Connie Smith Sings Great Sacred Songs
Studio album by
Connie Smith
ReleasedJune 1966
RecordedFebruary 24 – February 28, 1966
StudioRCA Studio B
Genre
Length29:06
LabelRCA Victor
ProducerBob Ferguson
Connie Smith chronology
Miss Smith Goes to Nashville
(1966)		 Connie Smith Sings Great Sacred Songs
(1966)		 Born to Sing
(1966)

Connie Smith Sings Great Sacred Songs is the fourth studio album by American country singer Connie Smith. It was released in June 1966 via RCA Victor Records and contained 12 tracks. It was also her first collection of gospel songs. The project included covers of popular gospel selections including "Father Along" and "Just a Closer Walk with Thee". The disc reached the top 20 of Billboard country albums chart in 1966.

Background, recording and content

Connie Smith launched her career in 1964 with her debut single called "Once a Day", which topped the American country songs chart for eight weeks.[2] With three commercially-successful country music albums, Smith went into RCA Studio B in February 1966 to record her first album of gospel songs. The album was named Connie Smith Sings Great Sacred Songs because Smith wanted to avoid recording songs with gospel-style piano. "The way it turned out was country songs with sacred words and that's why it's called 'Great Sacred Songs'," she told author Colin Escott.[3] Later in her career, Smith would become more religious and record more gospel material.[2] Reflecting on her first gospel project, Smith said, "At that point I'd say I believed in God, but I was not a Christian."[3]

The project was recorded between February 24 and February 28, 1966 with producer Bob Ferguson. A total of twelve tracks comprised the album.[4] The album mainly included covers of gospel selections and hymns. Among these songs was "I Saw a Man", which originally appeared on Johnny Cash's 1959 LP Hymns by Johnny Cash. Also included was Ferguson's self-penned "Wings of a Dove". According to writer Colin Escott, Smith was "the first to sing all three verses" of the song.[3] Also included on the album were the original gospel hymns "Just a Closer Walk with Thee" and "Wayfaring Pilgrim".[4]

Release and reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic

Connie Smith Sings Great Sacred Songs was originally released in June 1966 on RCA Victor Records. It was Smith's fourth studio album issued in her career. The disc was first issued as a vinyl LP containing six songs on either side of the record.[4] Decades later, the album was re-issued to digital and streaming sites such as Apple Music.[5] Following its original release, the disc spent 12 weeks on the Billboard magazine Country LP's and peaked at number 19 in October 1966.[6] The album was received positively by Billboard magazine who commented, "The spirit is with her when she does these sides, some of which have Jake Hess and the Imperials, big sellers in the religious field."[7] AllMusic rated the album four out of five possible stars.[1]

Track listings

Vinyl version

Side one[4]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Satisfied"Martha Carson2:12
2."When God Dips His Love in My Heart"
2:19
3."Farther Along"
2:45
4."Where Could I Go But to the Lord"James B. Coats2:17
5."I Wouldn't Take Nothing from My Journey Now"
1:51
6."I Saw a Man"Arthur Q. Smith2:42
Side two[4]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Wayfaring Pilgrim"Traditional3:19
2."In the Garden"
2:41
3."Wings of a Dove"Bob Ferguson1:52
4."Keep on Holding to Those Nail Scarred Hands"Henry Slaughter2:21
5."He Set Me Free"Albert E. Brumley2:09
6."Just a Closer Walk with Thee"Traditional2:38

Digital version

Sings Great Sacred Songs (download and streaming)[5]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Satisfied"Carson2:12
2."When God Dips His Love in My Heart"
  • Derricks
  • Stevenson
2:19
3."Farther Along"
  • Baxter
  • Stevens
2:45
4."Where Could I Go But to the Lord"James B. Coats2:17
5."I Wouldn't Take Nothing from My Journey Now"
  • Davis
  • Goodman
1:51
6."I Saw a Man"Arthur Q. Smith2:42
7."Wayfaring Pilgrim"Traditional3:19
8."In the Garden"
  • Hebble
  • Miles
2:41
9."Wings of a Dove"Bob Ferguson1:52
10."Keep on Holding to Those Nail Scarred Hands"Henry Slaughter2:21
11."He Set Me Free"Brumley2:09
12."Just a Closer Walk with Thee"Traditional2:38

Personnel

All credits are adapted from the liner notes of Connie Smith Sings Great Sacred Songs.[4]

Musical personnel

Chart performance

Chart (1966) Peak
position
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[8] 19

Release history

Region Date Format Label Ref.
North America June 1966 Vinyl RCA Victor Records [4]
2010s
  • Music download
  • streaming
 Sony Music Entertainment [5]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Connie Smith Sings Great Sacred Songs: Connie Smith: Songs, reviews, credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
  2. 1 2 Bush, John. "Connie Smith: Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 Escott, Colin (May 8, 2001). Born to Sing (Box Set Biography). Bear Family Records. p. 16-20. ISBN 3-89795-770-1.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Smith, Connie (June 1966). "Connie Smith Sings Great Sacred Songs (LP Liner Notes and Album Information)". RCA Victor Records. LPM-3589.
  5. 1 2 3 "Sings Great Sacred Songs by Connie Smith". Apple Music. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
  6. ↑ "Connie Smith chart history (Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
  7. ↑ "Album Reviews: Country Spotlight". Billboard. August 13, 1966. p. 88. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
  8. ↑ "Connie Smith Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 1, 2022.
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