Many Happy Hangovers
| Many Happy Hangovers | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | July 1966 | |||
| Recorded | September–December 1965 | |||
| Studio | Columbia (Nashville, Tennessee) | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Label | Capitol | |||
| Producer | Marvin Hughes | |||
| Jean Shepard chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Many Happy Hangovers | ||||
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Many Happy Hangovers is a studio album by American country singer Jean Shepard. It was released in July 1966 by Capitol Records and contained 12 tracks. The album's concept was centered on songs about an evening out followed by songs about the morning after. Among them was the album's title track. Released as a single, it reached the top 20 of the US country chart in 1966. The album was given a positive reception by Billboard, Cashbox and AllMusic.
Background, recording and content
[edit]Jean Shepard first rose to commercial country music stardom in the 1950s, becoming known for her honky tonk style. This began with 1953's "A Dear John Letter" and was followed by 1955's "A Satisfied Mind", among others. For several years, her singles failed to chart until 1964's "Second Fiddle (To an Old Guitar)". The song reached the top ten and started a series of charting singles during the decade.[2] Among them was the top 20 single "Many Happy Hangovers to You".[3] The album it was included on would be named for her single.[4]
Many Happy Hangovers was recorded at the Columbia Studios in Nashville, Tennessee between September and December 1965. The album project was produced by Marvin Hughes.[4] A total of 12 tracks comprised the album.[1] The liner notes described Many Happy Hangovers as being a collection of songs centered around an evening out, along with songs about the morning afterward. The songs were also a combination of "romantic ballads" and "no nonsense", according to the liner notes. Tracks on the album were composed by a variety of songwriters, including Jan Howard, Skeeter Davis, Harlan Howard and Don Bowman.[4]
Critical reception
[edit]| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [1] |
Many Happy Hangovers received a positive response from critics and publication upon its release. Billboard described the album as a series of "excellent performances", highlighting the tracks "Day to Day" and "Our Past is in My Way". The publication concluded by calling it a "well produced country package" that will "quickly hit the charts".[5] Cashbox named it among its "best bets" in its review. "The warm and winning personality of the songstress comes through loud and clear as she lets loose with a dozen ditties oriented toward shattered romance," the magazine wrote.[6] AllMusic did not provide a written review, but rated the album four out of five stars.[1]
Release, chart performance and singles
[edit]Many Happy Hangovers was released in July 1966 by Capitol Records. It was the seventh studio album of Shepard's career. The label distributed the album as a vinyl LP, offered in both mono and stereo versions. Six songs were featured on each side of the disc.[4] Many Happy Hangovers reached the number six position on the US Billboard Top Country Albums chart. Along with 1967's Heart, We Did All That We Could, the album was Shepard's highest-charting on the Billboard country albums survey. Both discs were her only two to reach the top ten there as well.[7] The title track was the only single included on the disc. It was first released by Capitol Records in January 1966.[8] Later that year, it reached the number 13 position on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.[3]
Track listing
[edit]| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Many Happy Hangovers to You" | Johnny MacRae | 2:27 |
| 2. | "Look What I've Got" | Don Bowman | 2:09 |
| 3. | "Our Past Is in My Way" | Betty Sue Perry | 2:44 |
| 4. | "How in the World" | Skeeter Davis | 2:22 |
| 5. | "Your Name's Become a Household Word" | Neal Merritt | 2:47 |
| 6. | "I Forgot to Care" | Harlan Howard | 1:55 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Wherever You Are" |
| 2:05 |
| 2. | "Dirt Under His Feet" | Jimmy Gateley | 2:14 |
| 3. | "One Minute" | Gateley | 2:16 |
| 4. | "Day to Day (Tear to Tear)" |
| 2:15 |
| 5. | "You'd Still Find a Way to Cheat on Me" | 2:21 | |
| 6. | "Wave Goodbye to Me" |
| 2:07 |
Personnel
[edit]All credits are adapted from the liner notes of Many Happy Hangovers.[4]
- Marvin Hughes – Producer
- Ken Veeder – Cover photo
Chart performance
[edit]| Chart (1966) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[9] | 6 |
Release history
[edit]| Region | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
July 1966 |
|
Capitol Records | [4] |
| Taiwan | Vinyl LP (Stereo) | CSJ | [10] |
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e "Many Happy Hangovers: Jean Shepard: Songs, reviews, credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
- ^ Cooper, Dan. "Jean Shepard Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
- ^ a b Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 312.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Shepard, Jean (July 1966). "Many Happy Hangovers (Liner Notes)". Capitol Records. T-2547 (Mono); ST-2547 (Stereo).
- ^ "Album Reviews: Country Spotlight". Billboard. Vol. 78, no. 27. July 2, 1966. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
- ^ "Album Reviews: Pop Best Bets" (PDF). Cash Box. July 9, 1966. p. 50. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2008). Joel Whitburn Presents Hot Country Albums, 1964-2007. Record Research, Inc. ISBN 978-0898201734.
- ^ Shepard, Jean (January 1966). ""Many Happy Hangovers to You"/"Our Past Is in My Way" (7" vinyl single)". Capitol Records. 5585.
- ^ "Jean Shepard Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 26, 2024.
- ^ Shepard, Jean (July 1966). "Many Happy Hangovers [Taiwan]". Capitol Records. CSJ-582 (Stereo).