Still Woman Enough is the forty-sixth and final solo studio album by American country music singer-songwriter Loretta Lynn. It was released on March 19, 2021, by Legacy Recordings. The album was produced by Lynn's daughter Patsy Lynn Russell and John Carter Cash, the son of Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash. The album shares its title with Lynn's 2002 autobiography.
| Still Woman Enough | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | March 19, 2021 | |||
| Recorded | 2007–2020 | |||
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| Genre | Country | |||
| Length | 35:09 | |||
| Label | Legacy | |||
| Producer |
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| Loretta Lynn chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Still Woman Enough | ||||
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The album was recorded at Cash Cabin Studio in Hendersonville, Tennessee, following Full Circle (2016), White Christmas Blue (2016), and Wouldn't It Be Great (2018). The album is a mixture of new songs and new versions of songs Lynn has previously recorded.
Background
editFollowing the release of 2018's Wouldn't It Be Great, which had to be postponed several times after Lynn suffered a stroke in May 2017, she took a hiatus from releasing new music throughout 2019 and 2020. Her musical output during these two years totaled just two songs. She and sister Peggy Sue were featured on the song "Put It Off Until Tomorrow" from sister Crystal Gayle's album You Don't Know Me in 2019[1] and Lynn released one single in 2020, a cover of Patsy Cline's hit "I Fall to Pieces", to promote her book Me & Patsy Kickin' Up Dust: My Friendship with Patsy Cline.[2]
On January 2, 2021, Lynn teased the possibility of a new album in a Facebook post saying, "I am so glad it's a new year! I'm looking forward to some new projects in 2021."[3]
The album cover features Lynn wearing a newly designed couture dress inspired by the dress she wore on the cover of her 1971 album Coal Miner's Daughter. It was specifically created for the album by her long-time dressmaker Tim Cobb.[4]
Previous recordings
editSeven songs from the album are new versions of songs previously recorded by Lynn:
- "Honky Tonk Girl" was first recorded by Lynn in 1960 and released as her first single on Zero Records. Lynn recorded the song again in 1968 during the sessions for Your Squaw Is on the Warpath, but this recording was not released until 1991 on the compilation album The Country Music Hall of Fame. Lynn provided backing vocals for her granddaughter Tayla Lynn's cover of the song on her 2016 EP The Ranch.
- "Coal Miner's Daughter" was previously recorded by Lynn on her 1971 album of the same name, and again with Miranda Lambert and Sheryl Crow for the 2010 compilation album Coal Miner's Daughter: A Tribute to Loretta Lynn. Lynn revisited the song a third time on her 2018 album Wouldn't It Be Great.
- "One's on the Way" was previously recorded by Lynn on her 1971 album of the same name.
- "I Wanna Be Free" was previously recorded by Lynn on her 1971 album of the same name.
- "Where No One Stands Alone" was previously recorded by Lynn on her 1965 album Hymns.
- "My Love" was previously recorded by Lynn in 1960 for Zero Records, but this recording was not released until 1968 on the compilation album Here's Loretta Lynn.
- "You Ain't Woman Enough" was previously recorded by Lynn for her 1966 album of the same name.
Release and promotion
editThe album was announced on January 4, 2021, the fiftieth anniversary of the release of Lynn's Coal Miner's Daughter album.[5] The album was made available for preorder the same day. It was released on March 19, 2021 on LP, CD, and digital download.
