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Alone Again (Naturally) (album)

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Alone Again (Naturally)
Studio album by
Andy Williams
Released1972
RecordedAugust 29, 1970[1]
1972[2][3]
Genre
Length37:11
LabelColumbia
ProducerDick Glasser[5]
Andy Williams chronology
Love Theme from 'The Godfather'
(1972) 		Alone Again (Naturally)
(1972) 		Andy Williams' Greatest Hits Vol. 2 (CBS)
(1972)
Alternate cover
The First Time Ever (I Saw Your Face) (UK)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[4]
BillboardSpotlight Pick[6]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[7]

Alone Again (Naturally) is the thirtieth studio album by American pop singer Andy Williams, released in September 1972 by Columbia Records[6] and mainly consisting of songs originated by other artists. For its release in the UK, the album was titled The First Time Ever (I Saw Your Face), and three of the songs were replaced with the 7-inch single tracks "Who Was It?" and "Marmalade, Molasses & Honey" and a recording that was not released on vinyl in the U.S., "If You're Gonna Break Another Heart".

The album made its first appearance on the Top LP's & Tapes chart in the issue dated September 30, 1972, and remained there for 18 weeks, peaking at number 86.[8] it also debuted on the Cashbox albums chart in the issue dated October 21, of that year, and remained on the chart for in a total of 11 weeks, peaking at 80[9]

The only song on the album ever released as a single by Williams was "Home Lovin' Man", which had already had its chart run on Billboard magazine's list of the 40 most popular Easy Listening songs of the week in the U.S. back in 1970, when it reached number 10.[10] The song had also reached number seven on the UK singles chart by the end of that year.[11] Coinciding with its first North American release on a Williams LP, the same recording entered the Easy Listening chart again in the November 4, 1972, issue of Billboard and made it to number 27 during its five weeks there.[12]

Alone Again (Naturally) was released on compact disc for the first time as one of two albums on one CD by Collectables Records on February 19, 2002, the other album being Williams's Columbia release from the fall of 1973, Solitaire.[13] Collectables included this CD in a box set entitled Classic Album Collection, Vol. 2, which contains 15 of his studio albums and two compilations and was released on November 29, 2002.[14] The First Time Ever (I Saw Your Face) was paired with Solitaire as two albums on one CD by Sony Music Distribution in 2003.[15]

Reception

[edit]

William Ruhlmann of AllMusic called the album "the fine album", and proves "he surveyed the hit parade and mined it for his own easy listening versions of hits by America, Roberta Flack, Neil Diamond, and the Beatles".[4]

In their capsule review for retailers, Billboard magazine wrote, "Chalk up another important chart item for Williams as he takes on some strong hits of today and adds his own fine touches to them."[6] They singled out a few tracks in particular. “Along with the title tune, Williams delivers exceptional readings of 'Where Is the Love', 'Song Sung Blue', 'Amazing Grace' and 'I Need You'. His treatment of 'The Long and Winding Road' is also a gem."[6]

Track listing

[edit]

North American release

[edit]
Side one
  1. "Pieces of April" (Dave Loggins) – 3:36
  2. "Day by Day" from Godspell (Stephen Schwartz) – 3:11
  3. "Where Is the Love" (Ralph MacDonald, William Salter) – 2:34
  4. "If I Could Go Back" from Lost Horizon (1973) (Burt Bacharach, Hal David) – 4:28
  5. "I Need You" (Gerry Beckley) – 2:58
Side two
  1. "Alone Again (Naturally)" (Gilbert O'Sullivan) – 4:04
  2. "The First Time Ever (I Saw Your Face)" (Ewan MacColl) – 3:19
  3. "Song Sung Blue" (Neil Diamond) – 3:05
  4. "Home Lovin' Man" (Roger Cook, Roger Greenaway, Tony Macaulay) – 3:10
  5. "The Long and Winding Road" (John Lennon, Paul McCartney) – 3:18
  6. "Amazing Grace" (John Newton) – 3:27

UK release

[edit]
Side one
  1. "The First Time Ever (I Saw Your Face)" (MacColl) – 3:19
  2. "Pieces of April" (Loggins) – 3:36
  3. "Day by Day" (Schwartz) – 3:11
  4. "Where Is the Love" (MacDonald, Salter) – 2:34
  5. "If I Could Go Back" (Bacharach, David) – 4:28
Side two
  1. "I Need You" (Beckley) – 2:58
  2. "Alone Again (Naturally)" (O'Sullivan) – 4:04
  3. "Song Sung Blue" (Diamond) – 3:05
  4. "Who Was It?" (O'Sullivan) – 2:50
  5. "Marmalade, Molasses & Honey" from The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean (Alan and Marilyn Bergman, Maurice Jarre) – 3:40
  6. "If You're Gonna Break Another Heart" (Albert Hammond, Mike Hazlewood) – 2:29

