Never Again, Again

"Never Again, Again" is a debut song written by Monty Holmes and Barbie Isham, and performed by American country music artist Lee Ann Womack. It was released in March 1997 as the first single from her self titled debut album. The song peaked at #23 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs) chart.

"Never Again, Again"
Single by Lee Ann Womack
from the album Lee Ann Womack
ReleasedMarch 3, 1997
GenreCountry
Length3:44
LabelDecca Nashville
Songwriter(s)Monty Holmes
Barbie Isham
Producer(s)Mark Wright
Lee Ann Womack singles chronology
"Never Again, Again"
(1997)		 "The Fool"
(1997)

Background

Womack told Billboard she was disappointed when the song peaked and said, "I cannot even begin to explain how bummed I was; I was devastated. That song was like my baby. It's a work of art, so incredibly simple. Anyone could have sung it, and I would have loved it."[1] Frank Dawson of KAYD said, "It made such an immediate connection with the fans here that we consider it a big hit."[2] Linda O'Brien, music director for KSCS said, "When Never Again, Again' was released, what a career chance she took, because that could have pegged her as this hick girl-singer. A lot of people probably didn't play it because it was too country, but I think she has helped tremendously. It's almost like a nouveau country, a nouveau traditional thing. She's paved the road for more artists to get back to the format."[3]

Critical reception

Editors at Billboard gave the song a positive review and wrote, "This is wonderful, tear-in-the-throat, honest-to-God country music in the grand tradition of Tammy Wynette, Loretta Lynn, and the genre's other legendary female vocalists. "Never Again" boasts a great country lyric, tinged with heartbreak and regret. The production by Mark Wright is laced with a weeping steel guitar, and Womack's vocals are the icing on an already scrumptious cake. Her voice echoes vulnerability and rings with emotional integrity. This is what country music in the '90s should be."[4]

Music video

Lee Ann Womack's first music video was released for the song, directed by Gerry Wenner.[5]

Decca senior Vice President Shelia Shipley Biddy said, "We're also getting an unprecedented amount of E-mail from consumers hungry for her kind of music. The CMT video spurred an intense amount of interest. We started getting E-mail 15 minutes after the first airing of the video. We've had listeners say, 'This is what my country radio station should sound like.[6]

Chart performance
Chart (1997) Peak
position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[7] 36
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[8] 24
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[9] 23

References
  1. Taylor, Chuck. Billboard Decca's Lee Ann Womack Shows That She's A 'Fool' For Straight-Up Country (August 23, 1997)
  2. Jessen, Wade. Billboard Country Corner (AUGUST 23, 1997)
  3. Tarradel, Mario. The Dallas Morning News NEW TRADITION; Rising country musicians hang their hats at home (December 27, 1997)
  4. Billboard Singles Reviews (March 08, 1997)
  5. Billboard Production Notes (FEBRUARY 22, 1997)
  6. Flippo, Chet. "Decca's Womack catches fire at radio." Billboard 109.14 (1997): 1. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 6 June 2011.
  7. "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 3228." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. June 9, 1997. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
  8. "Lee Ann Womack Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard.
  9. "Lee Ann Womack Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
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