Singles
editThe first single from the album, a recitation of Lynn's signature song "Coal Miner's Daughter", was released on January 4[6] along with its music video. The David McClister directed video was filmed on July 9, 2020 at Lynn's ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee.[5]
"One's on the Way", a duet with Margo Price, was released as the second single on February 19, 2021.[7]
Critical reception
edit| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 76/100[8] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [9] |
| American Songwriter |  [10] |
| The Guardian | [11] |
| Mojo | [12] |
| NME | [13] |
| Pitchfork | 7.5/10[14] |
| Rolling Stone | [15] |
| The Telegraph | [16] |
| Uncut | 7/10[17] |
| Under the Radar |   [18] |
Still Woman Enough received mostly positive reviews from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, Still Woman Enough has an average score of 76 based on 11 reviews.[8]
Alexis Petridis of The Guardian gave the album four out of five stars. He noted that while there is "only one new Lynn original...her voice sounds frankly astonishing."[11] Mojo also gave the album four out of five stars, calling it "Lynn's show, and she and the band are on fine form."[12] In another four star review for NME, Leonie Cooper said that Lynn's message remains the same, "with the focus on women’s innate strength and capabilities."[13]
Rolling Stone gave the album 3.5 out of five stars, praising Lynn for "sounding as tough as ever and reaffirming her badass credentials."[15] Uncut rated the album seven out of ten, saying that it "may be sustained by [Lynn's] memories, but it's not overshadowed by them."[17]
The album's lowest rating came from Stephen Thomas Erlewine at AllMusic. He rated the album three out of five stars, saying that "the format doesn't seem as fresh as it did back in 2016...due to it being the fourth in a series of albums." He felt that "on its own merits, Still Woman Enough is strong and vibrant, a testament to Lynn's enduring gifts and place in the firmament of 20th century country music."[9]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Still Woman Enough" (featuring Reba McEntire and Carrie Underwood) |
| 3:37 |
| 2. | "Keep on the Sunny Side" | A.P. Carter | 2:55 |
| 3. | "Honky Tonk Girl" | Lynn | 2:32 |
| 4. | "I Don't Feel at Home Anymore" |
| 2:03 |
| 5. | "Old Kentucky Home" |
| 2:27 |
| 6. | "Coal Miner's Daughter" (Recitation) | Lynn | 2:07 |
| 7. | "One's on the Way" (featuring Margo Price) | Shel Silverstein | 2:41 |
| 8. | "I Wanna Be Free" | Lynn | 2:15 |
| 9. | "Where No One Stands Alone" | Mosie Lister | 2:47 |
| 10. | "I'll Be All Smiles Tonight" | T.B. Ransom | 3:38 |
| 11. | "I Saw the Light" | Hank Williams | 3:06 |
| 12. | "My Love" | Lynn | 2:44 |
| 13. | "You Ain't Woman Enough" (featuring Tanya Tucker) | Lynn | 2:17 |
| Total length: | 35:09 | ||
Personnel
editAdapted from the album liner notes.
Performance
- Mike Bub – upright bass (track 3), bass (track 8, 13)
- Shawn Camp – mandolin (tracks 2, 4–5, 9-10, 13), acoustic guitar (tracks 3, 7–8, 11), backing vocals (track 11)
- John Carter Cash – electric guitar (tracks 1, 7), acoustic guitar (track 1)
- Charlie Chadwick – cello (track 12)
- Matt Combs – fiddle (tracks 1, 6–7)
- Dennis Crouch – upright bass (tracks 1–2, 10, 12)
- Paul Franklin – steel (tracks 3, 7–8, 13)
- Tony Harrell – piano (tracks 3–4, 7–9, 11, 13)
- Jamie Hartford – electric guitar (tracks 1, 3, 7–8, 12–13), acoustic guitar (tracks 4, 9, 11)
- Rick Lonow – drums (tracks 1, 3–4, 7–9, 11–13)
- Loretta Lynn — lead vocals (all tracks)
- Ronnie McCoury – mandolin (track 1, 12)
- Reba McEntire – lead vocals (track 1)
- Pat McLaughlin – mandolin (tracks 3, 7–8), acoustic guitar (track 13)
- Larry Perkins – banjo (tracks 3, 7–8, 13)
- Margo Price – lead vocals (track 7)
- Suzi Ragsdale – backing vocals (track 2)
- Dave Roe – upright bass (track 5)
- Randy Scruggs – acoustic guitar (tracks 1, 3, 7–8, 12–13)
- Will Smith – autoharp (track 10)
- Tanya Tucker – lead vocals (track 13)
- Robby Turner – dobro (tracks 1, 4), steel (track 9, 11–12)
- Carrie Underwood — lead vocals (track 1)
- Pete Wade – electric guitar (tracks 4, 9, 11)
- Jeff White – acoustic guitar (tracks 2, 5, 10)
