Promises, Promises (Lynn Anderson album)

Promises, Promises is a studio album by American country music artist Lynn Anderson. It was released in December 1967 via Chart Records. It was co-produced by Lloyd Green and Slim Williamson. The album was Anderson's second studio album issued in her recording career and contained two singles that became top ten hits on the Billboard country chart. The album itself would also reach a high peaking positions on the Billboard country albums chart following its release.

Promises, Promises
Studio album by Lynn Anderson
Released	December 1967 (1967-12)
Recorded	September 1967
Studio	RCA Victor Studio
Genre	Country Nashville Sound[1]
Length	30:14
Label	Chart
Producer	Lloyd Green Slim Williamson
Lynn Anderson chronology
Ride, Ride, Ride (1967) Promises, Promises (1967) Big Girls Don't Cry (1968)
Singles from Promises, Promises
"Promises, Promises" Released: November 1967 "No Another Time" Released: March 1968

Background and content

Promises, Promises was recorded at the RCA Studio in Nashville, Tennessee. The sessions were co-produced by Lloyd Green and Slim Williamson.[2] It was Williamson who discovered Anderson and signed her to the Chart label in 1966. He had previously produced her 1967 debut studio recording.[3] Promises, Promises was a collection of 12 tracks.[1] Five of the album's tracks were composed by Anderson's mother, Liz Anderson. This included the title track. In her previous album, Liz Anderson had co-written several of the tunes too and was responsible for much of her daughter's early recording success. The project also included covers of Roy Orbison's "Crying", Dottie West's "Paper Mansions," Warner Mack's "I've Been Everywhere" and others. The album's liner notes were written by musical peer, Bill Anderson (no relation). "I wish I had a nickel for every time someone has come up to me and asked, 'Is Lynn Anderson your sister?'," he wrote.[2]

Release and reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic
Billboard	Favorable

Before the album's release, the title track was released as a single in November 1967.[4] The song became Anderson's highest-charting single up to that point when it climbed to number four on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. It spent a total of 18 weeks on the chart before reaching its peak position in February 1968.[5] A month following the single's release, the album itself was issued on the Chart label in December 1967.[2] It was offered as a vinyl LP, containing six songs on each side of the record.[6]

Promises, Promises became Anderson's second album to make the Billboard Top Country Albums survey. Spending 48 weeks on the list, it reached number one in May 1968.[7] The record became one of two in her career to reach the country albums summit. The second to reach number one was her 1970 release, Rose Garden.[8] Following the album's release and chart debut, "No Another Time" was issued as its second single in March 1968.[4] The song became her third to become a major hit and make the Billboard country songs top ten list, peaking at number eight that June.[9] The album received mixed reception from music writers and publications. In January 1968, Billboard gave the project a favorable review, highlighting the tracks "I've Been Everywhere" and "Love of the Common People". "Miss Anderson's start continues in the ascendancy with this, her current hit as the title and 11 other good numbers," staff writers wrote.[10] In later years, Allmusic gave the release only 2.5 out of 5 possible stars.[1]

Track listing

Vinyl version

Side one[2]

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Promises, Promises"	Liz Anderson Carlyle Hughey Wiley Smith	1:56
2.	"The Worst Is Yet to Come"	Anderson Casey Anderson	2:43
3.	"No Another Time"	Jerry Lane Slim Williamson	2:00
4.	"Crying"	Joe Melson Roy Orbison	2:38
5.	"Love of the Common People"	John Hurley and Ronnie Wilkins	2:47
6.	"A Penny for Your Thoughts"	L. Anderson	2:30

Side two[6]

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"I've Been Everywhere"	Warner Mack	2:23
2.	"Paper Mansions"	Ted Harris	3:06
3.	"Two Rolls of Scotch Tape"	Betty Jo Gibson	1:56
4.	"Sing Me a Sad Song"	Wynn Stewart	3:17
5.	"A Hundred Times Today"	L. Anderson	2:24
6.	"Lie a Little"	L. Anderson	2:25

Digital version

Promises, Promises (2009 version)[11]

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Promises, Promises"	L. Anderson Hughey Smith	1:56
2.	"The Worst Is Yet to Come"	L. Anderson C. Anderson	2:43
3.	"No Another Time"	Lane Williamson	2:00
4.	"Crying"	Melson Orbison	2:38
5.	"Love of the Common People"	Hurley Wilkins	2:47
6.	"A Penny for Your Thoughts"	L. Anderson	2:30
7.	"I've Been Everywhere"	Mack	2:23
8.	"Paper Mansions"	Harris	3:06
9.	"Two Rolls of Scotch Tape"	Gibson	1:56
10.	"Sing Me a Sad Song"	Stewart	3:17
11.	"A Hundred Times Today"	L. Anderson	2:24
12.	"Lie a Little"	L. Anderson	2:25

Personnel

All credits are adapted from the liner notes of Promises, Promises.[2]

Musical and technical personnel

• Bill Anderson – liner notes
• Lynn Anderson – lead vocals
• Lloyd Green – producer
• Jim Malloy – engineering
• Slim Williamson – producer

Chart performance

Chart (1967–1968)	Peak position
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[12]	1

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Label	Ref.
Canada	December 1967	Vinyl	RCA Victor Records	[13]
United States			Chart Records	[6][2]
	April 28, 2009	Music download	Blaricum CD Company	[11]

References

1. "Promises, Promises: Lynn Anderson: Songs, Reviews, Credits". Allmusic. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
2. Anderson, Lynn (December 1967). "Promises, Promises (Album Info/Liner Notes)". Chart Records.
3. Hollabaugh, Lorie. "LifeNotes: Bradley 'Slim' Williamson". Music Row. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
4. Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. ISBN 0-89820-177-2.
5. ""Promises, Promises" [single] chart history". Billboard. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
6. "Lynn Anderson -- Promises, Promises (1967, Vinyl)". Discogs. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
7. "Promises, Promises chart history". Billboard. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
8. Whitburn, Joel (1997). Joel Whitburn's Top Country Albums: 1967-1997. Record Research Inc. ISBN 0898201241.
9. ""No Another Time" chart history". Billboard. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
10. "Album Reviews". Billboard. 80 (3): pg. 66. January 20, 1968.
11. "Promises, Promises by Lynn Anderson on Amazon Music". Amazon. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
12. "Lynn Anderson Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
13. "Lynn Anderson -- Promises, Promises (Canada)". Discogs. Retrieved 27 May 2020.