''This Is Barbara Mandrell'' is the fourth solo 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 ...

singer

Barbara Mandrell Barbara Ann Mandrell (born December 25, 1948) is an American retired country music singer and musician. She is also credited as an actress and author. During the late 1970s and early 1980s, she was considered among country's most successful mus ...

, released in May 1976. This was Mandrell's first album with ABC/Dot Records, her new record company. Mandrell had previously been signed to

Columbia Records Columbia Records is an American reco ...

from 1969 to 1974, though only achieving modest success, especially with her albums. The first single off this album, "Standing Room Only", became her first Top 5 Country hit. Mandrell had only had four Top 10 hits under her previous record company over the course of five years. Following "Standing Room Only", two further singles were released. The second, "That's What Friends Are For", peaked at #16 and the third, "Love Is Thin Ice", only reached the Top 25. The album sold slightly better than her previous albums had done, peaking farther on the Top Country Albums chart at #26. This album set the stage for Mandrell's eventual success in the following decade, with further Top 10 singles, some of them reaching #1. Unlike most of Barbara's other albums, ''This Is Barbara Mandrell'', consists of 11 tracks instead of 10.

Track listing

That's What Friends Are For "That's What Friends Are For" is a song written by Burt Bacharach and Carole Bayer Sager. It was first recorded by Rod Stewart in 1982 for the soundtrack of the film '' Night Shift'', but it is best known for the 1985 version by Dionne Warwic ...

" (Ed Penney, Robert Shaw Parsons) #" Standing Room Only" (Charles Silver, Susan Manchester) #"The Beginning of the End" (

Kent Robbins Kent Marshall Robbins (April 23, 1947 – December 27, 1997) was an American country music songwriter. Robbins was born in Mayfield, Kentucky. He began writing for Charley Pride's Pi-Gem music in 1974. Between then and his death, he wrote songs ...

) #"Husband Stealer" (Gary Paxton, Gary Paxton Jr.) #"She Don't Have to Stop and Rock the Baby" (Danny Hice, Ruby Hice) #"Love the Second Time Around" (John Schweers) #" Love Is Thin Ice" (Geoffrey Morgan) #"Can't Help But Wonder" (Sharon Sanders) #"Will We Ever Make Love in Love Again" (Bud Reneau, Sarah Jones) #"Mental Revenge" (

Mel Tillis Lonnie Melvin Tillis (August 8, 1932 – November 19, 2017) was an American country music singer and songwriter. Although he recorded songs since the late 1950s, his biggest success occurred in the 1970s as part of the outlaw country movement, ...

) #"Just in Case" ( Hugh Moffatt)

Personnel

*Barbara Mandrell - lead vocals *Mike Leech, Steve Schaffer - bass guitar *Hayward Bishop,

Larrie Londin Ralph Gallant (October 15, 1943 − August 24, 1992), known professionally as Larrie Londin, was an American drummer and session musician. According to journalist James Byron Fox, "If not the best known, Larrie is one of the most listened to dr ...

Kenny Malone Kenny Malone (August 4, 1938 – August 26, 2021) was an American drummer and percussionist. Life and career Malone was born in Denver, Colorado. From the 1970s onwards, he was a prominent session musician in folk, country and many other acousti ...

- drums *Jim Buchanan,

Johnny Gimble John Paul Gimble (May 30, 1926 – May 9, 2015) was an American country musician associated with Western swing. Gimble was considered one of the most important fiddlers in the genre. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999 i ...

, Tommy Williams - fiddle *

Harold Bradley Harold Bradley may refer to: Others * Harold Bradley (guitarist) (1926–2019), American country and pop guitarist * Harold Bradley (pianist) (1906–1984), Canadian pianist * Harold Bradley (trade unionist) (1895–1979), British trade union leade ...

, Jimmy Capps, Steve Gibson, Glenn Keener,

Grady Martin Thomas Grady Martin (January 17, 1929 – December 3, 2001) was an American session guitarist in country music and rockabilly. A member of The Nashville A-Team, he played guitar on hits such as Marty Robbins' "El Paso", Loretta Lynn's " Coal M ...

, Billy Sanford, Jerry Shook,

Chip Young Chip Young (born Jerry Marvin Stembridge, May 19, 1938 – December 20, 2014) was an American session guitarist, and later record producer who worked primarily out of Nashville, Tennessee. Biography Chip Young was born Jerry Marvin Stembridge in ...

- guitar *

Charlie McCoy Charlie McCoy (born Charles Ray McCoy, March 28, 1941) is an American harmonica virtuoso and multi-instrumentalist in country music. He is best known for his harmonica solos on iconic recordings such as " Candy Man" ( Roy Orbison), "He Stoppe ...

- harmonica * David Briggs, Ron Oates, Bobby Ogdin,

Hargus "Pig" Robbins Hargus Melvin Robbins (January 18, 1938 – January 30, 2022), known by his nickname "Pig", was an American session keyboard player. He played on records for many artists, including Patsy Cline, Dolly Parton, Connie Smith, Patti Page, Loretta Ly ...

- piano *

John Hughey John Hughey (December 27, 1933 – November 18, 2007) was an American musician. He was known for his work as a session pedal steel guitar player for various country music acts, most notably Vince Gill and Conway Twitty. A member of the Steel Gui ...

, Hal Rugg - steel guitar *Joe Zinkan - upright bass *Charlie McCoy, Farrell Morris - vibraphone *Lea Jane Berinati,

Janie Fricke Jane Marie Fricke ( ; born December 19, 1947), known professionally as Janie Fricke, is an American country music singer, record producer, and clothing designer. She has placed seventeen Single (music), singles in the top ten of the US ''Billboa ...

, Herman Harper,

The Jordanaires The Jordanaires were an American vocal quartet that formed as a gospel group in 1948. Over the years, they recorded both sacred and secular music for recording companies such as Capitol Records, RCA Victor, Columbia Records, Decca Records, Vo ...

, The Nashville Edition, D. Bergen White - backing vocals *Archie Jordan - string arrangements (tracks 1,3,5,6)

Charts

Album – ''Billboard'' (North America) Singles – ''Billboard'' (North America)

References

{{Authority control 1976 albums Barbara Mandrell albums Albums produced by Tom Collins (record producer) Dot Records albums