Recording dates

[edit]

Song information

[edit]

The recording of "Pieces of April" by Three Dog Night peaked at number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100[16] and number six on the magazine's Easy Listening chart.[17] "Day by Day", from the original cast album of the musical Godspell, reached number 13 pop[18] and number eight Easy Listening.[19] The duet between Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway entitled "Where Is the Love" got as high as number five pop[20] and number 29 on the UK singles chart[21] and spent a week at number one on the Easy Listening[22] and R&B charts.[23] The single also received Gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America[24] and earned Flack and Hathaway the Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus.[25] "If I Could Go Back" was written for the 1973 remake of Lost Horizon.[26]

The band America reached number nine on the Hot 100[27] and number seven Easy Listening[28] with "I Need You". "Alone Again (Naturally)" by Gilbert O'Sullivan peaked at number three in the UK[29] and had six weeks at number one on the pop[30] and Easy Listening[31] charts; it also received Gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America.[32] "The First Time Ever (I Saw Your Face)" by Roberta Flack spent six weeks at number one on the Hot 100[20] and Easy Listening[33] charts and reached number four R&B[23] and number 14 UK.[21] In addition to Gold certification by the RIAA,[24] the song also earned Grammy Awards for Record of the Year for Flack and Song of the Year for songwriter Ewan MacColl.[34]

Neil Diamond enjoyed a week at number one on the Hot 100[35] and seven weeks at number one on the Easy Listening chart[36] with "Song Sung Blue", which also got as high as number 14 in the UK[37] and received the RIAA's Gold award.[38] The Beatles got to number one for two weeks on the Hot 100[39] and one week at number two on the Easy Listening chart[40] with "The Long and Winding Road", which also received both Gold and Platinum certification.[41] Judy Collins took "Amazing Grace" to number 15 pop[42] number five Easy Listening,[43] and number five UK.[44] The Pipes and Drums and the Military Band of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards debuted their instrumental recording of the classic hymn in the UK first and enjoyed five weeks at number one there[45] and made it to number 11 on the Hot 100[46] and number nine Easy Listening[47] in the US.

"Who Was It?" was a number 23 hit on the UK singles chart[48] for Hurricane Smith, who also took the song to number 49 pop[49] and number 12 Easy Listening.[50] Williams' recording of "Marmalade, Molasses & Honey" originated in the 1972 film The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean[51] and received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song.[52] "If You're Gonna Break Another Heart" was recorded by Cass Elliot for her 1972 album The Road Is No Place for a Lady[53] and by Albert Hammond under the title "If You Gotta Break Another Heart" for his 1973 album It Never Rains in Southern California.[54]

Personnel

[edit]

From the liner notes for the original album:[5]

  • Andy Williams - vocals
  • Dick Glasser - producer
  • Al Capps - arranger/conductor (except as noted)
  • Artie Butler - arranger/conductor ("Home Lovin' Man")
  • Eric Prestidge - remix engineer
  • Mike Ross-Trevor - recording engineer in London
  • Rafael O. Valentin - recording engineer
  • Tom Bert - back cover photo
  • Keats Tyler - front cover photo

Charts

[edit]
Chart (1972/73) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[55] 68
United States (Billboard 200) 86
United States (Cashbox)[9] 80

