Two Sides of Wanda
Two Sides of Wanda is a studio album by American recording artist Wanda Jackson. It was released in March 1964 via Capitol Records and contained 12 tracks. It was the sixth studio release of Jackson's career; side one contained rockabilly performances, while side two featured country music selections. The album received a nomination from the Grammy Awards following its release and has since been re-released.
Two Sides of Wanda | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by | ||||
Released | March 1964 | |||
Recorded | July 1963 | |||
Studio | Columbia Studio | |||
Genre | ||||
Label | Capitol | |||
Producer | Ken Nelson | |||
Wanda Jackson chronology | ||||
| ||||
Singles from Two Sides of Wanda | ||||
|
Background and content
In the 1950s, Wanda Jackson became known for her rockabilly selections, some of which became successful like "Fujiyama Mama" and "Let's Have a Party". In 1961, she returned her country music roots. That year she had two top ten country hits with "Right or Wrong" and "In the Middle of a Heartache". Thus, her career shifted back to the genre for the remainder of the decade.[1] Two Sides of Wanda was intended to focus on both her musical identities by putting Rock on one side and Country on the other side of the record.[2]
The album included a total of 12 selections.[3] All of the songs were cover versions of songs first recorded by other artists. According to Jackson, she chose several songs for the album from artists she admired or befriended. Among these songs was "Honey Don't", a Rockabilly track originally by Carl Perkins.[4] Other Rockabilly cuts included Jerry Lee Lewis' "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On" and Little Richard's "Rip It Up". Among the country selections chosen were Kitty Wells' "Making Believe" and Hank Williams' "Cold, Cold Heart". The album was recorded in July 1963 at the Columbia Studio, located in Nashville, Tennessee. The sessions were produced by Ken Nelson.[2]
Release and reception
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Record Mirror | [5] |
Two Sides of Wanda was released in March 1964 on Capitol Records. It marked Jackson's sixth studio album released in her career. The project was originally distributed as a vinyl LP, containing six songs on both sides of the record.[2] In later years, it was re-released with the same track listing to digital and streaming markets, which included Apple Music.[6] Although the album did not receive a formal review by AllMusic, the website did name both "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On" and "Cold, Cold Heart" as their "album picks" for the LP.[3] The album also received a nomination for Best Female Country Vocal Performance at the 7th Annual Grammy Awards. It was Jackson's first nomination from the Grammy's.[7] The project also spawned one single release. In October 1964, "Candy Man" was issued as a single via Capitol Records.[8]
Track listing
Vinyl version
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Original artist(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On" |
| Jerry Lee Lewis | 2:42 |
2. | "Honey Don't" | Carl Perkins | Carl Perkins | 2:11 |
3. | "Yakety Yak" | Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller | The Coasters | 2:10 |
4. | "Searchin'" | Leiber-Stoller | The Coasters | 2:51 |
5. | "Candy Man" | Roy Orbison | 2:37 | |
6. | "Rip It Up" | Little Richard | 2:14 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Original artist(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Making Believe" | Jimmy Work | Jimmy Work | 2:32 |
2. | "The Keeper of the Key" |
| Wynn Stewart | 3:25 |
3. | "Don't Let Me Cross Over" | Penny Jay | Carl Butler and Pearl | 2:55 |
4. | "Cold, Cold Heart" | Hank Williams | Hank Williams | 2:34 |
5. | "Don't Worry" | Marty Robbins | Marty Robbins | 3:40 |
6. | "Please Help Me, I'm Falling" |
| Hank Locklin | 2:23 |
Digital version
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Original artist(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On" |
| Jerry Lee Lewis | 2:46 |
2. | "Honey Don't" | Perkins | Carl Perkins | 2:16 |
3. | "Yakety Yak" | Leiber-Stoller | The Coasters | 2:14 |
4. | "Searchin'" | Leiber-Stoller | The Coasters | 2:53 |
5. | "Candy Man" |
| Roy Orbison | 2:39 |
6. | "Rip It Up" |
| Little Richard | 2:17 |
7. | "Making Believe" | Work | Jimmy Work | 2:35 |
8. | "The Keeper of the Key" |
| Wynn Stewart | 3:28 |
9. | "Don't Let Me Cross Over" | Jay | Carl Butler and Pearl | 2:59 |
10. | "Cold, Cold Heart" | Williams | Hank Williams | 2:36 |
11. | "Don't Worry" | Robbins | Marty Robbins | 3:43 |
12. | "Please Help Me, I'm Falling" |
| Hank Locklin | 2:26 |
Personnel
All credits are adapted from the liner notes of Two Sides of Wanda.[2]
Musical personnel
- Harold Bradley – Guitar
- Floyd Cramer – Piano
- Buddy Harman – Drums
- Wanda Jackson – Lead vocals
- The Jordanaires – Background vocals
- Grady Martin – Guitar
- Charlie McCoy – Harmonica
- Bob Moore – Bass
- Hargus "Pig" Robbins – Piano
Technical personnel
- George Jerman – Photography
- Ken Nelson – Producer
Release history
Region | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
|
March 1964 | Vinyl | Capitol Records | [9] |
|
[2] | |||
2010s |
|
Capitol Records Nashville | [6] | |
References
- Wolff, Kurt. "Wanda Jackson: Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
- Jackson, Wanda (March 1964). "Two Sides of Wanda (LP Liner Notes and Album Information)". Capitol Records. T-2030.
- "Two Sides of Wanda: Wanda Jackson: Songs, reviews, credits". AllMusic. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
- Bomar, Scott; Jackson, Wanda (2017). Every night is Saturday night : a country girl's journey to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. United States: BMG. ISBN 9781947026070.
- "Wanda Jackson: The Two Sides" (PDF). Record Mirror. No. 171. June 20, 1964. p. 24. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 1, 2022. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
- "Two Sides of Wanda by Wanda Jackson". Apple Music. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
- "Wanda Jackson: Artist". Grammy Awards. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
- Jackson, Wanda (October 1964). ""Candy Man"/"Weary Blues from Waitin'" (7" vinyl single)". Capitol Records. 5287.
- Jackson, Wanda (March 1964). "Two Sides of Wanda (LP Liner Notes and Album Information)". Capitol Records. ST-1030.