- Laura Weber White – acoustic guitar (tracks 1–5, 7–13), fiddle (tracks 11–12), backing vocals (track 11)
- Mark W. Winchester – upright bass (tracks 4, 9, 11)
Production
- Trey Call – mixing (tracks 1, 2, 7, 13), production management (Cash Cabin Enterprises), second engineer
- Richard Dodd – mastering (all tracks)
- John Carter Cash – producer (all tracks)
- Joseph Cash – production assistant, additional engineering
- Forrest Cashion – production assistant
- Lauren Moore – production assistant
- Lowell Reynolds – recording (Tanya Tucker vocals on track 13)
- Patsy Lynn Russell – producer (all tracks)
- Chuck Turner – recording (all tracks), mixing (all tracks)
Other personnel
- Frank Harkins – art direction and design
- Russ Harrington – front and back photography
- John Jackson – A&R (Sony Legacy)
- David McClister – inside sleeve photo
Charts
edit| Chart (2021) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200[19] | 83 |
| US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[20] | 9 |
| UK Country Albums (OCC)[21] | 3 |
| Scottish Albums (OCC)[22] | 47 |
| US Folk Albums (Billboard)[23] | 4 |
References
edit- ^ Reuter, Annie (September 4, 2019). "Crystal Gayle Enlists Sisters Loretta Lynn and Peggy Sue On Dolly Parton Cover 'Put It Off Until Tomorrow': Exclusive". Billboard. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
- ^ Betts, Stephen L. (April 3, 2020). "Hear Loretta Lynn's New Recording of Patsy Cline's 'I Fall to Pieces'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
- ^ Lynn, Loretta (January 2, 2021). "Loretta Lynn". Facebook. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
- ^ a b "Loretta Lynn announces 'Still Woman Enough' album". The Music Universe. January 4, 2021. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
- ^ a b Freeman, Jon (January 4, 2021). "Loretta Lynn Recruits Margo Price, Tanya Tucker for New Album 'Still Woman Enough'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
- ^ "Coal Miner's Daughter (Recitation) - Single". Spotify. January 4, 2021. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
- ^ "One's On The Way (feat. Margo Price) - Single". Spotify. February 19, 2021. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
- ^ a b "Still Woman Enough by Loretta Lynn". Metacritic. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
- ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Still Woman Enough - Loretta Lynn". AllMusic. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
- ^ Zimmerman, Lee (March 18, 2021). "Review: With Album Number 50, The Queen of Country Still Captivates The Kingdom « American Songwriter". American Songwriter. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
- ^ a b Petridis, Alexis (March 11, 2021). "Loretta Lynn: Still Woman Enough review | Alexis Petridis's album of the week". The Guardian. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
- ^ a b "Mojo - April 2021". Mojo. Retrieved March 16, 2021 – via archive.org.
- ^ a b Cooper, Leonie (March 15, 2021). "Loretta Lynn – 'Still Woman Enough' review: country Queen remains iconic". NME. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
- ^ Kelly, Kim (March 22, 2021). "Loretta Lynn: Still Woman Enough Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
- ^ a b "Rolling Stone - March 2021". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 16, 2021 – via archive.org.
- ^ McCormick, Neil (March 18, 2021). "Loretta Lynn's Still Woman Enough shows this pioneering country singer has still got it". The Telegraph. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
- ^ a b "Uncut - April 2021". Uncut. Retrieved March 16, 2021 – via archive.org.
- ^ Moody, Mark (March 17, 2021). "Still Woman Enough". Under the Radar. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
- ^ "Loretta Lynn Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
- ^ "Loretta Lynn Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
- ^ "Official Country Artists Albums Chart Top 20". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 04, 2021.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
- ^ "Loretta Lynn Chart History (Top Americana/Folk Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 10 April 2024.