Melba Montgomery is a eponymous studio album by American country artist, Melba Montgomery. It was released in March 1978 via United Artists Records and was the twenty second studio disc of her career. The album featured a total of ten tracks, four of which were originally released as singles. Its most commercially-successful was a cover of "Angel of the Morning". The song reached both the American and Canadian country charts in 1978.
Background, recording and content
Melba Montgomery had recently reached success as a solo artist after years of duet recordings. Her 1974 single, "No Charge", topped the country charts. The song, along with several other recordings, were released through Elektra Records. It was then announced that Montgomery would sign with United Artists Records and begin working under the production of Larry Butler. He would produce Montgomery's eponymous album, along with Pete Drake. The project was recorded in September 1976 at the Jack Clement Studio, located in Nashville, Tennessee.
The album's ten tracks featured diverse instrumentation from steel guitars, along with strings and background vocals. Two songs were penned by Nashville songwriter and artist, Linda Hargrove: "You Sure Saved Me from Myself" and "Hope for Your Happiness". Producer Larry Butler contributed to the writing of the final track, "Never Ending Love Affair". A cover of Merrilee Rush's "Angel of the Morning" was also included on the project.
Release, reception and singles
Melba Montgomery was released in March 1978 on United Artists Records. It marked the twenty second studio album released in Montgomery's recording career. It was distributed as a vinyl LP, featuring five tracks on either side of the record. Billboard gave the album a positive reception, naming it among its "Recommended LP's" in 1978. The publication named "Angel of the Morning", "Never Ending Love Affair" and "Before the Pain Comes" as the album's "best cuts". Four singles were included on the disc. Its first was "Never Ending Love Affair", which was originally released in June 1977. The single reached number 83 on the American Billboard Hot Country Songs chart that year.
"Before the Pain Comes" was also originally released as a single in August 1977. "Angel of the Morning" was released in November 1977. The song was the highest-charting from the album, peaking at number 22 on the Billboard country chart and number 48 on the Canadian RPM Country chart. "Leavin' Me in Your Mind" was issued as a single in February 1978.
Track listing
Personnel
All credits are adapted from the liner notes of Melba Montgomery.
Musical personnel
Tommy Allsup – Bass guitar
Stu Basore – Steel guitar
George Binkley – Strings
Jim Buchanan – Fiddle
Kenneth Buttrey – Drums
Jimmy Capps – Acoustic guitar
Jerry Carrigan – Drums
Fred Carter Jr. – Bass guitar
Marvin Chantry – Strings
Roy Christensen – Strings
Pete Drake – Steel guitar
Ray Edenton – Acoustic guitar
Paul Franklin – Steel guitar
Carl Gorodetsky – Strings
Lenny Haight – Strings
Buddy Harman – Drums
Kelso Herston – Bass guitar
Randy Hillman – Bass
Shane Keister – Piano
Sheldon Kurland – Strings
Kenny Malone – Drums
Charlie McCoy – Harmonica
Martha McCrory – Strings
Melba Montgomery – Lead vocals
Bob Moore – Bass
Hargus "Pig" Robbins – Piano
Pam Rose – Acoustic guitar
Jack Salomon – Acoustic guitar
Billy Sanford – Electric guitar
Larry Sasser – Steel guitar
Lang Scruggs – Banjo
Jerry Shook – Acoustic guitar
Steven Smith – Strings
Donald Teal – Strings
Jeff Tweel – Piano
Gary Vanosdale – Strings
Pete Wade – Electric guitar
Tommy Williams – Fiddle
Bobby Wood – Piano
Technical personnel
Larry Butler – Producer
Pete Drake – Producer
Billy Sherrill – Engineer
Release history
References
1978 albums
Albums produced by Larry Butler (producer) Albums produced by Pete Drake Melba Montgomery albums United Artists Records albums