Wanda Jackson Sings Country Songs

After becoming known with international audiences as a Rockabilly performer, Wanda Jackson returned to the country music market in 1961.[2] In 1959, a decision was made by Jackson's producer, Ken Nelson, to focus her career solely on the country field (since her original singles were more successful there).[3] In 1961, she had top ten country singles with "Right or Wrong" and "In the Middle of a Heartache".[2] Between 1960 and 1965, Jackson recorded sessions of traditional country material that would make up the studio album, Wanda Jackson Sings Country Songs. The sessions were held at the Bradley Studio and Columbia Studios in Nashville Tennessee. The project also contained sessions held at Capitol Studios, located in Hollywood, California.[4]

The project contained a total of 12 tracks. Three songs were composed by Jackson herself: "Little Charm Bracelet", "Between the Window and the Phone" and "Kickin' Our Hearts Around".[1] The latter recording was first released as a single by fellow country performer Buck Owens. Also included on the album was "The Violet and the Rose", a song made the most commercially-successful by Little Jimmy Dickens.[5] Also included was a cover of Bill Anderson's "The Tip of My Fingers" and "Is This My Destiny", a song written by Helen Carter. The album was produced by Ken Nelson, who had recorded Jackson on the Capitol label since she signed a contract with them in 1956.[4]

Wanda Jackson Sings Country Songs was originally released in December 1965 on Capitol Records. It was the eighth studio album issued in Jackson's career. It was first distributed as a vinyl LP, containing six songs on either side of the record.[4] In later decades, it was re-issued to digital and streaming sites, including Apple Music.[6] The project received a positive review from Billboard magazine in their January 1966 issue. Reviewers praised the album's arrangement and highlighted the tracks "My First Day Without You" and "Send Me No Roses". Reviewers also said, "The country singer has a good package here, full of songs which are both poetic and tearful."[7]

A total of seven singles were included on the album, most of which were released prior to the album. The first single to be released was "Little Charm Bracelet" in February 1961.[8] It was followed by "One Teardrop at a Time", which was released in December 1962.[9] "Slippin'" was issued as a single in October 1963[10] and was the first to reach a charting position on any singles survey.[5] Spending one week on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, "Slippin'" peaked at number 46 in January 1964.[11]

Jackson's version of "The Violet and the Rose" followed as a single in March 1964.[12] The song spent 11 weeks on the Billboard country singles chart and reached a peak position of 36 in June 1964.[13] Jackson's version of "Kickin' Our Hearts Around" was then released as a single in January 1965.[14] It was followed by "Have I Grown Used to Missing You" in June 1965[15] and "My First Day Without You" in September 1965.[16] Despite having charting singles, the album itself did not reach any charting positions on the Billboard Top Country Albums list.[17]