huge fan of hers and that she d done it impressed me so much recalled Smith in 2021 She initially wanted to record Little Drummer Boy in the ballad style of a similar version cut by Ray Price However Smith was pressured into making an up tempo version of the track I wound up doing what they Columbia wanted but I ve always regretted that I didn t cut it more my way she told Mazor 6 A duet version of Silent Night Holy Night was added to the 2017 re release of Joy to the World The duet version included Willie Nelson and was first issued on a Christmas compilation in 1986 1 11 Release and reception editJoy to the World was originally released by Columbia Records in October 1975 It was originally distributed as a vinyl LP containing five songs on either side of the record It was the twenty eighth studio album of Smith s career and her sixth with Columbia 10 Upon its initial release the album attracted little commercial attention According to biographer Barry Mazor the album did not see much circulation either Smith later theorized I don t think they even released it everywhere and it became one of the rarest ones to find 12 The only known promotion was done by Billboard which featured an advertisement of the album and announced its release under the headline of New LP Tape Releases 2 The album was re released by Real Gone Music on November 3 2017 as both a compact disc and in a digital format 13 14 It was the first Columbia album of Smith s music to be re released 11 Track listings editVinyl version edit Side one 10 No TitleWriter s Length1 What Child Is This Traditional3 342 O Holy Night Traditional3 373 Go Tell It on the Mountain Traditional2 254 The First Noel Traditional2 275 Little Drummer Boy Katherine K DavisHenry OnoratiHarry Simeone2 19 Side two 10 No TitleWriter s Length1 Sweet Little Jesus Boy Robert MacGimsey3 432 Away in a Manger Silent Night medley Traditional3 583 Joy to the World Traditional2 044 O Come All Ye Faithful Adeste Fideles Traditional3 185 While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks Traditional2 33 Compact disc and digital versions edit Joy to the World Expanded Edition 13 14 No TitleWriter s Length1 What Child Is This Traditional3 382 O Holy Night Traditional3 413 Go Tell It on the Mountain Traditional2 304 The First Noel Traditional2 305 Little Drummer Boy DavisOnoratiSimeone2 236 Sweet Little Jesus Boy MacGimsey3 477 Away in a Manger Silent Night medley Traditional4 018 Joy to the World Traditional2 069 O Come All Ye Faithful Traditional3 2110 While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks Traditional2 36 Bonus track on CD reissueNo TitleWriter s Length11 Silent Night Holy Night duet with Willie Nelson Franz Xaver GruberJoseph Mohr4 00Personnel editAll credits are adapted from the liner notes of Joy to the World 10 and the biography booklet by Barry Mazor titled The Latest Shade of Blue 9 Musical personnel Tommy Allsup Guitar Carol Lee Cooper Organ Ray Edenton Rhythm guitar Lloyd Green Steel guitar Shayne Keister Synthesizer vibes Kenny Malone Drums Grady Martin Guitar Bob Moore Electric bass Hargus Pig Robbins Piano Connie Smith Lead vocals Chip Young Guitar leader Technical personnel Ray Baker Percussion producer Carol Lee Cooper Arranger Connie Smith ArrangerRelease history editRegion Date Format Label Ref North America October 1975 Vinyl Columbia Records 10 November 3 2017 Compact discdownloadstreaming Real Gone Music 13 14 References editFootnotes edit a b c Joy to the World Connie Smith Songs reviews credits AllMusic Retrieved 23 June 2022 a b CBS Christmas Announcement amp New Tape Releases Billboard Vol 87 no 37 September 13 1975 p 8 66 Retrieved 23 June 2022 Mazor 2021 p 11 Bush John Connie Smith Biography AllMusic Retrieved 22 June 2022 Whitburn Joel 2008 Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008 Record Research Inc ISBN 978 0 89820 177 2 a b c d Mazor 2021 p 43 Mazor 2021 pp 11 43 Mazor 2021 pp 55 57 a b Mazor 2021 p 57 a b c d e f Smith Connie October 1975 Joy to the World LP Liner Notes and Album Information Columbia Records C 33553 a b Mazor 2021 p 23 Mazor 2021 pp 22 23 a b c Smith Connie November 3 2017 Joy to the World CD Liner Notes and Album Information Real Gone Music RGM 0644 a b c Joy to the World Expanded Edition by Connie Smith Apple Music Retrieved 23 June 2022 Books edit Mazor Barry November 5 2021 The Latest Shade of Blue The Columbia Recordings 1973 1976 Box Set Biography Bear Family Records BCD 17609 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Joy to the World Connie Smith album amp oldid 1209536627, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
