Cute 'n' Country is the second studio album by American country music artist Connie Smith. It was released in October 1965 by RCA Victor and contained 12 tracks. Cute 'n' Country contained a mixture of original songs and cover versions by other country artists. Featured on the album was the top ten single "I Can't Remember". Cute 'n' Country was Smith's second album to top the Billboardcountry LP's chart.
Background
In 1964, Connie Smith's debut single, "Once a Day", topped the country charts for a record-setting eight weeks. The success jump-started Smith's professional career and launched a series of hits following it.[2] "Once a Day" was included on Smith's debut self-titled album (released in March 1965).[3] The album also included the top five single "Then and Only Then". Smith and her record label were disappointed when "Then and Only Then" did not top the charts. In an effort to find a single that would "eclipse" 1964's "Once a Day", Smith went back into the studio to record her second album Cute 'n' Country. The album was named for a disc jockey who introduced Smith on the air by saying, "Here's cute and country Connie Smith". Smith later remarked that she disliked the title. "Back in Ohio, 'cute' meant bowlegged," she told writer Colin Escott. The cover photo was taken in the front yard of a residential home located in Hendersonville, Tennessee.[4]
Cute 'n' Country was released in March 1965 via RCA Victor Records and was the second studio release of Smith's career. It was originally issued as a vinyl LP, containing six songs on either side of the record.[5] In later years, the project was issued in a digital format via Sony Music Entertainment.[8] In its original issue, Cute 'n' Country spent 30 weeks on Billboard magazine's Country LP's chart. This was similar to that of Smith's debut album, which also spent 30 weeks on the same chart. It also became her second LP to reach the number one spot on the Country LP's survey, holding the position for two weeks in December 1965.[9][10] The album included Smith's RCA Victor Single "I Can't Remember". It was first issued by the label in April 1965.[11] After 16 weeks, the single peaked at number nine on the BillboardHot Country Songs chart in July 1965.[12]
In October 1965, Billboard magazine gave Cute 'n' Country a positive response: "The chantress delivers a dozen tunes – some of them really great ones – with a maximum of country flavor and style."[13] The album received a positive reception from Richie Unterberger of AllMusic, who gave the release 4.5 stars. He found the album's Nashville Sound style to be "tasteful" and further commented that "Smith proved herself capable of delivering sorrowful, modified honky tonk".[1]
