United Talent

United Talent is the sixth collaborative studio album by Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn. It was released on June 7, 1976, by MCA Records.[2]

United Talent
Studio album by
Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn
ReleasedJune 7, 1976
RecordedApril 5, 1973–April 15, 1976
StudioBradley's Barn
(Mount Juliet, Tennessee)
GenreCountry
Length24:42
LabelMCA
ProducerOwen Bradley
Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn chronology
Feelins'
(1975)		 United Talent
(1976)		 Dynamic Duo
(1977)
Conway Twitty chronology
Now and Then
(1976)		 United Talent
(1976)		 Play, Guitar Play
(1977)
Loretta Lynn chronology
When the Tingle Becomes a Chill
(1976)		 United Talent
(1976)		 Somebody Somewhere
(1976)
Singles from United Talent
  1. "The Letter"
    Released: May 31, 1976
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]

Critical reception

The June 19, 1976 issue of Billboard carried a review which called the album "Another set of solid country songs from this favorite twosome, includes their latest single, "The Letter". Owen Bradley produces with his usual flair and a preference for unadulterated arrangements. Lynn and Twitty always seem to bring out the best in each other — and the cross-fertilization of talent sounds best on numbers such as "Just Lead the Way". It's doubtful if the Bellamy Brothers' hit "Let Your Love Flow" will ever sound more country than it does at the hands of Loretta and Conway. Lynn and Twitty make no concessions here for any pop audience — it's country to the core as typified by Wayne Kemp's "Barroom Habits" and Vic McAlpin's "I'm Gonna Roll You Like a Wheel". The review noted "The Letter", "Just Lead the Way", "Barroom Habits", "I'm Gonna Roll You Like a Wheel", and "We'll Finish Up Falling In Love" as the best cuts on the album, with a note to dealers saying that Twitty and Lynn are "an ever-popular duo with a loyal legion of fans."[3]

Cashbox published a review in the June 26, 1976 issue, which called the album "An excellent vehicle conveying the award-winning sound of two of country music’s greatest." The review also noted "Just Lead the Way" and "We’re Caught Between a Love and a Love Affair" as their favorites.[4]

Commercial performance

The album peaked at No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot Country LP's chart, the duo's fourth consecutive album to top the chart.

The album's only single, "The Letter", was released in May 1976[5] and peaked at No. 3 on the US Billboard Hot Country Singles chart, the duo's first single to not top the chart. However, in Canada, the single peaked at No. 1 on the RPM Country Singles chart, the duo's fourth chart-topping song in that country.

Recording

Recording sessions for the album took place on April 13–15, 1976, at Bradley's Barn in Mount Juliet, Tennessee. "I'm Gonna Roll You Like a Wheel" was recorded on April 5, 1973, during a session for 1973's Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man.[6]

Track listing
Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Recording dateLength
1."The Letter"
April 15, 19762:53
2."Just Lead the Way"
  • Jimmie Peters
  • Mark McNair
April 13, 19762:16
3."Let Your Love Flow"Larry E. WilliamsApril 15, 19762:35
4."God Bless America Again"
April 15, 19763:14
5."Run Through the Wringer"
  • Gail Bingham
  • Olen Bingham
April 14, 19762:29
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Recording dateLength
1."Barroom Habits"Wayne KempApril 13, 19762:28
2."We're Caught Between a Love and a Love Affair"
  • L. E. White
  • Lola Jean Dillon
April 14, 19762:15
3."I'm Gonna Roll You Like a Wheel"Vic McAlpinApril 5, 19732:00
4."We'll Finish Up Falling in Love"
  • Gene Dobbins
  • Johnny Wilson
April 14, 19762:02
5."The Only Way Around It (Is Right Through the Middle)"Bobby L. HardenApril 13, 19762:30

Charts

Album
Chart (1976) Peak chart
position
US Hot Country LP's (Billboard)[7] 1

Singles
Title Year Peak chart
position
US
Country
[8]		 CAN
Country
"The Letter" 1976 3 1
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References
  1. United Talent at AllMusic
  2. "Conway Twitty & Loretta Lynn – United Talent". Discogs.
  3. "Billboard - June 19, 1976" (PDF). American Radio History. Billboard. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
  4. "Cashbox - June 26, 1978" (PDF). American Radio History. Cashbox. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
  5. "Loretta Lynn And Conway Twitty - The Letter". Retrieved 9 April 2019.
  6. "Loretta's Recording Sess". LORETTA LYNN FAN WEBSITE.
  7. "Loretta Lynn Chart History - Hot Country Albums". Billboard. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
  8. "Loretta Lynn Chart History - Hot Country Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 8 July 2018.


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