You Don't Know Me: Classic Country

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You Don't Know Me: Classic Country
Studio album by
Crystal Gayle
ReleasedSeptember 6, 2019 (2019-09-06)
GenreCountry
Length44:07
Label
Producer
  • Christos Gatzimos
  • Crystal Gayle
Crystal Gayle chronology
The Hits
(2009) 		You Don't Know Me: Classic Country
(2019)
Singles from You Don't Know Me: Classic Country
  1. "Ribbon of Darkness"
    Released: August 9, 2019

You Don't Know Me: Classic Country (or informally referred to as You Don't Know Me) is the twenty sixth studio album by American country artist Crystal Gayle. The record was released on September 6, 2019 via Southpaw Musical Productions and The Orchard.[1] You Don't Know Me contains cover versions of classic country songs and features collaborations with other artists. The album marks Gayle's first studio release in 16 years.

Background[edit]

The album has been in the making for several years. In a 2017 interview, Gayle stated intentions to record an album of classic country material. The project was first titled Am I That Easy to Forget.[2] You Don't Know Me was co-produced by Gayle and her son, Christos Gatzimos. The album consists of 14 classic country songs, including the title track. The latter was written by Cindy Walker and recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1955.[3]

You Don't Know Me also includes cover versions of songs originally recorded by artists such as Patsy Cline, George Jones and Buck Owens.[4] The album's lead single is the opening track "Ribbon of Darkness". The song was originally made successful in the United States by Marty Robbins, and later on by Connie Smith.[5] "Ribbon of Darkness" was the first song Gayle performed on the Grand Ole Opry.[3] The album's fourteenth track "Put It Off Until Tomorrow" features Gayle's siblings Loretta Lynn and Peggy Sue. It is the first time the siblings have recorded together.[1]

Gayle recorded the album because she wanted to pay tribute to the music she was raised singing. In an interview with Music Row she commented, "It is filled with country classics that I grew up singing. They are very much a part of my history and I’ve been wanting to do this for a long time. I feel very lucky to have known and worked with many of the artists who had the original hits."[1] She also wanted to record the album to expose Gatzimos to classic country music. In an interview with CMT Gayle explained, "I really started out the project with letting Christos see and hear what country music is really all about."[6]

Critical reception[edit]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[7]
Digital Journal[8]A

You Don't Know Me has received positive reviews from music critics and journalists. Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic gave the release 3 out of 5 stars, calling the production style "clean, precise, and spotless". Erlewine also noted that Gayle's upper register has "diminished" but is nonetheless "amiable". Erlewine would conclude his review by saying, "While the crisp sonics prevent You Don't Know Me from being as welcoming as a faded, familiar wrap, the intent is nevertheless appreciated and it's good to hear Gayle sound so engaged with the songs she is singing."[7]

Markos Papadatos of the Digital Journal gave the album an "A" rating. He called Gayle's voice "rich" and "crystalline". To conclude, Papadatos said, "Overall, Crystal Gayle is sensational on her new album, You Don't Know Me, which is country as grits. Grab a bottle of wine and let this country queen lure you in with her timeless voice. Every song is polished and unique."[8] Nancy Kruh of People praised Gayle's voice, calling it "smooth" and "silky".[9]

Commercial performance[edit]

In promotion of You Don't Know Me, the opening track "Ribbon of Darkness" was released as a digital download. The album was available for pre-ordering in August 2019.[3] Although the album was released on Southpaw Musical Productions, it was distributed by BFD and The Orchard.[5] Upon release, You Don't Know Me became Gayle's first studio album release to make a chart appearance since 1988. The album peaked at number 40 on the Billboard Top Independent Albums chart and number 27 on the Billboard Country Albums Sales chart.[10]

The album has sold 1,900 copies in the United States as of November 2019.[11]

Track listing[edit]

You Don't Know Me: Classic Country[12][13]
No.TitleWriter(s)Original ArtistLength
1."Ribbon of Darkness"
Marty Robbins2:54
2."You Win Again"
Hank Williams3:18
3."Please Help Me, I'm Falling"
Hank Locklin3:33
4."Am I That Easy to Forget"
Carl Belew2:22
5."Hello Walls"
Faron Young2:37
6."You Never Were Mine"
Jay Lee Webb3:08
7."Just One More"
George Jones2:53
8."There Goes My Everything"
Jack Greene2:51
9."That's the Way Love Goes"
Johnny Rodriguez3:07
10."Crying Time"
Buck Owens3:26
11."I've Seen That Look on Me a Thousand Times"
Jim Ed Brown3:17
12."Walkin' After Midnight"
  • Alan Block
  • Donn Hecht
Patsy Cline3:17
13."You Don't Know Me"
Eddy Arnold3:16
14."Put It Off Until Tomorrow" (featuring Loretta Lynn and Peggy Sue)
Bill Phillips2:31
Bonus track
No.TitleWriter(s)Original artistLength
15."I've Cried (The Blue Right Out of My Eyes)" (1969 demo recording)Loretta LynnCrystal Gayle2:26

Personnel[edit]

All credits are adapted from Allmusic.[14]

Musical personnel

Creative

  • Cat Gatzimos – artwork
  • Alexander Giavis – artwork
  • Gor Megaera – cover photo

Technical

  • Christos Gatzimos – engineering, mixing, producer
  • Crystal Gayle – producer
  • Charlie Johns – engineering
  • Eric Prestidge – engineering
  • Justin Shturtz – mastering
  • Bill Walker – conductor, string arrangements

Chart performance[edit]

Chart (2019) Peak
position
US Country Album Sales (Billboard)[10] 27
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[15] 40

Release history[edit]

Region Date Format Label Ref.
United States September 6, 2019
  • CD
  • digital download
  • vinyl
[16]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e Hollabaugh, Lorie. "Crystal Gayle Returns With First New Album In 16 Years". Music Row. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  2. ^ Christner, Ryan. "Career not slowing for indomitable Crystal Gayle". The Hutchinson News. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  3. ^ a b c Betts, Stephen L. "Crystal Gayle to Revisit Country Standards on New Album 'You Don't Know Me'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  4. ^ "Crystal Gayle Returns With First New Album In 16 Years". Broadway World. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  5. ^ a b "Crystal Gayle Returns With First New Album In 16 Years, You Don't Know Me On Sept. 6". Enterprises Inc. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  6. ^ Shelburne, Craig. "Crystal Gayle Gathers Her Family for Classics Album". Country Music Television. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  7. ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "You Don't Know Me -- Crystal Gayle -- Songs, Reviews, Credits". Allmusic. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  8. ^ a b Papadatos, Markos. "Review: Crystal Gayle releases amazing country album 'You Don't Know Me'". Digital Journal. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  9. ^ Kruh, Nancy. "Country Pop Queen Crystal Gayle Returns to Her Roots: Traditional Music 'Is in My Soul'". People. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  10. ^ a b "Crystal Gayle Chart History - Country Album Sales". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 6, 2019. Retrieved September 18, 2019.
  11. ^ "Top 10 Country Albums Pure Sales Chart". Roughstock. November 4, 2019. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  12. ^ "You Don't Know Me by Crystal Gayle on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  13. ^ "Crystal Gayle: About". Crystal Gayle. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  14. ^ "You Don't Know Me -- Crystal Gayle -- Credits". Allmusic. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  15. ^ "Crystal Gayle Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 18, 2019.
  16. ^ "Crystal Gayle -- You Don't Know Me -- Releases". Discogs. Retrieved 5 January 2020.

External links[edit]

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