I Never Knew (What That Song Meant Before)

I Never Knew (What That Song Meant Before) is the twenty fourth studio album by American country music artist, Connie Smith. The album was released in August 1974 on Columbia Records and was produced by Ray Baker. The title track became the album's lead single.

I Never Knew (What That Song Meant Before)
Studio album by Connie Smith
Released	August 1974
Recorded	1974
Studio	Columbia Recording Studio Nashville, TN
Genre	Country
Length	30:08
Label	Columbia
Producer	Ray Baker
Connie Smith chronology
That's the Way Love Goes (1974) I Never Knew (What That Song Meant Before) (1974) I Got a Lot of Hurtin' Done Today/I've Got My Baby On My Mind (1975)
Singles from I Never Knew (What That Song Meant Before)
"I Never Knew (What That Song Meant Before)" Released: June 1974

Background

I Never Knew (What That Song Meant Before) contained eleven tracks (as did her past three albums for the Columbia label), including cover versions of Harlan Howard's "The Key's in the Mailbox" and Tom T. Hall's "Never Having You."[1] The album was recorded at the Columbia Recording Studio in Nashville, Tennessee in 1974 and was her second and final album that was released that year. The album was issued on a 12-inch LP album, with six songs on the first side of the record and five songs on the other side of the record. The album has not been reissued since its original release on vinyl under Columbia in 1974.[2]

Release

I Never Knew (What That Song Meant Before) spawned one single, the title track. Release in June 1974, the song (written by Sanger D. Shafer) became a major hit on the Country chart in the United States, reaching #13 on the Billboard Magazine Hot Country Songs chart. The album itself also charted. Released in August 1974, I Never Knew (What That Song Meant Before) peaked at #22 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart, Smith's highest-charting album since 1973's God Is Abundant.[3]

Track listing

Side one

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"I Never Knew (What That Song Meant Before)"	Sanger D. Shafer	2:35
2.	"Them Ole Rainy Lovesick Songs (Are Hittin' Home)"	Dallas Frazier, Arthur Leo Owens	2:14
3.	"I Just Had You on My Mind"	Sue Richards	2:59
4.	"I'll Still Be Missing You"	Warner McPherson	2:47
5.	"Because of Yesterday"	Cleon Dewey, Levon Dewey	3:12
6.	"I Wish We'd All Be Ready"	Larry Norman	2:33

Side two

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Key's in the Mailbox"	Harlan Howard	2:29
2.	"Letting Go"	Dave Kirby, Glenn Martin	2:51
3.	"Never Having You"	Tom T. Hall	2:37
4.	"Did We Have to Come This Far (To Say Goodbye)"	Dallas Frazier, Arthur Leo Owens	3:17
5.	"Is This All You Hear (When a Heart Breaks)"	Charlie Williams	2:34

Personnel

• Dorothy Delenoibus – background vocals
• Ray Edenton – rhythm guitar
• Johnny Gimble – fiddle, mandolin
• Lloyd Green – dobro, steel guitar
• Holladay Sisters – background vocals
• The Jordanaires – background vocals
• Shane Keister – keyboards
• Kenny Malone – drums
• Grady Martin – guitar
• Charlie McCoy – harmonica, vibes
• Bob Moore – bass
• Laverna Moore – background vocals
• Hargus "Pig" Robbins – organ, piano
• Connie Smith – lead vocals
• Bobby Thompson – banjo
• Chip Young – rhythm guitar

Sales chart positions

Album

Chart (1974)	Peak position
U.S. Top Country Albums	22

Singles

Year	Song	Chart positions
		US Country
1974	"I Never Knew (What That Song Meant Before)"	13

References

1. "album overview". allmusic. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
2. "I Never Knew (What That Song Meant Before) by Connie Smith". Rate Your Music. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
3. "Charts & awards". allmusic. Retrieved 2009-08-15.