''The Best of the Tennessee Yodeler'' is a studio album by American

country music Country (also called country and western) is a popular music, music genre originating in the southern regions of the United States, both the American South and American southwest, the Southwest. First produced in the 1920s, country music is p ...

artist

Margo Smith Margo Smith (born Betty Lou Miller; April 9, 1939 – January 23, 2024) was an American Country music, country and Christian music, Christian music singer–songwriter. She had several years of country success during the 1970s, which included two ...

. It was first released in 1985 via Moon Shine Records and contained 14 tracks and was re-released in 1987 in conjunction with Bermuda Dunes Records and

MCA Records MCA Records was an American record label owned by MCA Inc. established in 1972, though MCA had released recordings under that name in the UK from the 1960s. The label achieved success in the 1970s through the 1980s, often by acquiring other ...

. Dedicated to one of Smith's childhood performing idols, ''The Best of the Tennessee Yodeler'' was the tenth studio album in her recording career. The project was sold on television in addition to being sold in record stores.

Background, content and release

Margo Smith had several years of commercial country music success during the late 1970s, including the number one hits "

Don't Break the Heart That Loves You "Don't Break the Heart That Loves You" is an American song written by Benny Davis and Murray Mencher (using the pseudonym Ted Murry). The song was a success for two artists in two different genres: Connie Francis in the pop field in 1962 and Mar ...

" and " It Only Hurts for a Little While". In 1982, she chose to leave her recording contract with

Warner Bros. Records Warner Records Inc. (known as Warner Bros. Records Inc. until 2019) is an American record label. A subsidiary of Warner Music Group, it is headquartered in Los Angeles, California. It was founded on March 19, 1958, as the recorded music division ...

and began releasing music independently through her own record label, Cammeron Records. ''The Best of the Tennessee Yodeler'' was an album Smith chose to record in dedication to one of musical idols, country artist

Bonnie Lou Mary Joan Okum (''née'' Kath; October 27, 1924 – December 8, 2015), known by her performing name Bonnie Lou, was an American musical pioneer, recognized as one of the first female rock and roll singers. She is also one of the first artists to ...

. The project was recorded between 1984 and 1985 in sessions co-produced by Andy Di Martino and husband Richard Cammeron. The album contained a total of 14 tracks. This included re-recordings of Smith's former country hits, such as "

Take My Breath Away "Take My Breath Away" is a song written by Giorgio Moroder and Tom Whitlock for the 1986 film ''Top Guns soundtrack, performed by American new wave band Berlin and included on their album '' Count Three & Pray''. The song won the Academy ...

." Six of the album's material was composed by Smith herself, including two compositions co-written with former producer

Norro Wilson Norris Denton "Norro" Wilson (April 4, 1938 – June 8, 2017) was an American country music singer-songwriter, producer, and member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. Wilson wrote or co-wrote numerous hit songs during more than 40 yea ...

and two with Richard Cammeron. Also included were cover versions of songs such as

Hank Williams Hiram "Hank" Williams (September 17, 1923 – January 1, 1953) was an American singer, songwriter, and musician. An early pioneer of country music, he is regarded as one of the most significant and influential musicians of the 20th century. W ...

' "

Lovesick Blues "Lovesick Blues" is a Tin Pan Alley song, composed by Cliff Friend, with lyrics by Irving Mills. It first appeared in the 1922 musical "Oh, Ernest", and was recorded that year by Elsie Clark and Jack Shea. Emmett Miller recorded it in 1925 and ...

" and

Patsy Montana Rubye Rose Blevins (October 30, 1908 – May 3, 1996), known professionally as Patsy Montana, was an American country and western singer and songwriter. Montana was the first female country performer to have a million-selling single with her sig ...

's " I Want to Be a Cowboy's Sweetheart." Also featured were several tracks that showcased Smith's

yodeling Yodeling (also jodeling) is a form of singing which involves repeated and rapid changes of pitch between the low-pitch chest register (or "chest voice") and the high-pitch head register or falsetto. The English word ''yodel'' is derived from t ...

vocal skills, such as "He Taught Me How to Yodel". ''The Best of the Tennessee Yodeler'' was first released on Moon Shine Records in 1985. It was originally issued as a

vinyl LP The LP (from long playing or long play) is an analog sound storage medium, specifically a phonograph record format characterized by: a speed of rpm; a 12- or 10-inch (30- or 25-cm) diameter; use of the "microgroove" groove specificati ...

containing seven tracks on either side of the record. In 1987, it was re-released in conjunction with Bermuda Dunes Records and MCA Records with an identical track listing. The 1987 released was also distributed as a vinyl LP. Following its release, the album was sold in record stores, but mostly sold on television. Infomercial advertisements were often seen by viewers on cable television.

Track listing

Original and re-release versions

Personnel

All credits are adapted from the original 1985

liner notes Liner notes (also sleeve notes or album notes) are the writings found on the sleeves of LP record albums and in booklets that come inserted into the compact disc jewel case or cassette j-cards. Origin Liner notes are descended from the prog ...

''The Best of the Tennessee Yodeler''. Musical and technical personnel * Richard Cammeron – Producer * Dennis Carney – Cover photo * Ken Kim – Art direction and graphics * Andy Di Martino – Producer * Margo Smith – Lead vocals *

Billy Strange William Everett Strange (September 29, 1930 – February 22, 2012) was an American singer, songwriter, musician, guitarist, and actor. He began as a session musician with The Wrecking Crew, a famous session band of the 1960s and 1970s, and was i ...

– String arrangement * Bill Vorndyck – Engineer

Release history

References

Footnotes

Books

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Best of the Tennessee Yodeler 1985 albums MCA Records albums Margo Smith albums