''Stacked Deck'' is the debut album by

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, p ...

country rock Country rock is a music genre that fuses rock and country. It was developed by rock musicians who began to record country-flavored records in the late 1960s and early 1970s. These musicians recorded rock records using country themes, vocal sty ...

group the

Amazing Rhythm Aces The Amazing Rhythm Aces is an American country rock group, which has characterized its music as " American music" or " roots music"—a blend of rock, country, blues, R&B, folk, reggae, and Latino. The band is best known for its 1975 hit " Thir ...

, released in 1975 on the

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label. The album was recorded at the Phillips Recording Studio in

Memphis, Tennessee Memphis is a city in Shelby County, Tennessee, United States, and its county seat. Situated along the Mississippi River, it had a population of 633,104 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List of municipalities in Tenne ...

and was produced by group member Barry "Byrd" Burton. Most of the material was composed by the group's lead singer Russell Smith. ''Stacked Deck'' reached #11 on the US country chart and #120 on the Billboard albums chart. It includes the group's biggest hit single, "

Third Rate Romance "Third Rate Romance" is a song written by Russell Smith, first recorded in Montreal in 1974 by Jesse Winchester and his band the Rhythm Aces, assisted by Smith. It became a hit the following year by the newly re-formed Amazing Rhythm Aces on it ...

", which peaked at #11 country and #14 pop, and did even better in

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where it topped both the country and pop chart. "Amazing Grace (Used to Be Her Favorite Song)" was also released as a single and made #9 on the country chart, although it stalled at #72 on the pop chart.

Track listing

All tracks written by Russell Smith unless stated # "

" 3:17 # "The 'Ella B'" 4:33 # "Life's Railway to Heaven" (traditional, arranged by Barry Burton) 4:20 # "The Beautiful Lie" (Butch McDade) 2:54 # "Hit the Nail on the Head" 2:22 # "Who Will the Next Fool Be" (

Charlie Rich Charles Allan Rich (December 14, 1932July 25, 1995) was an American country singer. His eclectic style of music also blended influences from rockabilly, jazz, blues, soul, and gospel. In the later part of his life, Rich acquired the nickname t ...

) 2:48 # "

Amazing Grace (Used to Be Her Favorite Song) "Amazing Grace (Used to Be Her Favorite Song)" is a song written by Russell Smith (singer), Russell Smith, first recorded in Montreal in 1974 by Jesse Winchester and his band the Rhythm Aces, assisted by Smith. During the winter of 1976, it became ...

" 3:17 # "Anything You Want" (Russell Smith, James H. Brown Jr.) 3:48 # "My Tears Still Flow" 3:25 # "Emma-Jean" 2:47 # "Why Can't I Be Satisfied" 3:03 # "King of the Cowboys" (Russell Smith, James H. Brown Jr.) 4:01 # “Mystery Train” (Junior Parker) 02:51

Musicians

;The Amazing Rhythm Aces * Russell Smith — lead and backing vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica * Barry "Byrd" Burton — lead guitar, backing vocals, steel guitar, Dobro, mandolin; lead vocals on "Life's Railway to Heaven" * James Hooker — piano, backing vocals * Billy Earheart — organ, piano * Jeff "Stick" Davis — bass, backing vocals * Butch McDade — drums, backing vocals, percussion ;Additional Personnel * Jim Kershaw — lead guitar on "Emma-Jean"

Recording

*Recorded at Sam Phillips Recording Studio, Memphis, TN *Produced and Engineered by Barry "Byrd" Burton *Album photography, Jim McCrary *Album design, Martin McDonald

References

{{Authority control The Amazing Rhythm Aces albums 1975 debut albums ABC Records albums