I Like 'Em Country

I Like 'Em Country is the sixth solo studio album by American country music singer-songwriter Loretta Lynn. It was released on March 28, 1966, by Decca Records.[1]

I Like 'Em Country
Studio album by Loretta Lynn
Released	March 28, 1966
Recorded	February 26, 1964–January 13, 1966
Studio	Columbia Recording Studio (Nashville)
Genre	Country
Length	28:21
Label	Decca
Producer	Owen Bradley
Loretta Lynn chronology
Hymns (1965) I Like 'Em Country (1966) You Ain't Woman Enough (1966)
Singles from I Like 'Em Country
"The Home You're Tearin' Down" Released: July 26, 1965 "Dear Uncle Sam" Released: December 27, 1965

The album features only one song written by Lynn, "Dear Uncle Sam". It also includes covers of other artists' hits, including Hank Williams' "Your Cheatin' Heart" and Johnny Cash's "Cry, Cry, Cry".

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[2]

A review published in the April 9, 1966 issue of Billboard said, ""Dear Uncle Sam" was a big hit for Loretta Lynn, and this album, which contains the tune, should leap onto the Hot Country Albums Chart. The stereo is great and Loretta comes through in fine style on country standards like "Jealous Heart", "It's Been So Long, Darling", and "Your Cheatin' Heart".[3]

Commercial performance

The album debuted at No. 27 on the US Billboard Hot Country Albums chart dated April 23, 1966. It peaked at No. 2 on the chart dated June 4. The album spent 29 weeks on the chart, 14 of which were in the top 10.

The first single, "The Home You're Tearin' Down" was released in July 1965[4] and peaked at No. 10 on the US Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. The second single, "Dear Uncle Sam", was released in December 1965[5] and peaked at No. 4.

Recording

Recording for the album began on November 15, 1965 at Columbia Recording Studio in Nashville, Tennessee. Two additional recording sessions followed on January 6 and 13, 1966. Three songs on the album were from sessions for previous albums. "Go On and Go" was recorded during the February 26, 1964 session for 1964's Before I'm Over You; "The Home You're Tearin' Down" was recorded during the March 4, 1965 session for 1965's Blue Kentucky Girl; and "Today Has Been a Day" was recorded during the October 15, 1964 session for 1965's Songs from My Heart.....[6]

Track listing

Side one

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Recording date	Length
1.	"Two Mules Pull This Wagon"	Johnny Russell	January 13, 1966	1:58
2.	"It's Been So Long Darlin'"	Ernest Tubb	January 6, 1966	2:26
3.	"Sometimes You Just Can't Win"	Smokey Stover	January 13, 1966	2:30
4.	"If Teardrops Were Pennies"	Carl Butler	January 6, 1966	2:18
5.	"Your Cheatin' Heart"	Hank Williams	January 6, 1966	2:55
6.	"Go On and Go"	Betty Sue Perry	February 26, 1964	2:20

Side two

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Recording date	Length
1.	"Cry, Cry, Cry"	Johnny Cash	January 6, 1966	2:12
2.	"The Home You're Tearin' Down"	Betty Sue Perry	March 4, 1965	2:26
3.	"Hurtin' for Certain"	Richard D. Steadtler	November 15, 1965	2:00
4.	"Today Has Been a Day"	Jackie Webb	October 15, 1964	2:12
5.	"Jealous Heart"	Jenny Lou Carson	January 6, 1966	2:50
6.	"Dear Uncle Sam"	Loretta Lynn	November 15, 1965	2:14

Personnel

Adapted from the Decca recording session records.[6]

• Willie Ackerman – drums
• Harold Bradley – electric bass guitar
• Owen Bradley – producer
• David Briggs – piano
• Floyd Cramer – piano
• Ray Edenton – acoustic guitar
• Buddy Harman – drums
• Don Helms – steel guitar
• Kelso Herston – guitar
• Junior Huskey – bass
• The Jordanaires – background vocals
• Jerry Kennedy – guitar
• Loretta Lynn – lead vocals
• Grady Martin – electric guitar, guitar
• Bob Moore – bass
• Wayne Moss – guitar
• Hal Rugg – steel guitar
• Pete Wade – guitar
• Joe Zinkan – bass

Charts

Album

Chart (1966)	Peak position
US Hot Country Albums (Billboard)[7]	2

Singles

Title	Year	Peak position
		US Country [8]
"The Home You're Tearin' Down"	1965	10
"Dear Uncle Sam"		4

References

1. "Loretta Lynn – I Like 'Em Country". Discogs.
2. I Like 'Em Country at AllMusic
3. "Billboard Magazine - April 9, 1966" (PDF). American Radio History. Billboard Magazine. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
4. "Billboard - August 7, 1965" (PDF). American Radio History. Billboard. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
5. "Billboard - January 8, 1966" (PDF). American Radio History. Billboard. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
6. "Loretta's Recording Sess - LORETTA LYNN FAN WEBSITE". lorettalynnfan.net. Retrieved 2017-05-27.
7. "Loretta Lynn Chart History - Hot Country Albums". Billboard. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
8. "Loretta Lynn Chart History - Hot Country Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 8 July 2018.