House of Love (Dottie West album)

House of Love is a studio album by American country music artist Dottie West. It was released in May 1974 on RCA Victor Records and was produced by Billy Davis. It was West's 22nd studio recording in her music career and contained ten tracks. Among its singles was the song "Last Time I Saw", which became a top ten hit in 1974.

House of Love
Studio album by Dottie West
Released	May 1974
Recorded	January 1974
Studio	RCA Studio
Genre	Country Nashville Sound[1]
Length	30:18
Label	RCA Victor
Producer	Billy Davis
Dottie West chronology
Country Sunshine (1973) House of Love (1974) Carolina Cousins (1975)
Singles from House of Love
"Last Time I Saw Him" Released: February 1974 "House of Love" Released: June 1974 "Lay Back Lover" Released: November 1974

Background and content

House of Love was recorded at the RCA Studio in January 1974. The sessions were produced by Billy Davis. Over the past several years, West had written music with Davis. Their songs were used as commercial jingles for the Coca-Cola company. However, after the success of their commercial (which was turned into a hit single) called "Country Sunshine", Davis started producing West.[2] The album consisted of ten tracks.[1] Among its compositions was a song co-written by Davis, West and Byron Metcalf (her second husband). It also included a cover version of Diana Ross's pop hit from 1974, "Last Time I Saw Him". In addition, the project included a composition by Kris Kristofferson and a composition by Willie Nelson.[2]

Release and reception

House of Love was released in May 1974 via RCA Victor Records and became West's 22nd studio album.[2] It was issued as a vinyl LP, containing five songs on each side of the record.[3] Unlike her previous studio release, House of Love did not reach the Billboard music charts, most notably the Top Country Albums chart.[4] Billboard later reviewed House of Love and gave it a positive response. They praised the quality of the album's songs and its songwriting. "Utilizing some of the best songwriters around, Dottie has gathered some really great material for this album. Mostly soft ballads that she does with so much feeling, some up-tempo and some good country blues," writers commented.[5]

The album included three singles that were released in 1974. "Last Time I Saw Him" was the first single released, which occurred in February 1974.[6] After 14 weeks on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart, the single became a major hit, climbing to #8 by May.[7] The title track was released as the album's second single in June 1974.[6] Spending 13 weeks chart, it eventually reached #21 on the country songs chart by September.[8] "Lay Back Lover" was the final single released from the album (November 1974).[6] By early 1975, the song had reached #35 on the country songs list.[9]

Track listing

Side one[2]

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Lay Back Lover"	Steve Pippin Rafe Van Hoy	2:43
2.	"Everybody Bring a Song"	Bill Backer	2:48
3.	"Last Time I Saw Him"	Michael Masser Pam Sawyer	3:00
4.	"Just the Other Side of Nowhere"	Kris Kristofferson	2:46
5.	"House of Love"	Kenny O'Dell	2:06

Side two[2]

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Good Lovin' You"	Larry Gatlin	2:54
2.	"I Still Can't Believe You're Gone"	Willie Nelson	4:13
3.	"I Like to Hear the Rain"	Alex Harvey	3:21
4.	"Does It Matter"	Donna Fargo	3:15
5.	"Love as Long as We Can"	Davis Byron Metcalf Dottie West	3:30

Personnel

All credits are adapted from the liner notes of House of Love.[2]

Musical personnel

Joe Allen — bass Brenton Banks — violin Bucky Barrett — electric guitar George Binkley — violin Marvin Chantry — viola Johnny Gimble — fiddle Martin Katahn — violin Sheldon Kurland — violin Byron Metcalf — Drums Martha McCrory — cello Weldon Myrick — steel guitar The Nashville Edition — background vocals Kenny O'Dell — acoustic guitar Ron Oates — piano, organ, vibes

Dale Sellers — electric guitar Bobbe Seymour — steel guitar Steve Smith — violin Buddy Spicher — fiddle Henry Strzelecki — bass Chris Teal — violin Bobby Thompson — acoustic guitar, banjo David Vanderkooi — cello Gary Vanosdale — viola Bergen White — String arrangements Stephanie Woolf — violin Chip Young — acoustic guitar

Technical personnel

• Billy Davis — producer
• Al Pachucki — engineering
• Bill Vandevort — engineering

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Label	Ref.
United Kingdom	May 1974	Vinyl	RCA Victor	[10]
United States				[2][3]

References

1. "House of Love: Dottie West: Songs, Reviews, Credits". Allmusic. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
2. West, Dottie (May 1974). "House of Love (Album Notes/Liner Notes)". RCA Victor.
3. "Dottie West -- House of Love (1974, Vinyl)". Discogs. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
4. "Dottie West chart history: Country Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
5. "Billboard's Top Album Picks". Billboard. 86 (21): 66. May 25, 1974.
6. Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. ISBN 978-0-89820-177-2.
7. ""Last Time I Saw Him" chart history". Billboard. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
8. ""House of Love" chart history". Billboard. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
9. ""Lay Back Lover" chart history". Billboard. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
10. "Dottie West -- House of Love (UK version)". Discogs. Retrieved 10 May 2020.