Wikipedia

I Can Do Nothing Alone

I Can Do Nothing Alone is a studio album by American country singer-songwriter Bill Anderson. It was released in June 1967 on Decca Records and was produced by Owen Bradley. It was Anderson's seventh studio record and his first album to consist entirely of gospel music. Although the album did not produce any singles, it made peak positions on the Billboard country albums chart.

I Can Do Nothing Alone
Studio album by
Bill Anderson
ReleasedJune 1967 (1967-06)
RecordedFebruary 1967
StudioColumbia (Nashville, Tennessee)
Genre
LabelDecca
ProducerOwen Bradley
Bill Anderson chronology
Get While the Gettin's Good
(1967) 		I Can Do Nothing Alone
(1967) 		Bill Anderson's Greatest Hits
(1967)

Background and content

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Anderson was inspired to record the album after the passing of his grandfather in 1965. Anderson recalled sitting beside him at the hospital when his grandfather said to him, "You don't have to be a preacher to do good in this world. You can live the right kind of life and let other people know that you stand for the right kind of things and they will get the message." This inspired Anderson to compose the album's title track "I Can Do Nothing Alone".[1] The album consisted of ten tracks, all of which were gospel songs.[2] All of the tracks were cut at the Columbia Recording Studios in February 1967 under the guidance of Owen Bradley. Among the songs recorded with Bradley included covers of traditional gospel songs. Songs featured included "Standing on the Promises", "Where He Leads Me" and "Blessed Assurance".[1]

Release and reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic     
BillboardFavorable

I Can Do Nothing Alone was released in June 1967 on Decca Records.[1] Five tracks were included on each side of the original record.[2] Following its release, the album peaked at number 23 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart in September 1967. The album spent 12 weeks on the country chart.[3] The album did not produce any singles that were released.[4] The album did however receive a rating from Allmusic, which gave it 2.5 out of 5 possible stars.[5] Meanwhile, Billboard gave it a positive response in their June 1967 issue of the magazine. "Hit country artist Bill Anderson has a tremendous gospel hit here," writers commented.[6]

Track listing

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Side one[2]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."I Can Do Nothing Alone"Bill Anderson2:50
2."Standing on the Promises"
  • Kelso Carter
  • Victor Hedgren
2:30
3."Angel Band"
  • William Bradbury
  • Jefferson Hascall
2:12
4."Papa"Anderson3:33
5."Less of Me"Glen Campbell2:17
6."Where He Leads Me"
  • E.W. Blandy
  • John Norris
3:04
Side two[2]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Just as I Am"Charlotte Elliott2:42
2."Light at the River"
2:18
3."Most Richly Blessed"
2:25
4."Take Up Thy Cross"
2:25
5."I Dreamed About Mama Last Night"Fred Rose2:58
6."Blessed Assurance"
2:20

Personnel

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All credits are adapted from the liner notes of I Can Do Nothing Alone.[1]

Musical personnel

Technical personnel

  • Owen Bradley – record producer
  • Hal Buksbaum – photography

Chart performance

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Chart (1967) Peak
position
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[7] 23

Release history

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Region Date Format Label Ref.
United States June 1967 Vinyl Decca [2][1]
MCA Coral [8]
Canada 1973 [9]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Anderson, Bill (June 1967). "I Can Do Nothing Alone (Liner Notes and Album Information)". Decca Records.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Bill Anderson – I Can Do Nothing Alone (1967, Vinyl)". discogs. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  3. ^ "I Can Do Nothing Alone chart history". Billboard. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  4. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. ISBN 978-0-89820-177-2.
  5. ^ "I Can Do Nothing Alone -- Bill Anderson -- Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  6. ^ "Album Reviews". Billboard. 79 (25): 40. June 24, 1967.
  7. ^ "Bill Anderson Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  8. ^ "Bill Anderson – I Can Do Nothing Alone (MCA Coral)". discogs. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  9. ^ "Bill Anderson – I Can Do Nothing Alone (Canada)". discogs. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
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