Country Sunshine (Dottie West album)

Country Sunshine is a studio album by American country music artist Dottie West. It was released in November 1973 on RCA Victor Records. The album's ten tracks were produced by Billy Davis. Her 21st studio recording, Country Sunshine was released following the success of the title track. The song became a major hit after first being part of a Coca-Cola commercial. The album itself would reach major positions on national publication charts following its release.

Country Sunshine
Studio album by
Dottie West
ReleasedNovember 1973 (1973-11)
RecordedJuly 1973
StudioRCA Studio
Genre
Length32:14
LabelRCA Victor
ProducerBilly Davis
Dottie West chronology
If It's All Right With You/Just What I've Been Looking For
(1973)		 Country Sunshine
(1973)		 House of Love
(1974)
Singles from Country Sunshine
  1. "Country Sunshine"
    Released: August 1973

Background and content

The creation of Country Sunshine was derived from the success of the title track. The song was written by West and the album's producer (Billy Davis). The pair had been collaborating musically for several years after West had been signed to write commercial jingles for the Coca-Cola soda company. When the title track became a hit, West went into the recording studio to make an album around it. It was West's first production assignment with Davis. The sessions were produced in July 1973 at the RCA Studio in Nashville, Tennessee.[2] The collection consisted of ten tracks.[1] The album included several new tracks, including "My Mind's Gone to Memphis" which was written by Larry Gatlin. Another new track was "The Lady", was co-written by West and Red Lane. The project also featured cover versions of several songs. Among the cover songs was Paul McCartney's "My Love", the Eagles' "Desperado" and "Jesse" by Janis Ian.[2]

Release and reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
BillboardFavorable

Country Sunshine was released in November 1973 on RCA Victor Records, becoming her 21st studio album issued in her career.[2] It was issued as a vinyl LP, containing five songs on each side of the record.[3] Country Sunshine peaked at number 17 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart in February 1974, after spending 17 weeks on the list. It was West's highest-charting album since 1968.[4] Billboard Magazine reviewed Country Sunshine in November 1973, giving it a warm reception. Writers especially praised West's cover of "My Love" and the original composition, "It's Been a Long Time Since Atlanta". They also praised the album's sound and style. "Dottie comes on with a smoothness which lasts throughout the album. Almost all ballads, it's Dottie at her best, including her hit single," staff writers commented.[5]

The title track had been released as a single in 1973. It was first issued as a single in August 1973.[6] By November, the song had peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart.[7] The song also became her second single to cross over to the Billboard Hot 100, where it reached a peak position of 49.[8] It became West's first major hit since 1970 following its success.[6] On the Canadian RPM Country Singles chart, the title track also became a major hit, peaking at number nine.[9]

Track listing
Side one[2]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."My Mind's Gone to Memphis"Larry Gatlin3:05
2."You Take Me Home, Honey"
  • Bill Becker
  • Sandy Mason
2:47
3."We Had It All"
2:53
4."My Love"
3:31
5."Desperado"
3:15
Side two[2]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Jesse"Janis Ian3:56
2."The Lady"
3:34
3."Country Sunshine"
2:01
4."Help Me"Gatlin3:24
5."It's Been a Long Time Since Atlanta"
  • Davis
  • Dianne Whiles
3:30

Personnel

All credits are adapted from the liner notes of Country Sunshine.[2]

Musical personnel

Technical personnel

  • Coca-Cola – cover photo
  • Billy Davis – producer
  • Acy Lehman – cover photo
  • Al Puchucki – engineering
  • David Roys – recording technician
  • Mike Shockley – recording technician
  • Bill Vandevort – engineering

Chart performance
Chart (1973–1974) Peak
position
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[10] 17

Release history
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Canada November 1973 Vinyl RCA Victor [11]
United Kingdom [12]
United States [2][3]

References
  1. "Country Sunshine: Dottie West: Songs, Reviews, Credits". Allmusic. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  2. West, Dottie (November 1973). "Country Sunshine (Album Information and Liner Notes)". RCA Victor.
  3. "Dottie West -- Country Sunshine (1973, Vinyl)". Discogs. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  4. "Country Sunshine chart history". Billboard. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  5. "Billboard's Top Album Picks". Billboard. 85 (46): 60. November 14, 1973.
  6. Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. ISBN 978-0-89820-177-2.
  7. ""Country Sunshine" [single] chart history". Billboard. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  8. ""Country Sunshine" [single] chart history: Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  9. "Search results for Dottie West under "country singles"". RPM. Archived from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 1 April 2011.
  10. "Dottie West Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
  11. "Dottie West - Country Sunshine (Canada)". Discogs. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  12. "Dottie West -- Country Sunshine (UK)". Discogs. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
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