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b (2002) Album notes for The Complete Columbia Chart Singles Collection by Andy Williams [CD booklet]. New York: Sony Music.
  2. ^ a b c d e (2002) Album notes for Alone Again (Naturally)/Solitaire by Andy Williams, [CD booklet]. New York: Sony Music.
  3. ^ a b (2003) Album notes for B Sides and Rarities by Andy Williams, [CD booklet]. New York: Sony Music.
  4. ^ a b c "Alone Again (Naturally) - Andy Williams". allmusic.com. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 27 January 2011.
  5. ^ a b (1972) "Alone Again (Naturally)" by Andy Williams [album jacket]. New York: Columbia Records KC 31625.
  6. ^ a b c d "Album Reviews". Billboard. 1972-09-23. p. 20.
  7. ^ Larkin, Colin (2007). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Omnibus Press. p. 1498. ISBN 9781846098567. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  8. ^ Whitburn 2010, p. 844.
  9. ^ a b Hoffmann, Frank W (1988). The Cash box album charts, 1955-1974. Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow Press. p. 404. ISBN 0-8108-2005-6.
  10. ^ Whitburn 2007, p. 295.
  11. ^ "Andy Williams". Official Charts. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  12. ^ Whitburn 2007, p. 296.
  13. ^ "Alone Again (Naturally)/Solitaire - Andy Williams". allmusic.com. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 28 January 2011.
  14. ^ "Classic Album Collection, Vol. 2". allmusic.com. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 16 October 2010.
  15. ^ "Solitaire/Alone Again Naturally". allmusic.com. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 28 January 2011.
  16. ^ Whitburn 2009, p. 978.
  17. ^ Whitburn 2007, p. 276.
  18. ^ Whitburn 2009, p. 397.
  19. ^ Whitburn 2007, p. 109.
  20. ^ a b Whitburn 2009, p. 350.
  21. ^ a b "Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway". Official Charts. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  22. ^ Whitburn 2007, p. 98.
  23. ^ a b Whitburn 2004, p. 206.
  24. ^ a b "Gold & Platinum". riaa.com. Retrieved 22 May 2017. Type Roberta Flack in the Search box and press Enter.
  25. ^ O'Neil 1999, p. 196.
  26. ^ "Lost Horizon (1973) - Soundtracks". imdb.com. Amazon.com. Retrieved 31 January 2011.
  27. ^ Whitburn 2009, p. 37.
  28. ^ Whitburn 2007, p. 9.
  29. ^ "Gilbert O'Sullivan". Official Charts. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  30. ^ Whitburn 2009, p. 733.
  31. ^ Whitburn 2007, p. 210.
  32. ^ "Gold & Platinum". riaa.com. Retrieved 22 May 2017. Type Gilbert O'Sullivan in the Search box and press Enter.
  33. ^ Whitburn 2007, p. 97.
  34. ^ O'Neil 1999, p. 195.
  35. ^ Whitburn 2009, p. 274.
  36. ^ Whitburn 2007, p. 79.
  37. ^ "Neil Diamond". Official Charts. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  38. ^ "Gold & Platinum". riaa.com. Retrieved 22 May 2017. Type Neil Diamond in the Search box and press Enter.
  39. ^ Whitburn 2009, p. 77.
  40. ^ Whitburn 2007, p. 22.
  41. ^ "Gold & Platinum". riaa.com. Retrieved 22 May 2017. Type Beatles in the Search box and press Enter.
  42. ^ Whitburn 2009, p. 212.
  43. ^ Whitburn 2007, p. 59.
  44. ^ "Judy Collins". Official Charts. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  45. ^ "Pipes And Drums And The Military Band Of The Royal Scots Dragoon Guard - Amazing Grace". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
  46. ^ Whitburn 2009, p. 842.
  47. ^ Whitburn 2007, p. 237.
  48. ^ "Hurricane Smith". Official Charts. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  49. ^ Whitburn 2009, p. 902.
  50. ^ Whitburn 2007, p. 254.
  51. ^ "The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean (1972) - Soundtracks". imdb.com. Amazon.com. Retrieved 7 February 2011.
  52. ^ Wiley & Bona 1996, p. 1110.
  53. ^ "Road Is No Place for a Lady - Cass Elliot". allmusic.com. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 7 February 2011.
  54. ^ "It Never Rains in Southern California - Albert Hammond". allmusic.com. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 7 February 2011.
  55. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 338. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.

Bibliography

[edit]
  • O'Neil, Thomas (1999). The Grammys. Perigree Books. ISBN 0-399-52477-0.
  • Whitburn, Joel (2004). Joel Whitburn Presents Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles, 1942-2004. Record Research Inc. ISBN 0-89820-160-8.
  • Whitburn, Joel (2007). Joel Whitburn Presents Billboard Top Adult Songs, 1961-2006. Record Research Inc. ISBN 978-0-89820-169-7.
  • Whitburn, Joel (2009). Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 1955-2008. Record Research Inc. ISBN 978-0898201802.
  • Whitburn, Joel (2010). Joel Whitburn Presents Top Pop Albums, Seventh Edition. Record Research Inc. ISBN 978-0-89820-183-3.
  • Wiley, Mason; Bona, Damien (1996). Inside Oscar: The Unofficial History of the Academy Awards. Ballantine Books. ISBN 0345400534.
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