Something Pretty (album)
| Something Pretty | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | May 1968 | |||
| Recorded | January 1968 | |||
| Studio | Capitol (Hollywood) | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Label | Capitol | |||
| Producer | Ken Nelson | |||
| Wynn Stewart and The Tourists chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Something Pretty | ||||
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Something Pretty is a studio album by American country artist Wynn Stewart and his band, The Tourists. It was released in May 1968 via Capitol Records and was produced by Ken Nelson. It was Stewart's fourth studio recording in his music career and contained a total of 12 tracks. Among these tracks was the title cut, which became a major hit on the country charts. The album received a positive response from music publications.
Background and content
Something Pretty was recorded in January 1968 at the Capitol Recording Studio, located in Hollywood, California. The sessions were produced by Ken Nelson, who had produced Stewart's three previous Capitol releases during the decade.[2] Stewart had been at Capitol for several years up to this point and was previously on the label in the 1950s. During his first stint at the label, he only had one major hit, "Waltz of the Angels." Following this, he was dropped from the roster. However, in 1964, he re-signed with the company under Nelson's production.[3]
A total of 12 tracks were included on Something Pretty. Among these songs, five were written or co-written by Stewart. This included "Built-In Love," "If Tomorrow Could Be Yesterday" and "An Arm's Length from You."[1] Songs written by other performers appeared on the album as well. Included were covers of Floyd Tillman's "This Cold War" and Tom T. Hall's "If Tomorrow Could Be Yesterday." In addition, the song "She Didn't Color Daddy" would also be recorded by singer Kay Adams.[2]
Release and reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |    |
| Billboard | Favorable |
Something Pretty was released in May 1968 on Capitol Records. It was Stewart's fourth studio album release in his career and fourth issued on the Capitol label. Stewart's band The Tourists received equal billing on the album's release.[2] It was issued as a vinyl LP, containing six songs on each side of the record.[4] Something Pretty spent a total of six weeks on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart before peaking at number 28 in July 1968.[5] It was Stewart's third album to chart on any Billboard survey.[6] The album's title track was also a charting success. It was released as a single in March 1968.[7] Spending 13 weeks charting, the title track peaked at number ten on the Billboard Hot Country Singles list in June 1968.[8] It was Stewart's fourth top ten hit in his career.[7] The title track also became his first charting single on the Canadian country charts, reaching number 20 the same year.[9]
Something Pretty received a positive reception from music writers and their publications. Following its original release, the album was given a positive response in Billboard magazine in their June 1968 reviews. Writers praised the album's diverse musical styles, noting his band The Tourists in the review. "With Wynn Stewart's singles hit 'Something Pretty' leading the way, this album is destined for the same sales success won by Stewart's previous LP's," they wrote.[10] In later years, Bruce Eder of Allmusic also gave the record a positive response, giving it 3.5 out of 5 stars. Eder noticed the stylistic change in Stewart's sound towards a pop-friendly direction yet praised its production. "The playing is impeccable throughout, and the arrangements and singing are beautiful in both their restraint and execution," he concluded.[1]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Something Pretty" |
| 2:30 |
| 2. | "Built-In Love" | Wynn Stewart | 2:30 |
| 3. | "She Didn't Color Daddy" |
| 2:33 |
| 4. | "One More Memory" |
| 2:33 |
| 5. | "If Tomorrow Could Be Yesterday" | Wynn Stewart | 2:14 |
| 6. | "Good Old Fashioned Love" | Tom T. Hall | 2:48 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "It's Too Much Like Lonesome" | Tommy Collins | 2:55 |
| 2. | "An Arm's Length from You" |
| 2:35 |
| 3. | "Your Steppin' Stone" |
| 2:19 |
| 4. | "This Cold War" | Floyd Tillman | 3:00 |
| 5. | "Why Didn't I Write That Song?" | W. Stewart | 2:34 |
| 6. | "Man, Man Mr. Sandman" |
| 1:56 |
Personnel
All credits are adapted from the liner notes of Something Pretty.[2]
Musical personnel
- Tommy Collins – guitar
- Bobby George – guitar
- Ralph Mooney – steel guitar
- Bob Morris – bass
- Roy Nichols – guitar
- Bob Pierce – piano
- Helen Price – drums
- Wynn Stewart – lead vocals
- Clarence White – guitar
Technical personnel
- Roy Kohara – cover photo
- Ken Nelson – producer
Chart performance
| Chart (1968) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[11] | 28 |
Release history
| Region | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | May 1968 | Vinyl | Capitol Records | [12] |
| United States | [4][2] |
References
- ^ a b c Eder, Bruce. "Something Pretty: Wynn Stewart: Songs, Reviews, Credits". Allmusic. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g Stewart, Wynn (May 1968). "Something Pretty (Liner Notes and Album Information)". Capitol Records.
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Wynn Stewart: Biography & History". Allmusic. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
- ^ a b "Wynn Stewart & The Tourists -- Something Pretty (1968, Vinyl)". Discogs. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
- ^ "Something Pretty chart history". Billboard. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
- ^ "It's Such a Pretty World Today chart history (Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
- ^ a b Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. ISBN 978-0-89820-177-2.
- ^ ""Something Pretty" (single) chart history". Billboard. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
- ^ "Search results for "Wynn Stewart" (Country Singles)". RPM. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
- ^ "Album Reviews". Billboard. Vol. 80, no. 23. June 8, 1968. p. 81. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
- ^ "Wynn Stewart Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
- ^ "Wynn Stewart & The Tourists -- Something Pretty (Canada)". Discogs. Retrieved 15 August 2020.