80's Ladies

80's Ladies
Studio album by K. T. Oslin
Released	June 30, 1987 (1987-06-30)
Studio	The Music Mill, Nashville, TN
Genre	Country
Length	33:51
Label	RCA
Producer	Harold Shedd
K. T. Oslin chronology
80's Ladies (1987) This Woman (1988)
Singles from 80's Ladies
"Wall of Tears" Released: December 1986 "80's Ladies" Released: April 25, 1987 "Do Ya" Released: August 1987 "I'll Always Come Back" Released: January 30, 1988
Alternative cover
Vinyl cover version of the album

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic
High Fidelity	(favourable)

80's Ladies is the debut studio album by American country music artist K. T. Oslin, released by RCA on June 30, 1987. The album marked her second major label debut, which shot her successes to the mainstream country after her first failed attempt with Elektra, a Warner subdivision, had folded with two singles released there in 1982. Ultimately rushing forward with her depressive state, she made her second and final effort to sign with another major label. Coming in meeting with RCA Records executives, she ultimately signed with the label at 45 years old.

Commercially, the record had topped the Billboard country chart, along with peaking at number sixty-eight on the main Billboard 200, making it her highest-charting peak in her discography. It was certified platnium in the United States by RIAA and gold in Canada. Four singles were released on that latter, with her self-titled single, being praised by fans and critics penned as a major signature hit, eventually winning the title at the 1987 Grammy Awards for Best Female Country Vocal Performance, becoming the first female to win "Song of the Year" at Country Music Association Awards and ACM Awards's top female vocalist and music video of the year. The album also features many major award nominations throughout 1988.

Background

In the late '70s to early '80s, Oslin wrote county songs that brought the attention to SESAC, while also finding herself singing with Guy Clark's self-titled album. Diana Petty, a Nashville executive for SESAC, advised Oslin to acquire a major-label contract. By 1979, Oslin was signed with Elektra via a "singles-only" contract through Petty's support. Only two singles were issued on the label, which later flopped to commercial failure, with the song "'Clean Your Own Tables' managed to get on the charts for about 15 minutes," Oslin recalled. Eventually, she was dropped by Elektra in 1982, but she however returned to New York and commercially returned to work, which she found unsatisfying. Continuing writing compositions, she won as "Most Promising Country Music Writer" by SESAC on that same year. She made her appearance on a live radio broadcast in 1984 to establish more musicians through her compositions. Oslin fell into a depressive state deemed by her commercial losses as a result, after "several '4 AM anxiety attacks' questioning her decision." Positively, Petty's words of encouragement followed due to Oslin's extensive compositions with Judy Rodman, Dottie West, Gail Davies and The Judds.

Eventually, the support led Oslin to make a final effort to regain a recording contract. She borrowed $7,000 from her aunt, lost 40 pounds, and temporarily acquired a Nashville nightclub, inviting music executives to a one-time live showcase, expecting a phone call for a decision. "The next morning, I sat waiting for the phone to ring. It did not," she recounted.

Through her musical connections, Oslin contacted Nashville producer Harold Shedd, who had recently been successful recording Alabama. Shedd convinced Oslin to record three of her original tunes and he eventually became her full-time production collaborator. Through Shedd's connections with RCA Nashville, primarily Alabama's contract with the label, Oslin met RCA executive Joe Galante, who believed that Oslin had potential due to her outstanding composition and voice. At age 45, Oslin was signed officially to RCA in 1986.

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Wall of Tears"	Richard Leigh, Peter McCann	3:45
2.	"I'll Always Come Back"	K. T. Oslin	4:08
3.	"Younger Men"	Oslin	3:06
4.	"80's Ladies"	Oslin	4:12
5.	"Do Ya"	Oslin	4:05
6.	"Two Hearts"	Rory Bourke, Oslin	4:10
7.	"Dr., Dr."	Jerry Gillespie, Oslin	3:28
8.	"Lonely But Only for You"	Charlie Black, Bourke, Oslin	3:10
9.	"Old Pictures"	Gillespie, Oslin	4:13

Personnel

Credits are adapted from liner notes.

Musicians K. T. Oslin – lead vocals, keyboards David Briggs – keyboards Gary Prim – keyboards Costo Davis – synthesizer Bruce Dees – electric guitar Steve Gibson – electric guitar Brent Rowan – acoustic guitar, electric guitar Mike Brignardello – bass guitar Larry Paxton – bass guitar Eddie Bayers – drums Larrie Londin – drums James Stroud – drums Sam Levine – saxophone Terry McMillan – harmonica Joe Scaife – backing vocals

Technical Harold Shedd – production Jim Cotton – recording, engineering, associate producer Joe Scaife – recording, engineering, associate producer George W. Clinton – assistant engineer Paul Goldberg – assistant engineer Milan Bogdan – digital editing Hank Williams – mastering Design Mary Hamilton – art design Beverly Parker – photography Charlie McCallen – hand tinting Letha Rodman – make-up

Charts

Chart performance for 80's Ladies

1987 weekly chart performance for 80's Ladies

Chart (1987-1988)	Peak position
US Billboard Top Country Albums	1
US Billboard 200	68

Certifications

Certifications for 80's Ladies

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)	Gold	50,000^
United States (RIAA)	Platinum	1,000,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Sources

• Oermann, Robert K.; Bufwack, Mary A. (2003). Finding Her Voice: Women in Country Music: 1800–2000. Nashville, Tennessee: The Country Music Press & Vanderbilt University Press. ISBN 0-8265-1432-4.